sri sri guru gauranga jayatah!
Year 4, Issue 9, Amāvasyā Special Edition
Posted: 25 September 2022
Dedicated to and Inspired by
nitya-lila pravista om visnupada
Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Māhārāja
Be Undisturbed by Sufferings
A letter by
Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Māhārāja
Appearing in English for the first time
Śrī Śrī Guru-Gaurāṅgau Jayataḥ
Śrī Keśavajī Gauḍīya Maṭha
P.O. Mathurā (U.P.)
30 November, 1988
Blessed daughter Madhu,
Accept my affectionate blessings.
After the eighty-four kosa Vraja-maṇḍala parikramā, I became unwell for some time, so I could not write any letters. I could not read or write, nor was I able to give class. Now I am a bit better.
Dear daughter, you are a soft-hearted sādhikā and have the nature of a delicate flower. Why have you come within my vicinity and ended up under the sway of that cunning Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who has the qualities of ka-varga? [This is a play of words using the first group of consonants in the Devanāgarī alphabet, ka, kha, ga, gha etc. For example ka as in kuṭila, or crooked, kha as in khala, or deceitful, ga as in garva-unmadit, or mad in pride, gha as in ghosayitnuh, or a glorifier of the self]. Now, seeing your weeping, I also feel remorse. If you take note the sufferings of devotees, beginning from Mīrā, then the sufferings of Prahlāda, the sufferings of the Pāṇḍavas including those of Draupadī, the sufferings of Sītā-devī and others, and compare your own sufferings with theirs, you can reflect on whether your miseries are on par with theirs or not. If you become so disturbed by the miseries you are experiencing now, how will you be able to bear any future miseries?
[This means] O Lord, whether You kill me or have me live, whether You torment me, make me drink the poison of infamy or the nectar of recognition, or whether You keep me happy or distressed, I am Yours and will always remain Yours. The cātaka bird only looks towards the sky, longing for just one drop of water from svāti-nakṣatra. Whether thunder falls from above or whether there is fresh, cooling sweet water to drink, he does not mind. The life of sādhakas is surrendered to the Lord like this.
Those who are foolish and ignorant, being overcome by māyā in the mode of ignorance, act like crazy people and ridicule gentle persons. Such jīvas, being enamoured by māyā, act belligerently. There is no need to give much attention to their words. If you do, your faith in the words of guru, śāstra and sādhus will become disturbed and diminish. You must attentively study Jaiva-dharma and apply it practically in your behaviour. If you do so, your mind will become calm and sober.
I am happy to hear that in the dramas performed under the guidance of Śrī Har-Govindajī, you were made the chief guest and that your book was distributed there. May Śrī Hari, Guru and Vaiṣṇavas bestow their causeless blessings upon you so that you can progress on the path of your topmost welfare (paramārtha).
My affectionate blessings upon your daughters Cāru and Rādhikā.
Your ever well-wisher
Śrī Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa
