Third Period of Devotional Practice (3rd Yāma Sādhana)
[The person entitled to do Nāma Saṇkīrtan— the procedure of doing Harinām, is ascertained in the third verse of Śikṣāṣṭaka.]
3rd Verse of Śrī Śikṣāṣṭaka
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu addressing Svarūpa Dāmodara and Rāi Rāmānanda has said, "Hear about the scriptural verse expressing the characteristics of how to do Harinām by which pure devotional love can be manifested. In spite of being endowed with good qualities, one who considers himself more abominable than a blade of grass, who has got the quality of forbearance in two ways— like the tree, in spite of being loped, does not say anything but tolerates and has no aptitude to give trouble to anybody for it's own sake for getting water even if it is dried up, but is always ready for giving it's own wealth, i.e. for sacrificing it's own interest to fulfill the desire of anybody who seeks it's help. Tree is so tolerant and benevolent, even if anybody does harm to it by loping it's branch and comes to take it's shelter from heat and rains it does not deprive him, but gives it's advantage to the person who prays for it. True Vaishnavas are endowed with such good qualities. They are without vanity and they see their object of worship Sri Krishna in all living beings and give respect to all.
[It should be noted here that above cannot be understood by worldly people. Evidence by Śrila Rupa Goswami :
“The transcendental name, form, qualities and pastimes of Sri Krishna cannot be comprehended through the materially contaminated senses. Only when one becomes spiritually saturated by transcendental service to the Lord, the transcendental name, form, qualities and pastimes of the Lord are revealed to him.”
The Transcendental Name and Form descends to the tongue etc. of surrendered devotee inclined to serve Sree Krishna. It is never possible to have contact with the Transcendental Reality — Supreme Lord, Who is All-Existence, All-Knowledge and All-Bliss, by the process of ascension. Only through the process of descension, Transcendental Name, Form, Attributes and Pastimes of Supreme Lord can be realized. In this material world, material sound and the thing indicated by material sound are different but in Transcendental Spiritual Realm, Transcendental Name of Supreme Lord and Transcendental Entity of Supreme Lord are non-different. Supreme Lord is the cause of all causes, and therefore, naturally, is Self-effulgent. His Transcendental Name is also Self-effulgent.]
Śikṣāṣṭaka song three ~
Forenoon Pastimes of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa
The blessed votary should think about it while doing Harinām—
When Kṛṣṇa with calves or cows and cowherd boys goes to forest, Nanda Mahārāja, Yaṣodā Devi and other milkmen and milkwomen of Braja Dhām are following Kṛṣṇa as long as they can see Him. They are going, but when they cannot see Him, they return disappointed. Kṛṣṇa delights the calves or cows and cowherd boys, but attracted by pure devotion of Rādhārāni, goes to Rādhā-kuṇḍa to meet Rādhārāni, who has been anxiously waiting at Rādhā-kuṇḍa to see Kṛṣṇa and to get His company. Kṛṣṇa, of course, consoled the calves or cows and cowherd boys before going to Rādhā-kuṇḍa at noon. I remember the Lotus Feet of such Kṛṣṇa in the forenoon pastimes.
Rādhārāni is always anxious to meet Śrī Kṛṣṇa and she took advice of Kṛṣṇa, how she could come and meet Him because mother-in-law ‘Jaṭilā’ would not allow her to come. Kṛṣṇa has advised Rādhārāni, “You should not say you are coming to see me, then you will not get her permission. Household persons are more inclined to worship demigods to get worldly benefits. You should pray to your mother-in-law that you want to worship Sun-God. Then your mother-in-law will immediately approve it and allow you to worship Sun-God for getting mundane benefits. Under the pretext of worshipping Sun-God, you will be able to meet me”. Rādhārāni with great perturbation of heart has sent one confidante (sakhi) to search for Kṛṣṇa and how she can go to the particular place where Kṛṣṇa is residing and she can meet Kṛṣṇa. Rādhārāni is very anxiously awaiting for the return of the confidante to get the information where to go to see Kṛṣṇa. I remember the Lotus Feet of such Rādhārāni in the forenoon pastimes.
Lila kirtan three