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अध्याय चौबीस – कर्दम मुनि का वैराग्य (3.24)

1 भगवान विष्णु के वचनों का स्मरण करते हुए कर्दम मुनि ने वैराग्यपूर्ण बातें करने वाली, स्वायम्भुव मनु की प्रशंसनीय पुत्री देवहूति से इस प्रकार कहा।

2 मुनि ने कहा: हे राजकुमारी, तुम अपने आपसे निराश न हो। तुम निस्सन्देह प्रशंसनीय हो। अविनाशी पूर्ण पुरुषोत्तम भगवान शीघ्र ही पुत्र रूप में तुम्हारे गर्भ में प्रवेश करेंगे।

3 तुमने पवित्र व्रत धारण किये हैं। ईश्वर तुम्हारा कल्याण करे। अब तुम ईश्वर की पूजा अत्यन्त श्रद्धा, संयम, नियम, तप तथा अपने धन के दान द्वार

By Madhava Smullen 

During COVID-19, we are missing out on devotee association. Lives of Service is an ISKCON News interview series that we hope feels like sitting down for a chat at the Sunday Feast with an old friend or a devotee you’d like to get to know. Told in their own words, it’s an insightful, inspiring, and at times humorous look at their stories and lives of service. We hope you enjoy this second installment in the series!

Madhava Smullen: Where are you from, and where are you based n

The last five days of Kartika month are known as Bhisma Panchaka. Grandfather Bhishma fasted for these five days, preparing to give up his life. One serious in bhakti should observe Kartika-vrata, and he should intensify it for the last five days.

The best way to observe Bhisma Panchaka is to abstain from eating grains and be fully absorbed in the Holy name of the Lord, and to take only milk or water for the last five days. If one has one eaten grain during the month of Kartika, he should avoid

In 2016 and 2017, His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami took us to Rama-ghata, where Lord Balarama performed various pastimes with his gopis, including his rasa dance near the banyan tree where we gathered. Check out Maharaja’s full kirtans and lectures, along with a few photos, during Parikrama 2016 and Parikrama 2017.

Real snow covered rooftops, car tops, tree branches, roads and everything else. It was white, wet and wonderful. However, it left a slush dynamic; somewhat unfavourable for driving and walking. It was pretty though, as it descended, prettier than Hollywood snow.

I was not discouraged from taking that stroll to The Pits. After all it was late—10 p.m.—who would be out at this hour? Well, there were a few pedestrians. One homeless person recognized me. I was in my snow clothes, so how could he? It

अध्याय तेईस – देवहूति का शोक (3.23)

1 मैत्रेय ने कहा: अपने माता-पिता के चले जाने पर अपने पति की इच्छाओं को समझनेवाली पतिव्रता देवहूति अपने पति की प्रतिदिन प्रेमपूर्वक सेवा करने लगी जिस प्रकार भवानी अपने पति शंकरजी की करती हैं।

2 हे विदुर, देवहूति ने अत्यन्त आत्मीयता और आदर के साथ, इन्द्रियों को वश में रखते हुए, प्रेम तथा मधुर वचनों से अपने पति की सेवा की।

3 बुद्धिमानी तथा तत्परता के साथ कार्य करते हुए उसने समस्त काम, दम्भ, द्वेष, लोभ, पाप तथा मद को त्यागकर अपने शक्तिशाली पति को प्रसन्न कर लिया।

4

Kartik Navadwip Mandal Parikrama 2020 organized by the Mayapur Chandra’s, is a virtual medium by which devotees are taken on parikrama to the nine-islands and various holy places in and around Mayapur, India. They participate in hearing and chanting about the glories of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai and Their associates. Going on Navadwip Mandal Parikrama is already considered to be very auspicious, but by doing so in the month of Kartik, one's devotional service is increased by many folds.

Read more: h

In 2016, 2017 and 2019, His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami took us to Unchagaon, the birthplace of Lalita Devi, who is the most intimate associate of Srimati Radharani. Check out Maharaja’s full bhajans, kirtans and lectures, along with a few harinamas and photos, during Parikramas 2016, 2017 and 2019.

Lalita is older than Srimati Radharani and has a strong left-wing nature. As the protector and dedicated servant of Srimati Radharani, she is always ready to rebuke Krsna for His lack of faithfuln

It was somewhere near Oakland in California

Where people drive everything from a Harley to a Porsche

Anuttama and I were ambling on our humble feet

As traffic whizzed by like a roaring missile fleet
 

We got to talking about an absolute need

We had this idea that manifest like a seed

A retreat for conscious men who will open up

Get drunk on nectar brimming to the top of the cup
 

The bonding, we thought, would be most valuable

A feeling that would rub most palpable

There was a very good reason t

अध्याय बाईस – कर्दममुनि तथा देवहूति का परिणय (3.22)

1 श्रीमैत्रेय ने कहा : सम्राट के अनेक गुणों तथा कार्यों की महानता का वर्णन करने के पश्चात मुनि शान्त हो गये और राजा ने संकोचवश उन्हें इस प्रकार से सम्बोधित किया।

2 मनु ने कहा: वेदस्वरूप ब्रह्मा ने वैदिक ज्ञान के विस्तार हेतु अपने मुख से आप जैसे ब्राह्मणों को उत्पन्न किया है, जो तप, ज्ञान तथा योग से युक्त और इन्द्रियतृप्ति से विमुख हैं।

3 ब्राह्मणों की रक्षा के लिए सहस्र-पाद विराट पुरुष ने हम क्षत्रियों को अपनी सहस्र भुजाओं से उत्पन्न किया। अतः ब

Listen Here!

(Friday, November 20th– Los Angeles, CA)— Double-platinum recording artist, WILLOW, and British musician Jahnavi Harrison release their brand-new collaboration R I S E today! The six track EP featuring timeless Sanskrit mantras and original lyrics inspired by sacred texts of the bhakti tradition. 

Listen to R I S E here!

In the search for a deeper connection and inner calm, WILLOW and Jahnavi have combined their musical influences to create a spiritual, meditative and uplifting coll

In 2017 and 2018, His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami took us to the Sudevi Mandir in Kamyavana, where we meditate on Sudevi, one of the asta-sakhis. Sudevi was an expert in training male and female parrots and she always remained at the side of her dear friend, Srimati Radharani. Check out Maharaja’s full kirtans and lectures below, along with a few photos, at the Sudevi Mandir in Kamyavana during Parikrama 2017 and Parikrama 2018.

At Sudevi Mandir, we pray that we are able to cultivate our mind

The first day of the MANtra Retreat was a smashing success. Anuttama is just the best host. Tomorrow will be most exciting—a good speaker from the UK, Bhuta Bhavana, who raises the topic of empowerment. Check it out, 10 AM. Register if you haven’t, gentlemen.

At noon today one of my good friends from Vaughn came over and accepted two garlands for his Ganesh deity. He was proudly letting me know that he lost 35 lbs due to diet change and walking 10 kilometres per day.

I later came upon a tall fel

अध्याय इक्कीस – मनु-कर्दम संवाद (3.21)

1 विदुर ने कहा: स्वायम्भुव मनु की वंश परम्परा अत्यन्त आदरणीय थी। हे पूज्य ऋषि, मेरी आपसे प्रार्थना है कि आप इस वंश का वर्णन करें जिसकी सन्तति-वृद्धि मैथुनधर्म के द्वारा हुई।

2 स्वायम्भुव मनु के दो पुत्रों--प्रियव्रत तथा उत्तानपाद--ने धार्मिक नियमानुसार सप्त द्वीपों वाले इस संसार पर राज्य किया।

3 हे पवित्र ब्राह्मण, हे पापविहीन पुरुष, आपने उनकी पुत्री के विषय में कहा है कि वे प्रजापति ऋषि कर्दम की पत्नी देवहूति थीं।

4 उस महायोगी ने, जिसे अष्टांग योग के सिद्

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu teaches us, na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagad-isa kamaye. (Siksastaka 4) Dhanam means wealth . . . But Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says, na dhanam: “I don’t want money.” Just the opposite. Everyone wants money. He says, “No, I don’t want money.” Na dhanam na janam: “I don’t want many men as My followers.” Just the opposite. Everyone wants. The politicians, the yogis, the swamis, everyone wants, “There may be hundreds and thousands of my followers.” But Chaitanya Maha

In 2017, His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami took us on a boat trip on River Yamuna to Mathura, the birthplace of Krsna in this material world about 5,000 years ago. Check out Maharaja’s full kirtan along with a few photos, on the way to Mathura during Parikrama 2017.

In Chapter 13 of the Nectar of Devotion, it is mentioned about residing in Mathura dhama or Mathura mandala, which refers to the holy dhama of Vrndavana. “So this attainment of transcendental loving devotional service to the Lord is

The following poem is in honour of my dear friend, Baladev, AKA Barry Brown. We traveled as monks in a small party through the United States, experiencing what most people haven’t gone through.

Baladeva / Barry Brown
 

I know you never knelt at a church’s pew

You were Jewish, then Vaishnava, now a “Hin-jew”

As monks in travel we looked at the bible

Viewed the Old Testament exploring the tribal

On that same motel floor you wrestled with Giri

You lost—he won, leaving you feeling weary

On behalf o

अध्याय बीस – मैत्रेय – विदुर संवाद (3.20)

1 श्री शौनक ने पूछा- हे सूत गोस्वामी, जब पृथ्वी अपनी कक्षा में पुनः स्थापित हो गई तो स्वायम्भुव मनु ने बाद में जन्म ग्रहण करने वाले व्यक्तियों को मुक्ति-मार्ग प्रदर्शित करने के लिए क्या-क्या किया?

2 शौनक ऋषि ने विदुर के बारे में जानना चाहा, जो भगवान कृष्ण का महान भक्त एवं सखा था और जिसने भगवान के लिए ही अपने उस ज्येष्ठ भाई का साथ छोड़ दिया था जिसने अपने पुत्रों के साथ मिलकर भगवान की इच्छा के विरुद्ध षड्यंत्र किया था।

3 विदुर वेदव्यास के आत्मज थे और उनसे कि

The Annual MANtra, Men's Retreat, usually held in New Vrindaban, USA, is going virtual this year and it all happens this weekend beginning Friday evening November 20 (EST), and continues through Sunday, Nov. 22.  All men are invited ages 16 and up. 

This annual men’s sanga will feature interactive sessions with leading devotees of all ages and backgrounds including Mahatma, Chaitanya Charana & Sutapa, Bhuta Bhavana, Namarasa, Raghunatha, Partha, Kaunteya, Anuttama, Madhvacarya, and Gopal Lila pr

In 2018, His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami took us to Mukharai, which is the village that used to be the home of Radharani’s maternal grandmother, Mukhara. Mukhara sometimes acted as an obstacle, but in other times, facilitated the secret meetings of Radharani and Krsna. Check out Maharaja’s full kirtan and lecture below, along with a few photos, at Mukharai during Parikrama 2018.

Love for Krsna is difficult to attain, as we all experience. We love to an extent. If I asked, “Do you have the tast