Jaiva Dharma – Appendix

guru-kṛṣṇa-vaiṣṇavera kṛpā-bala dhari
bhaktivinoda dīna bahu yatna kari

Surcharged by the deep compassion of guru, Kṛṣṇa, and the Vaiṣṇavas, the modest and meek Bhaktivinoda…

viracila jaiva-dharma gauḍīya-bhāṣāya
sampūrṇa haila grantha māghī-pūrṇimāya

…has meticulously compiled Jaiva Dharma in the pure light of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava philosophy, reaching completion upon the most auspicious day of the full moon in the month of Māgha…

caitanyābda cāri-śata-dāśe navadvīpe
godruma-surabhi-kuñje jāhnavī-samīpe

…in the four-hundred-and-tenth year of the Caitanya Era (1896). The pastoral woods of Surabhi-kuñja, upon the transcendental island of Godruma, hugging the banks of the sacred Jahnavī Gaṅgā within Navadvīpa-maṇḍala, provided the setting and source of inspiration for this book.

śrī-kali-pāvana-gorā-pade yāṅra āśa
e grantha paḍūn tini kariyā viśvāsa

Those fortunate souls who wish to take shelter of the lotus feet of Śrī Gaurāṅga, the deliverer from the ills of Kali-yuga, let them read this book with firm faith and heartfelt devotion.

gaurāṅge jāṅhāra nā janmila śraddhā-leśa
e grantha paḍite tāṅre śapatha viśeṣa

However, those who have not an iota of faith and trust in Śrī Gaurāṅga, the most munificent Godhead, I vow that they may never read this book…

śuṣka-muktivāde kṛṣṇa kabhu nāhi pāya
śraddhāvāne vraja-līlā śuddha-rūpe bhāya

…for the dry empirical philosophers aspiring for liberation will never see the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the ultimate spiritual goal. However, the faithful devotee is surely crowned with success as he worships and serves the pure transcendental pastimes of Vraja within his heart.