UpadesamritaThe Nectar of Instruction

Essence of Srimad-Bhagavatam in 11 Instructions

By

Rupa Gosvami

PrefacePreface

““The Kåñëa The Kåñëa consciousness consciousness movement is movement is conducted conducted under the under the supervision of supervision of Çréla Rüpa Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé.”Gosvämé.”

““The Gauòéya Vaiñëavas, The Gauòéya Vaiñëavas, or Bengali Vaiñëavas, are or Bengali Vaiñëavas, are mostly followers of Çré mostly followers of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu,”Caitanya Mahäprabhu,”

““of whom the of whom the six Gosvämés of six Gosvämés of Våndävana are Våndävana are direct disciples.” direct disciples.”

Çréla Narottama däsa Çréla Narottama däsa Öhäkura has sung:Öhäkura has sung:

"When I am eager to "When I am eager to understand the understand the literature given by the literature given by the Gosvämés, then I Gosvämés, then I shall be able to shall be able to understand the understand the transcendental loving transcendental loving affairs of Rädhä and affairs of Rädhä and Kåñëa."Kåñëa."

““Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu appeared in Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu appeared in order to bestow upon human society order to bestow upon human society the benediction of the science of the benediction of the science of Kåñëa.”Kåñëa.”

““The most exalted of all the activities The most exalted of all the activities of Lord Kåñëa are His pastimes of of Lord Kåñëa are His pastimes of conjugal love with the gopés.”conjugal love with the gopés.”

““Çré Caitanya Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu Mahäprabhu appeared in the appeared in the mood of mood of Çrématé Çrématé Rädhäräëé, the Rädhäräëé, the best of the best of the gopés.”gopés.”

““Therefore, to understand the mission of Lord Çré Therefore, to understand the mission of Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu and follow in His footsteps, Caitanya Mahäprabhu and follow in His footsteps, one must very seriously follow in the footsteps of one must very seriously follow in the footsteps of the six Gosvämés—Çré Rüpa, Sanätana, Bhaööa the six Gosvämés—Çré Rüpa, Sanätana, Bhaööa Raghunätha, Çré Jéva, Gopäla Bhaööa and Däsa Raghunätha, Çré Jéva, Gopäla Bhaööa and Däsa Raghunätha.”Raghunätha.”

““Çré Rüpa Çré Rüpa Gosvämé was the Gosvämé was the leader of all the leader of all the Gosvämés, and to Gosvämés, and to guide our guide our activities he gave activities he gave us this us this Upadeçämåta Upadeçämåta (The Nectar of (The Nectar of Instruction) to Instruction) to follow.”follow.”

Special Significance of Rupa GosvamiSpecial Significance of Rupa Gosvamiçré-caitanya-mano-'bhéñöaàçré-caitanya-mano-'bhéñöaà

sthäpitaà yena bhü-talesthäpitaà yena bhü-tale

svayaà rüpaù kadä mahyaàsvayaà rüpaù kadä mahyaà

dadäti sva-padäntikamdadäti sva-padäntikam

““When will Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé Prabhupäda, When will Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé Prabhupäda, who has established within this material who has established within this material

world the mission to fulfill the desire of Lord world the mission to fulfill the desire of Lord Caitanya, give me shelter under his lotus Caitanya, give me shelter under his lotus

feet?”feet?”

PrefacePreface ““As Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu left As Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu left

behind Him the eight verses known as behind Him the eight verses known as Çikñäñöaka, Rüpa Gosvämé gave us Çikñäñöaka, Rüpa Gosvämé gave us Upadeçämåta so that we may become Upadeçämåta so that we may become pure Vaiñëavas.”pure Vaiñëavas.”

As Lord Caitanya left Siksastaka, taking one As Lord Caitanya left Siksastaka, taking one from the neophyte stage to the highest from the neophyte stage to the highest realization, Rupa Gosvami left NOI taking one realization, Rupa Gosvami left NOI taking one from the beginning stages of devotional service from the beginning stages of devotional service to the highest realizationto the highest realization

““In all spiritual In all spiritual affairs, one's first affairs, one's first duty is to control duty is to control his mind and his mind and senses. Unless senses. Unless one controls his one controls his mind and senses, mind and senses, one cannot make one cannot make any any advancement in advancement in spiritual life.”spiritual life.”

““Everyone within Everyone within this material world this material world is engrossed in the is engrossed in the modes of passion modes of passion and ignorance.”and ignorance.”

““One must promote One must promote himself to the himself to the platform of platform of goodness, sattva-goodness, sattva-guëa, by following guëa, by following the instructions of the instructions of Rüpa Gosvämé, and Rüpa Gosvämé, and then everything then everything concerning how to concerning how to make further make further progress will be progress will be revealed.”revealed.”

Conscious Disposition Makes a DifferenceConscious Disposition Makes a Difference

““Advancement in Kåñëa consciousness Advancement in Kåñëa consciousness depends on the attitude of the follower.”depends on the attitude of the follower.”

Arjuna Before submitting to Krishna’sinstructions.

Arjuna after submitting to Krishna’sinstructions.

““A follower of the Kåñëa consciousness A follower of the Kåñëa consciousness movement should become a perfect movement should become a perfect gosvämé. Vaiñëavas are generally known gosvämé. Vaiñëavas are generally known as gosvämés…One who wants to become as gosvämés…One who wants to become a perfect devotee of Kåñëa must become a a perfect devotee of Kåñëa must become a gosvämé.”gosvämé.”

““Go means "the Go means "the senses," and senses," and svämé means "the svämé means "the master." Unless master." Unless one controls his one controls his senses and mind, senses and mind, one cannot one cannot become a become a gosvämé.”gosvämé.”

Although Hiranyakasipu performedtremendously austerities, his sensesand mind were not control. Thus, he wasnot able to understand Krishna, nor was he able to be happy in the world.

““To achieve the To achieve the highest success in life highest success in life by becoming a by becoming a gosvämé and then a gosvämé and then a pure devotee of the pure devotee of the Lord, one must follow Lord, one must follow the instructions the instructions known as known as Upadeçämåta, which Upadeçämåta, which have been given by have been given by Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé.”Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé.”

“…“…Upadeçämåta constitutes the first Upadeçämåta constitutes the first instructions for neophyte devotees. instructions for neophyte devotees. One should follow these instructions One should follow these instructions very strictly. Then it will be easier to very strictly. Then it will be easier to make one's life successful.”make one's life successful.”