Title: The Nectar of Instruction
Author: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. English translation of Sri Upadesamrita by Srila Rupa Goswami.
Publisher: The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust
Publication Date:rreprint of the first printing which consisted of 10,000 copies in 1975
Language: English
Format: Paperback
Pages: app. 140
"Instruction" isn't always pleasant, especially when it involves direct advice on refining our character. It’s often easier to accept guidance on improving skills like dancing or sports. But for those committed to spiritual advancement, Nectar of Instruction is an invaluable roadmap, as vital to the spiritual journey as safety markers are to drivers.
The book is a translation of the Upadesamrta, an 11-verse Sanskrit work composed in the 16th century by Srila Rupa Gosvami, a prominent spiritual figure in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. It serves as a foundational guidebook for practitioners of Bhakti-yoga, detailing essential spiritual practices such as:
How to choose a qualified spiritual master (guru).
The six urges one must control to make spiritual progress (e.g., speech, mind, anger, tongue, belly, and genitals).
Six favorable and six unfavorable activities for devotional service.
The proper way to interact with different types of devotees.
The ultimate goal of spiritual life, culminating in love for Krishna.
This book is Srila Prabhupada’s translation and commentary on Rupa Goswami’s Upadeshamrita, which consists of eleven verses covering essential principles of spiritual life. These verses address questions such as how a seeker should interact with others, work diligently, select company, choose where to live, and measure their progress, all toward understanding the ultimate goal of life. Intended as a practical guide for everyday seekers and mandatory reading for his students, Prabhupada regarded Nectar of Instruction as a foundational text. He recommended it for students, explaining that it would offer clarity on Krishna consciousness and practical morality. The book includes the original Sanskrit, transliterations, translations, and detailed explanations.
The building pictured on the cover is the samadhi (tomb) of Srila Rupa Gosvami, located in the courtyard of the Radha-Damodara temple in Vrindavana, India. This site also includes his bhajana-kutira (prayer cottage), where he wrote many of his influential works.
