na te viduù svärtha-gatià hi viñëuà

duräçayä ye bahir-artha-mäninaù

andhä yathändhair upanéyamänäs

te 'péça-tantryäm uru-dämni baddhäù

(SB 7.5.31)

SYNONYMS

na—not; te—they; viduù—know; sva-artha-gatim—the ultimate goal of life, or their own real interest; hi—indeed; viñëum—Lord Viñëu and His abode;

duräçayäù—being ambitious to enjoy this material world; ye—who;

bahiù—external sense objects; artha-mäninaù—considering as valuable;

andhäù—persons who are blind; yathä—just as; andhaiù—by other blind men; upanéyamänäù—being led; te—they; api—although; éça-tantryäm—to the ropes (laws) of material nature; uru—having very strong; dämni—cords;

baddhäù—bound.

TRANSLATION

Persons who are strongly entrapped by the consciousness of enjoying material life, and who have therefore accepted as their leader or guru a similar blind man attached to external sense objects, cannot understand that the goal of life is to return home, back to Godhead, and engage in the service of Lord Visñu. As blind men guided by another blind man miss the right path and fall into a ditch, materially attached men led by another materially attached man are bound by the ropes of fruitive labor, which are made of very strong cords, and they continue again and again in materialistic life, suffering the three folds miseries.

tat te 'nukampäà su-samékñamäëo

bhuïjäna evätma-kåtaà vipäkam

håd-väg-vapurbhir vidadhan namas te

jéveta yo mukti-pade sa däya-bhäk

SYNONYMS

tat—therefore; te—Your; anukampäm—compassion; su-samékñamäëaù—earnestly hoping for; bhuïjänaù—enduring; eva—certainly; ätma-kåtam—done by himself; vipäkam—the fruitive results; håt—with his heart; väk—words; vapurbhiù—and body; vidadhan—offering; namaù—obeisances; te—unto You; jéveta—lives; yaù—anyone who; mukti-pade—to the position of liberation; saù—he; däya-bhäk—the rightful heir.

TRANSLATION

My dear Lord, one who earnestly waits for You to bestow Your causeless mercy upon him, all the while patiently suffering the reactions of his past misdeeds and offering You respectful obeisances with his heart, words and body, is surely eligible for liberation, for it has become his rightful claim.

kaler dosa-nidhe rajann

asti hy eko mahan guna

kirtanad eva krsnasya

mukta-sanga param vrajet

SYNONYMS

kaler—of the age of Kali; dosa-nidhe—in the ocean of faults; rajan—O King; asti—there is; hi—certainly; eka—one; mahan—very great; guna—good quality; kirtanat—by chanting; eva—certainly; krsnasya—of the holy name of Krsna; mukta-sanga—liberated from material bondage; param—to the transcendental spiritual kingdom; vrajet—one can go.

TRANSLATION

My dear King, although Kali-yuga is an ocean of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: Simply by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.

krte yad dhyayato visnum

tretayam yajato makhaih

dvapare paricaryayam

kalau tad hari-kirtanat

SYNONYMS

krte—in the Satya-yuga; yat—which; dhyayatah—from meditation; visnum—on Lord Visnu; tretayam—in the Treta-yuga; yajata—from worshiping; makhaih—by performing sacrifices; dvapare—in the age of Dvapara; paricaryayam—by worshiping the lotus feet of Krsna; kalau—in the age of Kali; tat—that same result (can be achieved); hari-kirtanat—simply by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra.

TRANSLATION

Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Visnu, in Treta-yuga by performing sacrifices, and in Dvapara-yuga by serving the Lord's lotus feet can be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra.

matir na k e parata svato vāṛṣṇ ḥ

mitho 'bhipadyeta g ha-vratānāmṛ

adānta-gobhir viśatā tamisraṁ ṁ

puna punaś carvita-carva ānāmḥ ṇ

(SB 7.5.30)

SYNONYMS

çré-prahrädaù uväca—Prahläda Mahäräja said; matiù—inclination; na—ever; kåñëe—unto Lord Kåñëa; parataù—from the instructions of others; svataù—from their own understanding; vä—either; mithaù—from combined effort; abhipadyeta—is developed; gåha-vratänäm—of persons too addicted to the materialistic, bodily conception of life; adänta—uncontrolled; gobhiù—by the senses; viçatäm—entering; tamisram—hellish life; punaù—again; punaù—again; carvita—things already chewed; carvaëänäm—who are chewing.

TRANSLATION

Prahläda Mahäräja replied: Because of their uncontrolled senses, persons too addicted to materialistic life make progress toward hellish conditions and repeatedly chew that which has already been chewed. Their inclinations toward Kåñëa are never aroused, either by the instructions of others, by their own efforts, or by a combination of both.

vedeñu yajïeñu tapaùsu caiva

däneñu yat puëya-phalaà pradiñöam

atyeti tat sarvam idaà viditvä

yogé paraà sthänam upaiti cädyam

SYNONYMS

vedeñu—in the study of the Vedas; yajïeñu—in the performances of yajïa, sacrifice; tapaùsu—in undergoing different types of austerities; ca—also; eva—certainly; däneñu—in giving charities; yat—that which; puëya-phalam—result of pious work; pradiñöam—indicated; atyeti—surpasses; tat sarvam—all those; idam—this; viditvä—knowing; yogé—the devotee; param—supreme; sthänam—abode; upaiti—achieves; ca—also; ädyam—original.

TRANSLATION

A person who accepts the path of devotional service is not bereft of the results derived from studying the Vedas, performing austere sacrifices, giving charity or pursuing philosophical and fruitive activities. Simply by performing devotional service, he attains all these, and at the end he reaches the supreme eternal abode.

asuryä näma te lokä

andhena tamasävåtäù

täàs te pretyäbhigacchanti

ye ke cätma-hano janäù

(Isopnishad mantra 4)

SYNONYMS

asuryäù—meant for the asuras; näma—famous by the name; te—those; lokäù—planets; andhena—by ignorance; tamasä—by darkness; ävåtäù— covered; tän—those planets; te—they; pretya—after death; abhigacchanti—enter into; ye—anyone; ke—everyone; ca—

and; ätma— hanaù—the killers of the soul; janäù—persons.

TRANSLATION

The killer of the soul, whoever he may be, must enter into the planets known as the worlds of the faithless, full of darkness and ignorance.

yasyāsti bhaktir bhagavaty akiñcanā

sarvair gu ais tatra samāsate surā ṇ ḥ

harāv abhaktasya kuto mahad-gu ā ṇ

mano-rathenāsati dhāvato bahi ḥ

SB: 05.18.12

SYNONYMS

yasya—of whom; asti—there is; bhaktiù—devotional service; bhagavati—to

the Supreme Personality of Godhead; akiïcanä—without any motive;

sarvaiù—with all; guëaiù—good qualities; tatra—there (in that person);

samäsate—reside; suräù—all the demigods; harau—unto the Supreme

Personality of Godhead; abhaktasya—of a person who is not devoted;

kutaù—where; mahat-guëäù—good qualities; manorathena—by mental

speculation; asati—in the temporary material world; dhävataù—who is

running; bahiù—outside.

TRANSLATION

All the demigods and their exalted qualities, such as religion, knowledge and renunciation, become manifest in the body of one who has developed unalloyed devotion for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Väsudeva. On the other hand, a person devoid of

devotional service and engaged in material activities has no good qualities. Even if he is adept at the practice of mystic yoga or the honest endeavor of maintaining his family and

relatives, he must be driven by his own mental speculations and must engage in the service of the Lord's external energy. How can there be any good qualities in such a man?

tasmäd bhärata sarvätmä

bhagavän éçvaro hariù

çrotavyaù kértitavyaç ca

smartavyaç cecchatäbhayam

SB:02.01.05

SYNONYMS

tasmät—for this reason; bhärata—O descendant of Bharata; sarvätmä—the Supersoul; bhagavän—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; éçvaraù—the controller; hariù—the

Lord, who vanquishes all miseries; çrotavyaù—is to be heard; kértitavyaù—to be glorified; ca—also; smartavyaù—to be remembered; ca—and; icchatä—of one who desires;

abhayam—freedom.

TRANSLATION

O descendant of King Bharata, one who desires to be free from all miseries must hear about, glorify and also remember the Personality of Godhead, who is the Supersoul, the controller and the savior from all miseries.

yat karoñi yad açnäsi

yaj juhoñi dadäsi yat

yat tapasyasi kaunteya

tat kuruñva mad-arpaëam

Bg. 9.27

SYNONYMS

yat—whatever; karoñi—you do; yat—whatever; açnäsi—you eat;

yat—whatever; juhoñi—you offer; dadäsi—you give away; yat—whatever;

yat—whatever; tapasyasi—austerities you perform; kaunteya—O son of Kunté;

tat—that; kuruñva—do; mat—unto Me; arpaëam—as an offering.

TRANSLATION

Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform—do that, O son of Kunté, as an offering to Me.

smartavyah satatam vishnur

vismartavyo na jatucit

sarve vidhi-nishedhah syur

etayor eva kinkarah

(CC madhya 22.113)

SYNONYMS

smartavyah -- to be remembered; satatam -- always; vishnuh -- Lord Vishnu; vismartavyah -- to be forgotten; na -- not; jatucit -- at any time; sarve -- all; vidhi-nishedhah-- rules and prohibitions mentioned in the revealed scripture or given by the spiritual master; syuh -- should be; etayoh -- of these two principles (always to rememberKrishna or Vishnu and never to forget Him); eva -- certainly; kinkarah -- the servants.

TRANSLATION

"'Krishna is the origin of Lord Vishnu. He should always be remembered and never forgotten at any time. All the rules and prohibitions mentioned in the sastras should be the servants of these two principles.'

SB:10.10.13

SYNONYMSasataù—of such a foolish rascal; çré-mada-andhasya—who is blinded by temporarily possessing riches and opulence; däridryam—poverty; param aïjanam—the best ointment for the eyes, by which to see things as they are; ätma-upamyena—with comparison to himself; bhütäni—living beings;daridraù—a poverty-stricken man; param—perfectly; ékñate—can see things as they are.

TRANSLATIONAtheistic fools and rascals who are very much proud of wealth fail to see things as they are. Therefore, returning them to poverty is the proper ointment for their eyes so they may see things as they are. At least a poverty-stricken man can realize how painful poverty is, and therefore he will not want others to be in a painful condition like his own.

SB: 10.10.14

SYNONYMS

yathä—just as; kaëöaka-viddha-aìgaù—a person whose body has been pinpricked; jantoù—of such an animal; na—not; icchati—desires; täm— a particular; vyathäm—pain; jéva-sämyam gataù—when he understands that the position is the same for everyone; liìgaiù—by possessing a particular type of body; na—not; tathä—so; aviddha-kaëöakaù—a person who has not been pinpricked.

TRANSLATION

By seeing their faces, one whose body has been pricked by pins can understand the pain of others who are pinpricked. Realizing that this pain is the same for everyone, he does not want others to suffer in this way. But one who has never been pricked by pins cannot understand this pain.

SB: 10.10.15

SYNONYMS

daridraù—a poverty-stricken person; nir-aham-stambhaù—is automatically freed from all false prestige; muktaù—liberated; sarva—all; madaiù—from false ego; iha—in this world; kåcchram—with great difficulty; yadåcchayä äpnoti—what he gains by chance from providence; tat—that; hi—indeed; tasya—his; param—perfect; tapaù—austerity.

TRANSLATION

A poverty-stricken man must automatically undergo austerities and penances because he does not have the wealth to possess anything. Thus his false prestige is vanquished. Always in need of food, shelter and clothing, he must be satisfied with what is obtained by the mercy of providence. Undergoing such compulsory austerities is good for him because this purifies him and completely frees him from false ego.

SB: 10.10.16SYNONYMSnityam—always; kñut—with hunger; kñäma—weak, without necessary strength; dehasya—of the body of a poor man; daridrasya—poverty- tricken; anna-käìkñiëaù—always desiring to get sufficient food; indriyäë i—the senses, which are compared to snakes; anuçuñyanti—gradually become weaker and weaker, with less potency; hiàsä api—the tendency to be envious of others; vinivartate—reduces.

TRANSLATIONAlways hungry, longing for sufficient food, a poverty-stricken man gradually becomes weaker and weaker. Having no extra potency, his senses are automatically pacified. A poverty-stricken man, therefore, is unable to perform harmful, envious activities. In other words, such a man automatically gains the results of the austerities and penances adopted voluntarily by saintly persons.

Prayers by Queen Kunti

Krishnaya VasudevayaDevaki-nandanaya caNanda-gopa-kumrarayaGovindaya namo namah

Namah pankaja-nabhayaNamah pankaja-malineNamah pankaja-netrayaNamas te pankajanghraye

Vipadah santu tah sasvatTatra tatra jagad-guroBhavato darshanam yat syadApuna bhava-dharsanam

Janmaisvarya-sruta-sribhirEdhamana-madah pumanNaivarhaty abhidhatum vaiTvan akincana-gocaram

Bhave 'smin klisyamananamAvidya-kama-karmabhihSravana-smaranahariKarisyann iti kecana

Tvayi me 'nanya-visayaMatir madhu-pate 'sakrtRatim udvahatad addhaGangevaugham udanvati

SB: 10.10.36

SYNONYMS

namaù—we therefore offer our respectful obeisances; parama-kalyäëa—You are the supreme auspiciousness; namaù—our respectful obeisances unto You; parama-maìgala—whatever You do is good; väsudeväya—unto the original Personality of Godhead, Väsudeva; çäntäya—unto the most peaceful; yadünäm—of the Yadu dynasty; pataye—unto the controller; namaù—our respectful obeisances unto You.

TRANSLATION

O supremely auspicious, we offer our respectful obeisances unto You, who are the supreme good. O most famous descendant and controller of the Yadu dynasty, O son of Vasudeva, O most peaceful, let us offer our obeisances unto Your lotus feet.

SB: 10.14.58

Synonyms

samäçritäù—having taken shelter; ye—those who; pada—of the feet; pallava—like flower buds; plavam—which are a boat; mahat—of the total material creation, or of the great souls; padam—the

shelter; puëya—supremely pious; yaçaù—whose fame; mura-areù—of the enemy of the demon Mura; bhava—of the material existence; ambudhiù—the ocean; vatsa-padam—the hoof-print of a calf; param padam—the supreme abode, Vaikuëöha; padam padam—at every step; yat—where;

vipadäm—of material miseries; na—none; teñäm—for them.

TRANSLATION

For those who have accepted the boat of the lotus feet of the Lord, who is the shelter of the cosmic manifestation and is famous as Muräri, the enemy of the Mura demon, the ocean of the material world is like the water contained in a calf's hoof-print. Their goal is paraà padam, Vaikuëöha, the

place where there are no material miseries, not the place where there is danger at every step.

SB: 10.01.04

SYNONYMS

nivåtta—released from; tarñaiù—lust or material activities;upagéyamänät—which is described or sung; bhava-auñadhät—which is the right medicine for the material disease; çrotra—the process of aural reception; manaù—the subject matter of thought for the mind; abhirämät—from the pleasing vibrations from such glorification; kaù—who; uttamaçloka—of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; guëa-anuvädät—from describing such activities; pumän—a person; virajyeta—can keep himself aloof; vinä—except; paçu-ghnät—either a butcher or one who is killing his own personal existence.

TRANSLATION

Glorification of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is performed in the paramparä system; that is, it is conveyed from spiritual master to disciple. Such glorification is relished by those no longer interested in the false, temporary glorification of this cosmic manifestation. Descriptions of the Lord are the right medicine for the conditioned soul undergoing repeated birth and death. Therefore, who will cease hearing such glorification of the Lord except a butcher or one who is killing his own self?

Paatra apaatra na dekhe na dekhe sthan asthan