Bhakti Sastri Examinations

General Guidelines:
1. The Bhakti Sastri Degree Examination will consist of a minimum of the following: 60 short answer
questions, 9 essay questions, and knowledge of the Sanskrit transliteration and English meaning
of 15 Sanskrit verses.
2. Examinations should be completed within one day, in two three-hour sessions. Short answer
questions should be answered in the first three-hour session. The second three-hour session
can be split according to the discretion of the Examination center.
3. The Bhakti Sastri examination shall only require knowledge on the first nineteen chapters of the
Nectar of Devotion.
Short Answer Questions:
4. An individual should be able to write his/her answer to a short answer question within 1-2
minutes. This means an answer should not require more than three sentences.
5. The 60 short answer questions should be broken up as follows: 40 on the Bhagavad-gita As
It is, 10 on the Nectar of Devotion, 5 on the Nectar of Instruction, and 5 on Sri Isopanisad.
6. Short answer questions should cover, in a balanced fashion, all sections of the required books.
7. Short answer questions should be balanced between essential facts, key concepts, and
analogies.
Essential Facts: Sastra inform us of essential facts, such as those related to the Lord’s activities,
the activities of His devotees, the organization of the universe, the different yoga systems, the
structure of Vedic society, qualifications for an individual to become spiritually advanced, etc.
Devotees should know these essential facts.
Key Concepts: Devotees should know the philosophical concepts which form the basis of
Krishna consciousness, such as the transcendental nature of the soul, the law of karma, the
influence of the modes of nature, the process and development of bhakti, the purpose of creation,
the qualities and opulences of the Supreme Lord, etc.
Analogies: Srila Prabhupada and our great acaryas have taught via analogies, which help us
understand new concepts indirectly. We should know and be able to explain these analogies.
Some examples are the analogy of the man lost in the middle of the ocean, of the sun rising on
the horizon, of the mailbox, of the eggs of the scorpion, of the green bird in the green tree, etc.
Essay Questions:
8. Five essay questions should test a candidate’s deeper understanding and practical application of
the philosophy. Candidates will be required to answer five of the nine questions. Three of the
essay questions should be on the Bhagavad-gita As It Is.
9. An individual should be able to write his/her answer to each essay question within 20-25 minutes.
This means an essay question should not require an answer of more than 150 words.
Required Verses:
10. Centers should require candidates to learn a minimum of 45 verses. Of these, the Board of
Examinations will choose 30 standard verses and the individual center will choose the additional
verses. Of the required verses to be learnt 15 will be selected for testing on the Bhakti Sastri
Examination.
11. Candidates will be required to write the transliterated Sanskrit of all required verses. Correct use
of diacritic marks is not mandatory. Candidates shall also be required to write a translation that
contains each main concept of the verse. An exact, literal, “book translation” is not required.
Bhakti Sastri Syllabus
Bhagavad-Gita
Chapter 1 – 1.1 to 1.20 Chapter 10 – 10.15 till end of chapter
Chapter 2 – 2.1 to 2.15; 2.30 to 2.40; 2.55 to 2.66 Chapter 11 – Arjuna’s prayers
Chapter 3 – 3.30 till the end of chapter Chapter 12 – 12.12 to 12.20
Chapter 4 – 4.1 to 4.12; 4.30 till end of chapter Chapter 13 – 13.8 to 13.12; 13.20 to 13.30
Chapter 5 – 5.1 to 5.10; 5.20 till end of chapter Chapter 14 – 14.15 to 14.27
Chapter 6 – 6.5 to 6.20; 6.35 till end of chapter Chapter 15 – 15.1 to 15.7
Chapter 7 – 7.10 to 7.20; 7.24 till end of chapter Chapter 16 – 16.1 to 16.10
Chapter 8 – 8.1 to 8.5; 8.20 till end of chapter Chapter 17 – 17.11 to 17.18
Chapter 9 – 9.1 to 9.5; 9.12 to 9.25 Chapter 18 - Entire Chapter
Nectar of Devotion
1. All analogies
2. Definitions
3. Impetuses
4. Symptoms
5. Unfavorable principles for bhakti
6. Division of NOD into waves
7. Characteristics of bhakti
8. Explanation of anyäbhiläñitä-çünyaà
Nectar of Instruction Sri Isopanishad
1. All analogies 1. Invocation
2. Power of Holy dhama 2. Mantra 1 to 5
3. Essence of all advise 3. Kanishtha, Madhyama, Uttama Adhikari.
Topics for Essays
1. Mayavada 9. Divine and Demoniac Natures
2. Demigod Worship 10. Bhakti is topmost yoga system
3. Yoga Ladder 11. Arjuna’s reasons not to fight
4. Renunciation and Work 12. Divisions of faith
5. Modes of Nature 13. Qualities of devotee
6. Sense Control 14. Death
7. Mind 15. Description of Astanga Yoga
8. Transmigration 16. Description of Universal Form
Break – up of the Examination
PART 1 – 3 hours – Short answer questions
( 60 Questions x 5 marks each = 300) (40 BG + 10 NOD + 5 NOI + 5 ISO)
PART 2 – 3 hours – Essay questions and verses
Essay: 150 words. (5 Essays x 40 marks each = 200 marks)
(3 on BG out of 5; 2 from NOI, NOD, ISO out of 4)
Verses: 15 verses x 7 marks each = 100 marks.
Max. Time = 6 hours Max. Marks = 600
High Honors = 570 and above
Honors = Between 510 and 569
Pass class = Between 390 and and 509.
NOTE: The above shortlist of important subject matters to be given special emphasis is only to be used as pointers while preparing for
the Bhakti Sastri examination. The actual questions in the Bhakti Sastri need not necessarily be restricted to the abovementioned topics
exclusively.
Bhakti Sastri Exam Important Sanskrit Verses For Memorisation
Bg 1.1 dh!tar"#$ra% uv"ca—King Dh!tar"#$ra said; dharma- Dh!tar"#$ra said: O Sañjaya, after
dh!tar"#$ra uv"ca k#etre—in the place of pilgrimage; kuru-k#etre—in the my sons and the sons of P"&'u
dharma-k#etre kuru-k#etre place named Kuruk#etra; samavet"%—assembled; assembled in the place of
yuyutsava%—desiring to fight; m"mak"%—my party
samavet" yuyutsava% pilgrimage at Kuruk#etra, desiring
(sons); p"&'av"%—the sons of P"&'u; ca—and; eva—
m"mak"% p"&'av"( caiva to fight, what did they do?
certainly; kim—what; akurvata—did they do;
kim akurvata sañjaya sañjaya—O Sañjaya.
Bg 2.7 k"rpa&ya—of miserliness; do#a—by the weakness; Now I am confused about my duty
k"rpa&ya-do#opahata-svabh"va% upahata—being afflicted; sva-bh"va%—characteristics; and have lost all composure
p!cch"mi tv") dharma-samm*'ha- p!cch"mi—I am asking; tv"m—unto You; dharma— because of miserly weakness. In
religion; samm*'ha—bewildered; cet"%—in heart;
cet"% this condition I am asking You to
yat—what; (reya%—all-good; sy"t—may be;
yac chreya% sy"n ni(cita) br*hi tan tell me for certain what is best for
ni(citam—confidently; br*hi—tell; tat—that; me—unto
me me; (i#ya%—disciple; te—Your; aham—I am; ("dhi— me. Now I am Your disciple, and a
(i#yas te ‘ha) ("dhi m") tv") just instruct; m"m—me; tv"m—unto You; soul surrendered unto You. Please
prapannam prapannam—surrendered. instruct me.
Bg 2.13 dehina%—of the embodied; asmin—in this; yath"—as; As the embodied soul continuously
dehino ‘smin yath" dehe dehe—in the body; kaum"ram—boyhood; yauvanam— passes, in this body, from boyhood
kaum"ra) yauvana) jar" youth; jar"—old age; tath"—similarly; deha-antara— to youth to old age, the soul
of transference of the body; pr"pti%—achievement;
tath" deh"ntara-pr"ptir similarly passes into another body
dh+ra%—the sober; tatra—thereupon; na—never;
dh+ras tatra na muhyati at death. A sober person is not
muhyati—is deluded.
bewildered by such a change.
Bg 2.14 m"tr"—spar("%—sensory perception; tu—only; O son of Kunt+, the nonpermanent
m"tr"-spar("s tu kaunteya kaunteya—O son of Kunt+; (+ta—winter; u#&a— appearance of happiness and
(+to#&a-sukha-du%kha-d"% summer; sukha—happiness; du%kha—and pain; d"%— distress, and their disappearance in
giving; "gama—appearing; ap"yina%—disappearing;
"gam"p"yino ‘nity"s due course, are like the
anity"%—nonpermanent; t"n—all of them; titik#asva—
t")s titik#asva bh"rata appearance and disappearance of
just try to tolerate; bh"rata—O descendant of the
Bharata dynasty. winter and summer seasons. They
arise from sense perception, O
scion of Bharata, and one must
learn to tolerate them without
being disturbed.
Bg 2.20 na—never; j"yate—takes birth; mriyate—dies; v"— For the soul there is neither birth
na j"yate mriyate v" kad"cin either; kad"cit—at any time (past, present or future); nor death at any time. He has not
n"ya) bh*tv" bhavit" v" na bh*ya% na—never; ayam—this; bh*tv"—having come into come into being, does not come
being; bhavit"—will come to be; v"—or; na—not;
ajo nitya% ("(vato ‘ya) pur"&o into being, and will not come into
bh*ya%—or is again coming to be; aja%—unborn;
na hanyate hanyam"ne (ar+re being. He is unborn, eternal, ever-
nitya%—eternal; ("(vata%—permanent; ayam—this;
pur"&a%—the oldest; na—never; hanyate—is killed; existing and primeval. He is not
hanyam"ne—being killed; (ar+re—the body. slain when the body is slain.
Bg 3.13 yajña-(i#$a—of food taken after performance of yajña; The devotees of the Lord are
yajña-(i#$"(ina% santo a(ina%—eaters; santa%—the devotees; mucyante—get released from all kinds of sins
mucyante sarva-kilbi#ai% relief; sarva—all kinds of; kilbi#ai%—from sins; because they eat food which is
bhuñjate—enjoy; te—they; tu—but; agham—grievous
bhuñjate te tv agha) p"p" offered first for sacrifice. Others,
sins; p"p"%—sinners; ye—who; pacanti—prepare
ye pacanty "tma-k"ra&"t who prepare food for personal
food; "tma-k"ra&"t—for sense enjoyment.
sense enjoyment, verily eat only
sin.
Bg 3.27 prak!te%—of material nature; kriyam"&"ni—being The spirit soul bewildered by the
prak!te% kriyam"&"ni done; gu&ai%—by the modes; karm"&i—activities; influence of false ego thinks
gu&ai% karm"&i sarva(a% sarva(a%—all kinds of; aha,k"ra-vim*'ha—bewildered himself the doer of activities that
by false ego; "tm"—the spirit soul; kart"—doer;
aha,k"ra-vim*'h"tm" are in actuality carried out by the
aham—I; iti—thus; manyate—he thinks.
kart"ham iti manyate three modes of material nature.
 Bg 3.43 evam—thus; buddhe%—to intelligence; param— Thus knowing oneself to be
eva) buddhe% para) buddhv" superior; buddhv"—knowing; sa)stabhya—by transcendental to the material
sa)stabhy"tm"nam "tman" steadying; "tm"nam—the mind; "tman"—by senses, mind and intelligence, O
deliberate intelligence; jahi—conquer; (atrum—the
jahi (atru) mah"-b"ho mighty-armed Arjuna, one should
enemy; mah"-b"ho—O mighty—armed one; k"ma-
k"ma-r*pa) dur"sadam steady the mind by deliberate
r*pam—in the form of lust; dur"sadam—formidable.
spiritual intelligence [K!#&a
consciousness] and thus—by
spiritual strength-conquer this
insatiable enemy known as lust.
Bg 4.2 evam—thus; parampar"—by disciplic succession; This supreme science was thus
eva) parampar"-pr"ptam pr"ptam—received; imam—this science; r"ja-!#aya%— received through the chain of
ima) r"jar#ayo vidu% the saintly kings; vidu%—understood; sa%—that disciplic succession, and the saintly
knowledge; k"lena—in the course of time; iha—in this
sa k"leneha mahat" kings understood it in that way.
world; mahat"—great; yoga%—the science of one’s
yogo na#$a% parantapa But in course of time the
relationship with the Supreme; na#$a%—scattered;
parantapa—O Arjuna, subduer of the enemies. succession was broken, and
therefore the science as it is
appears to be lost.
Bg 4.6 aja%—unborn; api—although; san—being so; avyaya— Although I am unborn and My
ajo ‘pi sann avyay"tm" without deterioration; "tm"—body; bh*t"n"m—of all transcendental body never
bh*t"n"m +(varo ‘pi san those who are born; +(vara%—the Supreme Lord; api— deteriorates, and although I am
although; san—being so; prak!tim—in the
prak!ti) sv"m adhi#$h"ya the Lord of all living entities, I still
transcendental form; sv"m—of Myself; adhi#$h"ya—
sambhav"my "tma-m"yay" appear in every millennium in My
being so situated; sambhav"mi—I do incarnate; "tma-
m"yay"—by My internal energy. original transcendental form.
Bg 4.9 janma—birth; karma—work; ca—also; me—of Mine; One who knows the transcendental
janma karma ca me divyam divyam—transcendental; evam—like this; ya%— nature of My appearance and
eva) yo vetti tattvata% anyone who; vetti—knows; tattvata%—in reality; activities does not, upon leaving
tyaktv"—leaving aside; deham—this body; puna%—
tyaktv" deha) punar janma the body, take his birth again in
again; janma—birth; na—never; eti—does attain;
naiti m"m eti so ‘rjuna this material world, but attains My
m"m—unto Me; eti—does attain; sa%—he; arjuna—O
Arjuna. eternal abode, O Arjuna.
Bg 4.34 tat—that knowledge of different sacrifices; viddhi—try Just try to learn the truth by
tad viddhi pra&ip"tena to understand; pra&ip"tena—by approaching a approaching a spiritual master.
paripra(nena sevay" spiritual master; paripra(nena—by submissive Inquire from him submissively and
inquiries; sevay"—by the rendering of service;
upadek#yanti te jñ"na) render service unto him. The self-
upadek#yanti—they will initiate; te—you; jñ"nam—into
jñ"ninas tattva-dar(ina% realized souls can impart
knowledge; jñ"nina%—the self-realized; tattva—of the
truth; dar(ina%—seers. knowledge unto you because they
have seen the truth.
Bg 5.29 bhokt"ram—the beneficiary; yajña—of sacrifices; A person in full consciousness of
bhokt"ra) yajña-tapas") tapas"m—and penances and austerities; sarva-loka— Me, knowing Me to be the ultimate
sarva-loka-mahe(varam of all planets and the demigods thereof; mah"- beneficiary of all sacrifices and
+(varam—the Supreme Lord; su-h!dam—the
suh!da) sarva-bh*t"n") austerities, the Supreme Lord of all
benefactor; sarva—of all; bh*t"n"m—the living
jñ"tv" m") ("ntim !cchati planets and demigods, and the
entities; jñ"tv"—thus knowing; m"m—Me (Lord
K!#&a); ("ntim—relief from material pangs; !cchati— benefactor and well-wisher of all
one achieves. living entities, attains peace from
the pangs of material miseries.
Bg 6.47 yogin"m—of yog+s; api—also; sarve#"m—all types of; And of all yog+s, the one with great
yogin"m api sarve#") mat—gatena—abiding in Me, always thinking of Me; faith who always abides in Me,
mad-gaten"ntar-"tman" anta%—"tman"—within himself; (raddh"—v"n—in full thinks of Me within himself, and
faith; bhajate—renders transcendental loving service;
(raddh"v"n bhajate yo m") renders transcendental loving
ya%—one who; m"m—to Me (the Supreme Lord);
sa me yuktatamo mata% service to Me—he is the most
sa%—he; me—by Me; yukta—tama%—the greatest
yog+; mata%—is considered. intimately united with Me in yoga
and is the highest of all. That is My
opinion.
Bg 7.3 manu#y"&"m—of men; sahasre#u—out of many Out of many thousands among
manu#y"&") sahasre#u thousands; ka(cit—someone; yatati—endeavors; men, one may endeavor for
ka(cid yatati siddhaye siddhaye—for perfection; yatat"m—of those so perfection, and of those who have
endeavoring; api—indeed; siddh"n"m—of those who
yatat"m api siddh"n") achieved perfection, hardly one
have achieved perfection; ka(cit—someone; m"m—
ka(cin m") vetti tattvata% knows Me in truth.
Me; vetti—does know; tattvata%—in fact.
 Bg 7.14 daiv+—transcendental; hi—certainly; e#"—this; gu&a- This divine energy of Mine,
daiv+ hy e#" gu&a-may+ may+—consisting of the three modes of material consisting of the three modes of
mama m"y" duratyay" nature; mama—My; m"y"—energy; duratyay"—very material nature, is difficult to
difficult to overcome; m"m—unto Me; eva—certainly;
m"m eva ye prapadyante overcome. But those who have
ye—those who; prapadyante—surrender; m"y"m
m"y"m et") taranti te surrendered unto Me can easily
et"m—this illusory energy; taranti—overcome; te—
they. cross beyond it.
Bg 8.5 anta-k"le—at the end of life; ca—also; m"m—Me; And whoever, at the end of his life,
anta-k"le ca m"m eva eva—certainly; smaran—remembering; muktv"— quits his body remembering Me
smaran muktv" kalevaram quitting; kalevaram—the body; ya%—he who; alone at once attains My nature. Of
pray"ti—goes; sa%—he; mat-bh"vam—My nature;
ya% pray"ti sa mad-bh"va) this there is no doubt.
y"ti—achieves; na—not; asti—there is; atra—here;
y"ti n"sty atra sa)(aya%
sa)(aya%—doubt.
Bg 9.2 r"ja-vidy"—the king of education; r"ja-guhyam—the This knowledge is the king of
r"ja-vidy" r"ja-guhya) king of confidential knowledge; pavitram—the purest; education, the most secret of all
pavitram idam uttamam idam—this; uttamam—transcendental; pratyak#a—by secrets. It is the purest knowledge,
direct experience; avagamam—understood;
pratyak#"vagama) dharmya) and because it gives direct
dharmyam—the principle of religion; su-sukham—very
su-sukha) kartum avyayam perception of the self by
happy; kartum—to execute; avyayam—everlasting.
realization, it is the perfection of
religion. It is everlasting, and it is
joyfully performed.
Bg 9.14 satatam—always; k+rtayanta%—chanting; m"m—about Always chanting My glories,
satata) k+rtayanto m") Me; yatanta%—fully endeavoring; ca—also; d!'ha- endeavoring with great
yatanta( ca d!'ha-vrat"% vrat"%—with determination; namasyanta%—offering determination, bowing down
obeisances; ca—and; m"m—Me; bhakty"—in
namasyanta( ca m") bhakty" before Me, these great souls
devotion; nitya—yukt"%—perpetually engaged;
nitya-yukt" up"sate perpetually worship Me with
up"sate—worship.
devotion.
Bg 9.26 patram—a leaf; pu#pam—a flower; phalam—a fruit; If one offers Me with love and
patra) pu#pa) phala) toya) toyam—water; ya%—whoever; me—unto Me; devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or
yo me bhakty" prayacchati bhakty"—with devotion; prayacchati—offers; tat— water, I will accept it.
that; aham—I; bhakti-upah!tam—offered in devotion;
tad aha) bhakty-upah!tam
a(n"mi—accept; prayata-"tmana%—from one in pure
a(n"mi prayat"tmana%
consciousness.
Bg 9.27 yat—whatever; karo#i—you do; yat—whatever; Whatever you do, whatever you
yat karo#i yad a(n"si a(n"si—you eat; yat—whatever; juho#i—you offer; eat, whatever you offer or give
yaj juho#i dad"si yat dad"si—you give away; yat—whatever; yat— away, and whatever austerities you
whatever; tapasyasi—austerities you perform;
yat tapasyasi kaunteya perform—do that, O son of Kunt+,
kaunteya—O son of Kunt+; tat—that; kuru#va—do;
tat kuru#va mad-arpa&am as an offering to Me.
mat—unto Me; arpa&am—as an offering.
Bg 10.8 aham—I; sarvasya—of all; prabhava%—the source of I am the source of all spiritual and
aha) sarvasya prabhavo generation; matta%—from Me; sarvam—everything; material worlds. Everything
matta% sarva) pravartate pravartate—emanates; iti—thus; matv"—knowing; emanates from Me. The wise who
bhajante—become devoted; m"m—unto Me;
iti matv" bhajante m") perfectly know this engage in My
budh"%—the learned; bh"va-samanvit"%—with great
budh" bh"va-samanvit"% devotional service and worship Me
attention.
with all their hearts.
Bg 10.9 mat-citt"%—their minds fully engaged in Me; mat- The thoughts of My pure devotees
mac-citt" mad-gata-pr"&" gata-pr"&"%—their lives devoted to Me; dwell in Me, their lives are fully
bodhayanta% parasparam bodhayanta%—preaching; parasparam—among devoted to My service, and they
themselves; kathayanta%—talking; ca—also; m"m—
kathayanta( ca m") nitya) derive great satisfaction and bliss
about Me; nityam—perpetually; tu#yanti—become
tu#yanti ca ramanti ca from always enlightening one
pleased; ca—also; ramanti—enjoy transcendental
bliss; ca—also. another and conversing about Me.
Bg 10.10 te#"m—unto them; satata-yukt"n"m—always To those who are constantly
te#") satata-yukt"n") engaged; bhajat"m—in rendering devotional service; devoted to serving Me with love, I
bhajat") pr+ti-p*rvakam pr+ti-p*rvakam—in loving ecstasy; dad"mi—I give; give the understanding by which
buddhi-yogam—real intelligence; tam—that; yena—by
dad"mi buddhi-yoga) ta) they can come to Me.
which; m"m—unto Me; upay"nti—come; te—they.
yena m"m upay"nti te
Bg 10.11 te#"m—for them; eva—certainly; anukamp"-artham— To show them special mercy, I,
te#"m ev"nukamp"rtham to show special mercy; aham—I; ajñ"na-jam—due to dwelling in their hearts, destroy
aham ajñ"na-ja) tama% ignorance; tama%—darkness; n"(ay"mi—dispel; "tma- with the shining lamp of knowledge
bh"va—within their hearts; stha%—situated; jñ"na—of
n"(ay"my "tma-bh"va-stho the darkness born of ignorance.
knowledge; d+pena—with the lamp; bh"svat"—
jñ"na-d+pena bh"svat"
glowing.
 Bg 10.41 yat yat—whatever; vibh*ti—opulences; mat—having; Know that all opulent, beautiful
yad yad vibh*timat sattva) sattvam—existence; (r+-mat—beautiful; *rjitam— and glorious creations spring from
(r+mad *rjitam eva v" glorious; eva—certainly; v"—or; tat tat—all those; but a spark of My splendor.
eva—certainly; avagaccha—must know; tvam—you;
tat tad ev"vagaccha tva)
mama—My; teja%—of the splendor; a)(a—a part;
mama tejo-’)(a-sambhavam
sambhavam—born of.
Bg 13.22 puru#a%—the living entity; prak!ti-stha%—being The living entity in material nature
puru#a% prak!ti-stho hi situated in the material energy; hi—certainly; thus follows the ways of life,
bhu,kte prak!ti-j"n gu&"n bhu,kte—enjoys; prak!ti—j"n—produced by the enjoying the three modes of
material nature; gu&"n—the modes of nature;
k"ra&a) gu&a-sa,go ‘sya nature. This is due to his
k"ra&am—the cause; gu&a-sa,ga%—the association
sad-asad-yoni-janmasu association with that material
with the modes of nature; asya—of the living entity;
sat-asat—in good and bad; yoni—species of life; nature. Thus he meets with good
janmasu—in births. and evil among various species.
Bg 14.4 sarva-yoni#u—in all species of life; kaunteya—O son of It should be understood that all
sarva-yoni#u kaunteya Kunt+; m*rtaya%—forms; sambhavanti—they appear; species of life, O son of Kunt+, are
m*rtaya% sambhavanti y"% y"%—which; t"s"m—of all of them; brahma—the made possible by birth in this
supreme; mahat yoni%—source of birth in the material
t"s") brahma mahad yonir material nature, and that I am the
substance; aham—I; b+ja-prada%—the seed-giving;
aha) b+ja-prada% pit" seed-giving father.
pit"—father.
Bg 14.26 m"m—unto Me; ca—also; ya%—a person who; One who engages in full devotional
m") ca yo ‘vyabhic"re&a avyabhic"re&a—without fail; bhakti-yogena—by service, unfailing in all
bhakti-yogena sevate devotional service; sevate—renders service; sa%—he; circumstances, at once transcends
gu&"n—the modes of material nature; samat+tya—
sa gu&"n samat+tyait"n the modes of material nature and
transcending; et"n—all these; brahma-bh*y"ya—
brahma-bh*y"ya kalpate thus comes to the level of
elevated to the Brahman platform; kalpate—becomes.
Brahman.
Bg 15.1 (r+-bhagav"n uv"ca—the Supreme Personality of The Supreme Personality of
(r+-bhagav"n uv"ca Godhead said; *rdhva-m*lam—with roots above; Godhead said: It is said that there
*rdhva-m*lam adha%-("kham adha%—downwards; ("kham—branches; a(vattham— is an imperishable banyan tree that
a banyan tree; pr"hu%—is said; avyayam—eternal;
a(vattha) pr"hur avyayam has its roots upward and its
chand")si—the Vedic hymns; yasya—of which;
chand")si yasya par&"ni branches down and whose leaves
par&"ni—the leaves; ya%—anyone who; tam—that;
yas ta) veda sa veda-vit veda—knows; sa%—he; veda-vit—the knower of the are the Vedic hymns. One who
Vedas. knows this tree is the knower of
the Vedas.
Bg 15.15 sarvasya—of all living beings; ca—and; aham—I; I am seated in everyone’s heart,
sarvasya c"ha) h!di sannivi#$o h!di—in the heart; sannivi#$a%—situated; matta%— and from Me come remembrance,
matta% sm!tir jñ"nam apohana) ca from Me; sm!ti%—remembrance; jñ"nam—knowledge; knowledge and forgetfulness. By all
apohanam—forgetfulness; ca—and; vedai%—by the
vedai( ca sarvair aham eva vedyo the Vedas, I am to be known.
Vedas; ca—also; sarvai%—all; aham—I am; eva—
ved"nta-k!d veda-vid eva c"ham Indeed, I am the compiler of
certainly; vedya%—knowable; ved"nta-k!t—the
compiler of the Ved"nta; veda-vit—the knower of the Ved"nta, and I am the knower of
Vedas; eva—certainly; ca—and; aham—I. the Vedas.
Bg 16.23 ya%—anyone who; ("stra-vidhim—the regulations of He who discards scriptural
ya% ("stra-vidhim uts!jya the scriptures; uts!jya—giving up; vartate—remains; injunctions and acts according to
vartate k"ma-k"rata% k"ma-k"rata%—acting whimsically in lust; na—never; his own whims attains neither
sa%—he; siddhim—perfection; av"pnoti—achieves;
na sa siddhim av"pnoti perfection, nor happiness, nor the
na—never; sukham—happiness; na—never; par"m—
na sukha) na par") gatim supreme destination.
the supreme; gatim—perfectional stage.
Bg 18.54 brahma-bh*ta%—being one with the Absolute; One who is thus transcendentally
brahma-bh*ta% prasann"tm" prasanna-"tm"—fully joyful; na—never; (ocati— situated at once realizes the
na (ocati na k",k#ati laments; na—never; k",k#ati—desires; sama%— Supreme Brahman and becomes
equally disposed; sarve#u—to all; bh*te#u—living
sama% sarve#u bh*te#u fully joyful. He never laments or
entities; mat—bhaktim—My devotional service;
mad-bhakti) labhate par"m desires to have anything. He is
labhate—gains; par"m—transcendental.
equally disposed toward every
living entity. In that state he
attains pure devotional service
unto Me.
 Bg 18.55 bhakty"—by pure devotional service; m"m—Me; One can understand Me as I am,
bhakty" m"m abhij"n"ti abhij"n"ti—one can know; y"v"n—as much as; ya% ca as the Supreme Personality of
y"v"n ya( c"smi tattvata% asmi—as I am; tattvata%—in truth; tata%—thereafter; Godhead, only by devotional
m"m—Me; tattvata%—in truth; jñ"tv"—knowing;
tato m") tattvato jñ"tv" service. And when one is in full
vi(ate—he enters; tat-anantaram—thereafter.
vi(ate tad-anantaram consciousness of Me by such
devotion, he can enter into the
kingdom of God.
Bg 18.57 cetas"—by intelligence; sarva-karm"&i—all kinds of In all activities just depend upon
cetas" sarva-karm"&i activities; mayi—unto Me; sannyasya—giving up; mat- Me and work always under My
mayi sannyasya mat-para% para%—under My protection; buddhi-yogam— protection. In such devotional
devotional activities; up"(ritya—taking shelter of; mat-
buddhi-yogam up"(ritya service, be fully conscious of Me.
citta%—in consciousness of Me; satatam—twenty-four
mac-citta% satata) bhava
hours a day; bhava—just become.
Bg 18.61 +(vara%—the Supreme Lord; sarva-bh*t"n"m—of all The Supreme Lord is situated in
+(vara% sarva-bh*t"n") living entities; h!t-de(e—in the location of the heart; everyone’s heart, O Arjuna, and is
h!d-de(e ‘rjuna ti#$hati arjuna—O Arjuna; ti#$hati—resides; bhr"mayan— directing the wanderings of all
causing to travel; sarva-bh*t"ni—all living entities;
bhr"mayan sarva-bh*t"ni living entities, who are seated as
yantra—on a machine; "r*'hani—being placed;
yantr"r*'h"ni m"yay" on a machine, made of the
m"yay"—under the spell of material energy.
material energy.
Bg 18.65 mat-man"%—thinking of Me; bhava—just become; Always think of Me, become My
man-man" bhava mad-bhakto mat-bhakta%—My devotee; mat-y"j+—My worshiper; devotee, worship Me and offer
mad-y"j+ m") namaskuru m"m—unto Me; namaskuru—offer your obeisances; your homage unto Me. Thus you
m"m—unto Me; eva—certainly; e#yasi—you will come;
m"m evai#yasi satya) te will come to Me without fail. I
satyam—truly; te—to you; pratij"ne—I promise;
pratij"ne priyo ‘si me promise you this because you are
priya%—dear; asi—you are; me—to Me.
My very dear friend.
Bg 18.66 sarva-dharm"n—all varieties of religion; parityajya— Abandon all varieties of religion
sarva-dharm"n parityajya abandoning; m"m—unto Me; ekam—only; (ara&am— and just surrender unto Me. I shall
m"m eka) (ara&a) vraja for surrender; vraja—go; aham—I; tv"m—you; deliver you from all sinful
sarva—all; p"pebhya%—from sinful reactions;
aha) tv") sarva-p"pebhyo reactions. Do not fear.
mok#ayi#y"mi—will deliver; m"—do not; (uca%—
mok#ayi#y"mi m" (uca%
worry.
ISO Invocation o- — the Complete Whole; p*r&am — perfectly The Personality of Godhead is
o- p*r&am ada% p*r&am ida- complete; ada% — that; p*r&am — perfectly perfect and complete, and because
p*r&"t p*r&am udacyate complete; idam — this phenomenal world; p*r&"t — He is completely perfect, all
from the all-perfect; p*r&am — complete unit;
p*r&asya p*r&am "d"ya emanations from Him, such as this
udacyate — is produced; p*r&asya — of the
p*r&am ev"va(i#yate phenomenal world, are perfectly
Complete Whole; p*r&am — completely, all; "d"ya
— having been taken away; p*r&am — the complete equipped as complete wholes.
balance; eva — even; ava(i#yate — is remaining. Whatever is produced of the
Complete Whole is also complete in
itself. Because He is the Complete
Whole, even though so many
complete units emanate from Him,
He remains the complete balance.
ISO 1 +(a — by the Lord; "v"syam — controlled; idam — Everything animate or inanimate
+("v"syam idam sarva- this; sarvam — all; yat kiñca — whatever; jagaty"m that is within the universe is
yat kiñca jagaty"- jagat — within the universe; jagat — all that is animate or controlled and owned by the Lord.
inanimate; tena — by Him; tyaktena — set-apart
tena tyaktena bhuñj+th" One should therefore accept only
quota; bhuñj+th"% — you should accept; m" — do
m" g!dha% kasya svid dhanam those things necessary for himself,
not; g!dha% — endeavor to gain; kasya svit — of
anyone else; dhanam — the wealth. which are set aside as his quota,
and one should not accept other
things, knowing well to whom they
belong.
NOI 1 v"ca% — of speech; vegam — urge; manasa% — of A sober person who can tolerate
v"co vega- manasa% krodha- the mind; krodha — of anger; vegam — urge; jihv" the urge to speak, the mind's
vega- — of the tongue; vegam — urge; udara-upastha — demands, the actions of anger and
of the belly and genitals; vegam — urge; et"n —
jihv"-vegam udaropastha-vegam the urges of the tongue, belly and
these; veg"n — urges; ya% — whoever; vi#aheta —
et"n veg"n yo vi#aheta dh+ra% genitals is qualified to make
can tolerate; dh+ra% — sober; sarv"m — all; api —
sarv"m ap+m"- p!thiv+- sa (i#y"t certainly; im"m — this; p!thiv+m — world; sa% — disciples all over the world.
that personality; (i#y"t — can make disciples.
 NOI 2 ati-"h"ra% — overeating or too much collecting; One's devotional service is spoiled
aty"h"ra% pray"sa( ca pray"sa% — overendeavouring; ca — and; prajalpa% when he becomes too entangled in
prajalpo niyam"graha% — idle talk; niyama — rules and regulations; "graha% the following six activities: (1)
— too much attachment to (or agraha% — too much
jana-sa.ga( ca laulya- ca eating more than necessary or
neglect of); jana-sa.ga% — association with worldly-
#ad/bhir bhaktir vina(yati collecting more funds than
minded persons; ca — and; laulyam — ardent
longing or greed; ca — and; #a'bhi% — by these six; required; (2) overendeavoring for
bhakti% — devotional service; vina(yati — is mundane things that are very
destroyed. difficult to obtain; (3) talking
unnecessarily about mundane
subject matters; (4) Practicing the
scriptural rules and regulations
only for the sake of following them
and not for the sake of spiritual
advancement, or rejecting the
rules and regulations of the
scriptures and working
independently or whimsically; (5)
associating with worldly-minded
persons who are not interested in
K!#&a consciousness; and (6) being
greedy for mundane achievements.
NOI 3 uts"h"t — by enthusiasm; ni(cay"t — by confidence; There are six principles favorable
uts"h"n ni(cay"d dhairy"t dhairy"t — by patience; tat-tat-karma — various to the execution of pure devotional
tat-tat-karma-pravartan"t activities favorable for devotional service; service: (1) being enthusiastic, (2)
pravartan"t — by performing; sa.ga-ty"g"t — by
sa.ga-ty"g"t sato v!tte% endeavoring with confidence, (3)
giving up the association of nondevotees; sata% — of
#a'bhir bhakti% prasidhyati being patient, (4) acting according
the great previous "c"ryas; v!tte% — by following in
the footsteps; #a'bhi% — by these six; bhakti% — to regulative principles (such as
devotional service; prasidhyati — advances or (rava&a- k+rtana- vi#&o%
becomes successful. smara&am [SB 7.5.23] — hearing,
chanting and remembering K!#&a),
(5) abandoning the association of
nondevotees, and (6) following in
the footsteps of the previous
"c"ryas. These six principles
undoubtedly assure the complete
success of pure devotional service.
NOI 4 dad"ti — gives charity; pratig!h&"ti — accepts in Offering gifts in charity, accepting
dad"ti pratig!h&"ti return; guhyam — confidential topics; "khy"ti — charitable gifts, revealing one's
guhyam "khy"ti p!cchati explains; p!cchati — enquires; bhu.kte — eats; mind in confidence, inquiring
bhojayate — feeds; ca — also; eva — certainly; #a$-
bhu.kte bhojayate caiva confidentially, accepting pras"da
vidham — six kinds; pr+ti — of love; lak#a&am —
#a'-vidha- pr+ti-lak#a&am and offering pras"da are the six
symptoms.
symptoms of love shared by one
devotee and another.
BRS 1.1.11: anya-abhil"#it"-(*nyam—without desires other than When first-class devotional service
any"bhil"#it"-(*nya) those for the service of Lord K!#&a, or without develops, one must be devoid of all
jñ"na-karm"dy-an"v!tam material desires (such as those for meateating, illicit material desires, knowledge
sex, gambling and addiction to intoxicants); jñ"na—
"nuk*lyena k!#&"nu- obtained by monistic philosophy,
by the knowledge of the philosophy of the monist
(+lanam bhaktir uttam" and fruitive action. The devotee
M"y"v"d+s; karma—by fruitive activities; adi—by
artificially practicing detachment, by the mechanical must constantly serve K!#&a
practice of yoga, by studying the S",khya philosophy favorably, as K!#&a desires.(quoted
and so on; an"v!tam—uncovered; "nuk*lyena— in Caitanya-carit"m!ta Madhya
favorable; k!#&a-"nu-(+lanam—cultivation of service 19.167)
in relationship to K!#&a; bhakti%-uttam"—first-class
devotional service.
 BRS 1.2.101: (ruti—the original Vedic literatures; sm!ti—literatures Devotional service to the Lord that
(ruti-sm!ti-pur"&"di- in pursuance to the original Vedic knowledge; ignores the authorized Vedic
pañcaratra-vidhi) vin" pur"&a-"di—the Pur"&"s, etc.; pañcaratra—the literatures like the Upani#ads,
N"rada Pañcar"tra; vidhim—the regulative principles;
aik"ntik+ harer bhaktir Pur"&as, N"rada-Pañcar"tra, etc.,
vin"—without; aik"ntik+—undiverted; hare%—of the
utp"t"yaiva kalpate is simply an unnecessary
Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhakti—devotional
service; utp"t"ya—an unnecessary disturbance; iva— disturbance in society.
indeed; kalpate—becomes.
BRS 1.2.187: +h"—the activity; yasya—of whom; hare%—of Hari, One who engages in the
+h" yasya harer d"sye K!#&a, the Lord; d"sye—in service; karma&"—by the transcendental service of the Lord
karma&" manas" gir" actions (of the body); manas"—by the mind; gir"— in body, mind and word is to be
and by the words; nikhil"su—in all; api—indeed;
nikhil"sv apy avasth"su considered liberated in all
avasth"su—in all conditions of material existence;
j+van-mukta% sa ucyate conditions of material existence.
j+van-mukta%—liberated even within material
existence; sa%—such; ucyate—is so called.
BRS 1.2.255-6: an"saktasya—of one who is without attachment; When one is not attached to
an"saktasya vi#ay"n vi#ay"n—to material sense objects; yath"-arham— anything but at the same time
yath"rham upayuñjata% according to suitability; upayuñjata%—engaging; accepts anything in relation to
nirbandha%—without bondage; k!#&a-sambandhe—in
nirbandha% k!#&a-sambandhe K!#&a, one is rightly situated above
relationship with K!#&a; yuktam—proper;
yukta) vair"gyam ucyate possessiveness. On the other hand,
vair"gyam—renunciation; ucyate—is called;
pr"pañcikatay" buddhy" pr"pañcikatay"—as material; buddhy"—with the one who rejects everything without
hari-sambandhi-vastuna% understanding; hari-sambandhi-vastuna%—of things knowledge of its relationship to
mumuk#ubhi% parity"go which are related to the Supreme Personality of K!#&a is not as complete in his
vair"gya) phalgu kathyate Godhead, Hari; mumuk#ubhi%—by those who desire renunciation.
liberation; parity"ga%—the renunciation; vair"gyam
phalgu—inferior renunciation; kathyate—is termed.
BRS. 1.2.234: ata%—therefore (because K!#&a’s name, form, Because K!#&a’s form, qualities,
ata% (r+-k!#&a-n"m"di qualities and pastimes are all on the absolute pastimes, etc. are all on the
na bhaved gr"hyam indriyai% platform); (r+-k!#&a-n"ma-"di—Lord K!#&a’s name, absolute platform, material senses
form, qualities, pastimes and so on; na—not;
sevonmukhe hi jihv"dau cannot therefore appreciate them.
bhavet—can be; gr"hyam—perceived; indriyai%—by
svayam eva sphuraty ada% When a conditioned soul is
the blunt material senses; seva-unmukhe—to one
engaged in His service (when a person places awakened to K!#&a consciousness
himself at the disposal or order of the Supreme Lord, and renders service by using his
at that time the spiritual energy, or Hare, gradually tongue to chant the Lord’s Holy
reveals the Lord to him); hi—certainly; jihv"-"dau— name and taste the remnants of
beginning with the tongue; svayam—personally; the Lord’s food, the tongue is
eva—certainly; sphurati—be manifest; ada%—those purified and one gradually comes
(K!#&a’s name, form, quality and so on). to understand who K!#&a really
is.(originally from Padma Pur"&a,
quoted in Caitanya-carit"m!ta
Madhya 17.136)
BRS 1.1.2: sarva-up"di-vinirmuktam—free from all kinds of Bhakti, or devotional service,
sarvop"dhi-vinirmukta) material designations, or free from all desires except means engaging all our senses in
tat-paratvena nirmalam the desire to render service to the Supreme the service of the Lord, the
Personality of Godhead; tat-paratvena—by the sole
h!#+ke&a h!#+ke(a- Supreme Personality of Godhead,
purpose of serving the Supreme Personality of
sevana) bhaktir ucyate the master of all the senses. When
Godhead; nirmalam—uncontaminated by the effects
of speculative philosophical research or fruitive the spirit soul renders service unto
activity; h!#+ke&a—by purified senses freed from all the Supreme, there are two side
designations; h!#+ke(a—of the master of the senses; effects. One is freed from all
sevanam—the service to satisfy the senses; material designations, and, simply
bhakti%—devotional service; ucyate—is called. by being employed in the service
of the Lord, one’s senses are
purified.(quoted in Caitanya-
carit"m!ta Madhya 19.170)