sri-prapanna-jivanamrte

[Paramananda das]

Chapter 1
Upakramamrtam - Prelude to Approaching Nectar
1.1
atha mangalacaranam -
sri-guru-gaura-gandharva-, govindanghrin ganaih saha
vande prasadato yesam, sarvarambhah subhankarah

Auspicious invocation -
I make my obeisance unto the lotus feet of my Divine Master, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Sri Gandharva-Giridhari (Sri Sri Radha and Krsna), and Their associates. By Their grace, all endeavors are successful.

1.2
gaura-vag-vigraham vande, gaurangam gaura-vaibhavam
gaura-sankirtanonmattam, gaura-karunya-sundaram

I make my obeisance unto the Deity, Gaura-Saraswati - the personified message of the Golden Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu - whose bodily luster is of a beautiful golden hue, like that of the selfsame Lord Gaurasundara; who is the personal expansion of that Supreme Lord Gaurahari; who is always intoxicated by preaching the message of that Golden Lord; and whose divine beauty blooms in the revelation of Lord Gauranga's mercy potency. (This is the fundamental meaning of the verse. Within the scope of the Sanskrit language, various expanded purports may be drawn from the original.)

1.3
guru-rupa-harim gauram, radha-ruci-rucavrtam
nityam naumi navadvipe, nama-kirtana-nartanaih

Perpetually do I sing the glories of Lord Gauranga, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Hari, embraced by the heart and halo of Sri Radhika, and who has descended as the Divine Master. In this holy abode of Sri Navadvipa Dhama, He is absorbed in the pastimes of profusely chanting the holy names, dancing in ecstasy. (As with verse two, expanded purports may be drawn from this verse.)

1.4
srimat-prabhu-padambhoja-, madhupebhyo namo namah
trpyantu krpaya te 'tra, prapanna-jivanamrte

Again and again I make my obeisance unto the eternal personal servitors of my Divine Master, who drink the nectar of his lotus feet. I pray they may be graciously pleased in tasting this Life-Nectar of the Surrendered Souls.

1.5
atma-vijnaptih -
aty-arvacina-rupo 'pi, pracinanam susammatan
slokan katipayan atra, caharami satam mude

A humble petition -
Despite my disqualifications, for the satisfaction of the pure devotees I have compiled in this book an anthology of stanzas that are well established by our predecessors.

1.6
tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavo
yasmin prati-slokam abaddhavaty api
namany anantasya yaso 'nkitani yat
srnvanti gayanti grnanti sadhavah

"Even if every stanza is imperfectly composed, that is, unlucidly expressed, the sins of the people are totally vanquished by those expressions or books in which the glorious holy names of the Infinite Supreme Lord are described - since the pure devotees hear those holy names (from a qualified preacher), they solitarily sing those holy names (even in the absence of others), and they chant the unending glories of those holy names (in the presence of a deserving listener)."

1.7
abhivyakta mattah prakrti-laghu-rupad api budha
vidhatri siddharthan hari-gunamayi vah krtir iyam
pulindenapy agnih kim u samidham unmathya janito
hiranya-sreninam apaharati nantah kalusatam

"O learned personalities, this treatise, composed of the divine qualities of Lord Hari, will fulfill your cherished wishes despite the fact that it is presented by me, a very insignificant person. Does not the fire ignited from pieces of wood rubbed together by a low-born barbarian dissipate the impurities in gold?"

1.8
yathokta rupa-padena, nicenotpadite 'nale
hemnah suddhis tathaivatra, viraharti-hrtih satam

As Srila Rupa Goswamipada has (in his humility) expressed that gold can be purified with fire lit by a barbarian, similarly, the pure devotees' grief born of their separation from the Lord may also be dispelled by this book (which will light the lamp of their divine love for the Lord).

1.9
antah kovi-yasas-kamam, sadhutavaranam bahih
sudhyantu sadhavah sarve, duscikitsyam imam janam

O saintly devotees, please purify this wrongdoer who on the pretext of saintliness desires in his heart the prestige of a poet, and who is thus afflicted with the practically incurable disease of insincerity.

1.10
krsna-gatha-priya bhakta, bhakta-gatha-priyo harih
kathancid ubhayor atra, prasangas tat prasidatam

Tidings of Lord Krsna are naturally very dear to the devotees, and tidings of the Lord's devotees are also dear to Him. Since narratives of both the Supreme Lord and His devotees can be found within this book, I have hope, O pure devotees, that you may be propitiated hereby.

1.11
svabhava-krpaya santo, mad uddesya-malinatam
samsodhyangikurudhvam bho, hy ahaituka krpabdhayah

O pure devotees, by your natural divine grace, kindly purify me of ill motives (offenses) and accept this treatise. Certainly you will do so, because you are the ocean of causeless mercy.

1.12-14
atha grantha-paricayah -
granthe 'smin parame nama, prapanna-jivanamrte
dasadhyaye prapannanam, jivana-prana-dayakam
varddhakam posakam nityam, hrdindriya-rasayanam
atimartya-rasollasa-, paraspara-sukhavaham
viraha-milanarthaptam, krsna-karsna-kathamrtam
prapatti-visayam vakyam, coddhrtam sastra-sammatam

Introduction to the book -
The substance expressed within the ten chapters of this holy book called Prapanna-jivanamrtam gives life to the surrendered souls, effecting their eternal growth and nourishment. It is the panacea of the heart and spiritual senses, bestowing those dedicated devotees' mutual happiness by the ever-increasingly newer and newer play of supramundane joy (aprakrta-rasa). Lord Krsna and His associates are portrayed in their natural pastimes of separation and union, and the line of unconditional surrender as established by Scriptures and saints has been elucidated.

1.15-22
atra cananya-cittanam, krsna-pada-rajojusam
krsna-pada-prapannanam, krsnarthe 'khila-karmanam
krsna-premaika-lubdhanam, krsnocchistaika jivinam
krsna-sukhaika-vanchanam, krsna-kinkara-sevinam
krsna-viccheda-dagdhanam, krsna-sangollasadd-hrdam
krsna-svajana-bandhunam, krsnaika-dayitatmanam
bhaktanam hrdayodghati-, marma-gathamrtena ca
bhaktarti-hara-bhaktasa-, bhista-purtikaram tatha
sarva-samsaya-cchedi-hrd-, granthi-bhij jnana-bhasitam
apurva-rasa-sambhara-, camatkarita-cittakam
viraha-vyadhi-santapta-, bhakta-citta-mahausadham
yuktayuktam parityajya, bhaktarthakhila-cestitam
atma-pradana-paryanta-, pratijnantah-pratisrutam
bhakta-premaika-vasya-sva-, svarupollasa-ghositam
purnasvasakaram saksat, govinda-vacanamrtam
samahrtam pibantu bhoh, sadhavah suddha-darsanah

Carefully compiled in this book is the nectar of the deep, heartrevealing transcendental messages of those devotees whose hearts are unalloyed; who are servitors of the dust of the lotus feet of Krsna; who perform their every act for Krsna; who are filled with insatiable desire exclusively in love of Krsna and sustain their lives on Krsna's remnants alone; who desire only Krsna's pleasure and serve the servants of Krsna; whose hearts burn in separation of Krsna and overflow with ecstasy in the association of Krsna; whose relative and friend is Krsna; and whose one and only beloved is Krsna.
Along with these expressions of the devotees are carefully collected the words of supreme nectar - springing directly from the lotus mouth of Lord Govinda - which vanquish the heartbreak of the devotees; which fulfill the devotee's hopes and earnest aspirations; which destroy all doubt and sever the knot of ignorance; which are dazzling with transcendental wisdom and astonish the heart by miraculous waves of divine rapture, which are the great panacea for the devotee's heart afflicted with the piercing pangs of separation; which are incited wholly for the devotee irrespective of his qualification or disqualification, so much so, that the Lord is bound by His pledge to give Himself to His devotee; and which openly proclaim with great ecstasy that His very nature is to be subjugated solely by the affection of His devotee, reassuring His devotees in all circumstances.
O pure and spotless devotees, may you drink deeply the quintessence of these divine elixirs.

1.23
adhyaya-paricayah -
atraiva prathamadhyaye, upakramamrtabhidhe
mangalacaranan catma-, vijnaptir vastu-nirnayah
grantha-paricayo 'dhyaya-, visayas ca nivesitah

Chapter summary -
An auspicious invocation, a humble petition, an introduction to the book and its chapters, and the theme of the philosophy of the book have, to the best of my ability, all been entered within this first chapter named Upakramamrtam or Prelude to Approaching Nectar.

1.24
dvitiyadhyayake nama, sri-sastra-vacanamrte
prapatti-visaya nana-, sastroktih sannivesita

In the second chapter, entitled Sri Sastra-vacanamrtam, The Nectar of Scriptural Word, various scriptural quotations regarding surrender to the Supreme Lord have been compiled.

1.25
trtiyato 'stamam yavat, sri-bhakta-vacanamrte
prapattih sad-vidha prokta, bhagavata-ganodita

Chapters three to eight inclusive are entitled Sri Bhakta-vacanamrtam, Words of Nectar from the Devotees. Beautifully expressed by the lotus lips of the pure devotees of the Lord, many stanzas describing the six limbs of exclusive surrender are quoted therein.

1.26-27
anakulyasya sankalpah, pratikulya-vivarjanam
raksisyatiti visvaso, goptrtve varanam tatha
atma-niksepa karpanye, sad-vidha saranagatih
evam paryayatas casminn, ekaikadhyaya-sangrahah

These six chapters have been compiled, each consecutively dealing with the six limbs of surrender, which are as follows:
1. To accept everything favorable for devotion to Krsna
2. To reject everything unfavorable for devotion to Krsna
3. To be confident that Krsna will grant His protection
4. To embrace Krsna's guardianship
5. To offer oneself unto Him
6. To consider oneself lowly and bereft

1.28
adhyaye navame nama, bhagavad-vacanamrte
slokamrtam samahrtam, saksad-bhagavatoditam

In the ninth chapter entitled Sri Bhagavad-vacanamrtam, Words of Nectar from the Supreme Lord, nectarean stanzas emanating directly from the lotus mouth of the Supreme Lord have been compiled.

1.29
dasame caramadhyaye, cavasesamrtabhidhe
guru-krsna-smrtau grantha-, syopasamharanam krtam

Absorbed in thought of the Divine Master and Lord Sri Krsna, the tenth and final chapter entitled Sri Avasesamrtam, The Divine Remnants of Nectar, was composed as the epilogue of the book.

1.30
uddhrta-sloka-purve tu, tad artha-suprakasakam
vakyan ca yatnatas tatra, yatha-jnanam nivesitam

Prior to each stanza quoted, an aphorism illuminating its inner purport has been carefully entered according to my best insight.

1.31
bhagavad-gauracandranam, vadanendu-sudhatmika
bhaktoktair vesita sloka, bhakta-bhavodita yatah

Being revealed by the Lord Himself adopting the heart of a devotee, the stanzas of pure nectar emanating from the moon of Sri Gauracandra have been entered along with the stanzas of the devotees.

1.32
prapattya saha cananya-, bhakter naikatya-hetutah
ananya-bhakti-sambandham, bahu-vakyam ihoddhrtam

Many expressions of exclusive devotion (ananya-bhakti) have been recorded herein, since exclusive devotion is most intimately related to surrender.

1.33
bhagavad-bhakta-sastranam, sambandho 'sti parasparam
tat tat pradhanyato namnam, prabbeda-karanam smrtam

Actually, Words of Nectar from the Supreme Lord, Words of Nectar from the Devotees, and The Nectar of Scriptural Word are all seen to be interrelated. Still, they have been portrayed separately due to their individual importance.

1.34
praty-adhyaya-visesas tu, tatra tatraiva vaksyate
mahajana-vicarasya, kincid alocyate 'dhuna

The unique characteristic of each chapter will be accordingly expressed therein. Now (in this respect), we may have some general deliberation, in the line of the great devotees of the Lord.

1.35
vastu-nirnayah -
bhagavad-bhaktitah sarvam, ity utsrjya vidher api
kainkaryam krsna-padaika-, srayatvam saranagatih

Theme of the work -
Being governed by the faith that all success is achieved by serving the Supreme Lord, to abandon servitude to even scriptural injunctions and take exclusive refuge in the lotus feet of Sri Krsna in every time, place, and circumstance, is known as saranagati - unconditional surrender.

1.36
sarvantaryamitam drstva, hareh sambandhato 'khile
aprthag-bhava-tad-drstih, prapattir jnana-bhaktitah

Some consider saranagati to be that God consciousness which is realization of the one non-differentiated nature in all beings and objects, by seeing the Supreme Lord as the indwelling Supersoul of everything. However, such a conception falls within the category of calculative devotion (jnana-bhakti). It is not in the line of unadulterated pure devotion (suddha-bhakti).

1.37
nityatvan caiva sastresu, prapatter jnayate budhaih
aprapannasya nr-janma-, vaiphalyoktes tu nityata

By scriptural reference, the learned know of the eternality of surrender to the Lord, since the futility of human life without that surrender is elucidated therein. In this way, the eternal constitution of surrender is established.

1.38
nanyad icchanti tat pada-, rajah-prapanna-vaisnavah
kincid apiti tat tasyah, sadhyatvam ucyate budhaih

Because the devotees who have surrendered unto the dust of the lotus feet of the Lord never aspire for anything else whatsoever, the learned affirm that surrender is the attainable goal of all endeavors.

1.39
bhava-duhkha-vinasas ca, para-nistara-yogyata
param padam prapattyaiva, krsna-sampraptir eva ca

Only by surrender to the Lord can one gain freedom from the miseries of birth, death, disease, and infirmity; fitness to deliver others from those miseries; the holy abode of Lord Visnu; and the devotional service of Lord Krsna.

1.40
sravana-kirtanadinam, bhakty-anganam hi yajane
aksamasyapi sarvaptih, prapattyaiva harav iti

Everything is accomplished by surrendering unto the lotus feet of Sri Hari, even for one who is unable to execute the integral practices of devotional service based on hearing and chanting.

1.41
sakhya-rasasrita-praya, seti kecit vadanti tu
madhuryadau prapannanam, praveso nasti ceti na

Some claim that surrender is generally in the relationship of friendship (sakhya-rasa). But it is complete fallacy to think that surrendered souls have no entrance into divine relationships headed by consorthood (madhura-rasa).

1.42
sakrt pravrtti-matrena, prapattih sidhyatiti yat
lobhotpadana-hetos tad, alocana-prayojanam

Since surrender is achieved by turning to the refuge of the Lord just once, we should earnestly discuss the subject to enable the longing for surrender to be born in us.

1.43
api tad anakulyadi-, sankalpady-anga-laksanat
tad anusilaniyatvam, ucyate hi mahajanaih

Furthermore, since the constituent parts of surrender - based on acceptance of the favorable and rejection of the unfavorable - have been referred to by authorities and cited in the Scriptures, the great devotees of the Lord teach us the necessity of studying and culturing the art of surrender.

1.44
bhavarti-pidyamano va, bhakti-matrabhilasy api
vaimukhya-badhyamano 'nya-, gatis tac charanam vrajet

One who is severely afflicted by fear of living in the material world, or, one who, despite having an aspiration for the Lord's service is nonetheless bound with adversity - such persons, finding no alternative, surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

1.45
asrayantara-rahitye, vanyasraya-visarjane
ananya-gati-bhedas tu, dvi-vidhah parikirtitah

The state of finding no other alternative occurs in two ways: in the event of having no other shelter, or in the event of abandoning one's existing shelter.

1.46
mano-vak-kaya-bhedac ca, tri-vidha saranagatih
tasam sarvanga-sampanna, sighram purna-phala-prada
nyunadhikyena caitasam, taratamyam phale 'pi ca

One surrenders by thought, word, and deed. Complete surrender in all these aspects promptly affords full success. Otherwise, the fruit attained will be proportionate to the degree of one's surrender.

1.47
apurva-phalatvam -
vinasya sarva-duhkhani, nija-madhurya-varsanam
karoti bhagavan bhakte, saranagata-palakah

The unprecedented, gracious reward of surrenderÑ
Being most affectionate toward His surrendered souls, the Supreme Lord totally dispels their unhappiness, graciously filling their hearts with His sweet absolute presence.

1.48
apy asiddham tadiyatvam, vine ca saranagatim
ity apurva-phalatvam hi, tasyah samsanti panditah

Without unconditional surrender (saranagati), one cannot conceive of oneself as 'belonging to Him.' And this is why the learned sing (par excellence) the glories of surrender's ability to yield her unprecedented, gracious fruit.

1.49
athava bahubbir etair, uktibhih kim prayojanam
sarva-siddhir bhaved eva, govinda-caranasrayat

Otherwise, what would have been the need for so abundantly singing her praises? Only by unconditional surrender unto the lotus feet of Govinda is all perfection attained - nothing remains to be attained.

1.50
sri-sanatana-jivadi-, mahajana-samahrtam .
api cen nica-samsprstam, piyusam piyatam budhah

Even though touched by one as lowly as me, please, O learned devotees, drink this nectar gathered by the great souls headed by Srila Sanatana and Sri Jiva.

iti sri-prapanna-jivanamrte
upakramamrtam nama prathamo 'dhyayah

thus ends the first chapter
Prelude to Approaching Nectar
in
Life-Nectar of the Surrendered Souls
Positive and Progressive Immortality