1) From Lord Gauranga does a great river of nectar flow. The waves of that river are waves of ecstatic prema. That flooding river never stops flowing.
2) Abhiram Thakur and Saranga Thakur are that river’s two banks. Acyutananda is its whirlpool of ecstatic prema.
3) Sri Advaitachandra is that river’s current. Prabhu Nityananda is both the diver that swims in that river and the captain of the boat that plies its waters.
4) Srivas Thakur and his associates are the fish that swim in those waters of prema. Svarupa Goswami and Rupa Goswami are the sharks that swim in that river.
5) Alas, unable to swim in that river, the miserable Shekhar Das stays on the bank and loudly weeps.
1) O my dear Lord Gauranga! Please show Your mercy to this lowly and destitute soul. O Lord! There is no one more fallen than myself in all the three worlds.
2) Holding grass between my teeth, O Lord Gaura, I am calling out to You now! Please be compassionate upon me and come to reside within the temple of my heart.
3) If You do not give Your mercy, seeing how fallen I am, then why are You known as Patita Pavana, the merciful Savior of the fallen?
4) I am plunged amidst the violent hurricane-stricken waves in the ocean of this material world, from which there is no escape. Kindly give me the gift of Your divine lotus feet, which are compared to a boat in which Your servant may cross over the ocean of birth and death.
5) Narottama Dasa, the servant of the servant of Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya Prabhu, ceaselessly makes this prayer.
(3) viṣaya chāriyā kabe śuddha ha ‘be mana kabe hāma herabo śrī-bṛndābana
(4) rūpa-raghunātha-pade hoibe ākuti kabe hāma bujhabo se jugala-pīriti
(5) rūpa-raghunātha-pade rahu mora āśa prārthanā koroye sadā narottama-dāsa
TRANSLATION
1) When will that opportune moment come to us, when there will be shivering of the body as soon as we chant Lord Gauranga’s name? While chanting Hare Krsna, when will there be tears in the eyes?
2) When will I obtain the mercy of Lord Nityananda-candra? When, by His mercy will the desire for material enjoyment become very insignificant?
3) When the mind is completely purified, being freed from material anxieties and desires, then I shall be able to understand Vrndavana and the conjugal love of Radha and Krsna, and then my spiritual life will be successful.
4) When shall I be very much eager to study the books left by the Six Gosvami’s, headed by Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami? By their instruction I shall be able to properly understand the loving affairs of Radha and Krsna.
5) My only aspiration is to attain the lotus feet of the Six Gosvamis headed by Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. Narottama dasa constantly prays to attain their lotus feet.
1) The new raincloud of Lord Gaura showered a monsoon of ecstatic spiritual love, a monsoon that delighted the thirsty souls suffering from the burning heat.
2) The ploughman of devotional service plowed the hard earth of the sinners’ wicked hearts and broke up its hardness. Then the plowman watered that ground. Then the first sprout of ecstatic spiritual love appeared.
3) Lord Nitai nourished that sprout with the waters of devotional service. Day by day the tree of ecstatic spiritual love grew and grew.
4) Finally that tree bore the fruit of ecstatic spiritual love, a fruit that delivers every soul. Alas! Ananta dasa could not taste that fruit. His own past karma cheated him of that fruit.
muhur yo ‘ti-śraddhauṣadhi-vara-balat-pāṭha-salilair
alaḿ siñced vindet sarasa-guru-tal-lokana-phalam
TRANSLATION
1) Whoever sees His gait and beautiful face enthusiastically spits on the grace of the most graceful elephant in rut and on the beauty of the moon. His complexion makes Him resemble a splendid golden mountain, and His words come from His lips like waves of nectar. That golden-limbed Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu rises within my heart and maddens me.
2) As He danced before the Ratha-yatra chariot, Caitanya Mahaprabhu pleased Lord Jagannatha by decorating Himself with the nine jewels of the sattvika-bhava ecstasies, namely paleness, becoming stunned, stuttering, trembling, shedding tears, horripilation, laughing, perspiring, and dancing. That golden-limbed Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu rises within my heart and maddens me.
3) Trembling as He danced before Lord Jagannatha’s chariot, Lord Caitanya staggered about in ecstasy, sprinkling everyone with water from the reddish syringes of His eyes and joyfully biting His charming lips with His teeth. That golden-limbed Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu rises within my heart and maddens me.
4) Sometimes Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would go to the house of Kasi Misra. There He would be greatly aggrieved, feeling separation from Krsna. The joints of His transcendental body would slacken, and His arms and legs would become elongated. Rolling on the ground, the Lord would cry out in distress in a faltering voice and weep very sorrowfully. The appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, awakening in my heart, maddens me.*
5) How wonderful it is! Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu left His residence without opening the three strongly bolted doors. Then He crossed over three high walls, and later, because of strong feelings of separation from Krsna, He fell down amidst the cows of the Tailanga district and retracted all the limbs of His body like a tortoise. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who appeared in that way, rises in my heart and maddens me. *
6) Because of separation from His many friends in Vrndavana, who were like His own life, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu spoke like a madman. His intelligence was transformed. Day and night He rubbed His moonlike face against the walls, and blood flowed from the injuries. May that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu rise in my heart and make me mad with love.*
7) “My dear friend the doorkeeper, where is Krsna, the Lord of My heart? Kindly show Him to Me quickly.” With these words Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu addressed the doorkeeper like a madman. The doorkeeper grasped His hand and replied very hastily, “Come, see Your beloved!” May that Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu rise within my heart and thus make me mad also.*
8) Near Jagannatha Puri was a great sand dune known as Cataka-parvata. Seeing that hill, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, “Oh, I shall go to the land of Vraja to see Govardhana Hill.” Then He began running madly to it, and all the Vaisnavas ran after Him. This scene awakens in my heart and maddens me.*
9) During Dola-yatra, the swing festival of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna, Lord Caitanya stayed under a charming pavilion and sweetly and jubilantly sang the holy names in the company of Svarupa Damodara and His other intimate devotees. That golden-limbed Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu rises within my heart and maddens me.
10) Lord Caitanya was as kind to Govinda dasa as Lord Narayana is to Garuda. He was as devoted to Isvara Puri as Lord Krsna was to His guru, Sandipani Muni, the best of acaryas. And He was as affectionate toward Svarupa Damodara Gosvami as Lord Giridhari was toward Subala. That golden-limbed Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu rises within my heart and maddens me.
11) Although I am a fallen soul, the lowest of men, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu delivered me from the blazing forest fire of great material opulence by His mercy. He handed me over in great pleasure to Svarupa Damodara, His personal associate. The Lord also gave me the garland of gunja that He wore on His chest and a stone from Govardhana Hill, although they were very dear to Him. That same Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu awakens within my heart and makes me mad after Him.*
12) This poem is like a celestial desire tree whose charming branches are its verses. Those branches appear very splendid because of the blossoming flowers of variegated expressions of ecstatic love for Lord Gauranga that grow there. If a person regularly waters this tree with lots of the water of careful and pure reading mixed with the powerful plant food of great faith, he will certainly be able to taste that tree’s heavy, nectarean fruit—the personal audience of Lord Gauranga.
1) Lord Gaurasundara sings in a very sweet voice, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.
2) Whether you are a householder or a sannyasi, constantly chant “Hari! Hari!” Do not forget this chanting, whether you are in a happy condition or a distressful one. Just fill your lips with the hari-nama.
3) You are bound up in the network of Maya and are forced to toil fruitlessly. Now you have obtained full consciousness in the human form of life, so chant the names of Radha-Madhava.
4) Your life may end at any moment, and you have not served the Lord of the senses, Hrsikesa. Take this advice of Bhaktivinoda Thakura: “Just once, relish the nectar of the holy name!”
1-10) To Lord Hari, whose graceful movements rebuke the maddened elephants, whose handsome teeth condemn the jasmine flowers’ pride, whose handsomeness destroys the pride of millions of Kamadevas, whose charming face is decorated with the blossom of a splendid smile whose talkative flute has captured the gopis, whose happily dancing eyes are red lotus flowers, who enjoys transcendental pastimes that are a flood of nectar, who is the goal of they who search for the ultimate goal of life whose footsteps decorate the Yamuna’s shore, whose handsome feet are worshiped by the kings of all planets, whose soft and glorious neck is decorated with a padaka, who is gracefully decorated with gorocana tilaka whose topknot is decorated with a moving peacock feather, whose arm defiantly lifted the king of mountains, who made the courtyard of the king of serpents’ expanded hoods into His dancing arena, whose heart is greedy to enjoy pastimes in the mountain caves, the narration of whose glories shakes away the age of Kali,who is a joyful festival for His affectionate friends, who possesses the strength of all unconquerable arms, who is the constant companion of Balarama and the cowherd boys, who is a desire tree for the saintly devotees, who is a new Kamadeva for the young gopis, who is the expert protector of they who take shelter of Him, who is the blazing sun that burns the utpala flowers of the demons who holds a bunch of flowers in His lotus hand, who is a lion against the mad elephant of Bakasura, whose flute musi charms the does, whose voice is more splendid than the singing of cuckoos, who broke the demon yaksas in battle, the vine of whose fame is auspicious for the people, whose holy name and transcendental qualities are an Agastya Muni that drinks up the ocean of repeated birth and death, whose devotees are untouched by the modes of material nature, whose transcendental qualities are countless, whose handsome face is the brother of the moon, who is a raincloud against the forest fire of arrogant Aristasura, who is playful and decorated with charming ornaments, who is a full moon that destroyed the darkness of Vyomasura, who brought pain to the demon kings, and who is the delight of His relatives, I offer my respectful obeisances.
11) To Lord Hari, who bears the mark of Srivatsa on His chest, whose splendid garland is the palatial home of many bees, who is the great auspiciousness of the gopis, and whose transcendental form is splendid with sandal paste, I offer my respectful obeisances.
1) [“I offer my humble obeisances to Krsna”] Delighted by Garga Muni’s eloquent words, Nanda Maharaja brought Krsna to a secluded place, where Garga Muni, performing the auspicious name-giving ceremony for the Lord, enumerated the Lord’s glories and opulences.
2) I offer respectful obeisances to Krsna, who is very affectionate to the devotees, protecting them, and destroying the demons. He is the great Lord Narayana and He increases the bliss of Nanda Maharaja.
3) O Krsna, eagerly crawling about on Your hands and knees, and performing the pastimes of an innocent child, you enchant the minds ¨ of the devotees). All to You.
4) O Krsna, delighted by the sounds (of other people’s) ankle-bells, You would crawl in the mud of Vraja (as if to follow them). the top of Your head was decorated with a jewel, and Your neck appeared very splendid, ornamented with the nails of a tiger.
5) O Krsna, you appear very charming, anointed with the mud of Vraja, and Your and hips becoming gradually stronger as You grew older. O Lord, You desired to see the reflection of Your face and You saw that reflection, You playfully imitated Your own movements.
6) O Krsna, holding You with her hands as she was breast-feeding You, Mother Yasoda little teeth beginning to grow in Your smiling mouth, which was speaking the charming inarticulate words of a small child. At that time You began to walk, Your amazing activities occasionally decorated with stumbling.
1) O sakhi, sing the arati of Priya and Pyare! Sing of the darling daughter of Vrsabhanu! Sing of the lifter of Govardhana Hill, the enjoyer of the rasa-dance! Sing, o sakhi, this arati!
2) Offer Them a golden tray decorated with camphor, incense and a shining lamp. And while waving a camara shout balihari! (bravo!). O sakhi, sing for He who performs pastimes in the kunjas and for that darling daughter of Vrsabhanu! Sing for Girivaradhari and Rasabihari. Sing, o sakhi, this arati!
3) With a crown of peacock feather, dancing earrings and a forest flower garland, the son of Nanda holds a flute to His lips while comfortably sitting. Behold this splendid scene, o sakhi, and glorify Bankebihari, Bhanudulari, Girivaradhari and Rasabihari. Sing, o sakhi, this arati!
4) The beauty of the exquisite candrika She wears upon Her head is beyond description. Her graceful form is adorned with green sari. That eternally youthful, charming and playful girl is from the village of Varsana. Sing for Her, the darling daughter of Vrsabhanu, and for the lifter of the best of mountains, the enjoyer of the rasa-dance. Sing, o sakhi, this arati!
5) Sitting on a throne, They give Their love to all. They eternally reside in the hearts of Their intimate, loving devotees. They are the wealth and very life of Vraja. Therefore sing with all your heart, o sakhi, for the darling daughter of Vrsabhanu, for the lifter of the best of mountains, the enjoyer of the rasa-dance. Sing, o sakhi, this arati!
1) You are bathed by streams of splendor that rebuke gold, lightning, and the campaka flower. Your splendid garments are friend to the bandhuka flower. O Vrnda, I bow to your lotus feet.
2) Your face is splendid with a pearl decorating the tip of Your nose and a wonderful gentle smile on your bimba-fruit lips. You are decorated with wonderful jewel ornaments. O Vrnda, I bow to your lotus feet.
3) Vrsabhanu’s daughter, Radha, made you guardian of Krsna’s opulent and auspicious abode of Vrndavana, the crest jewel of all Vaikuntha planets. O Vrnda, I bow to your lotus feet.
4) By Your order the groves where Madhava enjoys pastimes are splendidly decorated with blossoming flowers, bumble-bees, deer, honey and other things. O Vrnda, I bow to your lotus feet.
5) Because you became their messenger the eager and youthful divine couple enjoyed the perfection of transcendental pastimes in the forest. O Vrnda, I bow to your lotus feet.
6) By your mercy the people attain residence in Vrndavana, the desire to serve your masters’ lotus feet, and the desire to assist in the rasa dance. O Vrnda, I bow to your lotus feet.
7) They who are learned in the Satvata-tantra glorify you. You are Krishna’s pastime-potency. The tulasi plant is your form in the world of men. O Vrnda, I bow to your lotus feet.
8) O merciful one, they who have no devotion and they whom millions of offenses have thrown into the waves of lust and other vices take shelter of you. O Vrnda, I bow to your lotus feet.
9) A person who is like a bumble bee at the lotus feet of Vrndavana’s king and queen, and who reads or hears this Vrndastaka, will eternally reside in Vrndavana and attain loving service to the divine couple.
