Bhaktachintamani Prakaran 164

The scripture called Bhaktachintamani has been told, a source of bliss for satsangis, in which are the deeds of the manifest Lord, exceedingly sacred, pure and uncommon. There are indeed many other scriptures, in Sanskrit and in the vernacular, but for one devoted to the manifest Lord, there is none other like this. In it, Maharaj's deeds are described again and again; without even trying to remember, HariHariAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in His four-armed svarup to save an elephant from being killed by a crocodile. He cut off the crocodile’s head with His chakra.Tap to open in glossary →'s form comes to mind, dwelling within the heart. In this text are boundless virtues of HariHariAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in His four-armed svarup to save an elephant from being killed by a crocodile. He cut off the crocodile’s head with His chakra.Tap to open in glossary → and HariHariAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in His four-armed svarup to save an elephant from being killed by a crocodile. He cut off the crocodile’s head with His chakra.Tap to open in glossary →'s devotees; whoever hears it with a pure heart shall cross the ocean of worldly existence.

Such is this exceedingly uncommon scripture, in which is the attainment of the manifest Lord: manifest liberation, manifest devotion, manifest command, manifest darshandarshanSeeing. To see with admiration and devotion. To see Bhagvãn, a sat-purush, and murtis, with inner or outer vision, with the intention of receiving their grace and blessings. By doing darshan properly a bhakta develops affection for Bhagvãn, and Bhagvãn develops affection for that bhakta. [Sãrangpur – 2].Tap to open in glossary →; manifest teachings, manifest vows, manifest devotee, manifest Bhagwan -- nothing here is a matter of promise for later; whatever is needed is given directly, manifestly.

Others say liberation comes only after death, and describe an indirect form of the Lord; some say liberation comes through action alone -- such people too are ignorant. Some say the Lord is formless -- such people too are greatly mistaken; some say liberation lies in VedicVedicFrom the Veds.Tap to open in glossary → ritual action alone, one undivided Brahman; some say through goddesses and gods; some say Mahadev grants liberation. All these are, in a sense, worthy accounts, but a person must consider them with discernment.

If liberation could be attained this way alone, then why would HariHariAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in His four-armed svarup to save an elephant from being killed by a crocodile. He cut off the crocodile’s head with His chakra.Tap to open in glossary → take a body at all? Without knowledge, liberation cannot occur -- thus all the Shrutis and Smritis declare. So one must have the manifest Lord present -- this is the conclusion of all scriptures. Just as when the sun is manifest, the darkness of the universe departs; just as when water is manifestly obtained, the thirsty person's thirst is quenched; just as when food is manifestly eaten, the inner fire of hunger subsides -- so too, when Bhagwan is manifestly attained, then the liberation of the soul is assured. So one must listen to the manifest deeds, and where the manifest one is, one must go and join him.

Wherever the manifest Lord is present, there liberation comes easily to people. The ears become pure at that time, when they hear the glory of the manifest one. The sin of the skin departs at the time when one touches the manifest one's feet. The eyes become forever sinless when they behold the manifest Lord with love. The tongue becomes pure only when it sings the manifest one's praises. The nose becomes pure and clean only when it smells the garland worn by Bhagwan. If someone wishes their feet to become pure, let them walk toward the manifest one. To make the hands pure, let them be joined in reverence wherever Maharaj is. The mind, thought, and heart's contemplation become pure when directed toward the manifest one. Only when the intellect and the sense of self are made pure in the manifest one do they become truly pure.

So, without the manifest Lord, no one can become free of sin. Know the manifest form to be the boat across the ocean of birth and death -- the easy means of crossing over. Just as, to cross the ocean, a ship is needed, and there is no other means -- so too, one must speak of the deeds of the manifest one; without this, one cannot become pure.

The manifest form is itself beyond the gunas; it is that which gives happiness, endowed with true virtue. This was told by KrishnaKrishna1) An avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in the svarup of a cowherd. This is considered to be a greater avatãr than the others, as Shree Krishna possessed all of the powers of Bhagvãn, whereas other avatãrs possessed less power. Shree Krishna conveyed the message of love and humanity to the world. Also, He recited the epic poem, the Bhagvad Geetã, to Arjun in which He stated: ‘Whenever dharma declines and adharma increases, I shall incarnate myself as a human to save the holy, to destroy the sin of the sinner, and to establish dharma. I come into being from yug to yug’. 2) In the Vachanãmrut, Shreeji Mahãrãj also uses the name “Shree Krishna” to describe Bhagvãn Purushottam Nãrãyan.Tap to open in glossary → to Uddhava, in the eleventh canto of the Bhagavatam: Whoever gives up the body in sattva-guna attains the heavenly worlds; whoever gives up the body in rajo-guna quickly attains the human world; whoever's body departs in tamo-guna attains residence in hell. But whoever gives up the body having attained me manifestly -- know that one to be beyond the gunas, my true devotee.

Worshipping the sacred image while renouncing the desire for its fruit -- that is sattvik action, performed with devotion. Worshipping the image for some petty worldly wish -- that is the way of rajasic action. Worship of the image performed with improper intent is tamasic action. But action performed having attained me -- whether intended or not -- is beyond the gunas.

Pure knowledge is called sattvik; scriptural knowledge is called rajasic; worldly, ordinary knowledge is called tamasic; but conviction and faith fixed in me is beyond the gunas, know this. A sattvik dwelling is that of a forest-dweller; a dwelling in a town is rajasic; a dwelling amid gambling, wine, theft and meat is a tamasic dwelling. But dwelling in my temple -- know this dwelling, devotee, to be beyond the gunas.

Whoever performs sacrifice without desiring its fruit -- that is sattvik, sacred action. Whoever performs a sacrifice desiring its fruit -- know that action to be rajasic. A sacrifice performed carelessly, without regard for proper order -- that is tamasic action. But a sacrifice performed for my sake -- that is the action of the being beyond the gunas, sacred and pure.

Faith placed in spiritual philosophy -- know that faith to be sattvik. Faith placed in ritual action -- that is called rajasic faith. Faith placed in what is contrary to scripture, in unrighteousness -- that is tamasic faith. But faith and love fixed in my directly-manifest form -- that is beyond the three gunas entirely.

Food obtained without effort, that is naturally good -- that food is sattvik. Food that is pleasing to the tongue according to one's own desire -- know that food to be rajasic. Food that is impure and causes suffering to the body -- that is tamasic food. But the food that is my own prasad -- that is exceedingly excellent, beyond the gunas.

Happiness derived from the Self is sattvik happiness; happiness from sensory pleasure is rajasic, and remains ever hungry; happiness that comes under the sway of delusion -- that is merely tamasic happiness. But whoever takes refuge in me directly and manifestly -- call that happiness beyond the gunas.

Thus it is told in the eleventh canto, the superiority of the directly manifest Lord. This was spoken by Shri KrishnaKrishna1) An avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in the svarup of a cowherd. This is considered to be a greater avatãr than the others, as Shree Krishna possessed all of the powers of Bhagvãn, whereas other avatãrs possessed less power. Shree Krishna conveyed the message of love and humanity to the world. Also, He recited the epic poem, the Bhagvad Geetã, to Arjun in which He stated: ‘Whenever dharma declines and adharma increases, I shall incarnate myself as a human to save the holy, to destroy the sin of the sinner, and to establish dharma. I come into being from yug to yug’. 2) In the Vachanãmrut, Shreeji Mahãrãj also uses the name “Shree Krishna” to describe Bhagvãn Purushottam Nãrãyan.Tap to open in glossary → to Uddhava, in the classification of the gunas -- telling this exceedingly uncommon account, the state of being beyond the gunas in the manifest Lord. So the deeds of the manifest one are themselves beyond the gunas, supremely sacred. Wherever there is union with the manifest one, that is free of obstacles and free of affliction.

So this account is worth hearing above all others -- there is no other account like this one. It is named Bhaktachintamani -- whatever one contemplates through it comes to be fulfilled. Whoever sings and hears this text with a devoted heart, for them the Lord fulfills their heart's desires. Whoever attains happiness and prosperity, let them keep and cherish this scripture with care. Whoever learns it, teaches it, writes it, or has it written -- to them the three kinds of affliction shall not come. When trouble comes, let this account be recited -- happiness shall come, and suffering shall not linger.

Whoever gives charity after hearing this account attains an exceedingly excellent fruit. Whoever, having heard it, gives food, clothing, wealth to Brahmins and such -- they shall easily cross the ocean of worldly existence; only an atheist would doubt this.

This text should not be given to the deceitful or the quarrelsome, to those of opposing sects, sannyasis, or followers of other doctrines -- this account should not be told before them; even unknowingly it should not be written down for them, nor given to the deceitful, the hypocritical, those hostile to DharmaDharma1) Universal law or principle that 'sustains' or 'upholds' the entire world. Righteousness, morality, religion,Tap to open in glossary →, the greedy, or the lustful. Whoever gives this text to such people shall receive great suffering.

But whoever is a believer, devoted to the manifest Lord, a devotee of HariHariAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in His four-armed svarup to save an elephant from being killed by a crocodile. He cut off the crocodile’s head with His chakra.Tap to open in glossary →, faithful in mind, firm in DharmaDharma1) Universal law or principle that 'sustains' or 'upholds' the entire world. Righteousness, morality, religion,Tap to open in glossary → and its rules, a true, undivided devotee, a genuine satsangisatsangiA person who practises satsang.Tap to open in glossary → -- whoever has deep love for the manifest one, to them this text should be told and heard always. It contains the matters of the ekantik path; others hearing it might become hostile in opposition. So it should not be spread too widely -- this is the very essence of satsangsatsang1) True company. The practice of associating with Bhagvãn’s sant, other satsangis, the ãtmã, and the sacred shãstras, and also observing vartmãns and niyams. 2) Also refers to the sampradãy, which is the presence of good company.Tap to open in glossary →. It should be told to satsangis, but not allowed to be heard by those opposed to satsangsatsang1) True company. The practice of associating with Bhagvãn’s sant, other satsangis, the ãtmã, and the sacred shãstras, and also observing vartmãns and niyams. 2) Also refers to the sampradãy, which is the presence of good company.Tap to open in glossary →.

This has been written knowingly, with careful thought -- it brings happiness to satsangis. It is like gheegheeThis is clarified butter or pure butter that is formed by heating it until the impurities in it settle to the bottom.Tap to open in glossary →, like nectar, uncommon -- but to an unfit recipient it would bring only suffering. So, to redeem those opposed, tell them this fine and beautiful account with discernment -- the wise will understand quietly, and the foolish will not accept it.

On the banks of the sacred river, in the sacred town named Gadhada, there this text was composed with devotion, dear to the devotees -- Bhaktachintamani. In the year SamvatSamvatThe calendar established by Indian emperor Vikramaditya of Ujjain following his victory 56 BCE. It is a lunar calendar based on ancient Hindu tradition. The Vikram Samvat calendar is 56.7 years ahead of the solar Gregorian calendar. The calendar most commonly used is the Kãrtiki Samvat, which begins on the first day of Kãrtik. However, the Vachanãmrut is written using the Ashãdhi Samvat, which begins on the first day of Ãshãdh.Tap to open in glossary → 1887, on the fine thirteenth day of the bright fortnight of Ashvin, on a Thursday, the text was completed -- a treasury of bliss for HariHariAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in His four-armed svarup to save an elephant from being killed by a crocodile. He cut off the crocodile’s head with His chakra.Tap to open in glossary →'s devotees.

Many other accounts one may hear, but where else can one find such an account as this -- in which there is bliss in every single verse. Whoever attains it, says Nishkulanand.

Thus ends the one hundred and sixty-fourth and final chapter of the Bhaktachintamani, in which the glory of the text is told and the completion of the scripture is described.