Centennial Editions II

by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Māhārāja

Whenever he would see me, he would shower me with an affection that had a simple, natural intimacy (laukika-sadbandhuvat). As much as possible, he did not like dealings that were filled with giving him honour (maryādā)....

by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Māhārāja

Having taste for hari-kathā is a sign of immense good fortune. This is why you have such eagerness to hear hari-kathā from my mouth as well. However, aside from one or two stories, I do not know any hari-kathā....

by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Māhārāja

“It is said jekhāne sādhu [vaiṣṇava] gaṇa sekhāne vṛndāvana – the place where sādhus [Vaiṣṇavas] reside is indeed Vṛndāvana. This is a fact. Mahāprabhu has said this. But if this is true, then why does Mahāprabhu anxiously desire to come to Vṛndāvana? Why?”...

by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Māhārāja

Kindly plead for the grace of most worshipful Śrīla Gurudeva upon this destitute (dīna) and wretched (hīna) person by mentioning me at his reddish lotus feet, and convey my infinite prostrated obesiences at his lotus feet. ...

by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Māhārāja

“Aho, this is the only hari-kathā that can deliver one from the cycle of birth and death. Only from this hari-kathā can I receive kṛṣṇa-prema, not from anywhere else. Oh, how beautiful his hari-kathā is! How glorious this place is, where Bhagavān’s līlā-kathā is being spoken.” In this way, he’ll extol the qualities of hari-kathā. He’ll repeatedly offer praṇāma to the listeners, thinking, “They are blessed to be able to hear such hari-kathā.”...

by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Māhārāja

One should offer [tell] the topics on one’s mind to the sādhus and śrī guru, whom one is to consider his bandhus, or well-wishing friends [guardian angels]. One should inquire from them only and one should hear only from them. We should have at least one such bandhu, parama-bāndhava (utmost well-wisher), to whom we can open our heart. ...

by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Māhārāja

Daughter, your dear most [Śrī Bhagavān] is always very close by, always with you. Your [true] near and dear ones are never far from you, nor can they ever be. Ever. Do not be restless....

by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Māhārāja

“Service performed to śrī guru is of two kinds: as a duty and not as a duty, due to it being performed with heartfelt anurāga (affection). In this verse, anurāga is being referred to, not duty. That indeed is known as viśrambheṇa guroḥ sevā.”...

by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Māhārāja

“Don’t think, “A better result will come from my sādhana-bhajana than by engaging in that guru-sevā.” One may think, “What special fruit will I get merely by sitting near gurujī and serving him?” Do not think like this. Consider what he wants and depend on him.”...

by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Māhārāja

Our ācāryas have explained that Śrī Prabhodānanda Sarasvatī and Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī are contemporaries of each other. When Prabhodānanda Sarasvatī met Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu near the famous South Indian Śrī Raṅganāthajī temple, Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī was giving teachings on monism (advaitvāda) to his thousands of disciples at Kāśī....

by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Māhārāja

“Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī prays, “O Śrīmatī Rādhike, You are adorned with such good qualities. When will I receive the good fortune to serve You?” 

What does sevā (service) mean here? If we fan someone, the air should reach that person, shouldn’t it? Why do we fan someone? Why do we take that trouble? Is it not hard work to do so? So why do we do that? If we massage someone’s feet or if we cook for them, it is laborious, so why do we do such service? It is because there is some gain in it.”...