Śrī Kṛṣṇa Bhajanāmṛtam

EPILOGUE BY ŚRĪLA BHAKTIVINODA ṬHĀKURA

This is an explanation of this book. Śrīman Mahāprabhu manifested Himself and long with His followers, propagated pure bhakti through the Śikṣāṣṭaka and other works, all over the world. After His disappearance, that unparalleled pure dharma became polluted by ordinary people and began spreading in distorted forms. Sarakāra Ṭhākura is Śrīman Mahāprabhu’s intimate devotee. Grieving over this event, he composed this book, the Bhajanāmṛta, following the Lord’s instruction.

His bhajana-śikṣā (teachings on the method of bhajana) is this – through His own character comprised of pure goodness, and through the Śikṣāṣṭaka, Śrīman Mahāprabhu has bestowed the chanting of śrī-hari-nāma to the world, as the sole method of bhajana (especially for the jīvas of the age of Kali). Taking shelter of the guru and the sādhus, one should engage in nāma-rasa-bhajana without offences in the company of sādhus. The gradual method of bhajana has been pointed out in the Śikṣāṣṭaka and the Upadeśāmṛta.

This book clearly explains the method of following the example of the sādhus at the time of practicing bhajana. Svaniṣṭha (the householder devotee who abandons the śāstrika rules to worship Kṛṣṇa), pariniṣṭhita (the householder devotee who follows the rules of śāstra) and nirapekṣa (the renunciate devotee who is fully engaged in bhajana) – these are the three stages that one gradually advances through according to one’s qualification. It is clearly demonstrated in this book how to give up offences, how to engage in sādhu-saṅga and how to renounce other association. It indicates taking refuge in the rasa of Kṛṣṇa’s form, qualities and character through nāma-bhajana. When the Lord’s avatāra disappears, all the deceptions that arise in the world can certainly lead to a sādhaka’s downfall. It is a division of bhajana (bhajanāṅga) for a diligent practitioner of bhajana to be wary of all such deceptions. He has specifically mentioned this. He has clarified whatever was unclear or remaining in the teachings of the Śikṣāṣṭakāmṛta (the nectarean Śikṣāṣṭaka). Therefore, this book, the Bhajanāmṛta, is a necklace to be worn by those who are striving for bhajana.

śrī-kṛṣṇa-bhajanāmṛtāsvāda-vistariṇī mayā
dāsa bhaktivinodena bhāṣā vyākhyā praṇīyate

The servant, Bhaktivinoda, has composed this commentary which expands transcendental relish, explaining Śrī Kṛṣna Bhajanāmṛta.

iti śrī-bhajanāmṛta granthera āsvāda-vistariṇī nāma bhāṣā vyākhyā samāptā

Thus ends the commentary to Śrī Bhajanāmṛta known as the Āsvāda-vistariṇī.