Contents
Gita Govinda -Shri Jayadeva Gosvami
INTRODUCTION
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If you want your mind to be deeply attached to the constant remembrance of Shri Hari, or your heart is already absorbed in contemplation upon him; and if you are curious to taste the mellows of his pastimes – that is, you hanker exclusively for this and for nothing else – then by all means listen to these gentle, appealing and honeyed verses of the transcendental poetry of Jayadeva. In this supramundane poem, Shri Jayadeva Gosvämé has given a charming description of the intimate transcendental love of Shri Rädhä-Mädhava. The ultimate excellence of the two aspects of çåìgära-rasa, namely separation and meeting, are both found in this lyrical composition. The poet upholds the opinion that when the union of lovers is first nourished by feelings of separation, it bestows a greater joy upon the perfected spiritualists and the devotional practitioners who are expert in relishing the amorous mellow. Svayaà Bhagavän Shri Kṛṣṇa has instructed his intimate devotee, Arjuna, about the eligibility and ineligibility to hear and speak Shrimad Bhagavad-gétä in its eighteenth chapter, verses 67 and 68. Do not speak about this confidential knowledge and realization to those unqualified persons who have no faith and who are not engaged in pure devotion to me. One who explains the supreme mystery of my Gétä to the faithful devotees is sure to attain pure devotion and in the end he will come to me.In these verses, Shri Kṛṣṇa describes the characteristics of the genuine candidates for transcendental realization after first defining the disqualifications. Shri Jéva Gosvämé has also presented a clear analysis of the qualifications for hearing his Gopäla-campü. He has pronounced a curse upon faithless nondevotees who still insist upon reading it. Similarly, Shri Sanätana Gosvämé has strictly forbidden faithless persons to hear or read his Båhad-bhägavatämåta. Other Gosvämés have also pronounced curses to prohibit the unqualified from delving into their literatures. |
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