Śrīla Bhakti Vinod Ṭhākur’s commentary on the eighth verse of Śrī Upadeśāmṛta.
The following is a translation of Śrīla Bhakti Vinod Ṭhākur’s poetic Bengali translation, Bhāṣā, and Bengali prose commentary, Pīyūṣa-varṣiṇī-vṛtti, on Śrīla Rūpa Goswāmī Prabhu’s Śrī Upadeśāmṛta.
These texts were published in Śrī Gauḍīya Darśan, in Volume 2, Issue 11, 10 June 1957, Volume 2, Issue 12, 12 July 1957, and Volume 3, Issue 1, 12 August 1957. In combination with Śrīla Bhakti Siddhānta Saraswatī Ṭhākur’s Anuvṛtti, they were also published as a book from Śrī Chaitanya Sāraswat Maṭh by Śrīla Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj in 1970.
“The Upadeśāmṛta of Śrīla Rūpa Goswāmī is also extremely good for us; we published Upadeśāmṛta before.”
—Śrīla Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj,
Affectionate Guidance
Śrī Upadeśāmṛta Verse Eight
tan-nāma-rūpa-charitādi-sukīrtanānu-
smṛtyoḥ krameṇa rasanā-manasī niyojya
tiṣṭhan vraje tad-anurāgi-janānugāmī
kālaṁ nayed akhilam ity upadeśa-sāram [8]
niyojya–Having engaged rasanā–the tongue [and] manasī–mind krameṇa–in the gradual process sukīrtana–of full glorification, anusmṛtyoḥ–and constant remembrance tan–of His nāma–Name, rūpa–Form, charita–Pastimes, ādi–and so on, tiṣṭhan–reside vraje–in Vraja, [and] nayed–spend [your] kālaṁ–time anugāmī–as a follower anurāgi-jana–of those who have deep attachment tad–to Him. iti–This [is] sāram–the essence akhilam–of all upadeśa–instruction. [8]
“Having engaged the tongue and mind in the gradual process of chanting and remembering Kṛṣṇa’s Names, Forms, Qualities, and Pastimes, reside in Vraja and spend all your time as a follower of those who have deep attachment to Kṛṣṇa. This is the essence of all instruction.”
Bhāṣā
nāmādira smṛti āra kīrtana niyame
niyojita kara jihvā chitta krame krame [1]
Gradually engage the tongue and mind in the practices of remembrance and chanting of Kṛṣṇa’s Name, Pastimes, and so on.
vraje vasi’ anurāgīra sevā anusāra
sarva-kāla bhaja ei upadeśa sāra [2]
Residing in Vraja, serve at all times following those who have deep attachment to Kṛṣṇa. This is the essence of all instruction.
Pīyūṣa-varṣiṇī-vṛtti
In this eighth verse, the process and place for service are prescribed. According to the process for gradual development and for the purpose of attaining constancy in one’s practice (sādhana), engage the tongue and mind in regulated practice of beautiful chanting and remembrance of Kṛṣṇa’s Name, Form, Pastimes, and so on, reside in Vraja, and spend all your time as a follower of those who have deep attachment to the nectar (rasa) of Vraja. During this service within the mind, it is necessary to reside in Vraja within the mind.
Reference
Read Śrīla Bhakti Vinod Ṭhākur’s commentary on Śrī Upadeśāmṛta: verses one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven.