Gauranga Bolite Habe

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-Krishna, and then my spiritual life will be successful.

(4)
When shall I be very 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.

Purport
by His Divine Grace
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

This song was sung by Narottama dasa Thakura, a great devotee and acarya in the Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya, the disciplic succession coming down from Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Narottama dasa Thakura wrote many songs that are recognized as authoritative by all Vaishnavas. He composed them in simple Bengali language, but the purport—the deep meaning of his songs—is very significant.

In this song he says, ‘gauranga’ bolite habe pulaka-sarira. One attains perfection in chanting when, as soon as he chants the name of Lord Gauranga, who inaugurated the sankirtana movement, there is immediate shivering of the body. This is not to be imitated, but Narottama dasa Thakura is praying, “When will that opportune moment come to me?”

And after that—‘hari hari’ bolite nayane ba’be nira—while chanting Hare Krishna, tears will flow from the eyes.

Then he says, ara kabe nitai-cander koruna hoibe. We all pray for the mercy of Lord Nityananda, who is considered the original spiritual master. One must approach Lord Caitanya through the mercy of Lord Nityananda.

What is the symptom of one who has actually received Lord Nityananda’s causeless mercy? Narottama dasa Thakura explains: samsara-basana mora kabe tuccha ha’be—the desire for material enjoyment becomes insignificant.

As long as we possess a material body, certain necessities must be accepted—but not in the spirit of enjoyment, only to maintain body and soul together.

He further says: rupa-raghunatha-pade hoibe akuti—“When shall I develop eagerness to study the books of the Six Gosvamis?”

Rupa Goswami is considered the father of devotional service. He wrote Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, which gives detailed guidance on devotional service. These teachings are elaborated in Caitanya-caritamrita and summarized in Teachings of Lord Caitanya.

Narottama dasa Thakura instructs us not to attempt to understand the conjugal love of Radha-Krishna independently. One must learn this yugala-piriti under the guidance of the Gosvamis.

As long as the mind is absorbed in materialistic thoughts, one cannot enter the spiritual realm of Vrindavana. But when the mind is purified—vishaya chariya kabe suddha ha’be mana—then one can truly understand Vrindavana and the divine love of Radha-Krishna. At that time, spiritual life becomes successful.

Go Back To More Bhajans By Narottama Das Thakura OR All Vaishnava Acharya.