Bhoga Arati

Bhoga-arati
(from Gitavali)

(at Thakura Bhaktivinoda’s home at Surabhi-kunja in Godruma-dvipa)


(1)
bhaja bhakata-vatsala sri-gaurahari
sri-gaurahari sohi goshtha-bihari
nanda-jasomati-citta-hari

(2)

bela ho’lo damodara aisa ekhano
bhoga-mandire bosi’ koraho bhojana

(3)

nandera nidese baise giri-bara-dhari
baladeva-saha sakha baise sari sari

(4)

sukta-sakadi bhaji nalita kushmanda
dali dalna dugdha-tumbi dadhi moca-khanda

(5)

mudga-bora masha-bora rotika ghritanna
sashkuli pishtaka khir puli payasanna

(6)

karpura amrita—keli rambha khira-sara
amrita rasala, amla dwadasa prakara
(7)
luci cini sarpuri laddu rasabali
bhojana korena krishna ho’ye kutuhali

(8)

radhikara pakka anna vividha byanjana
parama anande krishna korena bhojana

(9)

chale-bale laddu khay sri-madhumangala
bagala bajay ara drya hari-bolo

(10)

radhikadi gane heri’ nayanera kone
tripta ho’ye khay krishna jasoda-bhavane

(11)

bhojanante piye krishna subasita bari
sabe mukha prakhaloy ho’ye sari sari

(12)

hasta-mukha prakhaliya jata sakha-gane
anande bisrama kore baladeva-sane

(13)

jambula rasala ane tambula-masala
taha kheye krishna-candra sukhe nidra gela

(14)

bisalakha sikhi-puccha-camara dhulaya
apurba sayyaya krishna sukhe nidra jaya.

(15)

jasomati-ajna pe’ye dhanishtha-anito
sri-krishna-prasada radha bhunje ho’ye prito

(16)

lalitadi sakhi-gana avasesha paya
mane mane sukhe radha-krishna-guna gaya

(17)

hari-lila ek-matra jahara pramoda
bhogarati gay thakur bhakativinoda


Translation:

(1) Just worship Sri Gaurahari, who is always affectionate toward His devotees. He is the same Supreme
Godhead, Krishna, who sported in the cowherd pastures of Vraja and stole the hearts of Nanda and Yasoda.

(2) Mother Yasoda calls to Krishna, "My dear Damodara, it is very late. Please come right now, sit down in
the dining hall, and take Your lunch."

(3) On the direction of Nanda Maharaja, Krishna, the holder of Govardhana Hill, sits down, and then all
the cowherd boys, along with Krishna's elder brother, Sri Baladeva, sit down in rows to take their lunch.

(4) They are then served a feast of sukta and various kinds of green leafy vegetables, then nice fried things, and
a salad made of the green leaves of the jute plant. They are also served pumpkin, baskets of fruit, small
square cakes made of lentils and cooked-down milk, then thick yogurt, squash cooked in milk, and
vegetable preparations made from the flower of the banana tree.

(5) Then they receive fried squares of mung dahl patties, and urad dahl patties, capatis, and rice with ghee.
Next, sweets made with milk, sugar, and sesamum; rice flour cakes; thick cooked-down milk; cakes floating
in milk; and sweet rice.

(6) There is also sweet rice that tastes just like nectar due to its being mixed with camphor. There are
bananas, and cheese which is nectarean and delicious. They are also served twelve kinds of sour
preparations made with tamarinds, limes, lemons, oranges, and pomegranates.

(7) There are puris made with white flour and sugar; puris filled with cream; laddus; and dahl patties boiled
in sugared rice. Krishna eagerly eats all of the food.]

(8) In great ecstasy and joy Krishna eats the rice, curried vegetables, sweets, and pastries cooked by
Srimati Radharani.

(9) Krishna’s funny brahmana friend Madhumangala, who is very fond of laddus, gets them by hook or by
crook. Eating the laddus, he shouts, "Haribol! Haribol!" and makes a funny sound by slapping his sides under
his armpits with his hands.

(10) Beholding Radharani and Her gopi friends out of the corners of His eyes, Krishna eats at the house of
mother Yasoda with great satisfaction.

(11) After lunch, Krishna drinks rose-scented water. Then all of the boys, standing in lines, wash their mouths.

(12) After all the cowherd boys wash their hands and mouths, in great bliss they take rest with Lord Balarama.

(13) The two cowherd boys Jambula and Rasala then bring Krishna pan made with betel nuts, fancy spices,
and catechu. After eating that pan, Sri Krishnacandra then happily goes to sleep.

(14) While Krishna happily takes His rest on an excellent bedstead, His servant Visalaksha cools Him with a fan
of peacock feathers.

(15) At mother Yasoda’s request the gopi Dhanishtha brings remnants of food left on Krishna’s plate to
Srimati Radharani, who eats them with great delight.

(16) Lalita-devi and the other gopis then receive the remnants, and within their hearts they sing the glories
of Radharani and Krishna with great joy.

(17) Thakura Bhaktivinoda, whose one and only joy is the pastimes of Lord Hari, sings this Bhoga-arati song.

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