The Nectar of Devotion [First Publication]

Prabhupāda: Everything all right?

Devotees: Jaya.

Prabhupāda: Hare Kṛṣṅa. So we have published our Nectar of Devotion. So every one of you should read this Nectar of Devotion repeatedly. The whole substance of Vaiṣṅava philosophy and activities, everything is there. So every one of you read this Nectar of Devotion once, twice, thrice. Unless you have got full-fledged ideas what is this devotional service.

That was written by... Actually, it was spoken by Lord Caitanya to Rūpa Gosvāmī. For ten days continually He instructed Rūpa Gosvāmī at Prayāga, Daśāśvamedha-ghāṭa [Cc Madhya 23.102].

[Previously I empowered your brother Rūpa Gosvāmī to understand these mellows. I did this while instructing him at the Daśāśvamedha-ghāṭa in Prayāga.]

You have seen the picture in TLC [Teachings of Caitanya]. Caitanya Mahāprabhu was Allahabad, Prayāga, and Rūpa Gosvāmī met Him there. He was offering obeisances flat. You have seen that picture.

So at that time Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally gave him instruction what is this cult of bhakti. So for ten days. And he took note of it, and later on he placed this book in the form of Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu. That is in Sanskrit. It will be difficult for you. Therefore I have presented a summary study, and the summary study has come to 407 pages. If we would have elaborately described each and every verse, then it would have come to at least thousand pages.

So the whole substance is creamed. You should take advantage of this. And don't indulge in much unnecessary talks. Time should be very properly utilized. Āyuṣaḥ kṣaṅa eko 'pi na labhyaḥ svarṅa-koṭibhiḥ [Cāṅakya Paṅḍita].

[Even one moment of life spent cannot be regained for millions of gold coins. Therefore, what greater loss is there than time spent uselessly?]

Value of time is so great that one moment of your life lost, it cannot be returned even in exchange of millions of dollars. Therefore every moment should be properly utilized. Avyartha kālatvam [Cc Madhya 23.18-19].

[When the seed of ecstatic emotion for Kṛṣṅa fructifies, the following nine symptoms manifest in one’s behavior: forgiveness, concern that time should not be wasted, detachment, absence of false prestige, hope, eagerness, a taste for chanting the holy name of the Lord, attachment to descriptions of the transcendental qualities of the Lord, and affection for those places where the Lord resides—that is, a temple or a holy place like Vṛndāvana. These are all called anubhāva, subordinate signs of ecstatic emotion. They are visible in a person in whose heart the seed of love of God has begun to fructify.]

When one is advanced in Kṛṣṅa consciousness, his business becomes to see, "Whether I am wasting my time?" That is one of the sign, advanced devotee. Avyartha kālatvam.

Nāma-gāne sadā ruci [Cc Madhya 23.32]

[Due to having great relish for the holy name, one is inclined to chant the Hare Kṛṣṅa mahā-mantra constantly.]

Attachment for chanting always. Prītis tad-vasati sthale [Cc Madhya 23.18-19],

[Everywhere are His hands and legs, His eyes and faces, and He hears everything. In this way the Supersoul exists.]

and attraction or attachment for living in the temple, vasati, where Kṛṣṅa lives. Kṛṣṅa lives everywhere, but specifically, to give us chance to meet, He lives in the temple or in places like Vṛndāvana. So prītis tad-vasati sthale: one should be enhanced in attachment for living where Kṛṣṅa is living. Prītis tad... Nāma-gāne sadā ruci: and taste for singing always the holy name. These are development.

Ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu-saṅgaḥ [Cc Madhya 23.14-15].

[In the beginning there must be faith. Then one becomes interested in associating with pure devotees. Thereafter one is initiated by the spiritual master and executes the regulative principles under his orders. Thus one is freed from all unwanted habits and becomes firmly fixed in devotional service. Thereafter, one develops taste and attachment. This is the way of sādhana-bhakti, the execution of devotional service according to the regulative principles. Gradually emotions intensify, and finally there is an awakening of love. This is the gradual development of love of Godhead for the devotee interested in Kṛṣṅa consciousness.]

All of you who come here, it is out of śraddhā, some, what is called... What is the exact English word for śraddhā? Devotion, you can take. Devotion. Those who come here, that first principle is they have some regard that "This Kṛṣṅa consciousness movement is nice. Let me see." So this is the beginning. Ādau śraddhā. And then sādhu-saṅgaḥ: then associate with these devotees. Then, after some time, when he's little advanced more, then he is eager to become initiated. This is third stage, as some of these students are going to be initiated today.

The initiation means bhajana-kriyā, actually executing devotional service: initiation. And if one actually executes devotional service, then anartha-nivṛttiḥ syāt, then all nonsense habits will disappear. Then I'll not have to stress on the point these four regulative principles. Automatically it will go away. That is the test. How one has properly utilized his initiation will be tested that he has no more attraction for these four principles: illicit sex, intoxication, gambling and meat-eating. They will automatically go. There is no need of asking. Anartha-nivṛttiḥ syāt.

Then ruci. When one is freed from all these prohibitive principles, then he develops a taste, tato ruci. Tato niṣṭhā: then he's steadily confirmed. Tathāsaktiḥ. Then attachment: he cannot go. He cannot go. Tathāsaktis tato bhāvaḥ. Then ecstasy. Then he comes to the platform of love of Godhead. So...

[break] ...when that platform is reached, then everything is successful. And if that platform is not reached, then everything is simply waste of time. But in the beginning, if you follow these principles, as laid down by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and other ācāryas...

So these things, one after another, everything is very clearly explained in this Nectar of Devotion. So each chapter you should read very carefully. And if you cannot understand, read it repeatedly. Don't all of a sudden, reading one or two page, immediately question, "Prabhupāda, what is this? What is this? What is this?" Go on reading, and the answers will automatically come.

So this book is..., this valuable book is now published. You should take full advantage.

So chant this mantra... [end]