Sri Bhakti Ratnavali, Strand One, 45-64

etāvān eva loke ’smin

puṁsāṁ dharmaḥ paraḥ smṛtaḥ

bhakti-yogo bhagavati

tan-nāma-grahaṇādibhiḥ

(Yama to his emissaries)

This much then in this world is said to be

The best means for man and highest duty;

Devotion for the Great Lord to maintain,

By taking up the chanting of his name. 45

(6.3.22)

avismitaṁ taṁ paripūrṇa-kāmaṁ

svenaiva lābhena samaṁ praśāntam

vinopasarpaty aparaṁ hi bāliśaḥ

śva-lāṅgulenātititarti sindhum

(The gods praising Lord Hari)

He is not subject to bewilderment,

He is fulfilled in himself and content,

Self accomplished, equanimous, serene;

Whoever would forsake him, it would seem

As foolish as a child that hopes to sail

The sea with the support of a dogs' tail. 46

(6.9.22)

nārāyaṇa-parāḥ sarve

na kutaścana bibhyati

svargāpavarga-narakeṣv

api tulyārtha-darśinaḥ

(Shiva to Parvati)

Devotees who Narayana revere,

Are not subject at any time to fear;

Heaven and hell, nay even salvation,

Are of the same value to their vision. 47

(6.17.28)

vāsudeve bhagavati

bhaktim udvahatāṁ nṛṇām

jñāna-vairāgya-vīryāṇāṁ

na hi kaścid vyapāśrayaḥ

Those who maintain devotion for the Lord,

Illustrious Vasudeva adored;

Who strength of knowledge and dispassion bear,

Have no occasion to resort elsewhere. 48

(6.17.31)

matir na kṛṣṇe parataḥ svato vā

mitho ’bhipadyeta gṛha-vratānām

adānta-gobhir viśatāṁ tamisraṁ

punaḥ punaś carvita-carvaṇānām

(Prahalada said)

Those who toward Krishna are disinclined,

Of uncontrolled and preoccupied mind,

Who by themselves cannot withdraw from vice,

Know not themselves nor heed others' advice;

Avowed to home-life, under pleasures' spell,

Descend into the darkest depths of hell;

And with the taint of ignorance imbrued,

They chew repeatedly what hath been chewed. 49

(7.5.30)

na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇuṁ

durāśayā ye bahir-artha-māninaḥ

andhā yathāndhair upanīyamānās

te ’pīśa-tantryām uru-dāmni baddhāḥ

They know not of their own self interest true,

The all-pervading Almighty Vishnu;

External objects cherish and admire,

Attached to base and unworthy desire;

And drawn away, the path they cannot find,

Blinded themselves and led by others blind.

Thus bound by sturdy ropes of duty fast,

Into direst affliction they are cast. 50

(7.5.31)

kaumāra ācaret prājño

dharmān bhāgavatān iha

durlabhaṁ mānuṣaṁ janma

tad apy adhruvam arthadam

From childhood one can waken consciousness,

And in the Bhagavat Dharma progress;

Albeit human birth is rarely gained,

Transitory, all good can be attained. 51

(7.6.1)

na hy acyutaṁ prīṇayato

bahv-āyāso ’surātmajāḥ

ātmatvāt sarva-bhūtānāṁ

siddhatvād iha sarvataḥ

Truly, O sons of Asuras, with ease,

One may infallible Acyuta please,

For he is the beloved self that bides,

And, established in all creatures, presides. 52

(7.6.19)

ko ’ti-prayāso ’sura-bālakā harer

upāsane sve hṛdi chidravat sataḥ

svasyātmanaḥ sakhyur aśeṣa-dehināṁ

sāmānyataḥ kiṁ viṣayopapādanaiḥ

What great effort and exertion could be,

Asura boys, in worshipping Hari?

Who dwells in the firmament of the heart,

And doth, as well-wisher, friendship impart,

Yet still embodied beings in the main,

Endless desires fulfilment seek to gain,

But of objects transitory, indeed,

And sensible pleasures, what is the need? 53

(7.7.38)

rāyaḥ kalatraṁ paśavaḥ sutādayo

gṛhā mahī kuñjara-kośa-bhūtayaḥ

sarve ’rtha-kāmāḥ kṣaṇa-bhaṅgurāyuṣaḥ

kurvanti martyasya kiyat priyaṁ calāḥ

Abundant wealth, female society,

Chattels and sons and landed property,

A treasury of swelling luxuries,

Elephants in stables, and vast increase

Of gain, and fulfilment of all desire;

All of which in but a moment expire;

What joy in these transient things could be,

For mortals doomed to death and destiny? 54

(7.7.39)

evaṁ hi lokāḥ kratubhiḥ kṛtā amī

kṣayiṣṇavaḥ sātiśayā na nirmalāḥ

tasmād adṛṣṭa-śruta-dūṣaṇaṁ paraṁ

bhaktyoktayeśaṁ bhajatātma-labdhaye

As even those who sacrifice maintain,

To higher realms by piety attain,

And revel in heavenly enjoyment,

Which but decreases when merit is spent;

Since it is not completely free of stain,

Therefore as texts of holy writ ordain,

Worship the immaculate Lord and pure,

And realisation of the self procure. 55

(7.7.40)

tasmād arthāś ca kāmāś ca

dharmāś ca yad-apāśrayāḥ

bhajatānīhayātmānam

anīhaṁ harim īśvaram

Therefore, the ends, gain, pleasure, piety,

Depend on the will of the Deity;

In favour of the self all these forsake,

And worship of Lord Hari undertake. 56

(7.7.48)

nālaṁ dvijatvaṁ devatvam

ṛṣitvaṁ vāsurātmajāḥ

prīṇanāya mukundasya

na vṛttaṁ na bahu-jñatā

na dānaṁ na tapo nejyā

na śaucaṁ na vratāni ca

prīyate ’malayā bhaktyā

harir anyad viḍambanam

'Tis not enough to be of twice-born state,

Nor mighty god nor mystic seer great,

To please Mukunda, nor good works afford,

Nor immense learning, pleasure to the Lord.

Nor charity, rites, nor austerity,

Nor vows undertaken for piety,

But only love can Hari's grace invoke,

All else were but a mockery and joke! 57/58

(7.7.51/52)

manye dhanābhijana-rūpa-tapaḥ-śrutaujas-

tejaḥ-prabhāva-bala-pauruṣa-buddhi-yogāḥ

nārādhanāya hi bhavanti parasya puṁso

bhaktyā tutoṣa bhagavān gaja-yūtha-pāya

Methinks wealth, beauty and high pedigree,

Long study and fervent austerity,

Prowess, lustre, and potent influence,

Strength, manliness, and vast intelligence,

And mystic yoga, are not requisite,

Nor doth the lack of them make one unfit;

Since the great elephant attained the Lord,

And satisfaction did to him afford. 59

(7.9.9)

citraṁ tavehitam aho ’mita-yoga-māyā-

līlā-visṛṣṭa-bhuvanasya viśāradasya

sarvātmanaḥ samadṛśo ’viṣamaḥ svabhāvo

bhakta-priyo yad asi kalpataru-svabhāvaḥ

(Prahlada to Vamana)

Ah me, how wondrous are thy playful deeds!

From thy power the universe proceeds;

All souls thou pervadest, and equally

Viewest them with impartiality;

Yet favour to thy devotee is shown;

Thou as a wish fulfilling tree art known. 60

(8.23.8 )

sva-mātuḥ svinna-gātrāyā

visrasta-kabara-srajaḥ

dṛṣṭvā pariśramaṁ kṛṣṇaḥ

kṛpayāsīt sva-bandhane

evaṁ sandarśitā hy aṅga

hariṇā bhṛtya-vaśyatā

sva-vaśenāpi kṛṣṇena

yasyedaṁ seśvaraṁ vaśe

nemaṁ viriñco na bhavo

na śrīr apy aṅga-saṁśrayā

prasādaṁ lebhire gopī

yat tat prāpa vimuktidāt

nāyaṁ sukhāpo bhagavān

dehināṁ gopikā-sutaḥ

jñānināṁ cātma-bhūtānāṁ

yathā bhaktimatām iha

(Suka to Pariksit)

At length, when her exhaustion he perceived,

And flowers from her hair the ground received,

As perspiration trickled down her face,

Compassionate, he deigned to show his grace;

He let himself be to the mortar tied,

And thus with her intention he complied.

Thus Hari by this exploit did display

Albe over the great gods he holds sway,

Who act in accordance with his decrees,

That he is subject to his devotees.

Nor Brahma nor Bhava nor Goddess Sri,

Who always clings to him, such high degree

Of favour from the saviour did achieve

As did this pious cowherdess receive.

That mighty Lord, son of the cowherd dame,

Nor bodied beings nor the wise attain,

But only those who such pure love possess,

Find him, by love, as easy of access. 61-64

(10.9.18-21)