The Q&A Between Guru and Disciple
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www.atributetosankaradeva.org is happy to present before the readers the English
translation of an article written by Sri Tirthanath Goswami Prabhu, one of the most
enlightened Sattrādhikārs of yesteryears. Goswami Prabhu (1875-1965) was the Adhikār
of the Dhalar Sattra (Jorhat). He was actively associated with and also held the office of
the Padādhikār (President) of the Srimanta Sankaradeva Sangha (1957). A prolific writer
on religion and expositor of the doctrine of Eka-Sarana Hari-Nāma of Sankaradeva, he
authored a commentary (‘Ghosāmrit’) on Madhavadeva’s Nāma Ghosā and had also
brought out one small but invaluable book on ‘Sarana’, the most important component of
the Sankaradevite system. Goswami Prabhu had started a printing press in the year 1922 -
the famous ‘Yadumani Capāsāl’ (Golaghat) - in order to propagate among the masses the
true tenets of the religion of Sankaradeva. This ‘Yadumani Capāsāl’ is active even today
and is still rendering excellent service to the society.
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[translation follows on the next page]
[Note: - In the 2nd line of the 1st couplet above, the words ‘Krishnaka nepāy lage’ should
probably read as ‘Krishnaka nepāy lāga’. It appears to be a printing mistake.]
‘Guru Sisyar Praśnottar’
The Q&A Between Guru and Disciple
The question of the disciple: - Through what dharma and karma (rites and
writ-dictates) may one obtain Isvara (God)?
The answer of the Guru:-
kono dharma-karme Krishnaka nepāy
Bhakati se basya Hari /
“Krishna is not attainable through any dharma or karma.
Only through bhakti is Hari subordinated.”
Disciple: - Why? Is He not obtained through tapa (austerities; meditation) and japa
(counting beads on a rosary, etc)?
Guru:-
vrata tapa tirtha yagna dāna jnāna
yata mahā yoga-yāga /
jāti-kulācāre svadharma sannyāsa
Krishnaka nepāy lāga //
“Through vrata (fasting), tapa (austerities), tirtha (pilgrimage), yagna (sacrifice), dāna
(charity to Brāhmanas etc), jnāna (knowledge; study of scriptures), and/or through all
great exercises of Yoga that there may be,
and/or through the performance of duties prescribed for one’s caste and practice of
svadharma and sannyāsa (renunciation),
one does not obtain Krishna.”
Disciple: - Then, how will the jiva (embodied self) achieve mukti (liberation)?
Guru:-
Sravana kirttana yito anuksane
bhajoi mahā bhakti bhāve /
sito mahājane aprayāse sukhe
hātate mukuti pāve //
“The one who constantly worships [Krishna] through sravana and kirttana
with great devotion;
that great soul, effortlessly and happily,
finds mukti (liberation) offered to him on a platter.”
Disciple: - Then, what is our duty?
Guru:-
jāni ito tattva Isvara Krishnata
huyoka eka-sarana /
gāyā gunagita kari eka citta
erāyo yama-yātana //
“Knowing this tattva (Great Truth), take thou eka-sarana (sole-refuge) in Lord Krishna.
Singing the songs of [His] glory [unceasingly], with undeviating mind,
Rid thyself of all the hellish tortures [of this world].”
Disciple: - Which is the best dharma (path; religion) among all the dharmas?
Guru:-
kalita nāmese nāmese nāmese
kalita nāmese gati /
nāma eri āna gati nāi nāi
nāi jānā prati niti //
“In the Iron Age of Kali, only Nāma, only Nāma, only Nāma
is the only gati (path; recourse; alternative) in this Iron Age [definitely].
Other than Nāma, there is no other path, no other path, no other path –
Know it for sure, certainly.”
Disciple: - And the proof of this [assertion]?
Guru:-
ati anācār pāpara bhāndār
manda dvija Ajāmil /
ati aprayāse nāmara abhyāse
tāka Vaikunthaka nil //
“Extremely anācāri (irreligious; devious), the very store-house of sin,
the vile Dvija Ajāmila;
[Even] he, through the practice of the Name,
was transported to Vaikuntha (the Supreme Abode) effortlessly.”
Disciple: - Who is the king of god and religion?
Guru:-
nāmar samān nāhi nāhi ān
sakalo sāstrara majjā /
samasta devara Krishnese Isvar
nāmese dharmara rājā //
“There is no other, no other equal of Nāma –
This is the essence of all the sāstras (scriptures).
Of all the gods, only Krishna is the Lord (Isvara)
And only Nāma, the king of religion.”
Disciple: - What is [then] the kartavya (duty) prescribed for man?
Guru:-
ānka bhāla jāni cintā Cakrapāni
parihari āna kāma /
purusa uddhārā āpona nistārā
dāki bolā Rāma Rāma //
“Knowing this well, think of Cakrapāni (The Discus Wielder – Lord Krishna)
leaving aside all other pursuits.
Redeem thy line, also save thyself.
Utter loudly ‘Rāma! Rāma!’”
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Translated from the original ‘Guru Sisyar Praśnottar’ written in Assamese and incorporated in ‘Nam
Dharma’ (Journal, Srimanta Sankaradeva Sangha, 3rd Yr of Publication). Although we have tried our
best to faithfully adhere to the original by translating as literally as possible and also to retain the
original flavor, we admit that it is impossible to convey the spirit of the original in the case of writings of
this stature. As such, our translation is most imperfect and we seek forgiveness from all for any lapse on
our part - [email protected]
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