Re: by Rupa Goswami

Srila Rupa Gosvami gave Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami Radha and Krsna's tax pastimes in the form of his book, Dan-keli-kaumudi, and that inspired Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami to write his own Dan-keli-cintamani. ?Whatever Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura wrote was inspired by Srila Rupa Gosvami. He wrote the commentary of Srila Rupa Gosvami's Bhakti-rasamrta sindhu in the form of his Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu-bindhu. He wrote Prema-samput and Camatkara-candrika. Without Srila Rupa Gosvami, the other acarayas could not have given the world what they did. Sri Krsnacandra and Srimati Radhika are merciful, and Lalita and Visakha are merciful, but without Srila Rupa Gosvami's mercy we would not be able to get their mercy. Without Srila Rupa Gosvami, no one would have known what Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to give, and what He came to taste ? madanakya-mahabhava. Our entire disciplic succession is coming from Srila Rupa Gosvami, and the entire universe gets from him the root of all moods and philosophy of bhakti-rasa.? Srila Narayana Maharaja then glorified the discussion of Vasudeva Krsna Caturvedi, and expanded on one of Caturvedi's important points ? his expression of Sri Vithalacarya's song, Sri Radha-prarthana. Srila Maharaja quoted the song and explained its verses. He began with the first words: ?Krpayati yadi radha?? krpayati yadi radha badhitasesa-badha kim apara-visistam pusti-maryadayor me yadi vadati ca kincit smera-hasodita-srir dvija-vara-mani-panktya mukti-suktya tada kim (1) [?If Srimati Radhika is merciful to me, then all obstacles to my devotion will be removed. There will be nothing more for me to attain because I will have received the fruits offered by the paths of both vaidhi-marga and raga-marga. And if She will speak to me while smiling gently, I will see Her brilliant rows of teeth which are like lines of priceless jewels. Having seen them one time, the goal of gaining liberation from material existence will be rendered insignificant.? (Sri Radha-Prarthana, verse 1)] Srila Maharaja then began his glorification of the song: Where did Sri Vithilacarya get this idea? He got it from his association with Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, who received his ultimate realizations from Srila Rupa Gosvami. syamasundara sikhanda-sekhara smera-hasa murali-manohara radhika-rasika mah krpa-nidhe sva-priya-carana-kinkarim kuru [?O Syamasundara! O Sikhanda-sekhara (whose head is adorned with peacock feathers)! Your face is always graced with a playful smile, Your flute-playing is enchanting, and You are so expert in relishing rasa with Srimati Radhika. Because You are an ocean of mercy, I am appealing to You to please make me a kinkari (maidservant) at the feet of Your beloved.? (Sri Radha-Prathana, verse 2)] Srila Maharaja continued: ?We are so fortunate, because now Srila Rupa Gosvami's disciplic succession is here and we have come to it. Srila Rupa Gosvami has given us Sri Upadesamrta. From there we learn not to criticize. We learn to only criticize our own mind.? krsneti yasya giri tam manasadriyeta diksasti cet pranatibhis ca bhajantam isam susrusaya bhajana-vijnam ananyam anya- nindadi-sunya-hrdam ipsita-sanga-labdhya [?One should mentally honor the devotee who chants the holy name of Lord Krsna, one should offer humble obeisances to the devotee who has undergone spiritual initiation and is engaged in worshiping the Deity, and one should associate with and faithfully serve that Pure devotee who is advanced in undeviated devotional service and whose heart is completely devoid of the propensity to criticize others.? (Upadesamrta, verse 5)] We should surrender our entire lives to one who is ninda-sunya, who never commits any offenses. This is all explained by Srila Rupa Gosvami, whose culmination verse in this book is: tan-nama-rupa-caritadi-sukirtananu- smrtyoh kramena rasana-manasi niyojya tisthan vraje tad-anuragi jananugami kalam nayed akhilam ity upadesa-saram [?The essence of all advice is that one should utilize one's full time-twenty-four hours a day-in nicely chanting and remembering the Lord's divine name, transcendental form, qualities and eternal pastimes, thereby gradually engaging one's tongue and mind. In this way one should reside in Vraja and serve Krsna under the guidance of devotees. One should follow in the footsteps of the Lord's beloved devotees, who are deeply attached to His devotional service.? (Upadesamrta, verse 8)] All Gaudiya acaryas fall at Srila Rupa Gosvami's lotus feet and take shelter there. I pray to his lotus feet that he will give all of you his mercy.

Click Here for Full Article

Yoga Articles