Ādi-līlā

Chapter 8: The Author Receives the Orders of Kṛṣṇa and Guru

Verse 25 of 84
Cc Ādi 8.25

তদশ্মসারং হৃদযং বতেদং যদ্গৃহ্যমাণৈর্হরিনামধেযৈঃ ন বিক্রিযেতাথ যদা বিকারো নেত্রে জলং গাত্ররুহেষু হর্ষঃ

तदश्मसारं हृदयं बतेदं यद्गृह्यमाणैर्हरिनामधेयैः न विक्रियेताथ यदा विकारो नेत्रे जलं गात्ररुहेषु हर्षः

tad aśma-sāraṁ hṛdayaṁ batedaṁ yad gṛhyamāṇair hari-nāma-dheyaiḥ na vikriyetātha yadā vikāro netre jalaṁ gātra-ruheṣu harṣaḥ

Synonyms

tatthat; aśma-sāramas hard as iron; hṛdayamheart; bataO; idamthis; yatwhich; gṛhyamāṇaiḥin spite of taking the chanting; hari-nāma-dheyaiḥmeditating on the holy name of the Lord; nadoes not; vikriyetachange; athathus; yadāwhen; vikāraḥtransformation; netrein the eyes; jalamtears; gātra-ruheṣuin the pores of the body; harṣaḥecstasy..

Translation

"If one's heart does not change, tears do not flow from his eyes, his body does not shiver, nor his hairs stand on end as he chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, it should be understood that his heart is as hard as iron. This is due to his offenses at the lotus feet of the Lord's holy name."

Purport

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, commenting on this verse, which is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.3.24), remarks that sometimes a mahā-bhāgavata, or very advanced devotee, does not manifest such transcendental symptoms as tears in the eyes, although sometimes a kaniṣṭha-adhikārī, neophyte devotee, displays them artificially. This does not mean, however, that the neophyte is more advanced than the mahā-bhāgavata devotee. The test of the real change of heart that takes place when one chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra is that one becomes detached from material enjoyment. This is the real change. Bhaktir parasyānubhavo viraktir anyatra syāt. If one is actually advancing in spiritual life, he must become very much detached from material enjoyment. If it is sometimes found that a kaniṣṭha-adhikārī (neophyte devotee) shows artificial tears in his eyes while chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra but is still completely attached to material things, his heart has not really changed. The change must be manifested in terms of one's real activities.

Verse 25 of 84
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