Srimad Bhagavad Gita AS IT IS

Bhagavad Gita:   Chapter 6 - Dhyana-yoga

TEXT 37
                              arjuna uvaca
                          ayatih sraddhayopeto
                          yogac calita-manasah
                         aprapya yoga-samsiddhim
                        kam gatim krsna gacchati
 
WORD FOR WORD
   arjunah uvaca--Arjuna said; ayatih--the unsuccessful transcendentalist; sraddhaya--with faith; upetah--engaged; yogat--from the mystic link; calita--deviated; manasah--who has such a mind; aprapya--failing to attain; yoga-samsiddhim--the highest perfection in mysticism; kam--which; gatim--destination; krsna--O Krsna; gacchati--achieves.
 
TRANSLATION
   Arjuna said: O Krsna, what is the destination of the unsuccessful transcendentalist, who in the beginning takes to the process of self-realization with faith but who later desists due to worldly-mindedness and thus does not attain perfection in mysticism?
 
PURPORT by HDG Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada:

   The path of self-realization or mysticism is described in the Bhagavad-gita. The basic principle of self-realization is knowledge that the living entity is not this material body but that he is different from it and that his happiness is in eternal life, bliss and knowledge. These are transcendental, beyond both body and mind.
   Self-realization is sought by the path of knowledge, by the practice of the eightfold system or by bhakti-yoga. In each of these processes one has to realize the constitutional position of the living entity, his relationship with God, and the activities whereby he can reestablish the lost link and achieve the highest perfectional stage of Krsna consciousness. Following any of the above-mentioned three methods, one is sure to reach the supreme goal sooner or later. This was asserted by the Lord in the Second Chapter: even a little endeavor on the transcendental path offers a great hope for deliverance. Out of these three methods, the path of bhakti-yoga is especially suitable for this age because it is the most direct method of God realization. To be doubly assured, Arjuna is asking Lord Krsna to confirm His former statement. One may sincerely accept the path of self-realization, but the process of cultivation of knowledge and the practice of the eightfold yoga system are generally very difficult for this age. Therefore, despite constant endeavor one may fail, for many reasons. First of all, one may not be sufficiently serious about following the process. To pursue the transcendental path is more or less to declare war on the illusory energy. Consequently, whenever a person tries to escape the clutches of the illusory energy, she tries to defeat the practitioner by various allurements. A conditioned soul is already allured by the modes of material energy, and there is every chance of being allured again, even while performing transcendental disciplines. This is called yogac calita-manasah: deviation from the transcendental path. Arjuna is inquisitive to know the results of deviation from the path of self-realization.

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with permission.

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Prabhupada Uvacha:
(here's some nectar, sometimes it comes in the form of Srutakirti prabhu's diary, other times from Govinda dasi's diary, Hari Sauri prabhu's Transcendental Diary, Bhurijan prabhu's book, or sometimes from a letter, or other related source, but still nectar...)

Service as an Opportunity

Prabhupada: A devotee should not take up some business which requires very hard endeavor. No. We should take up only simple things. Of course, a devotee does take risks. Just like Hanuman, the servant of Lord Ramacandra. Lord Ramacandra wanted information about Sitadevi. So Hanuman did not consider, "How I shall go to the other side of the sea to Lanka?" He simply, believing in Lord Ramacandra, calling "Jaya Rama," jumped over it.
Hanuman jumped to Lanka, but Ramacandra Himself had to construct a bridge. Of course, that bridge is also wonderful because the monkeys were bringing stones and throwing the stones into the sea. But the stones were floating. Where is the law of gravitation? Stones floating on the water? It cannot be done by the scientists. But Lord Ramacandra desired, so the stone became able to float. Otherwise how many stones we shall throw into the sea that it will come to the level of becoming a bridge? But Lord Ramacandra wanted, "Let it be simplified for the monkeys. So let them bring the stones and they will float. Then we shall go."
Without stone He Himself could go, but He wanted some service from the monkeys. There were many other monkeys who were not capable exactly like Hanuman. Therefore they were also given some chance that "You bring some stone. You cannot jump over the sea like Hanuman, so you bring stones, and I will ask the stones to float."

We should accept service as an opportunity, whether we feel ourselves capable or not. Ultimately, if Krsna desires, our service will be completed. Our real success will be our sincere devotional attempts.

- From the "My Glorious Master" by HG Bhurijana dasa

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Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
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"No Intelligent Words For This Age"

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.3.21
September 26, 1972, Los Angeles

Listen to the entire lecture on-line:
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Pradyumna: (leads chanting, etc.)

tatah saptadase jatah
satyavatyam parasarat
cakre veda-taroh sakha
drstva pumso 'lpa-medhasah

Translation: "Thereafter, in the seventeenth incarnation of Godhead, Sri Vyasadeva appeared in the womb of Satyavati, wife of Parasara Muni, and he divided the one Veda into several branches and sub-branches, seeing that the people in general were less intelligent."

Prabhupada: So this Parasara actually was not husband of Satyavati. When Satyavati was not married, Parasara gave birth to Vyasadeva. Later on Satyavati became the wife of Maharaja Santanu, father of Bhismadeva. This Satyavati was the daughter of a fisherman. She was neither born of a brahmana father or ksatriya father. So formerly, a higher-caste man could accept a girl born of lower caste, but a lower-caste man could not accept a girl born of higher caste. That was the system. Because in the sastra it is... Ordinary, I mean to say, instructive sastra.

Just like Canakya, in his moral lessons, he says that visad apy amrtam grahyam. When there is a tub of poison, but, if there is little nectar, then you take it. Don't think that "It is in the poison pot, why shall I take it?" No, you can take it. Visad apy amrtam grahyam amedhyad api kancanam. Suppose in a very filthy place where people pass stool, urine, there is some gold. So you should take it. Don't think that because the gold is in the polluted place, gold has become polluted. No. You take it. Visad apy amrtam grahyam amedhyad api kancanam, nicad apy uttama vidya. Vidya, education, was to be received from a brahmana, because it was the brahmana's business to become highly learned scholar and make others educated. Teacher's business was entrusted to the brahmanas, administration to the ksatriyas, production to the vaisya, and labor to the sudra. So because generally we have to take education from highly learned brahmana, but if a person born in low family, he has got some talent, education, so don't hesitate. Take from him. Not that, "Oh, he is low born. Why shall I take education from him?" No. The sastra says, "No, you can take. It doesn't matter. He has got the learning. You take that. Make him a teacher." Nicad apy uttama vidya stri-ratnam duskulad api. Stri-ratnam. If a girl is very qualified, beautiful, even she is born of a low family, you can accept her. This is the injunction of the sastras.

So Satyavati happened to be a daughter of a fisherwoman, and, but she was very qualified, beautiful. So before her marriage, Vyasadeva was born out of her womb. It is not that..., that before marriage girls were not giving birth to child. It was there, the society. But the society was so elevated that this was not done commonly. In extraordinary cases. So Satyavati gave birth to Vyasadeva, such a son, Vyasadeva, incarnation of God. Vyasadeva is not ordinary being. An incarnation of Narayana. And he was meant for expanding Vedic knowledge. Then again, Vyasadeva was born, but nobody could understand. She remained a virgin girl by the blessings of Parasara Muni. Then she was again attractive to Maharaja Santanu. Maharaja Santanu became attracted by Satyavati, and he wanted to marry. But Maharaja Santanu had his son. So her father objected. So king proposed to the fisherman that "I want to marry your girl." So the father said, "No, no, I cannot allow my girl to marry with you because you are already married. You have got your son, elderly son, Bhismadeva." So he was a little sorry, Santanu Maharaja.

The son could understand that "The father is sorry because he was refused the hand of the girl Satyavati." So he approached father. Not father. He approached the father of Satyavati, that "Why you are refusing my father?" "No. You are present. How can I offer my daughter?" "No. Even if I am present..." Because the law is the eldest son will be enthroned after the death of the father. So he was eldest son. So Satyavati's father was hesitating. So Bhismadeva promised that "I will not accept the throne. The child born of Satyavati, he will accept, he will be given the throne. You give your daughter to my father." He still refused. He still, "Well, our son may be king, but then again, your son will become the king." In this way, he was hesitating. So Bhismadeva immediately promised that "I shall never marry. Don't hesitate." So in this way he induced the fisherman to give his daughter to his father.

So father could understand that "My son is so great that he wanted to satisfy. I wanted this girl, and he has managed." So he gave him a benediction to Bhismadeva, "My dear son, you are so benevolent, so magnanimous. So I give you one benediction that you'll not die unless you desire to die. Unless you fix up your mind, ‘Now I shall die,' you'll never die. You remain a very strong brahmacari." So Bhisma remained very strong brahmacari. There is another incidence of Bhismadeva's life, that Pandu-vamsa. So one girl was attracted. So she was conquered. So the girl thought that "I will be able to marry Bhismadeva," but when she came at home, Bhismadeva said, "No, you have been conquered to be married with my brother. I am brahmacari. I cannot marry you." So the girl said that "You have kidnapped me, conquered me. You must marry." So "No, I shall not marry." Then the girl approached to his spiritual master, this Jamadagni, Bhrgupati, that "This boy he has conquered me. Still, he is not marrying me." So Jamadagni said, "Bhisma, you must marry this girl." Bhismadeva said, "No. I have promised to my father never to marry. I cannot marry." Then Jamadagni said, "If you don't marry, then I will force you to marry." So there was fight between Bhismadeva, spiritual master and... (laughter) So the spiritual master became defeated. (laughter) Then he gave his blessings. "All right, you remain brahmacari." (laughter)

continued..........

Information about the Karttika vratam:
Kartika Mahatmya from Hari Bhakti Vilas: - all the benefits of the month of Kartika
Bahulastami - Radha kunda snan dan
Diwali - Dipavali - Dip dan - Akash Dipa (Significance of the various days of the Diwali period):
Go-puja - Go Krd
Govardhan Puja - Annakuta
Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada's Tirubhava - Commemorative day of His passing - Samadhi - Vrindavan
Padma Purana on Kartika Vrata
Quotes from the Dik-darshini tika commentary of Srila Sanatan Goswami, on Srila Gopal Bhattar Goswami's Hari Bhakti Vilas.
Significance of each of the Days of Kartika
Glories of Kartika from Srila Rupa Goswami and Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Damodara vrata
Damodarastakam Tika of Sanatan Goswami
Bhishma panchaka fast for Karttika
Haribodhini (Prabodhini) ekadasi - When the Lord wakes up

The glories of the Month of Karttik - in one .pdf file - a must read

How the followers of Madhwacharya follow the Festivals of Kartika (2005)

Navaratri and Dusserha
Shaligram Tulasi Vivaha

KARTIKE'SMIN VISESENA NITYAM KURVITA VAISNAVAH
DAMODARA ARCANAM PRATAH SNANA DANA VRATA ADIKAM

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/3 from SKANDA PURANA)

 Specifically in the month of Damodara, one should daily worship Lord Damodara and take bath early in the morning, give charity and follow a fasting vow. This is the duty of Vaisnavas.

NIYAMENA VINA VIPRAH KARTIKAM YAH KSIPEN NARAH
KRSNA PARAN-MUKHAS TASYA YASMAD URJO'SYA VALLABHAH

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/24 from PADMA PURANA conversation between Narada Muni and Saunaka Rsi)

 Oh brahmanas, any person who tries to observe a Karttika month without following rules and regulations properly, Lord Sri Krsna remains against them because this month (Karttika) is very pleasing to Him.

YAIR NA DATTAM HUTAM JAPTAM NA SNANAM NA HARER VRATAM
NA KRTAM KARTIKE PUTRA DVIJAS TE VAI NARADHAMAH

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/25 from SKANDA PURANA)

 Oh son Narada, those brahmanas who do not give charity in the month of Karttika, perform sacrifice, chant japa and fast for Lord Hari are the lowest of mankind.

KARTIKA KHALU VAI MASAM SARVA MASESU CA UTTAMAM
PUNYANAM PARAMAM PUNYAM PAVANANAM CA PAVANAM

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/36 from SKANDA PURANA)

 The month of Karttika is the topmost of all other months. It is the most meritorious and purified of all other pure months.

NA KARTIKA SAMO MASO NA KRTENA SAMAM YUGAM
NA VEDA SADRSAM SASTRAM NA TIRTHA GANGAYA SAMAM
KARTIKAH PRAVARO MASO VAISNAVANAM PRIYAH SADA
KARTIKAM SKALAM YASTU BHAKTYA SEVATE VAISNAVAH

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/39,40 from SKANDA PURANA)

 There is no other month equal to Karttika and there is no other yuga equal to Krta-yuga. There is no other scripture equal to Vedas. There is no other place of pilgrimage equal to Ganges, therefore, the month of Karttika is very dear to the Vaisnavas (people dedicated to Visnu).

DVADASU API MASESU KARTIKAH KRSNA VALLABHAH
TASMIN SAMPUJITO VISNUR ALPAKAIR APY UPAYANAIH
DADATI VAISNAVAM LOKAM ITI EVAM NISCITAM MAYA

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/41 from PADMA PURANA)

 Among all twelve months, the month of Karttika is dear to Lord Sri Krsna. If
somebody performs a little worship of Lord Sri Hari in this month, He offers
that devotee His own abode. This statement is true.

PRAVRTTANAM CA BHAKSANAM KARTIKE NIYAME KRTE
AVASYAM KRSNA RUPATVAM PRAPYATE MUKTIDAM SUBHAM

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/49 from SKANDA PURANA)

 Whatever one usually eats, if he gives up some of the ingredients of it in the month of Karttika, then he achieves the same aupicious form as Lord Sri Krsna undoubtedly.

 Srila Sanatana Gosvami remarks in the Digdarsini-tika, "Those who are engaged in eating daily and following the rules of Karttika, they should try to minimize and give up certain ingredients in eating. Obtaining the same form as Krsna means that it liberates one from the miseries of this material world and gives all auspiciousness and happiness."

SARVA DHARMAN PARITYAJYA KARTIKE KESAVA AGRATAH
SASTRA AVATARANAM PUNYAM SROTAVYAN CA MAHAMUNE

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/76 from SKANDA PURANA Lord Brahma speaks to Narada
Muni)

 Oh great sage, after giving up all varieties of religious functions, one
should follow Karttika fast and listen to the narrations of Lord Sri Hari
before His Deity form.

PALASA PATRA BHOJI CA KARTIKE PURUSO NARAH
NISPAPAH SYAT TU NAIVEDYAM HARER BHUKTVA VIMUCYATE
MADHYASTHAM ISVARAM PATRAM VARJAYED BRAHMANE TARAH

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/87 from PADMA PURANA)

 Any person in the month of Karttika, who eats on the leaf plate of Palasa the remnants of the Lord, becomes free from all sins and achieves liberation. Besides brahmanas (twice born persons), others are not advised to eat from this leaf because this leaf is said to be the leaf of the Supreme Lord.

SNANAM JAGARANAM DIPAM TULASI VANA PALANAM
KARTIKE YE PRAKURVANTI TE NARA VISNU MURTAYAH

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/90 from PADMA PURANA Lord Krsna speaks to Satyabhama)

 Any person who performs bathing in the month of Karttika, remaining awake, offering lamps, giving charity or planting and transplanting Tulasi, he achieves the same form as Lord Sri Visnu.

KALPA KOTI SAHASRANI PATKANI BAHUNY API
NIMESA ARDHENA DIPASYA VILAYAM YANTI KARTIKE

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/99 from SKANDA PURANA)

 If even for a short time somebody burns a lamp in the temple of Lord Sri Hari, then whatever sins he has acquired for millions of kalpas (one kalpa equals 1000 yugas) are all destroyed.

YATHA CA MATHANAD VAHNIH SARVA KASTHESU DRSYATE
TATHA CA DRSYATE DHARMO DIPADANE NA SAMSAYAH

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/120 from PADMA PURANA)

 Just as by rubbing of two sticks of wood one can see fire, so by offering a burning ghee wick to the Lord in the month of Karttika, one can see his merits without a doubt.

 In his Digdarsini-tika Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains, "Even though fire is present in all pieces of wood, still without rubbing fire does not manifest. Similarly, in all kinds of functions, although merit is available, by offering a lamp in this month, certainly one can see the merit. Not otherwise. Of this there is no doubt. Therefore, without offering lamps, all merits are unprofitable. This is the essence here."

VAISNAVO NA SA MANTAVYAH SAMPRAPTE KARTIKE MUNE
YO NA YACCHATI MUDHATMA DIPAM KESAVA SADMANI

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/122 from PADMA PURANA)

 Oh sage, a person who does not offer a ghee lamp in Lord Kesava's temple in Karttika, that foolish person is not addressed as a Vaisnava.

EKADASYAM PARER DATTAM DIPAM PRAJVALYA MUSIKA
MANUSYAM DURLABHAM PRAPYA PARAM GATIM AVAPA SA

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/129 from SKANDA PURANA)

 One rat (female mouse) had once burnt a ghee lamp which was offered by someone else on Ekadasi day. By doing so, she achieved a rarely achievable human form and at last attained the topmost destination.

 Srila Sanatana Gosvami writes in his Digdarsini-tika, "In this verse it is found that it is possible to attain the results of directly offering a lamp on Ekadasi. This history of the mouse is very famous in the Padma Purana, Kartika Mahatmya. (In a temple of Lord Visnu, there was a mouse living who was eating the ghee from the extinguished ghee lamps which had been offered by others to Him. One day when she felt hungry to eat ghee, she tried to eat the ghee from a lamp which was not yet extinguished. While eating ghee from the lamp, the cotton wick got stuck in her teeth. Since the ghee wick had a flame, the mouse started jumping in front of the Lord's Deity form and thus died due to fire. But Lord Sri Visnu accepted the jumping of that mouse with a lit ghee wick in her mouth as His aratik. In the end He gave her liberation, the topmost destination.)

MATHURAYAM NARAIR URJE SNATVA DAMODARO'RCITAH
KRSNA RUPA HI TE JNEYA NA ATRA KARYA VICARANA

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/155 from PADMA PURANA)

 Any person who worships Lord Damodara in the month of Karttika in the Mathura area, certainly achieves the same form as Lord Sri Krsna Himself.

 Srila Sanatana Gosvami comments on this in his Digdarsini-tika, "Human beings achieving the same form as Krsna means that they see Lord Sri Krsna. In other words, they become as worshipable as Lord Sri Krsna. This this the understanding here."

KARTIKE MATHURAYAM VAI PUJANAD DARSANAD DHRUVAH
SIGHRAM SAMPRAPTAVAN BALO DURLABHAM YOGA TATPARAIH

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/161 from PADMA PURANA)

 Although a child, Dhruva Maharaja during the month of Karttika in the area of Mathura worshiped Lord Sri Damodara and immediately became fixed in his devotion, became worshipable by Saunaka and the other sages and saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face.

SULABHA MATHURA BHUMAU PRATY ABDAM KARTIKAS TATHA
TATHAPI SAMSARANTIHA NARA MUDHA BHAVA AMBUDHAU
YANI SARVANI TIRTHANI NADA NADYAH SARANSI CA
KARTIKE NIVASANTY ATRA MATHURE SARVA MANDALE

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/162,164 from PADMA PURANA)

 Although Mathura (Vraja area) is easily available on the earth and Karttika is easily attainable in the year, but oh, what a great misfortune in the side of human beings who are still suffering in the ocean of material existence. In the month of Karttika, all of the places of pilgrimage, oceans, rivers and lakes come to Mathura area [but they do not take advantage of it.]

ASVINASYA TU MASASYA YA SUKLA EKADASI BHAVET
KARTIKASYA VRATA ANIHA TASYAM KURYAD ATANDRITAH

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/168 from PADMA PURANA conversation between Lord Krsna
and Satyabhama)

 One should take a fasting vow for the month of Karttika without any laziness on the Ekadasi which falls in the light part of the month of Asvina (September-October).

NA GRAHE KARTIKE KURYAD VISESENA TU KARTIKAM
TIRTHE TU KARTIKIM KURYAT SARVA YATNENA BHAVINI

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/186 from SKANDA PURANA)

 Oh beautiful lady, specifically, one should not take a vow of fasting in the Karttika month in the home or house. Always the endeavor should be made to go to a place of pilgrimage to make this vow and observe it there.

TATAH PRIYATAMA VISNO RADHIKA GOPIKASU CA
KARTIKE PUJANIYA CA SRI DAMODARA SANNIDHAU

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/195 from PADMA PURANA)

 Among all other gopis, Srimati Radharani is the most dear to Lord Krsna. Therefore in the month of Karttika, one should worship Lord Damodara with Srimati Radharani near Him.

DAMODARA ASTAKAM NAMA STOTRAM DAMODARA ARCANAM
NITYAM DAMODARA AKARSI PATHET SATYA VRATA UDITAM

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/198)

 In the month of Karttika, one should daily worship Lord Damodara and sing the Damodarastaka (the eight prayers of Lord Damodara) which pleases Lord Damodara, written by the sage named Satyavrata.

GOVARDHANA GIRAU RAMYE RADHAKUNDAM PRIYAM HAREH
KARTIKE BAHULA ASTAMYAM TATRA SNATVA HAREH PRIYAH
NARO BHAKTO BHAVED VIPRAS TADDHI TASYA PRATOSANAM

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/207 from PADMA PURANA)

 Oh brahmanas, in the beautiful Govardhana area there is a Radhakunda (a lake of Radharani) which is very dear to Lord Sri Hari. One who takes bath in it on the eighth day of the dark moon night of Karttika, becomes very dear to Lord Sri Hari.

 Srila Sanatana Gosvami remarks in his Digdarsini-tika that, "Although by taking bath in Radhakunda one becomes very dear to Lord Sri Hari, still, if he takes bath anywhere in the name of pleasing Lord Hari, he pleases Him as well.

SRI KRSNA DASA VARYO'YAM SRI GOVARDHANA BHUDHARAH
SUKLA PRATIPADI PRATAH KARTIKE'RCYU 'TRA VAISNAVAIH

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/232 from SKANDA PURANA)

 On the first day of the light part of the month of Karttika, a Vaisnava should certainly worship the topmost servant of Lord Sri Krsna, Sri Govardhana Hill, early in the morning as it is found in the Srimad Bhagavatam, 10th Canto, 21 chapter, verse 18.

MATHURAYAM TATHA SAKSAT KRATVA CAIVA PRADAKSINAM
VAISNAVAM DHAMA SAMPRAPYA MODATE HARI SANNIDHAU

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/249 from PADMA PURANA)

 One who stays in the Mathura area, worships Govardhana, and goes around it, he goes to the abode of Lord Sri Hari and stays there happily.

URJE SUKLA DVITIYAYAM MADHYAHE YAMA ARCAYET
SNANAM KRTVA BHANUJAYAM YAMA-LOKAM NA PASYATI

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/267 from SKANDA PURANA and PADMA PURANA)

 On the midpart of the second day of the light part of the month of Karttika one should worship Yamaraja and take bath in the Yamuna. If he does so, he will not have to go to the abode of Yamaraja.

PRABODHINIM UPOSYA EVA NA GARBHE VISATE NARAH
SARVA DHARMAN PARITYAJYA TASMAT KURVITA NARADA

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/289 from SKANDA PURANA spoken by Lord Brahma)

 Oh Narada Muni, one who fasts on Prabodhini (when the Lord gets up) Ekadasi, does not enter again into the womb of another mother. Therefore, a person should give up all varieties of occupation and fast on this particular Ekadasi day.

DUGDHABDHIH BHOGI SAYANE BHAGAVAN ANANTO
YASMIN DINE SVAPITI CA ATHA VIBHUDHYATE CA
TASMINN ANANYA MANASAM UPAVASA BHAJAM
KAMAM DADATY ABHIMATAM GARUDANKA SAYI

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/293 from PADMA PURANA)

 One who fasts with one pointed intelligence on the day when the Supreme Lord Sri Hari, Who sleeps on a bed of the enemy of Garuda (snake) goes to take rest in the Milk ocean on the bed of Ananta Sesa and also the day He gets up, gets all of his desires fulfilled.

BHAKTIPRADA HAREH SATU NAMNA KSATA PRAVODHINI
YASA VISNOH PARA MURTIR AVYAKTA ANEKA RUPINI
SA KSIPTA MANUSE LOKE DVADADI MUNI PUNGAVA

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/301 from VARAHA PURANA conversation between Yamaraja and Narada Muni)

 This Prabodhini Ekadasi is famous for rewarding devotion to Lord Sri Hari. Oh best of the sages (Narada Muni), the personality of Ekadasi is present on this earthly planet in an unmanifested form of Lord Hari.

 Srila Sanatana Gosvami remarks in his Digdarsini-tika that one who exactly observes the Ekadasi fast by observing this, he directly worships Lord Sri Hari. This is the meaning of this verse. Therefore, Ekadasi is said to be equal to Lord Sri Hari Himself.

CATUR DHA GRAHYA VAI CIRNAM CATUR MASYA VRATAM NARAH
KARTIKE SUKLAPAKSE TU DVADASYAM TAT SAMACARET

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/412 from MAHABHARATA)

 A person who observed Caturmasya fast stated in four different ways should end his fast on the Dvadasi day on the light fortnight of the month of Karttika.

EVAM YA ACARET PARTHA SOBHANAM DHARMAM APNUYAT
AVASANE TU RAJENDRA VASUDEVA PURAM VRAJET

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/433 from BHAVISYA UTTARA PURANA)

 Oh son of Prtha, Oh best of the kings, one who follows his vows properly as it is stated here achieves the highest merit and at last goes to the abode of  Lord Sri Hari, the son of Vasudeva.

MALATI MALAYA VISNUH PUJITO YENA KARTIKE
PAPAKSARA KRTAM MALAM HATHAT SAURIH PRAMARJJATI

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 7/92 from SKANDA PURANA conversation between Lord Brahma and Narada Muni)

 In the month of Karttika (October-November), any person, if he worships Lord Visnu with Malati (white Jasmine) flowers, whatever sinful activities are registered for him by Yamaraja, death personified, are removed.

KAMALAIH KAMALAKANTAH PUJITAH KARTIKE TU YAIH
KAMALA ANUGA TESAM JANMANTARA SATESU API

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 7/102 from PADMA PURANA, UTTARA KHANDA)

 Any person who offers lotus flowers to Lord Narayana, the dearest personality of Laksmidevi in the month of Karttika, Laksmidevi resides with him for hundreds of births.

Bhavisya Purana-  "One who passes the Chaturmasya season without observing religious vows, austerities and chanting of japa, such a fool although living should be considered to be a dead man."
Kanda Purana, Nagava Khunda-  "In the month of shravana (July, August) one should refrain from eating spinach.  In the month of Bhadra (August, September) of yogert in Ashvina (September, October) milk. In Kartik (October, November) meat and urd dall.
Various vows and austerities during Chaturmasya and Their respective results.
"O King, one who is My devotee and is fixed in vow, whether man or woman, for the purpose of Dharma, should accept these various austerities and observances. I shall now describe to you all of them along with their respective results.
1) No salt—One's voice becomes sweet.
2) No oil—One's life is prolonged and gets progeny.
3) No oil massages—One's body becomes beautiful.
4) No cooking with oil—One's enemies are vanished.
5) No licorice and oil—One becomes wealthy.
6) Give up wearing unoffered flowers—One becomes a Vidyadhara in Devapura.
7) Give up six kinds of tastes (spice, sour, bitter, sweet, salty and harsh)—One never becomes ugly, smelly, or obtains a bad birth.
8) Practice of yoga—One goes to Brahmaloka.
9) No betal nuts—One becomes happy.
10) No cooked food (raw fruits & Vegetables)—One obtains purity.
11) No honey—One becomes lustrous.
12) No yogert or milk—One attains Goloka.
13) No cooking with earthen pots—One gets ... (?)
14) No hot food—One gets offspring with a long life.
15) Take rest on the ground or on stone—One becomes an associate of Vishnu.
16) One who gives up meat & honey is a yogi and muni.
17) No intoxicating liquors—One becomes powerful and free from disease.
18) Fast for one day—One is honored in Brahmaloka.
19) No cutting of hair and nails—One gets the benefit of taking bath daily in Ganges.
20) No speaking of grama katha (nonsense)—One's order will never be disobeyed.
21) Eat food on the ground without dish or plate—One obtains a kingdom on Earth.
22) Chant the mantra Namo Narayana—One obtains the result of giving in charity 100 times.
23) Offer prayers to the Lord—One gets the result of giving cows in charity.
24) Touch the lotus feet of the Deity—One becomes a successful person.
25) Clean the temple of the Lord—If one is king he remains so for a Kalpa.
26) Circumambulating the temple three times offering prayers—At the time of death one will mount a swan airplane and go to Vaikuntha.
27) Singing or playing musical instruments in the temple of the Lord—One goes to Gardharvaloka.
28) Take pleasure in studying the sastras—One goes to Vishnuloka.
29) Sprinkle water in the temple—One goes to apsaraloka.
30) Take bath in a holy place—One's body becomes pure.
31) Worship Lord Vishnu with flowers—One goes to Vaikuntha.
32) Eat panchagavya—One gets the result of observing candrayana fasting.
33) Eat one meal a day—One gets the results of performing an Agnihotra.
34) Eat at night only—One gets the result of going to all the places of pilgrimage.
35) Eat at noon only—One attains Devaloka.
36) Take food not obtained by begging or any extraneous endeavor—One gets the results of opening water stands and digging wells.
37) Take bath daily—One will never see hell.
38) No eating on a plate—One gets the result of bathing at Pushkara
39) Eat on a leaf—One obtains the result of living at Kurukshetra.
40) Eat on a stone—One obtains the result of bathing at Prayog.
41) Giving up drinking to six hours—One will not be attacked by diseases.
42) During the Chaturmasya, garlands, caranamrta, candana and water from the conshell of the Lord, mahaprasädam, Deity garlands must be accepted.

In this way one who performs this vrata for the satisfaction of Lord Kesava becomes satisfied himself. O best of the Pandavas, among My devotees, he who accepts these vows and austerities during the Chaturmasya goes to my abode at the time of death, of this there is no doubt.

Vishnu Rahasya-  Lord Brahma to Narada Muni.

The Glories of Offering a lamp during Karttika Text 99 In the Skanda Purana it is said: “When one offers a lamp during the month of Karttika, his sins in many thousands and millions of births perish in half an eye blink.” Text 100 It is further said: “Please hear the glories of offering a lamp during pleasing to Lord Kesava. O King of brahmanas, a person who offers a lamp in this way will not take birth again in this world.”

Text 101 By offering a lamp during the month of Karttika one attains a pious result ten million times greater than the result obtained by bathing at Kuruksetra during a solar eclipse or by bathing in the river Narmada during a lunar eclipse.

Text 102 O Tiger of sages, for a person who thus offers a lamp burning with ghee or sesame oil, what is the use of performing an asvasmedha-yajia?

Text 103 Even if there are no mantras, no pious deeds, and no purity, everything becomes perfect when a person offers a lamp during the month of Karttika.

Text 104 A person who during the month of Karttika offers a lamp to Lord Kesava has already performed all yajnas and bathing in all holy rivers.

Text 107 The ancestors say: When someone in our family pleases Lord Kesava by offering to Him a lamp during the month of Karttika, then, by the mercy of the Lord who holds the Sudarsana-cakra in His Hand, we will all attain liberation.

Text 108 It is further said: “By offering a lamp during the month of Karttika one burns away a collection of sins as big as Mount Meru or Mount Mandara. Of this there is no doubt.  Text 111 A person who offers a lamp during the month of Karttika attains a result that cannot be obtained with even a hundred yajnas or a hundred pilgrimages.  Text 112 Even a person addicted to all sins and averse to all pious deeds who somehow offers a lamp during Karttika becomes purified. Of this there is no doubt.

Text 113 O Narada, no sin exists anywhere in the three worlds that will not be purified by offering a lamp to Lord Kesava during Karttika.

Text 114 A person who offers a lamp to Lord Krsna during Karttika attains the eternal spiritual world where there is no suffering.

Text 120 As fire is present in all wood and may be extracted by friction, so piety is always present in the offering of a lamp during the month of Karttika. Of this there is no doubt.

Text 121 It is further said: “O King of brahmanas, when someone offers Him a lamp on the full-moon day of the month of Karttika, Lord Krishna, finding that He does not have sufficient money to repay that gift, gives Himself in exchange for that lamp.

In the Padma Purana it is said: “One who offers a steady lamp to Lord Hari during the month of Karttika enjoys pastimes in Lord Hari’s splendid spiritual world. (found in the Padma Parana of Krsna Dvaipayana Vyasa, spoken by Satyavrata Muni in a conversation with Narada Muni and Saunaka Rsi)

In the month of Karttika one should worship Lord Damodara and daily recite the prayer known as Damodarastaka, which has been spoken by the sage Satyavrata and which attracts Lord Damodara.(Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa 2.16.198)

1) namamisvaram sac-cid-ananda-rupam,lasat-kundalam gokule brajamanamyasoda-bhiyolukhald dhavamanam,paramrdstam atyantato drutya gopya

2) rudantam muhur netra-yugmam mrjantam, karambhoja-yugmena stanka-netram muhuh svasa-kampa-trirekhanka-kantha- sthita-graivam damodaram bhakti-baddham

3) itidrk sva-lilabhir ananda-kunde,sva-ghosarh nimajjantam akhyapayantamtadiyesita-jnesu bhaktair jitatvampunah prematas tarn satdvrtti vande

4) varam deva moksam na moksavadhim vana canyam vrne ‘ham varesad apihaidam te vapur natha gopala-balamsada me manasy avirastam kim anyaih

5) idam te mukhambhojam atyanta-nilairvrtam kuntalaih snigdha-raktais ca gopya muhus cumbitam bimba-raktadharam me manasy avirastam alam laksa-labhaih  6) namo deva damodarananta visnoprasida prabho duhkha-jaldadhi-magnamkrpa-drsti-vrstyati-dinam batanu-grhanesa mam ajnam edhy aksi-drsyah 7) kuveratmajau baddha-murtyaiva yadvattvaya mocitau bhakti-bhajau krtau catathd prema-bhaktim svakam me prayacchana mokse graho me ’sti damodareha   namas te ’stu damne sphurad-dipti-dhamne tvadiyodarayatha visvasya dhamne namo radhikayai tvadiya-priyayai namo ‘nanta-lilaya devaya tubhyam

1) To the Supreme Controller who possesses an eternal form of blissful knowledge, whose glistening earrings swing to and fro, who manifested Himself in Gokula, who stole the butter that the gopis kept hanging from the rafters of their storerooms and who then quickly jumped up and ran in retreat in fear of Mother Yasoda but was ultimately caught - to that Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, I offer my humble obeisances.

2) Upon seeing His mother’s whipping stick, He cried and rubbed His eyes again and again with His two lotus hands. His eyes were fearful and His breathing quick, and as Mother Yasoda bound His belly with ropes, He shivered in fright and His pearl necklace shook. To this Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, who is bound with His devotee’s love, I offer my humble obeisances.

3) Those superexcellent pastimes of Lord Krsna’s babyhood drowned the inhabitants of Gokula in pools of ecstasy. To the devotees who are attracted only to His majestic aspect of Narayana in Vaikuntha, the Lord herein reveals: ‘I am conquered and overwhelmed by pure loving devotion.’ To the Supreme Lord, Damodara, my obeisances hundreds and hundreds of times.  4) O Lord, although You are able to give all kinds of benedictions, I do not pray to You for liberation, nor eternal life in Vaikuntha, nor any other boon. My only prayer is that Your childhood pastimes may constantly appear in my mind. 0 Lord, I do not even want to know Your feature of Paramatma. I simply wish that Your childhood pastimes may ever be enacted in my heart.  5) O Lord, the cheeks of Your blackish lotus face, which is encircled by locks of curling hair, have become reddened like bimba fruit due to Mother Yasoda’s kisses. What more can I describe than this? Millions of opulences are of no use to me, but may this vision constantly remain in my mind.

6) O unlimited Visnu! O master! O Lord! Be pleased upon me! I am drowning in an ocean of sorrow and am almost like a dead man. Please shower the rain of mercy on me; uplift me and protect me with Your nectarean vision.

7) O Lord Damodara, in Your form as a baby Mother Yasoda bound You to a grinding stone with a rope for tying cows. You then freed the sons of Kuvera, Manigriva, and Nalakuvera, who were cursed to stand as trees, and You gave them the chance to become Your devotees. Please bless me in this same way. I have no desire for liberation into Your effulgence.

8) O Lord, the entire universe was created by Lord Brahma, who was born from Your abdomen, which was bound with a rope by Mother Yasoda. To this rope I offer my humble obeisances. I offer my obeisances to Your most beloved Srimati Radharani and to Your unlimited pastimes.

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