Shri Vallabhacharya’s explanation of Nirodha does not follow the traditional yogic definition of nirodha which is to control the tendencies of the senses”. Nirodha here is with God and it arises when a bhakta falls under His control. The bhakta is bound by His cords of Love and possessed by His continual presence. In this test, originally written for Raja and Madhav Dube in about 1510 A.D., the master prays for nirodha, achieves it and also explains how to attain it.

Yacca duhkham yasodaya nandadinam ca gokule
gopikanam tu yad duhkham tad duhkham syanmama kvacit

When may I experience the rapture of that divine affliction that struck Krishna’s mother Yashoda, His father Nanda, as well as the Gopis and the other Gokul bhaktas?

Gokul gopidanam ca sarvesam
vrajavasinaam yatsukhut tanme bhagavan kim vishasyati

When will the Beloved Lord give me the joy that the Gopis of Gokul and all the residents of Braja experienced?

Uddhavagaman jata utsavah sumahan yatha
vrndavane gokule va tathame manasi kvacit

When will my heart feel the great celebration that took place when Uddhava arrived in Vrindavan and Gokul?

Mahatma krpaya yavadbhagavan dayayisyati
tavadanandasandohah kirtyamanah sudhaya hi

As long as the favour of the great devotional beings prevails, the Blessed Lord will shower His mercy. Until then the singing of His abundant bliss affords His bhaktas joy.

Mahatma krpaya yadvat kirtanam sudhadam sada
na tatha laukikanam tu snigdhabojanaruksavat

The blessing of the Great Bhaktas always produces blissful praise that is not like the tunes of worldly people. It is like comparing stale dry food to a rich delicious meal.

Gunagane sudhavaptirgovindasya prajayate
yatha tatha sukadinam naivatmani kuto’ nyatah

When the pleasure attained by singing the praises of Govinda is not known by Shri Sukadeva or othere who are established in Self-Realization, then how can it arise in any other place?

Klisyamanan janan drstva sees krpayukto yada bhavet
tada sarvam sadanandam hrdistham nirgatam bahih

When the Beloved sees the divine affliction of His own souls, He becomes full of compassion. Then Hari, Who is always joyful, manifests from their hearts directly before them.

Sarvanandamayasyapi Krpanandah sudurlabhah
hrdgatah svagunan srutva purnah plavayate janan

The bliss of His grace is even rarer that the joy of His omnipresent form. When Shri Krishna, who dwells within His bhakta’s hearts, hears them singing His praises, He completely soaks them with bliss.

Tasmat sarvam parityajya niruddhaih sarvada gunah
sadanandaparairgeyah saccidanandata tatah

Those who are bound by Hari leave everything else and abide in His constant joy, always singing His praises. They become full of perfect truth, consciousness and bliss.

Aham niruddho rodhena nirodhapadavim gatah
niruddhanam tu rodhaya nirodham varnayami te

I am possessed by Krishna. I have attained this divine state of nirodha by falling under His control. Now I explain the nature of nirodha for those who are ready to be bound by Hari, for the sake of their nirodha.

Having ye vinirmuktaste magna bhavasagare
ye niruddhasta evatra modamayantyaharnisam

Those that Hari has liberated from Himself are absorbed into the worldly ocean while those He binds to Himself surely experience supreme joy day and night.

Samsaravesa dustanamindriyanam hitaya vai
krsnasya sarvavastuni bhumna isasya yojayet

For the benefit of corrupt senses that are obsessed with the mundane world, everything in life should be united with the omnipresent inner-controller, Shri Krishna.

Gunesvavist cittanam sarvada muravairinah
samsaravirahaklesau na syatam harivatsukham

The blessed ones, whose minds are always filled with the divine virtues of Shri Krishna, have no worldly woes or separations. The joy they experience is similar to Hari’s.

Tada bhaved dayalutvamanyatha krurata mata
badhasankapi nastyatra tadadhyaso pi sidhyati

For those blessed ones, Hari beomes merciful, otherwise, He would be perceived as heartless. Obstructions are impossible in the devotional position because Shri Krishna’s presence perfects everything.

Bhagavaddharma samarthyadvirago visaye sthirah
gunairhari sudhasparsanna duhdham bhaati karhicit

The power of the Beloved’s dharma creates firm distaste for worldliness. When Krishna’s blissful essence is touched while singing His glories, one will never experience mundane suffering again.

Evam jnatva jnanamargad utkarso gunavarnane
amatsarairalubdhaisca varnaniyah sada gunah

Singing about Beloved Hari is superior to the path of Knowledge. And so, free of jealousy and greed, bhaktas should always praise His divine virtues.

Harimurtih sada dhyeya samkalpadapi tatra hi
darsanam sparsanam spastam tatha krtigati sada

Always reflect on Hari’s form with conviction. See and touch Him directly. Always make every movement for Him.

Saravanam kirtanam spastam putre krsnapriye ratih
payormalamsayagena sesabhavam tanau nayet

Sing and hear clearly. Have loving exchanges with your spouse to have a child beloved to Krishna. Even the passing of stool is so that the body will be refreshed and then useful in His seva.

Yasya va bhagavatkaryam yada spastam na drsyate
tada vinigrahastasya kartavya iti niscayah

If one recognizes that one’s senses are not clearly employed in the Blessed Lord’s work, then one should, without a doubt, control them.

Natah parataro mantro natah paratarah stavah
natah paratara vidya tirtham natah paratparam

There is no mantra, prayer, knowledge, or holy place that is superior to this blessed state of nirodha.