Nectar of Instruction Translations Only

The Nectar of
Instruction
Upadeçämåta
Verse 1
A sober person who can
tolerate
the urge to speak,
the mind's demands,
the actions of anger
and
the urges of the
tongue, belly and genitals
is qualified
to make disciples all over
the world.
Verse 2
One's devotional service
is spoiled
when he becomes
too entangled
in the following
six activities:
(1) eating more than
necessary
or
collecting more funds than
required;
(2) overendeavoring
for mundane things
that are very difficult to
obtain;
(3) talking unnecessarily
about mundane subject
matters;
(4) Practicing
the scriptural rules and
regulations
only for the sake of
following them
and not for the sake
of spiritual advancement,
or
rejecting the rules and
regulations
of the scriptures
and working independently
or whimsically;
(5) associating with
worldly-minded persons
who are not interested
in Kåñëa consciousness;
and
(6) being greedy

for mundane achievements.
Verse 3
There are six principles
favorable to the execution
of
pure devotional service:
(1) being enthusiastic,
(2) endeavoring with
confidence,
(3) being patient,
(4) acting according to
regulative principles
[such as çravaëaà kértanaà
viñëoù smaraëam
- hearing, chanting and
remembering Kåñëa],
(5) abandoning the
association
of nondevotees,
and
(6) following in the

footsteps
of the previous äcäryas.
These six principles
undoubtedly assure
the complete success
of pure devotional service.
Verse 4
Offering gifts in charity,
accepting charitable gifts,
revealing one's mind in
confidence,
inquiring confidentially,
accepting prasäda
and offering prasäda
are the six symptoms of
love
shared by one devotee and
another.
Verse 5
One should mentally honor
the devotee who chants
the holy name of Lord
Kåñëa,
one should offer humble
obeisances
to the devotee who has
undergone
spiritual initiation [dékñä]
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.
Verse 6
Being situated in
his original Kåñëa
conscious position,
a pure devotee does not
identify with the body.
Such a devotee
should not be seen
from a materialistic
point of view.
Indeed,
one should overlook
a devotee's
having a body born
in a low family,
a body with a bad
complexion,
a deformed body,
or a diseased or infirm
body.
According to
ordinary vision,
such imperfections
may seem prominent
in the body
of a pure devotee,
but despite such
seeming defects,
the body of a pure devotee
cannot be polluted.
It is exactly like
the waters of the Ganges,
which sometimes
during the rainy season
are full of bubbles,
foam and mud.
The Ganges waters
do not become polluted.
Those who are advanced
in spiritual understanding
will bathe in the Ganges
without considering
the condition of the water.
Verse 7
The holy name, character,
pastimes and activities
of Kåñëa are all
transcendentally sweet
like sugar candy.
Although the tongue
of one afflicted by
the jaundice of avidyä
[ignorance] cannot
taste anything sweet,
it is wonderful that
simply by carefully
chanting
these sweet names
every day,
a natural relish awakens
within his tongue,
and his disease is gradually
destroyed at the root.
Verse 8
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
[Goloka Våndävana dhäma]
and serve Kåñëa
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.
Verse 9
The holy place known as
Mathurä
is spiritually superior to
Vaikuëöha,
the transcendental world,
because the
Lord appeared there.
Superior to Mathurä-Puré
is the transcendental
forest of Våndävana
because of Kåñëa's räsa-lélä
pastimes.
And superior to the forest
of Våndävana
is Govardhana Hill,
for it was raised
by the divine hand of Çré
Kåñëa
and was the site
of His various loving
pastimes.
And, above all,
the superexcellent
Çré Rädhä-kuëòa
stands supreme,
for it is overflooded
with the ambrosial
nectarean prema
of the Lord of Gokula,
Çré Kåñëa.
Where, then,
is that intelligent person
who is unwilling to serve
this divine Rädhä-kuëòa,
which is situated at
the foot of Govardhana
Hill?
Verse 10
In the çästra it is said that
of all types of fruitive
workers,
he who is advanced in
knowledge
of the higher values of life
is favored by
the Supreme Lord Hari.
Out of many such people
who are advanced in
knowledge [jïänés],
one who is practically
liberated
by virtue of his knowledge
may take to devotional
service.
He is superior to the others.
However, one who
has actually attained prema,
pure love of Kåñëa,
is superior to him.
The gopés are exalted
above all the advanced
devotees
because they are always
totally dependent upon Çré
Kåñëa, the transcendental
cowherd boy.
Among the gopés,
Çrématé Rädhäräëé is
the most dear to Kåñëa.
Her kuëòa [lake]
is as profoundly dear
to Lord Kåñëa
as this most beloved
of the gopés.
Who, then, will not reside
at Rädhä-kuëòa
and, in a spiritual body
surcharged with ecstatic
devotional feelings
[apräkåtabhäva],
render loving service
to the divine couple
Çré Çré Rädhä-Govinda,
Who perform Their
añöakäléya-lélä,
Their eternal eightfold
daily pastimes.
Indeed, those who execute
devotional service
on the banks
of Rädhä-kuëòa
are the most fortunate
people in the universe.
Verse 11
Of the many objects
of favored delight
and of all the lovable
damsels of Vrajabhümi,
Çrématé Rädhäräëé is
certainly
the most treasured object
of Kåñëa's love.
And, in every respect,
Her divine kuëòa
is described by great sages
as similarly dear to Him.
Undoubtedly Rädhä-kuëòa
is very rarely attained
even by the great devotees;
therefore it is even more
difficult
for ordinary devotees to
attain.
If one simply bathes once
within those holy waters,
one's pure love of Kåñëa
is fully aroused.
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The Nectar of

(6) being greedy

(6) following in the

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