Page 30 - SBV (English)

xxviii Preface

of Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa he is Nayana-maëi Maïjaré, a young girl assistant of Çrématé
Rädhäräëé and the personification of Her gazing at Kåñëa. Such intimate
*
devotees of Çrématé Rädhäräëé do not belong to this world, nor can they be
fathomed by the feeble methodologies that it spawns. Only from the plane of the
absolute, which Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté represented and directed others
to, can one at least somewhat comprehend his glories.
Even though a great Vaiñëava preacher may live among ordinary
beings, he is nonetheless always above them, and perhaps very few will truly
appreciate him. Within a day of Brahmä, but one or two pure devotees of the
stature of Çréla Sarasvaté Öhäkura might appear in this universe. To gain the
association of such an extraordinarily exalted mahatma is more valuable and
pleasing than completing millions of pilgrimages, studying millions of çästras, or
assiduously following çästréya prescriptions for millions of years. Yet even among
pious souls dedicated to reciting, studying, and living according to authorized
scripture, or among those extremely fortunate souls counted as disciples of Çréla
Sarasvaté Öhäkura, hardly a few persons could truly recognize the value of such
association. 7
The almost unlimited gap between such illustrious souls and ourselves may
be bridged only by their mercy, which they bestow upon those sincerely desiring
to receive it. The magnitude of Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté’s remarkable
character, as chronicled herein, stands as testimony and warning to devotees in
subsequent generations that the role of guru is not a matter of razzmatazz, but may
be properly conducted only by faithfully following (anusaraëa) in the footsteps
of genuinely liberated devotees, and not by attempting to imitate (anukaraëa)
their anyway inimitable behavior and achievements.
The lives of mahä-bhägavata Vaiñëavas are full of magnificent transcen-
dental activities in service to Lord Kåñëa; their every moment is replete with
profound meaning. How much can be recorded? How much can be preserved?
And how much is our ability to appreciate? Çréla Kåñëadäsa Kaviräja Gosvämé
writes:
gaura-lélämåta-sindhu—apära agädha
ke karite päre tähäì avagäha-sädha

tähära mädhurya-gandhe lubdha haya mana
ataeva taöe rahi’ cäki eka kaëa
The ocean of the pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu is
immeasurable and unfathomable. Who is able to bathe therein? Its

* This topic is further described in vol. 1, pp. 461–62.