Pūrvāhna-kālīya-bhajana - Niṣṭhā

One should chant Hari's Name always, considering oneself lower than grass, being more tolerant than a tree, seeking no honor for oneself, and offering honor to everyone.

Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī explains: Hear from Svarūpa and Rāma Rāya the disposition by which chanting awakens prema. Though spiritually exalted, the Vaiṣṇava considers himself lower than grass and shows tolerance in two ways, like a tree. Even when cut, a tree says nothing; even when drying up, it asks no one for water. It gives its wealth to whoever asks, bears heat and rain, and shelters others. Though exalted, the Vaiṣṇava remains without pride and honors every living being, knowing Kṛṣṇa dwells within all.

The six limbs of surrender are accepting what favors devotion, rejecting what opposes it, trusting that Kṛṣṇa will protect, choosing Him as one's maintainer, offering oneself completely, and becoming humble.

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura explains: Accept everything favorable to bhakti and reject all that is unfavorable. No one but Kṛṣṇa is my protector; Kṛṣṇa alone will maintain me. I offer to Kṛṣṇa all that I call myself or mine and live in sincere humility.

This body, weakened at a hundred joints and subject to continual change, must certainly fall. Foolish, deluded person, why ask for medicine? Drink the faultless elixir of Kṛṣṇa.

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura explains: Your body is worn at its hundred joints and one day will fall. It will become ashes, worms, or excrement and then disgust everyone; attachment to it is ignorant. O mind, hear this truthful counsel: the sovereign remedy for this disease is Kṛṣṇa's Name without interruption, the healing nectar of Kṛṣṇa.

The Lord is not greatly pleased by elaborate offerings from gods whose desires remain bound within their hearts. Yet He, the one friend and indwelling Self attentive within all kinds of beings, though otherwise hard to attain, is won by compassion toward every creature.

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura explains: The worship of desire-filled gods with many ceremonial offerings does not earn Your satisfaction. But Your boundless grace comes to one who shows mercy to every being and worships Hari, the Self of all.

Condemned is the life of that lowest person whose hairs do not stand erect and whose eyes do not stream with pure tears on hearing sādhus sing the qualities of Bhagavān.

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura asks: Why should one remain alive if, on hearing Kṛṣṇa's names and qualities from the mouth of a sādhu, the body does not thrill and stainless tears do not flow freely from the eyes?

Kṛṣṇa, the teacher of the three worlds, protects us. Kṛṣṇa sustains the universe. From Kṛṣṇa alone this world arose, and into Kṛṣṇa it returns. The whole universe rests in Kṛṣṇa, and we are Kṛṣṇa's servants. Kṛṣṇa bestows every auspicious destination; to that Kṛṣṇa I bow.

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura explains: Kṛṣṇa, guru of the universe, protects everyone; as Viśvambhara He nourishes the world. The universe arose from Kṛṣṇa, is sustained in Him, and finally dissolves into Him. The living being is Kṛṣṇa's servant. Place your faith in Kṛṣṇa, giver of the highest destination. You were born to practice devotion to Kṛṣṇa; without that devotion, everything in this world is false.

O Kṛṣṇa, let the royal swan of my mind enter today the cage formed by Your lotus feet. At the time life departs, when phlegm, wind, and bile obstruct my throat, how will remembrance of You then be possible?

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura explains: My days pass uselessly, immersed in worldly life; let this royal swan of the mind worship You. Let it be enclosed today within the shelter of Your lotus feet and remain there in the ocean of rasa. When life departs, phlegm, wind, and bile will obstruct my throat and my mind will no longer bloom. Your Name will not then appear upon my tongue. If I waste the present opportunity, how will my purpose be fulfilled?

I possess neither steadfastness in dharma, knowledge of the self, nor devotion to Your lotus feet. Destitute and without any other refuge, O shelter of all, I surrender at the base of Your feet.

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura prays: O Hari, I have no firm dharma, no beautiful realization of the self, and no devotion to Your feet. I am therefore destitute, fallen, wicked, without direction, and always engaged in deceiving myself. You purify the fallen, and I am fallen and low; You alone are my destination. I have reached Your feet and taken Your shelter. I am the servant, and You are eternally my Lord.

There is no condemned act in this world that I have not committed thousands of times. Now, when their consequences ripen, O Mukunda, I stand without refuge before You and weep.

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura prays: O Hari, there is no wicked act I have not performed thousands upon thousands of times. Finding their opportunity, the fruits of those deeds now crush me like a machine. I see no other refuge and weep ceaselessly before You. Punish this destitute person as You think right; You are my Lord and the bearer of justice.

O Infinite Lord, I have long been sinking within the ocean of becoming, and now I have found You like a shore. O Bhagavān, You too have now found in me an unsurpassed recipient for Your mercy.

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura prays: Through the faults of my own deeds I fell into the ocean of worldly existence and have struggled in its waters for so long. Swimming and swimming, I could find no end to that vast, endless sea. When I sank beneath it, I cried in anguish for someone to rescue me. At that moment You came as the firm shore beneath Your feet, and the seed of hope arose in me. O compassionate Hari, by finding me You have surely found the very best object for Your mercy.

When will I follow You without interruption, every other desire fully pacified, and as Your exclusive, eternal servant gladden this life that has at last found its master?

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura prays: My intelligence is deeply corrupted, and finding no other destination, I have taken shelter at Your feet. Now I understand, O Nātha: You are my Lord, the Lord of the universe, and I am Your eternal attendant. When will that day come when, in exclusive devotion, I attain the mood of everlasting service? Then all other desires will end of themselves, and through service I will satisfy You, my Master.

O Hari, I am the dwelling place of thousands of offenses, fallen into the depths of the terrifying ocean of becoming, without any destination, and surrendered to You. Out of unalloyed mercy, please make me Your own.

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura prays: I am offensive, punishable, ill-natured, and guilty of thousands upon thousands of faults. Fallen into the dreadful depths of the terrible ocean of worldly existence, I have no refuge though I yearn for one. In fear I take shelter of Your two feet. Be merciful and make me Your own. This is Your promise, O Nātha: whoever takes shelter of You, You will deliver.

This is not falsehood but the deepest truth. Please hear this one petition I place before You: if You do not show mercy to me, O Nātha, You will rarely find anyone more deserving of Your compassion.

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura prays: O Hari, O Madhusūdana, I place one appeal before You. Kindly hear me. These are not empty words but a hidden truth flowing from my heart. I am exceedingly fallen and You are supremely merciful, so bestowing mercy upon me is especially Yours to do. The more fallen one is, the more Your mercy goes to him; therefore I am a most suitable recipient. If You neglect me, where will You find an object for Your compassion, and what will become of Your name "Dayāmaya, full of mercy"?

I disregard proper bounds, am petty and fickle-minded, a breeding ground of envy, ungrateful and proud, enslaved by lust, devoted to deceit, cruel, and exceedingly sinful. How shall I cross this shoreless ocean of sorrow and serve Your feet?

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura prays: My mind is restless; I am deeply petty and disrespectful, and envy is always born within me. Sinful, ungrateful, proud, cruel, skilled in deception, and perpetually ruled by lust, I am such a wicked person drifting through the ocean of worldly misery. How will I cross this sea of becoming and attain unbroken service to Your feet?

Let me be born even as an insect in the homes of those whose only companion is the happiness of serving You. May I never take birth in any other dwelling, even with the identity of four-headed Brahmā.

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura prays: Following the Vedic rules and acting within this world, the living being is born again and again. If, through the fruit of past deeds or by Your will, I must be born once more, then hear this one request, O Puruṣottama: let me be born as an insect in the home of one who associates with Your servants. O compassionate Lord, I will remain inwardly content with that. But in the home of an ignorant householder who lacks the company of Your servants, I do not desire even the majesty of four-headed Brahmā. With folded hands, Your servant makes this appeal.

Whatever I may be in body, identity, or qualities, and however I may regard myself, today I offer that very sense of "I" at Your lotus feet.

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura explains: Bodies are divided as female or male and by social designation and many other embodied conditions. Further divisions arise through shelter in goodness, passion, and ignorance; in this way there are thousands of distinctions. Whatever body I inhabit and whatever condition or quality I possess, I now offer that identity at Your feet. O Lord of my life, from this moment it is Yours; nothing remains for me to claim.

With joined hands bound above my head, face raised and throat open by unreserved humility, I make this plea: O divine ocean of mercy, sprinkle me once with even a trace of the gracious compassion in Your glance.

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura prays: Joining his hands upon his head, this wicked person weeps and cries aloud with sincere humility, "O merciful Lord, now reveal Your kindness. Just once shower me with Your compassionate glance; then this servant's life will be saved."

Bestow Your grace upon me through sweet glances accompanied by the song of Your flute. If You are pleased, what need have we of anyone else here? If You are not pleased, what can anyone else do for us?

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura prays: Together with the sound of Your flute, cast Your sweet glance upon me, grant Your favor, and accept me at Your feet. If You are pleased, why should I need anyone else's satisfaction? Without Your pleasure, tell me plainly: what use is another's favor to me?

If one performs kīrtana with such steadfastness, taste soon arises and the treasure of prema is attained. O noble soul, while taking shelter of the Name, contemplate the forenoon līlā in this way.

I remember Kṛṣṇa in the forenoon, following the forest paths with the cows and His friends while the people of Vraja accompany Him. Eager to meet Rādhā, He leaves the cows and companions and reaches the bank of Her lake. I remember Rādhā, who sees Kṛṣṇa and then returns home, where Her elder orders Her to worship the sun. Longing for news of Kṛṣṇa, She sends Her own sakhī and keeps Her eyes fixed upon the path.

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura explains: Kṛṣṇa goes joyfully to the forest with the cows and His companions, followed by the people of the cowherd settlement. Then, eager for Rādhā's company, He leaves the cows and friends and goes to the grove beside Rādhā-kuṇḍa. Receiving Kṛṣṇa's signal, Rādhā returns to Her home and obtains Jaṭilā's permission to perform sun worship. Secretly She watches Kṛṣṇa's path. A sakhī will soon return, and Rādhā waits in agitation, absorbed in remembering Him.

Thus ends the practice for the third period in Śrī Bhajana-rahasya.