Articles by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura
A Devotee is the Epitome of Truth (Sajjana – Satya-sāra)
Sajjana – Satya-sāra (A Devotee is the Epitome of Truth) was written by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda and published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol. 20, Issue 4 in 1917. Continuing with his elaboration on the twenty-six qualities of a devotee, Sarasvatī Ṭhākura discusses what is relative and absolute truth.
A Devotee Does Not Engage in Violence (Sajjana – Akṛta-droha)
Sajjana – Akṛta-droha (A Devotee Does Not Engage in Violence) was written by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda and published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol. 20, Issue 3 in 1917. Continuing from his previous article (Sajjana – Kṛpālu), Sarasvatī Ṭhākura explains how a true Vaiṣṇava is never violent to others in thought, word or deed.
A Devotee is Merciful (Sajjana – Kṛpālu)
‘Sajjana-Kṛpālu’ (A devotee is Merciful) was the first in a series of articles by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda on the twenty-six qualities of a Vaiṣṇava in 1917 and published in Sajjana-Toṣaṇī magazine, Vol. 20, Issue 2. This article explores mercy, the primary quality of a devotee, and illustrates its significance for the followers of Śrī Caitanya.
Guru-Bruva (The Pseudo-Guru)
This article ‘Guru-Bruva (The Pseudo-Guru)’ was first published in 1923 in The Gauḍīya Vol.2 Issue 5. Herein, Prabhupāda Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura exposes the cheating business of imitation gurus who simply collect disciples for money and prestige. This Bengali article has been translated for the first time into English by Swami B.V. Giri and Sanātana Dāsa.
Bhakti Siddhānta (Devotional Conclusions)
In this article 'Bhakti Siddhānta (Devotional Conclusions)' Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura delineates the foundational elements of bhakti (sambandha, abhidheya and prayojana) drawn from the vedic conclusions and establishes the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam as the ripened fruit of these literatures. This article was originally published in Bengali in Vol. 21, Issue 10 of Śrī Sajjana Toṣaṇī, January 1919 and translated by Sanātana Dāsa.
Hari-kathā in Puruṣottama-kṣetra
In 'Hari-kathā in Puruṣottama-kṣetra' Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura speaks in Jagannātha Purī about the necessity for hari-kātha (topics of Kṛṣṇa) and the constant chanting of the Lord's Name. He also explains what is actual kīrtana and what is not. This article was first published in The Gauḍīya, Volume 14, issue 37, and translated from Bengali by Swami B.V. Giri and Sanātana Dāsa.
Kṛṣṇa-tattva (The Fundamental Reality of Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
In this rare article written in 1928 for The Gauḍīya, Volume 7, issue 28, Śrīla Sarasvatī Ṭhākura describes the attributes of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, explaining what Kṛṣṇa is, and what He isn’t. This article was translated from Bengali by Sanātana Dāsa.
Gānera adhikārī ke? (Who is Qualified to Sing?)
Who is actually qualified to lead kīrtana? In this article from 1916, Śrīla Sarasvatī Ṭhākura clearly explains the adhikāra (qualification) for one to lead kīrtana and states that it is not all about melody etc. This article has been translated from Bengali by Swami B.V. Giri.
Śrī Gaura ki Vastu? (Who is Sri Gaura?)
This article by Śrīla Sarasvatī Ṭhākura was originally written in Bengali in 1918 for the ‘Sajjana-tosani’ magazine, Volume 11, Issue 2. Sarasvatī Ṭhākura explains how the māyāvādis and sahajiyās see Gaura in comparison with the view of the Vaiṣṇava. This article was translated from Bengali into English by Swami B.V. Giri.
Śrī Sarasvatī Saṅlāpa (A Discourse by Sarasvatī Ṭhākura)
In 'Śrī Sarasvatī Saṅlāpa' (A Discourse by Śrī Sarasvatī Thākura') which was originally printed in the monthly Gauḍīya magazine, Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura describes real and apparent gaura-bhajana, and states that by performing pseudo gaura-bhajana we actually install Satan rather than Mahāprabhu in our hearts. This article was translated by Swami B.V. Giri