Discourse by Revered Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati given on 28 March 2026 at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram. Swamiji continues his series on the Principles of Bhakti Yoga, reading from the teachings of Narada Muni from the Srimad Bhagavatam, Skanda 51, Discourse 5 (translation by Swami Bhajanananda):

1.5.8

śrī-nārada uvāca

bhavatānudita-prāyaḿ yaśo bhagavato 'malam

yenaivāsau na tuṣyeta. manye tad darśanaḿ khilam

Sri Narada said:

"You have not praised the stainless glories of Bhagavan. This does not satisfy Him. I think such philosophy incomplete."

1.5.9

yathā dharmādayaś cārthā. muni-varyānukīrtitāḥ

na tathā vāsudevasya mahimā hy anuvarṇitaḥ

"You have repeatedly described dharma and the rest (dharma, kama, artha, moksha) as the goals, but although a great sage, have not described the glories of Vāsudeva."

1.5.10

na yad vacaś citra-padaḿ harer yaśo. jagat-pavitraḿ pragṛṇīta karhicit

tad vāyasaḿ tīrtham uśanti mānasā. na yatra haḿsā niramanty uśik-kṣayāḥ

"Words, however beautiful, that do not describe the glories of Hari, which purify the world, are places of pilgrimage to crows, and not to swans who take pleasure in transcendental bliss."

1.5.11

tad-vāg-visargo janatāgha-viplavo

yasmin prati-ślokam abaddhavaty api

nāmāny anantasya yaśo 'ńkitāni yat

śṛṇvanti gāyanti gṛṇanti sādhavaḥ

"But those words, however badly composed each verses is, that describe the names etc (name, form, abode, qualities, activities) of the Infinite, destroy the sins of all people. Such words are heard, sung, and accepted by sadhus."

Revered Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati continues his series on the Principles of Bhakti Yoga, reading from the teachings of Kapila Muni in the Srimad Bhagavatam, Skanda 3, Discourse 28 (translation by Swami Bhajanananda):

1. śrī-bhagavān uvāca
yogasya lakṣaṇaṁ vakṣye
sabījasya nṛpātmaje
mano yenaiva vidhinā
prasannaṁ yāti sat-patham 

The Blessed Lord said:
"O princess, I shall describe the authorized system of yoga, by the practice of which one’s mind becomes joyful and advances on the path of Truth."

2. sva-dharmācaraṇaṁ śaktyā
vidharmāc ca nivartanam
daivāl labdhena santoṣa
ātmavic-caraṇārcanam

"One must perform one’s dharma with all one’s strength and avoided prohibited actions. One should be satisfied with what one has through destiny  and worship the lotus feet of the Self-realized."

3. grāmya-dharma-nivṛttiś ca
mokṣa-dharma-ratis tathā
mita-medhyādanaṁ śaśvad
vivikta-kṣema-sevanam

"Giving up worldly activities one should then develop a taste for activates that lead to liberation. One should always eat pure food in moderation and stay in a secluded and peaceful dwelling."

4. ahiṁsā satyam asteyaṁ 
yāvad-artha-parigrahaḥ
brahmacaryaṁ tapaḥ śaucaṁ
svādhyāyaḥ puruṣārcanam

"One should practice nonviolence, truthfulness, non-stealing, possessing only what is necessary, celibacy, austerity, cleanliness, self-study, and worship of the Supreme Person."

5. maunaṁ sad-āsana-jayaḥ
sthairyaṁ prāṇa-jayaḥ śanaiḥ
pratyāhāraś cendriyāṇāṁ
viṣayān manasā hṛdi

"One should practice silence, attain mastery of a proper and steady posture, control the breath/prana, gradually withdraw the senses from sense-objects, and focus the mind on the heart."

6. sva-dhiṣṇyānām eka-deśe
manasā prāṇa-dhāraṇam
vaikuṇṭha-līlābhidhyānaṁ
samādhānaṁ tathātmanaḥ

"One should fix the mind and prana  in one place in a chakra in the body and meditate upon the pastimes of Lord of Vaikunta and thus become absorbed in the self."

7. etair anyaiś ca pathibhir
mano duṣṭam asat-patham
buddhyā yuñjīta śanakair
jita-prāṇo hy atandritaḥ

"By these and other ways  this wicked mind on the path of illusion must be gradually controlled by the intelligence and one’s prana should be carefully focused."

8. śucau deśe pratiṣṭhāpya
vijitāsana āsanam
tasmin svasti samāsīna
ṛju-kāyaḥ samabhyaset

"Spreading a proper seat in a pure place and sitting in an easy posture, with body erect , engage in practice."

9. prāṇasya śodhayen mārgaṁ
pūra-kumbhaka-recakaiḥ
pratikūlena vā cittaṁ
yathā sthiram acañcalam

"One should purify the passages of prana by inhaling, retaining and exhaling and then reversing the process , thus making the mind-stuff (cittam yathā) steady and unwavering."

10. mano ’cirāt syād virajaṁ
jita-śvāsasya yoginaḥ
vāyv-agnibhyāṁ yathā lohaṁ
dhmātaṁ tyajati vai malam

"When a yogi’s breath is thus controlled then the mind is soon freed from disturbance, just like gold in an air-fanned fire becomes free of impurities."

11. prāṇāyāmair dahed doṣān
dhāraṇābhiś ca kilbiṣān
pratyāhāreṇa saṁsargān
dhyānenānīśvarān guṇān

"Through pranayama, one overcomes faults; by concentration, sins; by withdrawal of the mind, worldliness; and by meditation, ungodly qualities."

12. yadā manaḥ svaḿ virajaḿ
yogena susamāhitam
kāṣṭhāḿ bhagavato dhyāyet
sva-nāsāgrāvalokanaḥ

"When one’s mind is purified by yoga, gazing at the tip of the nose, with full concentration one should meditate upon the Supreme Lord."

____________

34. evaḿ harau bhagavati pratilabdha-bhāvo
bhaktyā dravad-dhṛdaya utpulakaḥ pramodāt
autkaṇṭhya-bāṣpa-kalayā muhur ardyamānas
tac cāpi citta-baḍiśaḿ śanakair viyuńkte

T"hus one will develop intense love for Bhagavan Hari, the heart will melt, hairs stand erect from excessive joy and tears will flow constantly from one’s eyes due to longing . Thus overcome , the mind, which has acted as a hook, begins to withdraw."

Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati continues his  series of discourses on the Principles of Bhakti Yoga, followed by arati and Ramnam Sankirtan.  Swamiji expands on the pillars of dharma discussed in last week's class, focusing on truthfulness, compassion, desire, and company.  

Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati continues his  series of discourses on the Principles of Bhakti Yoga, followed by arati and kirtan.  Swamiji expands on the pillars of dharma discussed in last week's class, and expands on tapasya (austerity/self-discipline); the Yamas & Niyamas; austerities of the body, speech, and mind; and truthfulness.

Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati begins a new series of discourses on the "Principles of Bhakti Yoga.", followed by arati and kirtan.

This class focuses on a story in the Srimad Bhagavatam about the bull of dharma and the cow of Earth being attached by the demon Kali, the personification of the adharma of Kali Yuga. Swamiji reads and discusses chapters 17 and 18 of Skanda I, and then focuses on some important verse given below:

ŚB 1.17.24
राजोवाच
तप: शौचं दया सत्यमिति पादा: कृते कृता: ।

अधर्मांशैस्त्रयो भग्ना: स्मयसङ्गमदैस्तव ॥ २४ ॥
rājovāca
tapaḥ śaucaṁ dayā satyam iti pādāḥ kṛte kṛtāḥ

adharmāṁśais trayo bhagnāḥ smaya-saṅga-madais tava
The King (Parikshit) said:
"In Satya Yuga your four legs were established as austerity (tapaḥ), purity (śaucaṁ), compassion (dayā), and truthfulness (satyam). But it appears that three of your legs have been broken by adharma in the form of pride (smaya), attachment (saṅga), and blinding passion (madaiḥ)."

ŚB 1.17.25
इदानीं धर्म पादस्ते सत्यं निर्वर्तयेद्यत: ।

तं जिघृक्षत्यधर्मोऽयमनृतेनैधित: कलि: ॥ २५ ॥
idānīṁ dharma pādas te satyaṁ nirvartayed yataḥ

taṁ jighṛkṣaty adharmo ’yam anṛtenaidhitaḥ kaliḥ
"At present, O Dharma, you are standing on one leg only, which is truthfulness (satyam), and you are somehow or other hobbling along. But Kali, the personification of adharma, is trying to destroy this leg by dishonesty (anṛtena)."

ŚB 1.17.38
सूत उवाच
अभ्यर्थितस्तदा तस्मै स्थानानि कलये ददौ ।

द्यूतं पानं स्त्रिय: सूना यत्राधर्मश्चतुर्विध: ॥ ३८ ॥
sūta uvāca
abhyarthitas tadā tasmai sthānāni kalaye dadau

dyūtaṁ pānaṁ striyaḥ sūnā yatrādharmaś catur-vidhaḥ
Sūta said:
"Thus petitioned, he (Parikshit) gave Kali permission to reside where there are the four kinds of adharma: gambling (dyūtam), drinking (pānam), womanizing (striyaḥ), and animal slaughter (sūnā)."

ŚB 1.17.39
पुनश्च याचमानाय जातरूपमदात्प्रभु: 
।
ततोऽनृतं मदं कामं रजो वैरं च पञ्चमम् ॥ ३९ ॥
punaś ca yācamānāya jāta-rūpam adāt prabhuḥ

tato ’nṛtaṁ madaṁ kāmaṁ rajo vairaṁ ca pañcamam
"[Kali] asked for something more, and because of his begging, the king gave him permission to live where there is gold (jāta-rūpam), because wherever there is gold, there is also deceit (anṛtam), intoxication (madam), lust (kāmam), cruelty (rajaḥ), and enmity (vairam) the fifth."

ŚB 1.17.41
अथैतानि न सेवेत बुभूषु: पुरुष: क्वचित् ।

विशेषतो धर्मशीलो राजा लोकपतिर्गुरु: ॥ ४१ ॥
athaitāni na seveta bubhūṣuḥ puruṣaḥ kvacit

viśeṣato dharma-śīlo rājā loka-patir guruḥ
"Therefore, whoever desires their own welfare, those who aspire to be virtuous, kings, public leaders, and gurus, should never encounter these under any circumstance."

Revered Swami Chetananandaji Maharaj shares rare reminisces of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi by Swami Ashitananda, Br. Pramesh Kumar, & Golap Ma.

Pujya Swami Chetanananda is a senior monk of the Ramakrishna Math & Mission and the Spiritual Head of the Vedanta Society of St. Louis.

Revered Swami Chetananandaji Maharaj shares rare reminisces of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi by her direct disciples Swami Gaurishananda and Swami Haripriyananda.

Pujya Swami Chetanananda is a senior monk of the Ramakrishna Math & Mission and the Spiritual Head of the Vedanta Society of St. Louis.

Class by Rev. Dr. Mahant Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Book X, chapter 13, verses 6 - 8 of Srimad Bhagavatam given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 21 June 2025.

Brahma said:

तथापि भूमन् महिमागुणस्य ते विबोद्धुम् अर्हत्य् अमलान्तरात्मभिः |

अविक्रियात् स्वानुभवाद् अरूपतो ह्य् अनन्यबोध्यात्मतया न चान्यथा || ६ ||

tathāpi bhūman mahimāguṇasya te viboddhum arhaty amalāntar-ātmabhiḥ |

avikriyāt svānubhavād arūpato hy ananya-bodhyātmatayā na cānyathā || 6 ||

6. "Nevertheless, Oh Infinite One (tathāpi bhūman), Your infinite nature beyond the gunas (mahimā aguṇasya te), changeless (avikriyāt), formless (arūpataḥ), and self-effulgent (hi ananya bodhya can be known by self realization (ātmatayā viboddhum) by one whose mind and senses are pure and in-drawn (arhati amala antar-ātmabhih), through one's own direct perception (sva anubhava), and not otherwise (na ca anyathā)."

गुन्̣आत्मनस् तेऽपि गुन्̣आन् विमातुं हितावतीर्̣नस्य क ईशिरेऽस्य |

कालेन यैर् वा विमिताह्̣ सुकल्पैर् भूपांशवह्̣ खे मिहिका द्युभासह्̣ || ७ ||

guṇātmanas te 'pi guṇān vimātuḿ hitāvatīṛnasya ka īśire 'sya |

kālena yair vā vimitāḥ su-kalpair bhū-pāḿśavaḥ khe mihikā dyu-bhāsaḥ || 7 ||

7. "Oh Self of the gunas (guṇa-ātmanaḥ), to count Your qualities ( te api guṇān vimātum) -- You who have incarnated for the good of all ( hita-avatīrṇasya ) -- is like a geniuses, for all eternity, counting (asya kālena yaiḥ vā vimitāḥ su-kalpaiḥ) all the grains of sand on the earth (bhū-pāḿśavaḥ), all water drops in the air ( khe mihikāḥ), and all the stars in the sky (dyu-bhāsaḥ)."

तत् ते ऽनुकम्पां सुसमीक्स्̣अमान्̣ओ भुञ्जान एवात्मक्र्̣तं विपाकम् |

ह्र्̣द्वाग्वपुर्भिर् विदधन् नमस् ते जीवेत यो मुक्तिपदे स दायभाक् || ८ ||

tat te 'nukampāṃ su-samīkṣamāṇo bhuñjāna evātma-kṛtaṃ vipākam |

hṛd-vāg-vapurbhir vidadhan namas te jīveta yo mukti-pade sa dāya-bhāk || 8 ||

8. "Therefore (tat) whoever lives (jīveta yaḥ) depending upon Your compassion (te anukampām su-samīkṣamāṇaḥ), tolerating the results of their own actions (bhuñjānaḥ eva ātma-kṛtam  vipākam) and surrendering to You with heart, words and body (hṛt vāk vapurbhiḥ vidadhan namaḥ te), becomes the rightful heir of liberation (mukti-pade saḥ dāya-bhāk)."

Class by Rev Dr. Mahant Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Book X of Srimad Bhagavatam given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 14 June 2025. 

Brahma said:

ज्ञाने प्रयासम् उदपास्य नमन्त एव 
जीवन्ति सन्मुखरितां भवदीयवार्ताम् |
स्थाने स्थिताह्̣ श्रुतिगतां तनुवाङ्मनोभिर्
ये प्रायशोऽजित जितोऽप्य् असि तैस् त्रिलोक्याम् || ३ ||
jñāne prayāsam udapāsya namanta eva
jjīvanti sanmukharitāṃ bhavadīyavārtām |
sthāne sthitāḥ śrutigatāṃ tanuvāṅmanobhir
ye prāyaśo'jita jito'py asi tais trilokyām || 3 ||
3. "Those who give up the path of knowledge (jñāne prayāsam udapāsya) and simple bow to You (namantaḥ eva), spending their lives hearing about You from the lips of saints (jīvanti sat-mukharitām bhavadīya-vārtām), in whatever condition they are (sthāne sthitāḥ), meditate on what they heard with their body, speech, and mind (śruti-gatām tanu vāk manobhiḥ ye prāyaśaḥ)-- Oh Unconquerable One (ajita), You are conquered by them in the three worlds (jitaḥ api asi taiḥ  tri-lokyām).

श्रेयह्̣स्र्̣तिं भक्तिम् उदस्य ते विभो
क्लिश्यन्ति ये केवलबोधलब्धये |
तेस्̣आम् असौ क्लेशल एव शिस्̣यते
नान्यद् यथा स्थूलतुस्̣आवघातिनाम् || ४ ||
śreyaḥ-sṛtiṃ bhaktim udasya te vibho
kliśyanti ye kevala-bodha-labdhaye |
teṣām asau kleśala eva śiṣyate
nānyad yathā sthūla-tuṣāvaghātinām || 4 ||
4. "There are some who reject the auspicious path of bhakti (śreyaḥ sṛtim bhaktim udasya). They struggle to know You, Oh Lord, with their minds alone (te vibho kliśyanti ye kevala bodha). The only thing they achieve is that struggle (labdhaye teṣām asau kleśalaḥ eva) and nothing more (na anyat). It is just like beating empty husks (yathā sthūla-tuṣa avaghātinām)."

पुरेह भूमन् बहवोऽपि योगिनस्
त्वदर्पितेहा निजकर्मलब्धया |
विबुध्य भक्त्यैव कथोपनीतया
प्रपेदिरेऽञ्जोऽच्युत ते गतिम्́ पराम् || ५ ||
pureha bhūman bahavo'pi yoginas
tvad-arpitehā nija-karma-labdhayā |
vibudhya bhaktyaiva kathopanītayā
prapedire'ñjo'cyuta te gatiḿ parām || 5 ||
5. "In the past, O Infinite One (purā iha bhūman), many yogis (bahavaḥ api yoginaḥ) offered whatever they did to You (tvat arpita īhāḥ nija-karma), and through bhakti cultivated by hearing about You (labdhayā vibudhya bhaktyā eva kathā-upanītayā), easily surrendered to You, Oh Infalliable One (prapedire añjaḥ acyuta) and attained You, the supreme goal (te gatim parām)."

Scripture class by Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Devi Gita, chapter 2, verses 27-34, given to students of the Ramakrishna Seminary at Kali Mandir via Zoom on 18 June 2025.

The Goddess said:

तस्मादाकाश उत्पन्नः शब्दतन्मात्ररूपकः |
भवेत् स्पर्शात्मको वायुस्तेजोरूपात्मकं पुनः || २७ ||
tasmādākāśa utpannaḥ śabda-tanmātra-rūpakaḥ |
bhavet sparśātmako vāyus-tejo-rūpātmakaṃ punaḥ || 27 ||
27. "Out of that primal substance arose ether,  endowed with the subtle quality of sound. Then arose air, characterized by the quality of touch, followed by fire, characterized by visible form."

जलं रसात्मकं पशात् ततो गन्धात्मिका धरा |
शब्दैकगुण आकासो वायुः स्पर्शरवानितः || २८ ||
jalaṃ rasātmakaṃ paśāt tato gandhātmikā dharā |
śabdaika-guṇa ākāso vāyuḥ sparśa-ravānitaḥ || 28 ||
28. "Next arose water, characterized by taste; then earth, characterized by smell. Ether has the single quality of sound; air is endowed with touch and sound."

शब्दस्पर्शरूपगुणं तेज ईत्युच्यते बुधैः |
शब्दस्पर्शरूपरसैरापो वेदगुणाः स्मृताः || २९ ||
śabda-sparśa-rūpa-guṇaṃ teja ītyucyate budhaiḥ |
śabda-sparśa-rūpa-rasairāpo veda-guṇāḥ smṛtāḥ || 29 ||
29. "Fire has the qualities of sound, touch, and visible form, according to the wise; water has the four qualities of sound, touch, visible form, and taste, so they say."

शब्दस्पर्शरूपरसगन्धैः पञ्चगुणा धरा |
तेभ्योऽभवन् महत्सूत्रं यल्लिण्गं परिचक्षते || ३० ||
śabda-sparśa-rūpa-rasa-gandhaiḥ pañca-guṇā dharā |
tebhyo'bhavan mahat-sūtraṃ yal-liṇgaṃ paricakṣate || 30 ||
30. "Earth has the five qualities of sound, touch, visible form, taste, and smell. From those subtle elements came into being the great cosmic thread which is called the Subtle Body."

सर्वात्मकं तत्सम्प्रोक्तं सूक्ष्मदेहोऽयमात्मनः |
अव्यत्क्तं कारणो देहः स चोक्तः पूर्वमेव हि || ३१ ||
sarvātmakaṃ tat-samproktaṃ sūkṣma-deho’yamātmanaḥ |
avyatktaṃ kāraṇo dehaḥ sa coktaḥ pūrvameva hi || 31 ||
31. "It is proclaimed as all-pervading; this is the Subtle Body of the Self.The Unmanifest is the Causal Body, which I mentioned earlier."

यस्मिन् जगद्बीजरूपं स्थितं लिङ्गोद्भवो यथः |
ततः स्थूलानि भूतानिपञ्चिकरणमागतः || ३२ ||
yasmin jagad-bīja-rūpaṃ sthitaṃ liṅgodbhavo yathaḥ |
tataḥ sthūlāni bhūtāni-pañcikaraṇa-māgataḥ || 32 ||
32. "In that lies the world seed, from which evolves the Subtle Body. From that, by the process of fivefold generation, the gross elements,"

पञ्चसङ्ख्यानि जायन्ते तत्प्रकारस्त्वथोच्यते |
पूर्वोक्तानि च भूतानि प्रत्यकं विभजेद् द्विधा || ३३ ||
pañca-saṅkhyāni jāyante tat-prakāra-stvathocyate |
pūrvoktāni ca bhūtāni pratyakaṃ vibhajed dvidhā || 33 ||
33. "Five in number, arise. I shall now describe this process. Each of those elements previously mentioned shall be divided in half."

एकैकं भागमेकस्य चतुर्धा विभजेद् गिरे |
स्वस्वतरद्वितीयांशे योजनात् पञ्च ते || ३४ ||
ekaikaṃ bhāgamekasya caturdhā vibhajed gire |
svasvataradvitīyāṃśe yojanāt pañca te || 34 ||
34. "One half-part of each element shall be divided into four, O Mountain. By joining the undivided half of each element with one of the quartered fractions from each of the other four, each element becomes five-fold."

तत्कार्यं च विराड्देहः स्थूलदेहोऽयमात्मनः | 
tat-kāryaṃ ca virāḍ-dehaḥ sthūla-deho’yamātmanaḥ |
34. "And they produce the Cosmic Body, or Gross Body, of the Self."

Class by Rev Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Book X, Chapter 14 of Srimad Bhagavatam, given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 7 June 2025. 

श्रीब्रह्मोवाच
नौमीद्̣य तेऽभ्रवपुस्̣ए तद्̣इदम्बराय गुञ्जावतम्́सपरिपिच्छलसन्मुखाय
वन्यस्रजे कवलवेत्रविस्̣आन्̣अवेन्̣उलक्स्̣मश्रिये म्र्̣दुपदे पशुपाńगजाय

śrī-brahmovāca
1. naumīḍya te 'bhra-vapuṣe taḍid-ambarāya
guñjāvataḿsa-paripiccha-lasan-mukhāya
vanya-sraje kavala-vetra-viṣāṇa-veṇu-
lakṣma-śriye mṛdu-pade paśu-pāńgajāya

Sri Brahma said:
"I worship You, the primordial Lord (naumi īḍya te), whose body is like a dark cloud (abhra vapuṣe); whose garment is like lightning (taḍit ambarāya); wearing a garland of guñjā berries (guñjā avataḿsa) and peacock feather (paripiccha); whose face shines (lasat mukhāya); a garlands of forest flowers (vanya-sraje); holding a morsel of food, stick, buffalo horn, and flute (kavala vetra viṣāṇa veṇu lakṣma), and whose beautiful feet are soft (śriye mṛdu pade), the son of a  cow herder (paśu-pa ańga-jāya)."

अस्यापि देव वपुस्̣ओ मदनुग्रहस्य स्वेच्छामयस्य न तु भूत-मयस्य कोऽपि
नेशे महि त्व् अवसितुम्ऽमनसान्तरेन्̣अ साक्स्̣आत् तवैव किम् उतात्मसुखानुभूतेह्̣
asyāpi deva vapuṣo mad-anugrahasya
svecchā-mayasya na tu bhūta-mayasya ko 'pi
neśe mahi tv avasituḿ manasāntareṇa
sākṣāt tavaiva kim utātma-sukhānubhūteḥ

2. "Lord, Your body (asya api deva vapuṣaḥ), which is the instrument of grace to me (mat-anugrahasya), appears by Your will (sva-icchā-mayasya), and not by the power of the material elements (na tu bhūta-mayasya). Even with my mind withdrawn in meditation (manasā antareṇa sākṣāt) I cannot grasp its glory (kaḥ api na īśe mahi tu avasitum).  What to speak then of understanding Your blissful Self (ava eva kim uta ātma sukha anubhūteḥ)."