Sri Prema-Bhakti-Candrika
by Srila Narottama dasa Thakura
translated by Srila Gadadhar-pran Prabhu
Sri Guru-vandana
ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah
1) I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the torchlight of knowledge.
sri-caitanya-mano-'bhistam sthapitam yena bhutale
svayam rupah kada mahyam dadati sva-padantikam
2) Sri Rupa Gosvami has manifested the inner desire of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu within this world. When will he mercifully give me the shelter of his lotus feet?
sri-guru-carana-padma, kebala-bhakati-sadma,
bando mui savadhana mate
jahara prasade bhai, e bhava toriya jai,
krsna-prapti hoy jha ha'te
3) The guru's lotus feet are the abode of pure bhakti; therefore, with utmost care and attention, let me offer my respectful obeisances unto him. O brother, by the mercy of Sri Guru one can cross the ocean of material existence and attain Sri Krsna.
guru-mukha-padma-bakya, hrdaye koriya aikya,
ar na koriho mane asa
sri-guru-carane rati, ei se uttama-gati,
je prasade pure sarva asa
4) Without considering any other thought, let us accept the words which emanate from the guru's lotus-like mouth as our very life. Undivided attraction for his lotus feet culminates as the highest goal of life, because by his mercy all desires become fulfilled.
caksu-dan dilo jei, janme janme prabhu sei,
dibya-jnana hrde prakasito
prema-bhakti jaha hoite, abidya-binasa jate,
bede gay jahara carito
5) The person who bestows the gift of divine vision and implants transcendental knowledge within the heart remains my prabhu life after life. All the Vedas sing of his glories because through him prema-bhakti manifests to destroy all ignorance.
sri-guru karuna-sindhu, adhama-janara bandhu,
lokanath lokera jibana
ha! ha! prabhu! koro daya, deho more pada-chaya,
ebe jasah ghusuk tri-bhubana
6) The guru is an ocean of compassion and friend of the fallen. O Gurudeva! Sri Lokanatha! 1 You are the life of your surrendered disciples. Ha ha Prabhu! Please be merciful and give me the shelter of your lotus feet; let your glories be known throughout the three worlds. Vaisnava-krpa and the Gift of Sri Rupa and Sri Sanatana
vaisnava-carana-renu, bhusana koriya tanu,
jaha hoite anubhava hoy
marjan hoy bhajan, sadhu-sange anuksan,
ajnana abidya parajay
7) Those persons who are able to apply the dust from the feet of the Vaisnavas as a bodily ornament will be awarded with anubhava (genuine spiritual insight). Bhajana means cleansing of the heart, and when combined with constant sadhu-sanga, all ignorance will be overcome.
jaya sanatana-rupa, prema-bhakti-rasa-kupa,
jugala-ujjvala-maya tanu
jahara prasade loka, pasarilo sarva soka,
praka ilo kalpa-taru janu
Notes:
1 Narottama dasa Thakura's diksa-guru's name was Sri Lokanatha. In more general terms, the word Lokanatha may also mean the guru who descends as the lord of his disciples.
8) All glories to you, Sri Rupa and Sri Sanatana, for you are reservoirs of prema- bhakti-rasa which is directed to the lustrous yugala forms of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda. By your mercy, a desire tree has been brought to this world which can relieve the distress of all people.
prema-bhakti-riti jata, nija-granthe subekata,
likhiyachen dui mahasoy
jahara sravana haite, parananda hoy cite,
jugala-madhura-rasasray
9) The two of you have elaborately explained the essence of prema-bhakti through your numerous writings. From hearing such words, one's mind may become the shelter of yugala-madhura-rasa and thus float in premananda.
jugala-kisora-prema, laksabana jeno hema,
heno dhana prakasilo jara
jaya rupa sanatana, deho more sei dhana,
se ratana mora gale hara
10) Yugala-kisora-prema is pure like gold which has been remelted one hundred thousand times. Jaya Sri Rupa! Jaya Sri Sanatana! You have manifested this wealth within the world. Please award me this treasure, and I shall wear it as a jeweled locket around my neck.
Suddha-bhakti-tattva
bhagavata-sastra-marma, naba-bidha-bhakti-dharma,
sadai koribo su-sebana
anya-devasroy nai, tomare kahilo bhai,
ei tattva parama bhajana
11) I will always engage in seva within the nine types of krsna-bhakti, which are in harmony with the conclusions presented in the Bhagavatam and other Vaisnava sastras. O brother, don't seek the shelter of any other devata, for exclusive service to Krsna is the cause of suddha-bhakti.
sadhu-sastra-guru-bakya, hrdoye koriya aikya,
satata bhasibo prema-majhe
karmi jnani bhakti-hina, ihake koriya bhina,
narottama ei tattva gaye
12) Let us all consider within our hearts the versions of guru, sadhu, and sastra to be one and the same, and thus always float within the mellow of prema-bhakti. Avoid- ing the karmis, jnanis and persons devoid of bhakti, Sri Narottama dasa Thara nar- rates this tattva.
anyabhilasitasunyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam
anukulyena krsnanusilanaµm bhaktir uttama
"One should render transcendental loving service to the Supreme Lord Krsna favourably and without desire for material profit or gain through fruitive ac- tivities or philosophical speculation. That is called pure devotional service." (Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.1.11)
anya abhilasa chari, jnana-karma parihari,
kayamane koribo bhajana
sadhu-sange krsna-seba, na pujibo devi deva,
ei bhakti parama karana
13) Giving up all desires for the path of jnana and karma, I shall engage my mind and body in bhajana. In the association of the Vaisnavas, Krsna's seva should be performed without the worship of any other deva or devi. This is the cause of parama-bhakti.
mahajaner jei patha, tate habo anurata,
purbapara koriya bicara
sadhana-smarana-lila, ihate na koro hela,
kayamane koriya su-sara
14) Let us follow the path outlined by the mahajanas, carefully examining the ver- sions they have delineated in both past and present. In our daily performance of sadhana, we must not neglect lila-smarana, for devotional activities should be performed with the mind as well as the body.
asat-sanga koro tyaga, chara anya anuraga,
karmi jnani parihari dure
kebala bhakata-sanga, prema-katha rasa-ranga,
lila-katha braja-rasa-pure
15) Let us abandon all forms of asat-sanga, other unnecessary attachments, and the company of karmis and jnanis. Then, in the association of sincere bhaktas, just dis- cuss the pleasurable mellows of prema-bhakti found in vraja-lila-katha.
yogi nyasi karmi jnani, anya-deba-pujaka dhyani,
iha loka dure parihari
dharma karma duhkha soka, jeba thake anya joga,
chari bhaja giri-bara-dhari
16) Furthermore, the yogis, mayavadi-sannyasis, karmis, jnanis, worshippers of other devatas, and those who meditate on the impersonal Brahman can also be kept at a distance. Other forms of dharma and fruitive activities, what to speak of all types of material distress or lamentation, should similarly be left behind. In this way, simply worship Giridhari!
tirtha-jatra parikrama, kebala manera bhrama,
sarva-siddhi govinda-carana
dridha bisvas hrde kori, mada matsaryya parihari,
sada koro ananya-bhajana
17) The great endeavor and fatigue involved in visiting numerous holy tirthas only confuses the mind, for all perfection can be attained by simply worshipping Sri Govinda's lotus feet. Maintain firm faith and don't become overwhelmed by intoxicating false pride and envy. Rather, always perform one-pointed bhajana.
krsna-bhakta-anga heri, krsna-bhakta-sanga kori,
sraddhanvita srabana kirtana
arcana smarana dhyana, naba-bhakti mahajnana,
ei bhakti parama karana
18) Behold the forms of the krsnabhaktas and take their association. In this way, with faith perform sravana, kirtana, arcana, smarana, meditation on Krsna's lotus feet, and the other prescribed forms of seva, for these nine process constitute the very cause of bhakti.
hrsike govinda-seba, na pujibo devi-deva,
ei ta ananya-bhakti-katha
ar jata upalambha, visesa sakali dambha,
dekhite lagaye mane byatha
19) With all of the senses, perform govinda-seva and omit the puja of the devis and devas. This is the meaning of unalloyed bhakti. Any other activities will simply bring sorrow. It is especially painful to the heart to see false pride being displayed.
(to be continued)
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