FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.30.36

यत्र नारायण: साक्षाद्भगवान्न्यासिनां गति: । संस्तूयते सत्कथासु मुक्तसङ्गै: पुन: पुन: ॥ ३६ ॥
yatra nārāyaṇaḥ sākṣād
[yatra naaraayanah saakshaad]
bhagavān nyāsināṁ gatiḥ
[bhagavaan nyaasinaam gatih]
saṁstūyate sat-kathāsu
[samstooyate sat-kathaasu]
mukta-saṅgaiḥ punaḥ punaḥ
[mukta-sangaih punah punah]
yatra — where nārāyaṇaḥ — Lord Nārāyaṇa sākṣāt — directly bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead nyāsinām — of persons in the renounced order of life gatiḥ — the ultimate goal saṁstūyate — is worshiped sat-kathāsu — by discussing the transcendental vibration mukta-saṅgaiḥ — by those who are liberated from material contamination punaḥ punaḥ — again and again.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yatra nārāyaṇaḥ sākṣād
yatra
where
nārāyaṇaḥ
Lord Nārāyaṇa
sākṣāt
directly
bhagavān nyāsināṁ gatiḥ
bhagavān
the Supreme Personality of Godhead
nyāsinām
of persons in the renounced order of life
gatiḥ
the ultimate goal
saṁstūyate sat-kathāsu
saṁstūyate
is worshiped
sat-kathāsu
by discussing the transcendental vibration
mukta-saṅgaiḥ punaḥ punaḥ
mukta-saṅgaiḥ
by those who are liberated from material contamination
punaḥ punaḥ
again and again.
The Supreme Lord, Nārāyaṇa, is present among devotees who are engaged in hearing and chanting the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Nārāyaṇa is the ultimate goal of sannyāsīs, those in the renounced order of life, and Nārāyaṇa is worshiped through this saṅkīrtana movement by those who are liberated from material contamination. Indeed, they recite the holy name again and again.

The Māyāvādī sannyāsīs are missing the real presence of Nārāyaṇa. This is because they falsely claim to be Nārāyaṇa Himself. According to the customary etiquette of Māyāvādī sannyāsīs, they address one another as Nārāyaṇa. To say that everyone is a temple of Nārāyaṇa is correct, but to accept another human being as Nārāyaṇa is a great offense. The conception of daridra-nārāyaṇa (poor Nārāyaṇa), an attempt to identify the poor with Nārāyaṇa, is also a great offense. Even to identify Nārāyaṇa with demigods like Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva is an offense:

yas tu nārāyaṇaṁ devaṁ brahma-rudrādi-daivataiḥ samatvenaiva vīkṣeta sa pāṣaṇḍī bhaved dhruvam

“One who considers Lord Nārāyaṇa on a level with great demigods like Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva is immediately listed among nonbelievers.” The fact is that by performing saṅkīrtana-yajña one can immediately please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then Nārāyaṇa Himself descends and immediately is present. In this Age of Kali, Nārāyaṇa is immediately present in the form of Lord Caitanya. Concerning Lord Caitanya, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.32) states:

kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣākṛṣṇaṁ sāṅgopāṅgāstra-pārṣadam yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ

“In the Age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the name of Kṛṣṇa. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Kṛṣṇa Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.” After all, human life is meant for pleasing Nārāyaṇa, and this can easily be done by performing saṅkīrtana-yajña. Whenever there is congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord, Gaura Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His incarnation as Lord Caitanya, immediately appears and is worshiped by saṅkīrtana-yajña.

In this verse it is said that Nārāyaṇa is nyāsināṁ gatiḥ, the ultimate goal of the sannyāsīs. The goal of those who have renounced the material world is the attainment of Nārāyaṇa. A Vaiṣṇava sannyāsī therefore dedicates his life to serving Nārāyaṇa; he does not falsely claim to be Nārāyaṇa. Instead of becoming nirvaira (nonenvious of other living entities), one who tries to become Nārāyaṇa becomes envious of the Supreme Lord. Therefore the attempt to become Nārāyaṇa constitutes the greatest offense. Actually, when one chants or discusses the transcendental activities of the Lord, he immediately becomes nonenvious. In this material world everyone is envious of everyone else, but by vibrating or discussing the holy name of the Lord, one becomes nonenvious and devoid of material hankering. Because of our envy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we have become envious of all other living entities. When we are no longer envious of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there will be real peace, unity and fraternity in human society. Without Nārāyaṇa or saṅkīrtana-yajña there cannot be peace in this material world.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
In that association, Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Lord, the goal of the sannyāsīs, is repeatedly praised by persons without material contamination through pure discussions.
Nārāyaṇa is present where devotees hear and chant; He is the goal of sannyāsīs, worshiped by saṅkīrtana. Saṅkīrtana itself produces His presence; you don't have to summon Him separately.
Reflection Questions
  • Where could I prioritize collective chanting as the most direct way to His presence?
  • What private practice am I overusing when saṅkīrtana would do more?
📝 My note

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