Bhakti Ratnavali

[madanmohandas]

Bhakti Ratnavali. 2.57-60

ततो दु:सङ्गमुत्सृज्य सत्सु सज्जेत बुद्धिमान् ।
सन्त एवास्य छिन्दन्ति मनोव्यासङ्गमुक्तिभि: ॥ २६ ॥
tato duḥsaṅgam utsṛjya
satsu sajjeta buddhimān
santa evāsya chindanti
mano-vyāsaṅgam uktibhiḥ

(Sri Krishna to Uddhava)
Then evil attachments he should reject.
By exercise of his keen intellect,
And fond attachment with holy ones make,
Whose speech helps him all evils to forsake. 2.57
(11.26.26)

यद्यसद्‌भि: पथि पुन: शिश्नोदरकृतोद्यमै: ।
आस्थितो रमते जन्तुस्तमो विशति पूर्ववत् ॥ ३२ ॥
yady asadbhiḥ pathi punaḥ
śiśnodara-kṛtodyamaiḥ
āsthito ramate jantus
tamo viśati pūrvavat
सत्यं शौचं दया मौनं बुद्धि: श्रीर्ह्रीर्यश: क्षमा ।
शमो दमो भगश्चेति यत्सङ्गाद्याति सङ्‍क्षयम् ॥ ३३ ॥
satyaṁ śaucaṁ dayā maunaṁ
buddhiḥ śrīr hrīr yaśaḥ kṣamā
śamo damo bhagaś ceti
yat-saṅgād yāti saṅkṣayam
तेष्वशान्तेषु मूढेषु खण्डितात्मस्वसाधुषु ।
सङ्गं न कुर्याच्छोच्येषु योषित्क्रीडामृगेषु च ॥ ३४ ॥
teṣv aśānteṣu mūḍheṣu
khaṇḍitātmasv asādhuṣu
saṅgaṁ na kuryāc chocyeṣu
yoṣit-krīḍā-mṛgeṣu ca

(Kapila to Devahuti)
But if again he takes the evil way,
And by gross appetites is led astray,
He joys under evil company's spell,
And is consigned again to darkest hell.

Truthfulness and cleanliness and mercy,
Wisdom and wealth and taciturnity,
Fame, modesty, restraint and tolerance,
And fortune, are lost by such acquaintance.

Therefore, the vulgar fools bereft of sense,
One should forsake and shun from a distance,
Such are to be pitied as arrant fools,
Who are but for women play pets and tools. 2.58-60
(3,31,32-34)

[madanmohandas]

Concluding the second Strand of Bhakti Ratnavali ubder the heading Sadhu sanga, On holy association. 2.61-64

यथोपश्रयमाणस्य भगवन्तं विभावसुम् ।
शीतं भयं तमोऽप्येति साधून् संसेवतस्तथा ॥ ३१ ॥
yathopaśrayamāṇasya
bhagavantaṁ vibhāvasum
śītaṁ bhayaṁ tamo ’pyeti
sādhūn saṁsevatas tathā
निमज्ज्योन्मज्जतां घोरे भवाब्धौ परमायणम् ।
सन्तो ब्रह्मविद: शान्ता नौर्दृढेवाप्सु मज्जताम् ॥ ३२ ॥
nimajjyonmajjatāṁ ghore
bhavābdhau paramāyaṇam
santo brahma-vidaḥ śāntā
naur dṛḍhevāpsu majjatām
अन्नं हि प्राणिनां प्राण आर्तानां शरणं त्वहम् ।
धर्मो वित्तं नृणां प्रेत्य सन्तोऽर्वाग् बिभ्यतोऽरणम् ॥ ३३ ॥
annaṁ hi prāṇināṁ prāṇa
ārtānāṁ śaraṇaṁ tv aham
dharmo vittaṁ nṛṇāṁ pretya
santo ’rvāg bibhyato ’raṇam
सन्तो दिशन्ति चक्षूंषि बहिरर्क: समुत्थित: ।
देवता बान्धवा: सन्त: सन्त आत्माहमेव च ॥ ३४ ॥
santo diśanti cakṣūṁṣi
bahir arkaḥ samutthitaḥ
devatā bāndhavāḥ santaḥ
santa ātmāham eva ca

(Sri Krishna to Uddhava)
As one approaches nigh a raging fire,
So much doth cold and fear and dark retire;
Thus even the gloom of ignorance flees,
When service is rendered to devotees.

For those that flounder sunk in misery,
On billows of this existential sea,
The saints, who themselves to Brahman devote,
Of tranquil mien, are like a sturdy boat.

As food nourisheth and the life sustains,
As I am refuge for those wracked by pains;
As virtue is the wealth for him that dies,
Saints are resort for those in miseries.

The saints bestow the gift of wisdoms' eye,
Whereas Arka only brightens the sky;
Saints are the friend and deity adored,
As I myself am the beloved Lord. 2.61-64
(11.26.31-34)

Thus ends the second Strand
in the necklace of gems
Bhakti Ratnavali,
consisting of gem-like verses
from the Srimad Bhagavatam,
Selected and arranged by
Vishnu Puri.

[madanmohandas]

Bhakti Ratnavali. Now, taking up the third Strand of the gem necklace under the heading Navadha Bhakti, On the Nine Modes of Devotion, the anthologist, Vishnu Puri, selects those verses that touch upon the theme. As might be anticipated the discourse opens with Prahlada's famous declaration.

श्रवणं कीर्तनं विष्णो: स्मरणं पादसेवनम् ।
अर्चनं वन्दनं दास्यं सख्यमात्मनिवेदनम् ॥ २३ ॥
इति पुंसार्पिता विष्णौ भक्तिश्चेन्नवलक्षणा ।
क्रियेत भगवत्यद्धा तन्मन्येऽधीतमुत्तमम् ॥ २४ ॥
śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ
smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam
arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ
sakhyam ātma-nivedanam
iti puṁsārpitā viṣṇau
bhaktiś cen nava-lakṣaṇā
kriyeta bhagavaty addhā
tan manye ’dhītam uttamam

To hear of Vishnu, praise and contemplate,
To serve his feet, to worship and prostrate,
To practice service and friendship sublime,
The soul in self surrender to resign.
Thus if a man his devotion directs,
Adhering to the nine distinct aspects,
With loving faith, to Lord Vishnu addressed,
That one, I ween, in learning is the best. 3.1/2
(7.5.23/24)

स वै मन: कृष्णपदारविन्दयो-
र्वचांसि वैकुण्ठगुणानुवर्णने ।
करौ हरेर्मन्दिरमार्जनादिषु
श्रुतिं चकाराच्युतसत्कथोदये ॥ १८ ॥
मुकुन्दलिङ्गालयदर्शने द‍ृशौ
तद्भृत्यगात्रस्पर्शेऽङ्गसङ्गमम् ।
घ्राणं च तत्पादसरोजसौरभे
श्रीमत्तुलस्या रसनां तदर्पिते ॥ १९ ॥
पादौ हरे: क्षेत्रपदानुसर्पणे
शिरो हृषीकेशपदाभिवन्दने ।
कामं च दास्ये न तु कामकाम्यया
यथोत्तमश्लोकजनाश्रया रति: ॥ २० ॥
sa vai manaḥ kṛṣṇa-padāravindayor
vacāṁsi vaikuṇṭha-guṇānuvarṇane
karau harer mandira-mārjanādiṣu
śrutiṁ cakārācyuta-sat-kathodaye
mukunda-liṅgālaya-darśane dṛśau
tad-bhṛtya-gātra-sparśe ’ṅga-saṅgamam
ghrāṇaṁ ca tat-pāda-saroja-saurabhe
śrīmat-tulasyā rasanāṁ tad-arpite
pādau hareḥ kṣetra-padānusarpaṇe
śiro hṛṣīkeśa-padābhivandane
kāmaṁ ca dāsye na tu kāma-kāmyayā
yathottamaśloka-janāśrayā ratiḥ

(Suka on the character of Ambarisha)
With mind absorbed in Krishna's lotus-feet,
Whose voice did fame of Vaikuntha repeat;
His hands in cleansing temples of Hari,
His ears hearing Acyuta's deeds with glee.
His eyes Mukunda's images beheld,
Embracing devotees his joy excelled,
He smelt the fragrance of the Tusli sweet,
That decorate those tender lotus-feet.
And with his tongue he relished dainty fare
Of votive offerings with pious care.
Oft on his legs to Hari's fane he went,
At Hrishikesha's feet his head he bent;
In servitude he fulfilled his desire,
Nor did to any selfish end aspire.
He sought the grace of blessed refugees,
Uttamasloka's worthy devotees. 3.3-5
(9.4.18-20)

[madanmohandas]

Bhakti Ratnavali. 3.6-10

श्रवणं कीर्तनं चास्य स्मरणं महतां गते: ।
सेवेज्यावनतिर्दास्यं सख्यमात्मसमर्पणम् ॥ ११ ॥
śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ cāsya
smaraṇaṁ mahatāṁ gateḥ
sevejyāvanatir dāsyaṁ
sakhyam ātma-samarpaṇam

(Narada to Yudhisthira)
To hear about, to praise and contemplate,
To serve him who is resort of the great;
To worship, bow, with servitude divine,
Fond amity, and the self to resign. 3.6
(7.11.11)

श्रुत: सङ्कीर्तितो ध्यात: पूजितश्चाद‍ृतोऽपि वा ।
नृणां धुनोति भगवान् हृत्स्थो जन्मायुताशुभम् ॥ ४६ ॥
śrutaḥ saṅkīrtito dhyātaḥ
pūjitaś cādṛto ’pi vā
nṛṇāṁ dhunoti bhagavān
hṛt-stho janmāyutāśubham

(Suka to Pariksit)
Who hears about, praises and meditates,
Mankind the Lord worships and venerates;
And since he in the hearts of beings dwells,
The sins of a thousand life times dispels. 3.7
(12.3.46)

श‍ृण्वन्ति गायन्ति गृणन्त्यभीक्ष्णश:
स्मरन्ति नन्दन्ति तवेहितं जना: ।
त एव पश्यन्त्यचिरेण तावकं
भवप्रवाहोपरमं पदाम्बुजम् ॥ ३६ ॥
śṛṇvanti gāyanti gṛṇanty abhīkṣṇaśaḥ
smaranti nandanti tavehitaṁ janāḥ
ta eva paśyanty acireṇa tāvakaṁ
bhava-pravāhoparamaṁ padāmbujam

(Kunti to Krishna)
Those who to hear and sing their time employ,
And meditating on you find their joy,
Soon cross the current of this worldly sea,
And, unimpeded, your lotus-feet see. 3.8
(1.8.36)

अहं हरे तव पादैकमूल-
दासानुदासो भवितास्मि भूय: ।
मन: स्मरेतासुपतेर्गुणांस्ते
गृणीत वाक् कर्म करोतु काय: ॥ २४ ॥
ahaṁ hare tava pādaika-mūla-
dāsānudāso bhavitāsmi bhūyaḥ
manaḥ smaretāsu-pater guṇāṁs te
gṛṇīta vāk karma karotu kāyaḥ

(Vritra's prayer)
O Hari! Will I find grace, I entreat,
As servant of the servants of your feet
Like tender lotus flowers beautiful?
Will I again your qualities recall?
Then, Lord of life, I praise you with my voice,
And serve you with my body and rejoice. 3.9
(6.11.24)

अशेषसंक्लेशशमं विधत्ते गुणानुवादश्रवणं मुरारे: ।
किं वा पुनस्तच्चरणारविन्दपरागसेवारतिरात्मलब्धा ॥ १४ ॥
aśeṣa-saṅkleśa-śamaṁ vidhatte
guṇānuvāda-śravaṇaṁ murāreḥ
kiṁ vā punas tac-caraṇāravinda-
parāga-sevā-ratir ātma-labdhā

(Maitreya to Vidura)
To hear Murari's deeds and to relate,
Endless afflictions doth eradicate;
What then of those who relish pollen sweet,
And serve with love his lotus flower feet? 3.10
(3.7.14)

[madanmohandas]

Bhakti Rantavali 3.11-13

नोत्तमश्लोकवार्तानां जुषतां तत्कथामृतम् ।
स्यात्सम्भ्रमोऽन्तकालेऽपि स्मरतां तत्पदाम्बुजम् ॥ ४ ॥
nottamaśloka-vārtānāṁ
juṣatāṁ tat-kathāmṛtam
syāt sambhramo ’nta-kāle ’pi
smaratāṁ tat-padāmbujam

(Suta to Shaunaka)
Those who in the sweet narratives immerse
Themselves of the Lord praised in charming verse,
His lotus-like-feet remember steadfast,
Unbeguiled, even when they breathe their last. 3.11
(1.18.4)

मर्त्यस्तयानुसवमेधितया मुकुन्द-
श्रीमत्कथाश्रवणकीर्तनचिन्तयैति ।
तद्धाम दुस्तरकृतान्तजवापवर्गं
ग्रामाद् वनं क्षितिभुजोऽपि ययुर्यदर्था: ॥ ५० ॥
martyas tayānusavam edhitayā mukunda
śrīmat-kathā-śravaṇa-kīrtana-cintayaiti
tad dhāma dustara-kṛtānta-javāpavargaṁ
grāmād vanaṁ kṣiti-bhujo ’pi yayur yad-arthāḥ

(Suka to Pariksit)
Those mortals that always hear and recite,
And with an ever increasing delight,
Remember his excellences and his deeds,
Beyond the realm of birth and death proceeds.
Indeed, Earth's kings who this gain understood,
The world abandoned and entered the wood. 3.12
(10.90.50)

यानीह विश्वविलयोद्भववृत्तिहेतु:
कर्माण्यनन्यविषयाणि हरिश्चकार ।
यस्त्वङ्ग गायति श‍ृणोत्यनुमोदते वा
भक्तिर्भवेद् भगवति ह्यपवर्गमार्गे ॥ ४५ ॥
yānīha viśva-vilayodbhava-vṛtti-hetuḥ
karmāṇy ananya-viṣayāṇi harīś cakāra
yas tv aṅga gāyati śṛṇoty anumodate vā
bhaktir bhaved bhagavati hy apavarga-mārge

(Suka to Pariksit)
Sri Hari is the universal cause,
Who this world projects, maintains and withdraws;
And whoever joys to recite and hear,
His inimitable exploits, my dear,
Attains devotion to the Supreme Lord,
Along the path to salvation's reward. 3.13
(10.69.45)

[madanmohandas]

Bhakti Ratnavali. 3.14/15

कामं भव: स्ववृजिनैर्निरयेषु न: स्ता-
च्चेतोऽलिवद्यदि नु ते पदयो रमेत ।
वाचश्च नस्तुलसिवद्यदि तेऽङ्‌घ्रि शोभा:
पूर्येत ते गुणगणैर्यदि कर्णरन्ध्र: ॥ ४९ ॥
kāmaṁ bhavaḥ sva-vṛjinair nirayeṣu naḥ stāc
ceto ’livad yadi nu te padayo rameta
vācaś ca nas tulasivad yadi te ’ṅghri-śobhāḥ
pūryeta te guṇa-gaṇair yadi karṇa-randhraḥ

(Sanat Kumara to Narayana)
Lord! Let us to perdition be consigned,
For sins committed, but with conscious mind,
If thought of your lotus-feet we maintain,
We would willing in any place remain;
For, as the bee your foot nectar receives,
We shall attend your feet like Tulsi leaves;
Accounts of your glory we sing and hear,
Will be delightsome nectar to the ear. 3.14
(3.15.49)

मनसो वृत्तयो न: स्यु: कृष्णपादाम्बुजाश्रया: ।
वाचोऽभिधायिनीर्नाम्नां कायस्तत्प्रह्वणादिषु ॥ ६६ ॥
manaso vṛttayo naḥ syuḥ
kṛṣṇa pādāmbujāśrayāḥ
vāco ’bhidhāyinīr nāmnāṁ
kāyas tat-prahvaṇādiṣu

(Nanda to Uddhava)
May our mental faculty be consigned,
And unto Krishna's lotus-feet resigned;
May our bodies to him prostrate remain,
And may our words express his holy fame. 3.15
(10.47.66)

[madanmohandas]

Bhakti Ratnavali. 3.16/17

श‍ृण्वतां गृणतां वीर्याण्युद्दामानि हरेर्मुहु: ।
यथा सुजातया भक्त्या शुद्ध्येन्नात्मा व्रतादिभि: ॥ ३२ ॥
śṛṇvatāṁ gṛṇatāṁ vīryāṇy
uddāmāni harer muhuḥ
yathā sujātayā bhaktyā
śuddhyen nātmā vratādibhiḥ

(Suka to Pariksit)
Who hears heroic deeds of Sri Hari,
And sing his hallowed glory constantly;
By such bhakti the soul is purified,
And not by rites and vows beatified. 3.16
(6.3.32)

यथा यथात्मा परिमृज्यतेऽसौ
मत्पुण्यगाथाश्रवणाभिधानै: ।
तथा तथा पश्यति वस्तु सूक्ष्मं
चक्षुर्यथैवाञ्जनसम्प्रयुक्तम् ॥ २६ ॥
yathā yathātmā parimṛjyate ’sau
mat-puṇya-gāthā-śravaṇābhidhānaiḥ
tathā tathā paśyati vastu sūkṣmaṁ
cakṣur yathaivāñjana-samprayuktam

(Krishna to Uddhava)
And as the soul is purified of stain,
By hearing and chanting my hallowed fame,
So much the subtle truth can realise,
As sight restored with ointment for the eyes. 3.17
(11.14.26)

[madanmohandas]

श‍ृण्वत: श्रद्धया नित्यं गृणतश्च स्वचेष्टितम् ।
कालेन नातिदीर्घेण भगवान् विशते हृदि ॥ ४ ॥
śṛṇvataḥ śraddhayā nityaṁ
gṛṇataś ca sva-ceṣṭitam
kālena nātidīrgheṇa
bhagavān viśate hṛdi

(Pariksit to Suka)
Whoever of his exploits hears and reads,
And faithfully makes study of his deeds,
In no long time Hari his grace imparts,
And enters in the recess of their hearts. 3.18
(2.4.4)

सङ्कीर्त्यमानो भगवाननन्त:
श्रुतानुभावो व्यसनं हि पुंसाम् ।
प्रविश्य चित्तं विधुनोत्यशेषं
यथा तमोऽर्कोऽभ्रमिवातिवात: ॥ ४८ ॥
saṅkīrtyamāno bhagavān anantaḥ
śrutānubhāvo vyasanaṁ hi puṁsām
praviśya cittaṁ vidhunoty aśeṣaṁ
yathā tamo ’rko ’bhram ivāti-vātaḥ

(Suta to the sages)
When the Almighty Lord is glorified,
And heard about, the soul is purified,
And when his supreme glory is conceived,
Of grief the participants are relieved;
And entering the conscious faculty,
Absolves the stain of long iniquity;
As Arka destroys darkness with his ray,
Or as a strong wind drives the clouds away. 3.19
(12.12.46)

[madanmohandas]

Bhakti Ratnavali. 3.20/21

तस्माद्भारत सर्वात्मा भगवानीश्वरो हरि: ।
श्रोतव्य: कीर्तितव्यश्च स्मर्तव्यश्चेच्छताभयम् ॥ ५ ॥
tasmād bhārata sarvātmā
bhagavān īśvaro hariḥ
śrotavyaḥ kīrtitavyaś ca
smartavyaś cecchatābhayam

(Suka to Pariksit)
Therefore, best of the Bharat dynasty,
The soul of all, illustrious Hari,
Should be heard of and glorified sincere,
And recollected, to be rid of fear. 3.20
(2.1.5)

या निर्वृतिस्तनुभृतां तव पादपद्म
ध्यानाद्भवज्जनकथाश्रवणेन वा स्यात् ।
सा ब्रह्मणि स्वमहिमन्यपि नाथ मा भूत्
किं त्वन्तकासिलुलितात्पततां विमानात् ॥ १० ॥
yā nirvṛtis tanu-bhṛtāṁ tava pāda-padma-
dhyānād bhavaj-jana-kathā-śravaṇena vā syāt
sā brahmaṇi sva-mahimany api nātha mā bhūt
kiṁ tv antakāsi-lulitāt patatāṁ vimānāt

(Dhruva to Lord Hari)
O Lord, bodied beings gain bliss complete,
By meditating on your lotus-feet;
To dwell among your devotees and hear
Accounts of your deeds, ravishes the ear;
So much so that the supreme bliss conceived,
Excels the state where Brahman in perceived;
What then of things subjected to decline,
To be cut off by the keen sword of time?
As those who chariots of the gods ascend,
In due course are dislodged and must descend. 3.21
(4.9.10)

[madanmohandas]

Bhakti Ratnavali. 3.22/23

श‍ृण्वन् सुभद्राणि रथाङ्गपाणे-
र्जन्मानि कर्माणि च यानि लोके ।
गीतानि नामानि तदर्थकानि
गायन् विलज्जो विचरेदसङ्ग: ॥ ३९ ॥
śṛṇvan su-bhadrāṇi rathāṅga-pāṇer
janmāni karmāṇi ca yāni loke
gītāni nāmāni tad-arthakāni
gāyan vilajjo vicared asaṅgaḥ

(Kavi Yogendra to Nimi)
Hearing of the pure hallowed exploits told,
And the birth of him who a wheel doth hold,
Let him in song his pure names glorify,
That his deeds and qualities signify;
And let him, unabashed, delighted sing,
And without attachment, go wandering. 3.22
(11.2.39)

न यत्र श्रवणादीनि रक्षोघ्नानि स्वकर्मसु ।
कुर्वन्ति सात्वतां भर्तुर्यातुधान्यश्च तत्र हि ॥ ३ ॥
na yatra śravaṇādīni
rakṣo-ghnāni sva-karmasu
kurvanti sātvatāṁ bhartur
yātudhānyaś ca tatra hi

(Suka to Pariksit)
Now, where the glory of the Lord is heard,
The saviour God from all evil doth guard;
Where people in right conduct are employed,
All fiends, like Yatudhanas, are destroyed. 3,23
(10.6.3)

[madanmohandas]

Bhakti Ratnavali. 3.24-28

जिह्वा न वक्ति भगवद्गुणनामधेयं
चेतश्च न स्मरति तच्चरणारविन्दम् ।
कृष्णाय नो नमति यच्छिर एकदापि
तानानयध्वमसतोऽकृतविष्णुकृत्यान् ॥ २९ ॥
jihvā na vakti bhagavad-guṇa-nāmadheyaṁ
cetaś ca na smarati tac-caraṇāravindam
kṛṣṇāya no namati yac-chira ekadāpi
tān ānayadhvam asato ’kṛta-viṣṇu-kṛtyān

(Yama to his emissaries)
Bring those before me who have never sung
The name and fame of Hari with their tongue;
Whose minds remember not his lotus-feet,
Who never bow the head or grace entreat;
Who have not shown but once Krishna respect,
And who their duty to Vishnu neglect. 3.24
(6.3.29)

बिले बतोरुक्रमविक्रमान् ये
न श‍ृण्वत: कर्णपुटे नरस्य ।
जिह्वासती दार्दुरिकेव सूत
न चोपगायत्युरुगायगाथा: ॥ २० ॥
bile batorukrama-vikramān ye
na śṛṇvataḥ karṇa-puṭe narasya
jihvāsatī dārdurikeva sūta
na copagāyaty urugāya-gāthāḥ

(Shaunaka to Suta)
A snake hole is the portal of the ear,
For one who doth not his wondrous deeds hear;
O Suta, like a croaking frog the tongue,
For one by whom his exploits are not sung. 3.25
(2,3,20)

भार: परं पट्टकिरीटजुष्ट -
मप्युत्तमाङ्गं न नमेन्मुकुन्दम् ।
शावौ करौ नो कुरुते सपर्यां
हरेर्लसत्काञ्चनकङ्कणौ वा ॥ २१ ॥
bhāraḥ paraṁ paṭṭa-kirīṭa-juṣṭam
apy uttamāṅgaṁ na namen mukundam
śāvau karau no kurute saparyāṁ
harer lasat-kāñcana-kaṅkaṇau vā

A costly silken turban or a crown,
Adorning a head that does not bow down,
To Mukunda, the bestower of bliss,
No more than but a heavy burden is;
Although decked with golden bracelets and charms,
They are a cadaverous pair of arms,
If they are not employed diligently,
In rendering service to Lord Hari. 3.26
(2.3.21)

बर्हायिते ते नयने नराणां
लिङ्गानि विष्णोर्न निरीक्षतो ये ।
पादौ नृणां तौ द्रुमजन्मभाजौ
क्षेत्राणि नानुव्रजतो हरेर्यौ ॥ २२ ॥
barhāyite te nayane narāṇāṁ
liṅgāni viṣṇor na nirīkṣato ye
pādau nṛṇāṁ tau druma-janma-bhājau
kṣetrāṇi nānuvrajato harer yau

The eyes of man that do not see the Lord
Vishnu in his divine image adored,
Are like those that on peacock feathers show;
And legs upon the feet that do not go
To his holy shrines Lord Hari to please,
Were no more than immobile trunks of trees. 3.27
(2.3.22)

जीवञ्छवो भागवताङ्‌घ्रिरेणुं
न जातु मर्त्योऽभिलभेत यस्तु ।
श्रीविष्णुपद्या मनुजस्तुलस्या:
श्वसञ्छवो यस्तु न वेद गन्धम् ॥ २३ ॥
jīvañ chavo bhāgavatāṅghri-reṇuṁ
na jātu martyo ’bhilabheta yas tu
śrī-viṣṇu-padyā manujas tulasyāḥ
śvasañ chavo yas tu na veda gandham

The body of a living man is dead,
Without devotees' foot-dust on it spread;
A man though in and outward goes his breath,
He has already undergone his death,
If he has not imbibed the fragrance sweet,
Of Tulsi buds applied to Vishnu's feet. 3.28
(2.3.23)

[madanmohandas]

सा वाग् यया तस्य गुणान् गृणीते
करौ च तत्कर्मकरौ मनश्च ।
स्मरेद् वसन्तं स्थिरजङ्गमेषु
श‍ृणोति तत्पुण्यकथा: स कर्ण: ॥ ३ ॥
sā vāg yayā tasya guṇān gṛṇīte
karau ca tat-karma-karau manaś ca
smared vasantaṁ sthira-jaṅgameṣu
śṛṇoti tat-puṇya-kathāḥ sa karṇaḥ

(Pariksit to Suka)
True speech is that which glorifies the Lord,
And those are hands by which he is adored,
A worthy mind is one remembering
He dwells in the moving and non-moving;
And that is the worthy fortunate ear
That is inclined his hallowed deeds to hear. 3.29
(10.80.3)

शिरस्तु तस्योभयलिङ्गमान-
मेत्तदेव यत् पश्यति तद्धि चक्षु: ।
अङ्गानि विष्णोरथ तज्जनानां
पादोदकं यानि भजन्ति नित्यम् ॥ ४ ॥
śiras tu tasyobhaya-liṅgam ānamet
tad eva yat paśyati tad dhi cakṣuḥ
aṅgāni viṣṇor atha taj-janānāṁ
pādodakaṁ yāni bhajanti nityam

A worthy head bows down to both of theses,
The eye that everywhere Lord Vishnu sees;
That body is bless'd and beatified,
Which has been fortunately purified,
By consecrating drops of water shed,
From the Lord's foot wash and those devoted. 3.30
(10.80.4)

एकान्तलाभं वचसो नु पुंसां
सुश्लोकमौलेर्गुणवादमाहु: ।
श्रुतेश्च विद्वद्‍‌भिरुपाकृतायां
कथासुधायामुपसम्प्रयोगम् ॥ ३७ ॥
ekānta-lābhaṁ vacaso nu puṁsāṁ
suśloka-mauler guṇa-vādam āhuḥ
śruteś ca vidvadbhir upākṛtāyāṁ
kathā-sudhāyām upasamprayogam

That is for man the one and final gain;
The Lord's glory in sweet verse to proclaim;
Which learned ones in fair discourse indite,
Which grants the ears true meaning and delight. 3.31
(3.6.37)

Vishnu Puri concludes this strand by inserting a verse from Hari Bhakti Sudhodaya,

tasmaad-govinda-maahaatmyam-
aananda-rasa- sundaram/
srnuyaat-keertayen-nityam
sa krtaartho na samsayah//

Therefore, Govinda's glory is replete
With joy and the humours of pure love sweet;
Whoever hears and praises constantly,
Gains fulfilment, of this let no doubt be. 3.32
(HB. 8.6)

Thus ends the Third Strand
in the necklace of gems,
Bhakti Ratnavali,
consisting of gem-like verses
from the Srimad Bhagavatam,
selected and arranged
by Vishnu Puri.

[madanmohandas]

Well, patient reader, now taking up the fourth strand of Bhakti Ratnavali treating the subject of sravanam, On Hearing.

श‍ृण्वतां स्वकथा: कृष्ण: पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तन: ।
हृद्यन्त:स्थो ह्यभद्राणि विधुनोति सुहृत्सताम् ॥ १७ ॥
śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ
puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ
hṛdy antaḥ stho hy abhadrāṇi
vidhunoti suhṛt satām

(Suta to Shaunaka)
His own accounts to Krishna are most dear,
Which sanctify those who recite and hear;
And in the hearts of those pious ones dwells,
And as their well-wisher, all taint dispels. 4.1
(1.2.17)

पिबन्ति ये भगवत आत्मन: सतां
कथामृतं श्रवणपुटेषु सम्भृतम् ।
पुनन्ति ते विषयविदूषिताशयं
व्रजन्ति तच्चरणसरोरुहान्तिकम् ॥ ३७ ॥
pibanti ye bhagavata ātmanaḥ satāṁ
kathāmṛtaṁ śravaṇa-puṭeṣu sambhṛtam
punanti te viṣaya-vidūṣitāśayaṁ
vrajanti tac-caraṇa-saroruhāntikam

(Suka to Pariksit)
Those who imbibe through vessels of the ear,
When they recital of his exploits hear,
The Almighty, beloved of their hearts,
Radical cleansing agency imparts,
Whereby they gain the supreme purity,
And reach his lotus-feet's propinquity. 4.2
(2,2,37)

धर्म: स्वनुष्ठित: पुंसां विष्वक्सेनकथासु य: ।
नोत्पादयेद्यदि रतिं श्रम एव हि केवलम् ॥ ८ ॥
dharmaḥ svanuṣṭhitaḥ puṁsāṁ
viṣvaksena-kathāsu yaḥ
notpādayed yadi ratiṁ
śrama eva hi kevalam

(Suta to Shaunaka)
A man may of his pious duty boast,
But all his efforts are but labour lost,
Who has no fondness to hear of the deeds
Of Visvaksen, from whom the world proceeds. 4.3
(1.2.8 )

ज्ञाने प्रयासमुदपास्य नमन्त एव
जीवन्ति सन्मुखरितां भवदीयवार्ताम् ।
स्थाने स्थिता: श्रुतिगतां तनुवाङ्‌मनोभि-
र्ये प्रायशोऽजित जितोऽप्यसि तैस्त्रिलोक्याम् ॥ ३ ॥
jñāne prayāsam udapāsya namanta eva
jīvanti san-mukharitāṁ bhavadīya-vārtām
sthāne sthitāḥ śruti-gatāṁ tanu-vāṅ-manobhir
ye prāyaśo ’jita jito ’py asi tais tri-lokyām

(Brahma to Krishna)
Those who the search for mere knowledge forsake,
But hear your deeds, and salutation make,
As sung by rhapsodists and devotees,
Recounting your exploits and your glories;
Their body, speech and mind they dedicate,
Adhering to their calling and estate,
Though you invincible always remain
In the three spheres, the victory they gain. 4.4
(10.14.3)

[madanmohandas]

A passage from Nabha Dasa's Bhakta Mala on Vishnu Puri.

The great Sri Vishnu Puri Goswami,
Prepared a vast treasure painstakingly,
And gathered up the gems of holy writ,
Granting Kali's wretched souls benefit.
The holy Srimad Bhagavat scripture,
Is like a sea of ambrosia pure;
And churning that ocean with diligence,
He has collected the sweet quintessence,
Of the supreme truth and divinity,
In the Vishnu Bhakti Ratnavali.

Bhakti Ratnavali. 4.5-7

नात्यन्तिकं विगणयन्त्यपि ते प्रसादं
किम्वन्यदर्पितभयं भ्रुव उन्नयैस्ते ।
येऽङ्ग त्वदङ्‌घ्रि शरणा भवत: कथाया:
कीर्तन्यतीर्थयशस: कुशला रसज्ञा: ॥ ४८ ॥
nātyantikaṁ vigaṇayanty api te prasādaṁ
kimv anyad arpita-bhayaṁ bhruva unnayais te
ye ’ṅga tvad-aṅghri-śaraṇā bhavataḥ kathāyāḥ
kīrtanya-tīrtha-yaśasaḥ kuśalā rasa-jñāḥ

(Sanaka to Narayana)
They do not care for final salvation,
What then of any other benison,
That is subjected to time's overthrow,
That must fear the contraction of your brow?
Since they have sought the refuge of your feet,
And relish accounts of your exploits sweet,
As connoisseurs they quaff your holy name,
And sing the praises of your hallowed fame. 4.5
(3.15.48)

को वा भगवतस्तस्य पुण्यश्लोकेड्यकर्मण: ।
शुद्धिकामो न श‍ृणुयाद्यश: कलिमलापहम् ॥ १६ ॥
ko vā bhagavatas tasya
puṇya-ślokeḍya-karmaṇaḥ
śuddhi-kāmo na śṛṇuyād
yaśaḥ kali-malāpaham

(Shaunaka to Suta)
Who is there then that would not lend his ear,
The hallowed virtues of the Lord to hear,
If he would sanctify his mind and be
Free from the foul pollution of Kali? 4.6
(1.1.16)

प्रविष्ट: कर्णरन्ध्रेण स्वानां भावसरोरुहम् ।
धुनोति शमलं कृष्ण: सलिलस्य यथा शरत् ॥ ५ ॥
praviṣṭaḥ karṇa-randhreṇa
svānāṁ bhāva-saroruham
dhunoti śamalaṁ kṛṣṇaḥ
salilasya yathā śarat

(Pariksit to Suka)
Thence entering their lotus-hearts appears,
Once having gained ingress into the ears,
And as the Sharat season purifies
The waters, Krishna the heart sanctifies. 4.7
(2.8.5)

[madanmohandas]

Bhakti Ratnavali. 4.8/9

शुद्धिर्नृणां न तु तथेड्य दुराशयानां
विद्याश्रुताध्ययनदानतप:क्रियाभि: ।
सत्त्वात्मनामृषभ ते यशसि प्रवृद्ध-
सच्छ्रद्धया श्रवणसम्भृतया यथा स्यात् ॥ ९ ॥
śuddhir nṛṇāṁ na tu tatheḍya durāśayānāṁ
vidyā-śrutādhyayana-dāna-tapaḥ-kriyābhiḥ
sattvātmanām ṛṣabha te yaśasi pravṛddha-
sac-chraddhayā śravaṇa-sambhṛtayā yathā syāt

(The gods addressing Krishna)
O worshipful One, man does not attain
Purification of the taint and stain,
By customary rites and charity,
Nor by much learning, nor austerity,
As much as by the faith that does arise,
From hearing, O Great One, your qualities. 4.8
(11.6.9)

निवृत्ततर्षैरुपगीयमानाद्भवौषधाच्छ्रोत्रमनोऽभिरामात् ।
क उत्तमश्लोकगुणानुवादात्पुमान् विरज्येत विना पशुघ्नात् ॥ ४ ॥
nivṛtta-tarṣair upagīyamānād
bhavauṣadhāc chrotra-mano-’bhirāmāt
ka uttamaśloka-guṇānuvādāt
pumān virajyeta vinā paśughnāt

(Pariksit to Suka)
The deeds of the Lord are sung and rehearsed,
By those who have overcome worldly thirst;
Which like some potent simple cures all ills,*
Captures the ear, the mind with rapture fills.
Who but a barbarous butcher would abstain,
From verse that lauds Uttamasloka's fame? 4.9
(10.1.4.)

*Simple; medicinal herb.