In this edition of Sat Kriyä Sära Dépikä we have also included the 'Veçäçraya Paddhati' with the Bengali translation of Çréla Öhäkura Bhaktivinoda.

FOOTNOTE:

The “Veçäçraya Paddhati” has been published seperatly by the Bhaktivedanta Academy under Gopäla Bhaööa Gosvämés’ original title, “Saàskära Dépikä”.

END FOOTNOTE

Çré Siddhänta Sarasvaté

Çré Jagannäth Maöh

Maymansiìgh

1St Vaiçäkha 1342 Çakabda

( 14th April 1935 )

Introduction

By Çréla Gopäla Bhaööa Gosvämé

Çré Çré Kåñëa Caitanya Candräya namaù

praëamya sacchidänandaà jagatäà sevyaméçvaram

çré kåñëaà paramänandam ananya bhéñthadäyakam

Vakti gåhidvijädénäm anayänäà viçeñataù

paddhatià täà vivähädeù sat kriyä sära dépikäm

çrémad gopäla bhaööo ‘yaà sädhünäm-äjïayä bhåçaà

bhagavad dharma räkñärthaà bhaktänäà vaidiké tü yä

kåtä yäpy-aniruddhena bhéma bhaööena yä kåtä

çrémad govindänandena karméëäà paddhatiù kåtä

çré näräyaëa bhaööena karmaöänänta vaidiké

bhaööa çré bhavadevena chandogänänta yä kåtä

Varëäçramäntyajä dénäà vedaiù pauräëékädibhiù

manvädi dharma çästroktair vacanaiù sapramaëakaiù

çrémad govinda bhaktänäà sevä-nämaparädhataù

kåteyaà paddhatiù kintu pitå-devärcanaà vinä

“Offering obeisances to Lord Çré Kåñëa, who is eternal, full of knowledge and bliss, is worshipped by the whole world, the controller of the universe, situated in supreme bliss, and the bestower of the desired goal to the unalloyed devotees, I, Gopäla Bhaööa, receiving the order from saintly, exalted devotees, present a manual on vedic saàskäras called “Sat Kriyä Sära Dépikä”. By this, the householders within the varëäçrama system ( brähmaëas, kñatriyas, vaiçyas and çüdras) and those outside the varëäçrama system (cäëòälas, mlecchas, yävanas etc.) can maintain the principles of Vaiñëava teachings. In presenting this, I have always kept in mind the supreme position of devotional service.

Çré Aniruddha Bhaööa, Çré Bhéma Bhaööa and Çré Govindänanda Bhaööa have compiled manuals for the fruitive workers; Çré Näräyaëa Bhaööa also compiled one; and Çré Bhavadeva Bhaööa compiled one for the followers of the Säma Veda.

For the devotees of Lord Govinda, inside or outside of the varëäçrama system, I will explain the process of performing Vedic saàskäras taking evidences from the Vedas, Puräëas, Manu and other Småtis, avoiding injunctions which call for worship of the devatäs and pitås, as this would cause seva and nämäparädha for the devotees.”

It is not proper from me to write my own name as the compiler of this book as others would do, for I fear becoming bewildered by false ego, as the Bhagavad Gétä states: “Those who are bewildered by the false ego think themselves the doer.” (BG 3.27) But by the order of the saintly devotees of the saàpradäya, I am obliged to write my name as Gopäla Bhaööa. This spirit soul, having tasted the nectar of service to the lotus feet of Çré Kåñëa Caitanya, always follows the instructions of the devotees.

(Here the author begins to explain the previous verses phrase by phrase.)

With these qualifications, I offer my obeisances unto Lord Çré Kåñëa. The meaning of the word ‘kåñëa” has been explained above. What is the form of Kåñëa? That form which is full of eternity, knowledge and bliss, beyond the modes of material nature, beyond all speech. Kåñëa is all attractive, full of sweetness and beauty, the very form of happiness.

He is thus to be worshipped by the whole universe. “Jagatäà sevya” means that he is worshipable by all because he is always full of all powers such as aëimä and laghimä, and is full of all happiness. As He is the Supreme Lord, He is worshipable not only by all the inhabitants of the universe such as Brahmä, but also by the avatäras such as the universial form. As Kåñëa, complete with six opulences is beyond the modes of matter, He is worshipable by Matsya and other avatäras. What more can be said? He is even worshipable by Näräyaëa of Vaikuëöha and by Karaëaçäyi Mahäviñëu, what to speak of the devatäs.

Why is this? Because He is the very form of bliss (paramänandam). Amongst all those living in this material world, for the hankering devotees fixed in worship of the Lord, He is bliss itself. He only gives that bliss to those devotees who, with great desire, are fully dedicated to Himself alone, and to no other Vaiñëavas, what to speak of others.

(Here is the explanation of the next four lines.)

This book is only for those who are householders dedicated solely to Lord Govinda. The word “gåhi dvéjädi” refers to household brähmaëas, kñatriyas, vaiçyas, çüdras, mixed varëas (saëkara) and those not within the varëäçrama system, who have been initiated with mantra and name of Lord Kåñëa by a bone fide guru. I have written this manual for those persons so that they can protect the principles of bhagavata dharma perfectly (bhåñam).

The meaning is this: Bhagavata dharma is devoid of pious activities such as daily duties(nitya), periodic duties(naimittika), those arising from personal desire (kämya) and of worship of devatäs and pitås. This manual is meant for those persons who are initiated with the Lord’s name and mantra from a bona fide guru, so that they do not have to give up bhagavata dharma. As the philosophy of those fixed in bhagavata dharma is superior to that of those fixed in karma, this manual of Vedic saàskäras following bhagavata dharma is superior to all those works.

The necessity of protection of bhagavata dharma is now explained in detail. Previously Çré Aniruddha Bhaööa compiled a paddhati for the followers of the Åg, Yajur and Athärva Veda; later on Bhéma Bhaööa, who craved for fruitive results like a madman, also compiled a book; then Çrémad Govindänanda Bhaööa wrote another work for those who are expert in all types of karmas. Çré Näräyaëa Bhaööa also compiled a work for those gross materialists who pretend to be followers of the Vedas. Then Bhavadeva Bhaööa prepared another manual for those who are expert in performing Säma Veda rites. After that, the Bhaööas of South India, knowledgeable of Åg, Yajur, Säma Veda, the Puräëas and other scriptures, compiled more works for those engrossed in karma.

(Here is the explanation of the last four lines.)

In this work, proofs are cited from the Vedas, from the Puräëas, Upa-Puräëas, Çrémad Bhägavatam, Païcarätra, Yämalas, Rämäyaëa and other scriptures, and from the eighteen Dharma Çästras including Manu Småti, to show the superiority of following bhagavata dharma as opposed to following the above mentioned manuals. I have written this manual for those within the varëäçrama system such as brähmaëas, and for those outside, such as illegitimate offspring, who are also unalloyed devotees of the Lord. By following this manual they can avoid seva and nämäparädhas by avoiding worship of devatäs and pitås.

Here are some scriptural statements forbidding worship of the devatä and pitås