SB 1.2.9
nartho 'rthayopakalpate
narthasya dharmaikantasya
kamo labhaya hi smrtah
All occupational engagements are certainly meant for ultimate liberation. They should never be performed for material gain. Furthermore, according to sages, one who is engaged in the ultimate occupational service should never use material gain to cultivate sense gratification.
Suta Gosvami
SB 1.2.10
labho jiveta yavata
jivasya tattva-jijñasa
nartho yas ceha karmabhih
Life's desires should never be directed toward sense gratification. One should desire only a healthy life, or self-preservation, since a human being is meant for inquiry about the Absolute Truth. Nothing else should be the goal of one's works.
Suta Gosvami
SB 1.2.11
tattvam yaj jñanam advayam
brahmeti paramatmeti
bhagavan iti sabdyate
Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth call this nondual substance Brahman, Paramatma or Bhagavan.
Suta Gosvami
Srila Vrindavana dasa Thakur ki Jaya
It is practically a law among Vaisnava writers like Sri Rupa Goswami, Sri Sanatana Goswami, Krishna Dasa Kaviraja, and Vrindavana Dasa Thakura to always keep themselves in the background. They never mention anything about their family lineage or personal history. The authors of the best written and most relishable verses collected in Sri Rupa Goswami's Padyavali remain unknown.
During the sixteenth century, entire books of exceptional transcendental prose and poetry were penned by prideless Vaisnavas preferring to remain anonymous. Feeling utmost humility, such Vaisnava writers express themselves only in relation to their preceptors. Krishna Dasa Kaviraja glorifies his gurus at the end of each chapter of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta: sri rupa raghunatha-pade yara asa, caitanya caritamrta kahe krsnadasa.
"Praying at the lotus feet of Sri Rupa and Sri Raghunatha, always desiring their mercy, I, Krishna Dasa, narrate Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, following in their footsteps."
Srila Krishna Dasa Kaviraja Goswami shows his supreme homage and gratitude by honoring Vrindavana Dasa Thakura with the appelation "Vyasa" in the Caitanya-caritamna Antya 20.82: "Vrindavana Dasa Thakura is Lord Nityananda's favorite devotee. And therefore he is the original Vyasadeva in describing the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu." As Srila Vyasadeva told Sri Krishna's pastimes in Bhagavatam and other Puranas, Srila Vrindavana Dasa Thakura described Caitanya lila in Caitanya Bhagavata.
The humble heart of Krishna Dasa Kaviraja pours out more praises of Vrindavana Dasa Thakura: "Hearing Caitanya Bhagavata destroys all misfortune. By reading Caitanya Bhagavata one wilL understand the glories of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda. And he will attain the highest perfection of knowledges-pure love of Krishna.
"Since such a wonderful book could not be written by a human being, it seems that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself has spoken it through the mouth of Srila Vrindavana Dasa Thakura. I offer millions of respectful obeisances to the lotus feeL of Vrindavana Dasa Thakura. By compiling such a valuable book he has delivered everyone from the cycle of birth and death." (Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 8.33.42)
At Mamagacchi in Modadrumadvipa (Navadvipa), Vrindavana Dasa Thakura establised Deities of Nitai-Gauranga and 'Sri Jagannatha Deva. He lived there as a celibate and worshiped his beloved Deities. Vrindavana Dasa Thakura had many discipie including Gopinatha Brahmacari, a descendent of Sri Kesava Bharati.
In Krishna's pastimes Vrindavana Dasa Thakura is Srila Vyasadeva. His samadhi is in the 64 Samadhis Area.
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The mother of Srila Vrindavana dasa Thakura's was Sri Narayanidevi, the niece of Srivasa pandita. In his Sri Caitanya Bhagavata,Vrndavana dasa has described how his mother attained the affectionate fervour of Sri Gaurasundara."Narayani devi received the entire remnants of Mahaprabhu'smeal. Though she was only an insensible child he bestowed His mercyon her in this way." Also as a result of this mercy, Srila Vrindavana dasa Thakura,whose life and soul was Sri Gaura-Nityananda, took his birth fromher womb.He hasn't mentioned the name of his father. It is believed that Narayani devi was married to someone at Kumarhatta. However,while she was still carrying the child in her womb, she was widowed. Being reduced to a condition of poverty by the loss of her husband, she finally accepted shelter in the house of Sri Vasudeva Datta Thakura, at Mamgachi, where she helped with the housework.Here Vrindavana dasa began his studies.
In the preface to Sri Caitanya Bhagavata, Sri BhaktisiddhantaSarasvati has written, "Narayani devi raised her child in the homeof the father of Sri Malini devi where she had acceptedshelter." Vrindavana dasa was born four years after Mahaprabhu tooksannyasa. When Mahaprabhu disappeared he couldn't have been morethan twenty years old. He was initiated by Sri Nityananda Prabhuand was apparently the last disciple whom Sri Nityananda accepted.He accompanied Sri Jahnava Mata to the Kheturi maha-mahotsava. SriKrsna dasa Kaviraja Gosvami has glorified Vrindavana dasa Thakuraas the Veda Vyasa of the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu."The pastimes of Krsna have been described in the SrimadBhagavatam by Veda Vyasa. Vrindavana dasa is the Veda Vyasa of thepastimes of Sri Caitanya. He has composed Caitanya Mangala whichdestroys any inauspiciousness for those who hear it. So that we canunderstand the glories of Caitanya-Nitai, the essence of theconclusions regarding devotional service as expanded in SrimadBhagavatam and the limits of the conclusions regarding Krsnabhakti, he has composed this great literature to uplift mankind. Tocompose such a work is not conceivable for a human being thereforewe can understand that Sri Caitanya Himself is speaking throughhim. I offer my obeisances tens of millions of times at the lotusfeet of that person who has given us such a scripture which candeliver the whole world." (C.C. where and give SP'stranslation)Vrindavana dasa Thakura's Sripat, where his worshippableDeities of Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai are still residing, is at Denur.Denur can be reached by bus from Navadvipa.
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