Gaura Pahu (from Prarthana) (1) gaura pahu na bhajiya mainu prema-ratana-dhana helaya harainu (2) adhane jatana kori dhana teyaginu apana karama-dose apani dubinu (3) sat-sanga chadi’ kainu asate vilasa te-karane lagilo ye karma-bandha-phans (4) visaya-visama-visa satata khainu gaura-kirtana-rase maghana na hainu (5) keno va achaye prana ki sukha paiya narottam das keno na gelo mariya
Translation: 1) I did not consider worshiping Lord Gauranga, but instead brought about my spiritual ruin by neglecting that treasure trove of pure of God. 2) I gave up the association of the saintly devotees to enjoy myself in the company of the ungodly. Therefore I am bound up by the snare of karma. 3) I am always drinking the dangerous poison of sense gratification, thus I can never absorb myself in the blissful nectar of chanting the glories of Lord Caitanya. 4) Why am I still living and what happiness do I have? Narottama dasa says, "Why have I not died long ago?" This is not only Narottama dasa Thakura’s lamentation. If I cannot come in touch with Lord Caitanya and His associates, it would be better for me to die.
Manah-siksha Teachings to the Mind (from Prarthana) (1) nitai-pada-kamala, koti-candra-susitala je chayay jagata juray heno nitai bine bhai, radha-krishna paite nai dridha kori’ dharo nitair pay (2) se sambandha nahi ja’r, britha janma gelo ta’r sei pasu boro duracar nitai na bolilo mukhe, majilo samsara-sukhe vidya-kule ki koribe tar (3) ahankare matta hoiya, nitai-pada pasariya asatyere satya kori mani nitaiyer koruna habe, braje radha-krishna pabe dharo nitai-carana du’khani (4) nitaiyer carana satya, tahara sevaka nitya nitai-pada sada koro asa narottama boro dukhi, nitai more koro sukhi rakho ranga-caranera pasa
Translation: (1) The lotus feet of Lord Nityananda are a shelter where one will get the soothing moonlight not only of one, but of millions of moons. If the world wants to have real peace, it should take shelter of Lord Nityananda. Unless one takes shelter under the shade of the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda, it will be very difficult for him to approach Radha-Krishna. If one actually wants to enter into the dancing party of Radha-Krishna, he must firmly catch hold of the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda. (2) Anyone who has not established his relationship with Nityananda Prabhu is understood to have spoiled his valuable human birth. Such a human being is actually an uncontrollable animal. Because he never uttered the holy name of Nityananda, he has become merged into so-called material happiness. What can his useless education and family tradition do to help him? (3) Being maddened after false prestige and identification with the body, one is thinking, nOh, what is Nityananda? What can He do for me? I don't care.î The result is that he is accepting something false to be truth. If you actually want to approach the association of Radha-Krishna, you must first achieve the mercy of Lord Nityananda. When He is merciful toward you, then you will be able to approach Radha-Krishna. Therefore you should firmly grasp the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda. (4) The lotus feet of Nityananda are not illusion; they are a fact. One who engages in the transcendental loving service of Nityananda is also transcendental. Always try to catch the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda. This Narottama dasa is very unhappy, therefore I am praying to Lord Nityananda to make me happy. My dear Lord, please keep me close to Your lotus feet.
Lalasamayi Prarthana (from Prarthana) (1) ‘gauranga’ bolite habe pulaka-sarira ‘hari hari’ bolite nayane ba’ be near (2) ara kabe nitai-cander koruna hoibe samsara-basana mora kabe tuccha ha’be (3) vishaya chariya kabe suddha ha ’be mana kabe hama herabo sri-brindabana (4) rupa-raghunatha-pade hoibe akuti kabe hama bujhabo se jugala-piriti (5) rupa-raghunatha-pade rahu mora asa prarthana koroye sada narottama-dasa
Translation: (1) When will that opportune moment come to me when there will be shivering of the body as soon as I chant Lord Gauranga's name? And after the shivering, while chanting Hare Krishna, when will there be tears pouring down from my eyes? (2) When will that day come when Lord Nityananda's causeless mercy is bestowed upon me so that my desire for material enjoyment becomes very insignificant? (3) When my mind is completely purified, being freed from material anxieties and desires, then I shall be able to understand Vrindavana and the conjugal love of Radha and Krishna, and then my spiritual life will be successful. (4) When shall I be very much eager to study the books left by the six Gosvamis? One has to learn of the conjugal loving affairs of Radha-Krishna through the teachings of these six Gosvamis. (5) Narottama dasa always wishes to understand this conjugal love under the direction of the six Gosvamis.
(1) hari haraye namah krishna yadavaya namah yadavaya madhavaya kesavaya namah (2) gopala govinda rama sri-madhusudana giridhari gopinatha madana-mohana (3) sri-caitanya-nityananda sri-advaita-sita hari guru vaishnava bhagavata gita (4) sri-rupa sanatana bhatta-raghunatha sri-jiva gopala-bhatta dasa-raghunatha (5) ei chay gosair kori carana vandan jaha hoite bighna-nas abhishta-puran (6) ei chay gosai jar—mui tar das ta-sabara pada-renu mora panca-gras (7) tadera carana-sebi-bhakta-sane bas janame janame hoy ei abhilash (8) ei chay gosai jabe braje koila bas radha-krishna-nitya-lila korila prakas (9) anande bolo hari bhaja vrindaban sri-guru-vaishnaba-pade majaiya man (10) sri-guru-vaishnaba-pada-padma kori as narottama dasa kohe nama-sankirtana
Translation: (1) O Lord Hari, O Lord Krishna, I offer my obeisances to You, who are known as Hari, Yadava, Madhava, and Kesava. (2) O Gopala, Govinda, Rama, Sri Madhusudana, Giridhari Gopinatha, and Madana-mohana! (3) All glories to Sri Caitanya and Nityananda! All glories to Sri Advaita Acarya and His consort, Sri Sita Thakurani. All glories to Lord Hari, to the spiritual master, the Vaishnavas, Srimad-Bhagavatam, and Srimad Bhagavad-Gita. (4) All glories to Sri Rupa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami, Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, Sri Jiva Gosvami, Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, and Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. (5) I offer my obeisances to the feet of these six Gosvamis. By bowing to them, all obstacles to devotion are destroyed and all spiritual desires are fulfilled. (6) I am the servant of that person who is a servant of these six Gosvamis. The dust of their lotus feet is my five kinds of foodstuffs. (7) This is my desire: that birth after birth I may live with those devotees who serve the lotus feet of these six Gosvamis. (8) When these six Gosvamis lived in Vraja they revealed the lost holy places and explained the eternal pastimes of Radha and Krishna. (9) Just shout the names of Lord Hari in great ecstasy and worship the transcendental realm of Vrindavana while absorbing your mind in meditation upon the divine feet of the spiritual master and the Vaishnavas. (10) Desiring to serve the lotus feet of Sri Guru and the Vaishnavas, Narottama dasa sings this sankirtana of the holy names of Lord Hari.
JAI SARASVATII MAATAA, JAI JAI HE SARASVATII MAATAA SADGUNA VAIBHAVA SHAALINII, TRIBHUVANA VIKHYAATAA
Glory, glory, all glory to you, O Mother Saraswati; you are renowned throughout the three spheres as the treasure-house of all great noble virtues. Let all sing to the glory of your name!
CHANDRAVADANII PADMAASINII DYUTI MANGALAKARE SOHE SHUBHA HANSA SAVARE, ATULA TEJADHARE
O infinitely radiant Goddess, you are beautiful and right as the moon and are seated in lotus posture; you are lustrous in appearance and source of all blessings; your vehicle, the auspicious swan, looks elegant.
BAAYE KARA MEIN VIINAA, DAAYEN KARA MAALAA SHIISHA MUKUTA MANI SOHE, GALA MOTIYANA MAALAA
In your left hand, O Mother Saraswati, is the lute (Veena) and in the right a wreath; on your head lies a splendid coronet of gems and around your neck a string of pearls.
O Goddess, whosoever sought refuge in you was released from the cycle of birth and death. By perverting the mind of Kaikayee’s dull-witted handmaid, Manthara, you became instrumental in the destruction of Ravana.
VIDYAA GYAANA PRADAAYINII, JAGA MEIN GYAANA PRAKAASHA BHARO MOHA AURA AJNAANA TIMIRA KAA JAGA SE NAASHA KARO
O bestower of learning and skill, illumine the world with light of knowledge and dispel the darkness of ignorance and infatuation.
DHUUPA DIIPA PHALA MEVAA MAAN SVIKAARA KARO GYAANA CHAKSHU DE MAATAA, JAGA NISTAARA KARO
O Mother, pray accept my gift of incense, light, both green and dry fruits and endowing the world with eyes of knowledge ferry it across the ocean of this phenomenal world.
MAAN SARASVATII KII ARATII, JO KOII JANA GAAVAI HITAKAARII SUKHAKAARII GYAANA HAKTI PAAVAI
Whosoever sings this hymn to Mother Saraswati becomes a recipient of knowledge and devotion, both of which are beneficial and yield great happiness.
AARATII GANGAA MAIYAA, MAAN JAI SURASARI MAIYAA BHAVA VAARIDHI UDDHAARINII, ATI HI SUDHRUUDHA NAIYAA
May we offer this prayer to Ganga, the divine mother and wave the festal lamp before her; may we glorify her who delivers us from the cycle of transmigration and the ocean of this world as if she were a steady boat.
HARI PADA PADMA PRASUUTAA, VIMALA VAARIDHAARAA BRAHMADRAVA BHAAGIRATHII, SUCHI PUNYAAGAARAA
You are born of he lotus-feet of Vishnu and are famous as a stream of unpolluted water. You are Brahma in a streaming, flowing form brought to earth by Bhagiratha, sacred and a repository of all virtues.
Shiva’s locks are as it were your bower of bliss where you enjoy roaming about; you are the destroyer of all the three kinds of afflictions, physical, mental and providential, deliverer of the sons of Sagara and redresser of all sins.
GANGAA GANGAA JO JANA, UCCHARATA MUKHA SON| DUURA DESHA STITHA BHII, TURATA TARATA SUKHA SON
He who chants your name even from a long distance is instantaneously rewarded with great comfort and pleasure and attains deliverance as well.
MRUTA KII ASTHI TANIKA TAVA, JALADHAARAA PAAVAI| SO JANA PAAVANA HOKARA, PARAMADHAAMA JAAVAI
Just a few drops of your holy stream sanctify the bones of the dead, who touching them, go straight to heaven.
The countless creature that live in the water or on land, the innumerable birds, cattle, insects as well as the trees growing on your banks are all entitled to salvation (by their association with you).
MAATU DAYAAMAYII KIIJAI, DIINANA PARA DAAYAA| PRABHU PADA PADMA MILAAKARA, HARI LIIJAI MAAYAA
O compassionate goddess, be kind to the poor and the destitute and revealing to them the lotus-feet of the Lord, lift the veil of delusion which covers their conscience.
Sakhi-vrinde Vijnapti Prayer to the Sakhis (from Prarthana) (1) radha-krishna prana mora jugala-kisora jivane marane gati aro nahi mora (2) kalindira kule keli-kadambera vana ratana-bedira upara bosabo du’jana (3) syama-gauri-ange dibo (cuwa) candanera gandha camara dhulabo kabe heri mukha-candra (4) gathiya malatir mala dibo dohara gale adhare tuliya dibo karpura-tambule (6) sri-krishna-caitanya-prabhur daser anudasa seva abhilasha kore narottama-dasa (5) lalita visakha-adi jata sakhi-brinda ajnaya koribo seba caranaravinda
Translation: (1) The divine couple, Sri Sri Radha and Krishna, are my life and soul. In life or death I have no other refuge but Them. (2) In a forest of small kadamba trees on the bank of the Yamuna, I will seat the divine couple on a throne made of brilliant jewels. (3) I will anoint Their dark and fair forms with sandalwood paste scented with cuya, and I will fan Them with a camara whisk. Oh, when will I behold Their moonlike faces? (4) After stringing together garlands of malati flowers I will place them around Their necks, and I will offer tambula scented with camphor to Their lotus mouths. (5) With the permission of all the sakhis, headed by Lalita and Visakha, I will serve the lotus feet of Radha and Krishna. (6) Narottama dasa, the servant of the servant of Sri Krishna Caitanya Prabhu, longs for this service to the divine couple.
Ishta-deve Vijnapti Prayer to One’s Beloved Lord (from Prarthana) (1) hari hari! bifale janama gonainu manushya-janama paiya, radha-krishna na bhajiya, janiya suniya visha khainu (2) golokera prema-dhana, hari-nama-sankirtana, rati na janmilo kene tay samsara-bishanale, diba-nisi hiya jwale, juraite na koinu upay (3) Vrajendra-nandana jei, saci-suta hoilo sei, balarama hoilo nitai dina-hina jata chilo, hari-name uddharilo, tara sakshi jagai madhai (4) ha ha prabhu nanda-suta, vrishabhanu-suta-juta, koruna karoho ei-baro narottama-dasa koy, na theliho ranga pay, toma bine ke ache amara
Translation: (1) 0 Lord Hari, I have spent my life uselessly. Having obtained a human birth and having not worshiped Radha and Krishna, I have knowingly drunk poison. (2) The treasure of divine love in Goloka Vrindavana has descended as the congregational chanting of Lord Hari’s holy names. Why did my attraction for that chanting never come about? Day and night my heart burns from the fire of the poison of worldliness, and I have not taken the means to relieve it. (3) Lord Krishna, who is the son of the King of Vraja, became the son of Saci (Lord Caitanya), and Balarama became Nitai. The holy name delivered all those souls who were lowly and wretched. The two sinners Jagai and Madhai are evidence of this. (4) 0 Lord Krishna, son of Nanda, accompanied by the daughter of Vrishabhanu, please be merciful to me now. Narottama dasa says, "O Lord, please do not push me away from Your reddish lotus feet, for who is my beloved except for You?"
(Lamentation Due to Separation from the Lord and His Associates)
(Sung on the disappearance days of saints)
1
ye anila prema-dhana karuna prachura
heno prabhu kotha gela acharya-thakura
2
kaha mora svarupa rupa kaha sanatana
kaha dasa raghunatha patita-pavana
3
kaha mora bhatta-yuga kaha kaviraja
eka-kale kotha gela gora nata-raja
4
pashane kutibo matha anale pashibo
gauranga gunera nidhi kotha gele pabo
5
se-saba sangira sange ye koilo vilasa
se-sanga na paiya kande narottama dasa
1. He who brought the treasure of divine love and who was filled with compassion and mercy--where has such a personality as Shrinivasa Acharya gone?
2. Where are my Svarupa Damodara and Rupa Goswami? Where is Sanatana? Where is Raghunatha dasa, the savior of the fallen?
3. Where are my Raghunatha Bhatta and Gopala Bhatta, and where is Krishnadasa Kaviraja? Where did Lord Gauranaga, the great dancer, suddenly go?
4. I will smash my head against the rock and enter into the fire. Where will I find Lord Gauranga, the reservoir of all wonderful qualities?
5. Being unable to obtain the association of Lord Gauranga accompanied by all of these devotees in whose association He performed His pastimes, Narottama Das simply weeps.
Bhajahu Re Mana Sri Nanda-nandana by Govinda Dasa Kaviraja (1) bhajahu re mana sri-nanda-nandana abhaya-caranaravinda re durlabha manava-janama sat-sange taroho e bhava-sindhu re
(2) sita atapa bata barishana e dina jamini jagi re biphale sevinu kripana durajana capala sukha-laba lagi’ re
(3) e dhana, yaubana, putra, parijana ithe ki ache paratiti re kamala-dala-jala, jivana talamala bhajahu hari-pada niti re
(4) sravana, kirtana, smarana, vandana, pada-sevana, dasya re pujana, sakhi-jana, atma-nivedana govinda-dasa-abhilasha re
Translation:
(1) O mind, just worship the lotus feet of the son of Nanda, which make one fearless. Having obtained this rare human birth, cross over this ocean of wordly existence through the association of saintly persons.
(2) My dear brother, I request that you just worship Lord Caitanya and Nityananda with firm conviction and faith. If one wants to be Krishna conscious by this process, one has to give up his engagement in sense gratification. One simply has to chant, "Hare Krishna! Hari Hari!" without any motive.
(3) What assurance of real happiness is there in all of one’s wealth, youthfulness, sons, and family members? This life is tottering like a drop of water on a lotus petal; therefore you should always serve and worship the divine feet of Lord Hari.
(4) It is the desire and great longing of Govinda Dasa to engage himself in the nine processes of bhakti, namely hearing the glories of Lord Hari and chanting those glories, constantly remembering Him and offering prayers to Him, serving the Lord’s lotus feet, serving the Supreme Lord as a servant, worshiping Him with flowers and incense and so forth, serving Him as a friend, and completely offering the Lord one’s very self.
Replies
(from Prarthana)
(1)
gaura pahu na bhajiya mainu
prema-ratana-dhana helaya harainu
(2)
adhane jatana kori dhana teyaginu
apana karama-dose apani dubinu
(3)
sat-sanga chadi’ kainu asate vilasa
te-karane lagilo ye karma-bandha-phans
(4)
visaya-visama-visa satata khainu
gaura-kirtana-rase maghana na hainu
(5)
keno va achaye prana ki sukha paiya
narottam das keno na gelo mariya
Translation:
1) I did not consider worshiping Lord Gauranga, but instead brought about my spiritual ruin by neglecting that
treasure trove of pure of God.
2) I gave up the association of the saintly devotees to enjoy myself in the company of the ungodly. Therefore I
am bound up by the snare of karma.
3) I am always drinking the dangerous poison of sense gratification, thus I can never absorb myself in the
blissful nectar of chanting the glories of Lord Caitanya.
4) Why am I still living and what happiness do I have? Narottama dasa says, "Why have I not died long ago?"
This is not only Narottama dasa Thakura’s lamentation. If I cannot come in touch with Lord Caitanya and
His associates, it would be better for me to die.
Excellent, Hare Krishna Mataji!
Teachings to the Mind
(from Prarthana)
(1)
nitai-pada-kamala, koti-candra-susitala
je chayay jagata juray
heno nitai bine bhai, radha-krishna paite nai
dridha kori’ dharo nitair pay
(2)
se sambandha nahi ja’r, britha janma gelo ta’r
sei pasu boro duracar
nitai na bolilo mukhe, majilo samsara-sukhe
vidya-kule ki koribe tar
(3)
ahankare matta hoiya, nitai-pada pasariya
asatyere satya kori mani
nitaiyer koruna habe, braje radha-krishna pabe
dharo nitai-carana du’khani
(4)
nitaiyer carana satya, tahara sevaka nitya
nitai-pada sada koro asa
narottama boro dukhi, nitai more koro sukhi
rakho ranga-caranera pasa
Translation:
(1) The lotus feet of Lord Nityananda are a shelter where one will get the soothing moonlight not only of one,
but of millions of moons. If the world wants to have real peace, it should take shelter of Lord Nityananda.
Unless one takes shelter under the shade of the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda, it will be very difficult for him
to approach Radha-Krishna. If one actually wants to enter into the dancing party of Radha-Krishna, he must
firmly catch hold of the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda.
(2) Anyone who has not established his relationship with Nityananda Prabhu is understood to have spoiled
his valuable human birth. Such a human being is actually an uncontrollable animal. Because he never uttered
the holy name of Nityananda, he has become merged into so-called material happiness. What can his
useless education and family tradition do to help him?
(3) Being maddened after false prestige and identification with the body, one is thinking, nOh, what
is Nityananda? What can He do for me? I don't care.î The result is that he is accepting something false to be
truth. If you actually want to approach the association of Radha-Krishna, you must first achieve the mercy of
Lord Nityananda. When He is merciful toward you, then you will be able to approach Radha-Krishna. Therefore
you should firmly grasp the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda.
(4) The lotus feet of Nityananda are not illusion; they are a fact. One who engages in the transcendental
loving service of Nityananda is also transcendental. Always try to catch the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda.
This Narottama dasa is very unhappy, therefore I am praying to Lord Nityananda to make me happy. My
dear Lord, please keep me close to Your lotus feet.
(from Prarthana)
(1)
‘gauranga’ bolite habe pulaka-sarira
‘hari hari’ bolite nayane ba’ be near
(2)
ara kabe nitai-cander koruna hoibe
samsara-basana mora kabe tuccha ha’be
(3)
vishaya chariya kabe suddha ha ’be mana
kabe hama herabo sri-brindabana
(4)
rupa-raghunatha-pade hoibe akuti
kabe hama bujhabo se jugala-piriti
(5)
rupa-raghunatha-pade rahu mora asa
prarthana koroye sada narottama-dasa
Translation:
(1) When will that opportune moment come to me when there will be shivering of the body as soon as I
chant Lord Gauranga's name? And after the shivering, while chanting Hare Krishna, when will there be
tears pouring down from my eyes?
(2) When will that day come when Lord Nityananda's causeless mercy is bestowed upon me so that my desire
for material enjoyment becomes very insignificant?
(3) When my mind is completely purified, being freed from material anxieties and desires, then I shall be able
to understand Vrindavana and the conjugal love of Radha and Krishna, and then my spiritual life will be successful.
(4) When shall I be very much eager to study the books left by the six Gosvamis? One has to learn of the
conjugal loving affairs of Radha-Krishna through the teachings of these six Gosvamis.
(5) Narottama dasa always wishes to understand this conjugal love under the direction of the six Gosvamis.
(1)
hari haraye namah krishna yadavaya namah
yadavaya madhavaya kesavaya namah
(2)
gopala govinda rama sri-madhusudana
giridhari gopinatha madana-mohana
(3)
sri-caitanya-nityananda sri-advaita-sita
hari guru vaishnava bhagavata gita
(4)
sri-rupa sanatana bhatta-raghunatha
sri-jiva gopala-bhatta dasa-raghunatha
(5)
ei chay gosair kori carana vandan
jaha hoite bighna-nas abhishta-puran
(6)
ei chay gosai jar—mui tar das
ta-sabara pada-renu mora panca-gras
(7)
tadera carana-sebi-bhakta-sane bas
janame janame hoy ei abhilash
(8)
ei chay gosai jabe braje koila bas
radha-krishna-nitya-lila korila prakas
(9)
anande bolo hari bhaja vrindaban
sri-guru-vaishnaba-pade majaiya man
(10)
sri-guru-vaishnaba-pada-padma kori as
narottama dasa kohe nama-sankirtana
Translation:
(1) O Lord Hari, O Lord Krishna, I offer my obeisances to You, who are known as Hari, Yadava, Madhava,
and Kesava.
(2) O Gopala, Govinda, Rama, Sri Madhusudana, Giridhari Gopinatha, and Madana-mohana!
(3) All glories to Sri Caitanya and Nityananda! All glories to Sri Advaita Acarya and His consort, Sri
Sita Thakurani. All glories to Lord Hari, to the spiritual master, the Vaishnavas, Srimad-Bhagavatam, and
Srimad Bhagavad-Gita.
(4) All glories to Sri Rupa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami, Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, Sri Jiva Gosvami,
Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, and Raghunatha dasa Gosvami.
(5) I offer my obeisances to the feet of these six Gosvamis. By bowing to them, all obstacles to devotion
are destroyed and all spiritual desires are fulfilled.
(6) I am the servant of that person who is a servant of these six Gosvamis. The dust of their lotus feet is my
five kinds of foodstuffs.
(7) This is my desire: that birth after birth I may live with those devotees who serve the lotus feet of these
six Gosvamis.
(8) When these six Gosvamis lived in Vraja they revealed the lost holy places and explained the eternal
pastimes of Radha and Krishna.
(9) Just shout the names of Lord Hari in great ecstasy and worship the transcendental realm of Vrindavana
while absorbing your mind in meditation upon the divine feet of the spiritual master and the Vaishnavas.
(10) Desiring to serve the lotus feet of Sri Guru and the Vaishnavas, Narottama dasa sings this sankirtana of
the holy names of Lord Hari.
JAI SARASVATII MAATAA, JAI JAI HE SARASVATII MAATAA
SADGUNA VAIBHAVA SHAALINII, TRIBHUVANA VIKHYAATAA
Glory, glory, all glory to you, O Mother Saraswati; you are renowned throughout the three spheres as the treasure-house of all great noble virtues. Let all sing to the glory of your name!
CHANDRAVADANII PADMAASINII DYUTI MANGALAKARE
SOHE SHUBHA HANSA SAVARE, ATULA TEJADHARE
O infinitely radiant Goddess, you are beautiful and right as the moon and are seated in lotus posture; you are lustrous in appearance and source of all blessings; your vehicle, the auspicious swan, looks elegant.
BAAYE KARA MEIN VIINAA, DAAYEN KARA MAALAA
SHIISHA MUKUTA MANI SOHE, GALA MOTIYANA MAALAA
In your left hand, O Mother Saraswati, is the lute (Veena) and in the right a wreath; on your head lies a splendid coronet of gems and around your neck a string of pearls.
DEVII SHARANA JO AAE UNAKAA UDDHAARAM KIYAA
PAITHI MANTHARAA DAASII, RAAVANA SANHAARA KIYAA
O Goddess, whosoever sought refuge in you was released from the cycle of birth and death. By perverting the mind of Kaikayee’s dull-witted handmaid, Manthara, you became instrumental in the destruction of Ravana.
VIDYAA GYAANA PRADAAYINII, JAGA MEIN GYAANA PRAKAASHA BHARO
MOHA AURA AJNAANA TIMIRA KAA JAGA SE NAASHA KARO
O bestower of learning and skill, illumine the world with light of knowledge and dispel the darkness of ignorance and infatuation.
DHUUPA DIIPA PHALA MEVAA MAAN SVIKAARA KARO
GYAANA CHAKSHU DE MAATAA, JAGA NISTAARA KARO
O Mother, pray accept my gift of incense, light, both green and dry fruits and endowing the world with eyes of knowledge ferry it across the ocean of this phenomenal world.
MAAN SARASVATII KII ARATII, JO KOII JANA GAAVAI
HITAKAARII SUKHAKAARII GYAANA HAKTI PAAVAI
Whosoever sings this hymn to Mother Saraswati becomes a recipient of knowledge and devotion, both of which are beneficial and yield great happiness.
AARATII GANGAA MAIYAA,
MAAN JAI SURASARI MAIYAA
BHAVA VAARIDHI UDDHAARINII,
ATI HI SUDHRUUDHA NAIYAA
May we offer this prayer to Ganga, the divine mother and wave the festal lamp before her; may we glorify her who delivers us from the cycle of transmigration and the ocean of this world as if she were a steady boat.
HARI PADA PADMA PRASUUTAA,
VIMALA VAARIDHAARAA
BRAHMADRAVA BHAAGIRATHII,
SUCHI PUNYAAGAARAA
You are born of he lotus-feet of Vishnu and are famous as a stream of unpolluted water. You are Brahma in a streaming, flowing form brought to earth by Bhagiratha, sacred and a repository of all virtues.
SHSNKARA JATAA VIHAARINII, HAARINII TRAYA TAAPAA|
SAGARA PUTRAGANA TAARINII, HARANII SAKALA PAAPAA
Shiva’s locks are as it were your bower of bliss where you enjoy roaming about; you are the destroyer of all the three kinds of afflictions, physical, mental and providential, deliverer of the sons of Sagara and redresser of all sins.
GANGAA GANGAA JO JANA, UCCHARATA MUKHA SON|
DUURA DESHA STITHA BHII, TURATA TARATA SUKHA SON
He who chants your name even from a long distance is instantaneously rewarded with great comfort and pleasure and attains deliverance as well.
MRUTA KII ASTHI TANIKA TAVA, JALADHAARAA PAAVAI|
SO JANA PAAVANA HOKARA, PARAMADHAAMA JAAVAI
Just a few drops of your holy stream sanctify the bones of the dead, who touching them, go straight to heaven.
TAVA TATAVAASII TARUVARA, JALA THALA CHARA PRAANII|
PAKSHII PASHU PATANGA, GATI PAAVAI NIRVAANII
The countless creature that live in the water or on land, the innumerable birds, cattle, insects as well as the trees growing on your banks are all entitled to salvation (by their association with you).
MAATU DAYAAMAYII KIIJAI, DIINANA PARA DAAYAA|
PRABHU PADA PADMA MILAAKARA, HARI LIIJAI MAAYAA
O compassionate goddess, be kind to the poor and the destitute and revealing to them the lotus-feet of the Lord, lift the veil of delusion which covers their conscience.
Prayer to the Sakhis
(from Prarthana)
(1)
radha-krishna prana mora jugala-kisora
jivane marane gati aro nahi mora
(2)
kalindira kule keli-kadambera vana
ratana-bedira upara bosabo du’jana
(3)
syama-gauri-ange dibo (cuwa) candanera gandha
camara dhulabo kabe heri mukha-candra
(4)
gathiya malatir mala dibo dohara gale
adhare tuliya dibo karpura-tambule
(6)
sri-krishna-caitanya-prabhur daser anudasa
seva abhilasha kore narottama-dasa
(5)
lalita visakha-adi jata sakhi-brinda
ajnaya koribo seba caranaravinda
Translation:
(1) The divine couple, Sri Sri Radha and Krishna, are my life and soul. In life or death I have no other refuge
but Them.
(2) In a forest of small kadamba trees on the bank of the Yamuna, I will seat the divine couple on a throne made
of brilliant jewels.
(3) I will anoint Their dark and fair forms with sandalwood paste scented with cuya, and I will fan Them with
a camara whisk. Oh, when will I behold Their moonlike faces?
(4) After stringing together garlands of malati flowers I will place them around Their necks, and I will
offer tambula scented with camphor to Their lotus mouths.
(5) With the permission of all the sakhis, headed by Lalita and Visakha, I will serve the lotus feet of Radha
and Krishna.
(6) Narottama dasa, the servant of the servant of Sri Krishna Caitanya Prabhu, longs for this service to the
divine couple.
Prayer to One’s Beloved Lord
(from Prarthana)
(1)
hari hari! bifale janama gonainu
manushya-janama paiya, radha-krishna na bhajiya,
janiya suniya visha khainu
(2)
golokera prema-dhana, hari-nama-sankirtana,
rati na janmilo kene tay
samsara-bishanale, diba-nisi hiya jwale,
juraite na koinu upay
(3)
Vrajendra-nandana jei, saci-suta hoilo sei,
balarama hoilo nitai
dina-hina jata chilo, hari-name uddharilo,
tara sakshi jagai madhai
(4)
ha ha prabhu nanda-suta, vrishabhanu-suta-juta,
koruna karoho ei-baro
narottama-dasa koy, na theliho ranga pay,
toma bine ke ache amara
Translation:
(1) 0 Lord Hari, I have spent my life uselessly. Having obtained a human birth and having not worshiped
Radha and Krishna, I have knowingly drunk poison.
(2) The treasure of divine love in Goloka Vrindavana has descended as the congregational chanting of Lord
Hari’s holy names. Why did my attraction for that chanting never come about? Day and night my heart burns
from the fire of the poison of worldliness, and I have not taken the means to relieve it.
(3) Lord Krishna, who is the son of the King of Vraja, became the son of Saci (Lord Caitanya), and Balarama
became Nitai. The holy name delivered all those souls who were lowly and wretched. The two sinners Jagai
and Madhai are evidence of this.
(4) 0 Lord Krishna, son of Nanda, accompanied by the daughter of Vrishabhanu, please be merciful to me
now. Narottama dasa says, "O Lord, please do not push me away from Your reddish lotus feet, for who is
my beloved except for You?"
(Lamentation Due to Separation from the Lord and His Associates)
(Sung on the disappearance days of saints)
1
ye anila prema-dhana karuna prachura
heno prabhu kotha gela acharya-thakura
2
kaha mora svarupa rupa kaha sanatana
kaha dasa raghunatha patita-pavana
3
kaha mora bhatta-yuga kaha kaviraja
eka-kale kotha gela gora nata-raja
4
pashane kutibo matha anale pashibo
gauranga gunera nidhi kotha gele pabo
5
se-saba sangira sange ye koilo vilasa
se-sanga na paiya kande narottama dasa
1. He who brought the treasure of divine love and who was filled with compassion and mercy--where has such a personality as Shrinivasa Acharya gone?
2. Where are my Svarupa Damodara and Rupa Goswami? Where is Sanatana? Where is Raghunatha dasa, the savior of the fallen?
3. Where are my Raghunatha Bhatta and Gopala Bhatta, and where is Krishnadasa Kaviraja? Where did Lord Gauranaga, the great dancer, suddenly go?
4. I will smash my head against the rock and enter into the fire. Where will I find Lord Gauranga, the reservoir of all wonderful qualities?
5. Being unable to obtain the association of Lord Gauranga accompanied by all of these devotees in whose association He performed His pastimes, Narottama Das simply weeps.
by Govinda Dasa Kaviraja
(1)
bhajahu re mana sri-nanda-nandana
abhaya-caranaravinda re
durlabha manava-janama sat-sange
taroho e bhava-sindhu re
(2)
sita atapa bata barishana
e dina jamini jagi re
biphale sevinu kripana durajana
capala sukha-laba lagi’ re
(3)
e dhana, yaubana, putra, parijana
ithe ki ache paratiti re
kamala-dala-jala, jivana talamala
bhajahu hari-pada niti re
(4)
sravana, kirtana, smarana, vandana,
pada-sevana, dasya re
pujana, sakhi-jana, atma-nivedana
govinda-dasa-abhilasha re
Translation:
(1) O mind, just worship the lotus feet of the son of Nanda, which make one fearless. Having obtained this
rare human birth, cross over this ocean of wordly existence through the association of saintly persons.
(2) My dear brother, I request that you just worship Lord Caitanya and Nityananda with firm conviction and
faith. If one wants to be Krishna conscious by this process, one has to give up his engagement in sense
gratification. One simply has to chant, "Hare Krishna! Hari Hari!" without any motive.
(3) What assurance of real happiness is there in all of one’s wealth, youthfulness, sons, and family members?
This life is tottering like a drop of water on a lotus petal; therefore you should always serve and worship the
divine feet of Lord Hari.
(4) It is the desire and great longing of Govinda Dasa to engage himself in the nine processes of bhakti,
namely hearing the glories of Lord Hari and chanting those glories, constantly remembering Him and
offering prayers to Him, serving the Lord’s lotus feet, serving the Supreme Lord as a servant, worshiping Him
with flowers and incense and so forth, serving Him as a friend, and completely offering the Lord one’s very self.
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