visvambhara's Journal

Sri Sri Lalitastakam by Srila Rupa Goswami
1. I offer my obeisances to Lalita devi, who has many wonderful qualities. She worships the perspiration of Sri Sri Radha-Mukunda's lotus feet and acts boldly, out of intense feelings of friendship for Them.

2. I offer my obeisances to Lalita devi, who has many wonderful qualities. Her face defeats the beauty of the ambrosial corona of the full moon, her eyes are like those of an alarmed deer and she is expert in the art of decorating Sri Radhika.

3. I offer my obeisances to Lalita devi, who has many wonderful qualities. She wears a wonderful silk dress colored like a peacock with outstretched feathers, as well as a nice blouse, and her complexion defeats the golden splendour of gorocana.

4. I offer my obeisances to Lalita devi, who has many wonderful qualities. She teaches Sri Radhika the art of a left-wing heroine saying: "Radhe! Firmly reject this shrewd son of the king of Vraja, O immoral girl! Listen! Don't be weak! I'm saying it for Your own good. Don't submit to Him!"

5. I offer my obeisances to Lalita devi, who has many wonderful qualities. Her eyes become red with anger if she sees the son of the king of Vraja cheating Sri Radhika even slightly, then she will promptly embarrass Him with her clever words.

6. I offer my obeisances to Lalita devi, who has many wonderful qualities. She is the abode of affection for the Queen of cowherders, Yasoda, she is the teacher of the art of friendship for all the sakhis and her love for Sri Radhika and Krsna is equal.

7. I offer my obeisances to Lalita devi, who has many wonderful qualities. She requests every girl in Vraja to join the party of Vrsabhanu's daughter and who fulfills all desires of that girl (or of Sri Radhika).

7a. I offer my obeisances to Lalita devi, who has many wonderful qualities. All her desires were at once fulfilled when she saw the path of Sri Radha in Vraja being blocked by a certain person.

8. I offer my obeisances to Lalita devi, who has many wonderful qualities. She always enjoys the festival of Radha and Vrajendrasuta's meeting and she is the chief of all Radha's dear girlfriends in Gokula.

9. Anyone who recites these prayers praising Lalita's wonderful qualities with a pure vision will be lovingly counted amongst her own (friends or maidservants) by Sri Radhika, the brilliant desire vine of the family of the Lord of Kirtida (King Vrsabhanu).

Sri Sri Kunjaviharyastakam by Srila Rupa Goswami
indranilamani manula varnah
phulla nipakusumancita karnah
krsnalabhir akrsorasi hari
sundaro jayati kunjavihari

Glory to Kunjavihari (Krsna), whose complexion is as beautiful as a sapphire, whose ears are adorned with blooming Nipa flowers and whose broad chest is adorned with a beautiful gunja garland.

radhika vadana candra cakorah
sarva ballabavadhu dhrticorah
carcari catura tancita cari
caruto jayati kunja vihari

Glory to Kunjavihari, who is like a Cakora bird who lives on the light of Sri Radhika's moonlike face, who steals the patience of all the cowherd brides and who is expert in nicely dancing the carcari dance.

sarvatah prathita kaulika parva
dhvamsanena hrta vasava garva
gostha raksanakrte giridhari
lilaya jayati kunja vihari

Glory to Kunjavihari who removed Indra's pride by destroying the sacrifice to Him, although this was a family tradition in all respects. Glory to Giridhari, who protected Vraja as a mere pastime.

ragamandala vibhusita vamsi
vibhramena madanotsava samsi
stuyamana caritah suka sari
srenibhir jayati kunjavihari

Glory to Kunjavihari who playfully called the gopis for Cupid's festival with His flute, that is decorated with a variety of beautiful colors, and whose character is praised by flocks of suka and sari parrots!

satakumbha rucihari dukulah
kekicandraka virajita culah
navya yauvana lasad vrajanari
ranjano jayati kunjavihari

Glory to Kunjavihari whose dress steals the luster of gold, whose hairs are adorned with a peacock feather crest, and whose fresh,youthful beauty pleases the ladies of Vraja.

sthasakikrta sugandhi patirah
svarnakandi parisobha katira
radhikonata payodharavari
kunjaro jayati kunjavihari

Glory to Kunjavihari whose body is smeared with fragrant sandal paste, whose waist is adorned with a golden belt, and who is the elephant that is tied up by the chains of Sri Radhika's raised breasts.

gairi dhatu tilakojjvala bhalah
keli cancalita campakamalah
adrikandara grhesvabhisari
subhruvam jayati kunja vihari

Glory to Kunjavihari whose forehead is decorated with a shining tilaka of mountain minerals, who sports a playfully swinging garland of campaka flowers, and who meets His beloved Sri Radhika, who has fair eyebrows, in the mountain caves.

vibhramoccala drg ancala nrtya
ksipta gopalalanakhila krtyah
premamatta vrsabhanukumari
nagaro jayati kunjavihari

Glory to Kunjavihari who upsets all the cowherd girls with the restless dancing of the corners of His eyes and who is the gallant who maddens Vrsabhanu's daughter with love.

astakam madhura kunjavihari
ksidaya pathat ..sh kila hari
sa prayati vilasat parabhagam
tasya padakamalaroa ragam

Anyone who recites this sweet Kunja Viharyastakam will attain the supreme goal which is attachment to the worship of His lotus feet.

Sri Krsnadevastaka by Srila Jiva Gosvami
amita-bhava-davabdhau dahyamanam ciran mam
katham api kalayitva purna-karunya-murtih
nija-sahaja-janante svi-cakaresvaro yas
tam iha mahita-rupam krsnadevam niseve

Here in Vrndavana I serve Lord Krsnadeva whose form is glorified and worshiped (by the devotees). Lord Krsna percieved that I had been burning in the great forest fire of material existance for a very long time. Full of mercy He accepted me and placed me in the association of my brothers Sanatana Gosvami, Rupa Gosvami and the other devotees.

Text 2

nikhila-jana-kupuyam mam krpa-purna-ceta
nija-carana-saroja-pranta-dese praniya
nija-bhajana-padavyavartayad bhuriso yas
tam iha mahita-rupam krsnadevam niseve

Here in Vrndavana I serve Lord Krsnadeva whose form is glorified and worshiped by the devotees. Although I am considered very low in the estimation of all people Lord Krsnadeva His heart full of mercy led me to the tip of His own lotus feet and time and again directed me on the path of His own devotional service.

Text 3

asucim arucimantam santatam bhakti-yoge
vihita-vidita-mantum jantu-jatadhamam ca
akrpana-karunabhih pati mam patinam yas
tam iha mahita-rupam krsnadevam niseve

Here in Vrndavana I serve Lord Krsnadeva whose form is glorified and worshiped by the devotees. Although I am impure fallen sinful and the lowest of living entities and although I am never attracted to His devotional service Lord Krsnadeva protects me with His generous abundance of mercy.

Text 4

ati-muni-mati-vrndam vrndaka-kananiyam
nija-carita-sudhalim bandhu-hrt-sindhu-palim
vidhur iva vidhuram mam tam ca samvyajayad yas
tam iha mahita-rupam krsnadevam niseve

Here in Vrndavana I serve Lord Krsnadeva whose form is glorified and worshiped by the devotees. May Lord Krsna who is like the moon cause the nectar of His own pastimes in Vrndavana to appear on the shore of the ocean which is the hearts of the saintly devotees residing in Vrndavana. Srila Sanatana Gosvami and the community of learned Vaisnava scholars, and my distressed self.

Text 5

sva-pada-nakharam indum tapa-dagdhaya datte
mukuram ajita-bhaktya svam pariskurvate ca
api kim api kamitre yas tu cintamanim me
tam iha mahita-rupam krsnadevam niseve

Here in Vrndavana I serve Lord Krsnadeva whose form is glorified and worshiped by the devotees. He gives the (cooling(c)moons which are His toenails to me who am burned by the distresses of material existance and He gives the cintamani jewel of His devotional service to me who am full of material desires although I tries to cleanse the mirror of my heart by engaging in pure devotional service unchecked by any circumstance.

Text 6

akrta-mrtam ivamum mam prasadamrtantam
tam atha valita-balyam pada-padmavalambe
tad api kalita-laulyam sneha-drstyavrtau yas
tam iha mahita-rupam krsnadevam niseve

Here in Vrndavana I serve Krsnadeva whose form is glorified and worshiped by the devotees.

Text 7

aham atisaya-tapto yah krpapurita-glaur
aham ati-mati-sitah papmanam pavako yah
aham asama-tamasvan veda-dhama svayam yas
tam iha mahita-rupam krsnadevam niseve

Here in Vrndavana I serve Lord Krsnadeva whose form is glorified and worshiped by the devotees. I am greatly afflicted by the miseries of material existance and Lord Krsna is a moon full of mercy. Although I am very dull-witted Krsna is the purifier of the fallen souls and although I am very ignorant, Krsna is the reservoir of all knowledge.

Text 8

nija-guna-gana-dhamna vipra-muktan nirundhe
pranaya-vinaya-jalai rudhyate taih samantat
atha ca vipathapannam trayate mad-vidham yas
tam iha mahita-rupam krsnadevam niseve

Here in Vrndavana I serve Lord Krsnadeva whose form is glorified and worshiped by the devotees. With the splendor of His transcendental qualities He attracts the liberated souls. Full of a flood of the waters of love (for His devotees) He protects even those like me who have fallen from the proper path.

Text 9

ubhaya-bhuvana-bhavyam yah sada me vidhata
nidhivad api yadiyam pada-padmam nisevyam
akrpana-krpaya sva-premadah sarvada yas
tam iha mahita-rupam krsnadevam niseve

Here in Vrndavana I serve Lord Krsnadeva whose form is glorified and worshiped by the devotees. With His generous mercy He is always granting His own love of Godhead. He is like a great ocean which is granting to me His own worshipable lotus feet which are the most valuable thing in both the spiritual and material worlds.

Sri Krsna Kundastaka by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur
tim tapas cakara tirtha-laksam aksayam pura
suprasidati sma krsna eva sad varam yatah
yatra vasam apa sadhu tat samasta-durlabhe
tatra krsna-kunda eva samsthitih stutastu nah

What austerities did the hundreds of thousands of eternal holy places perform to please Krsna and obtain from Him the benediction to live at Krsna-kunda, the rarest holy place? Let us glorify residence at Krsna-kunda.

yady arista-danavo pi danado maha-nidher
asmad-adi-durmatibhya ity aho vasiyate
yo mrti-cchalena yatra muktim adbhutam vyadhat
tatra krsna-kunda eva samsthitih stutastu nah

If even the Arista demon was able to enter Krsna-kunda, then crooked hearted persons such as us may also be able to live there. Let us glorify residence at Krsna-kunda which, on the pretext of death, grants a wonderful form of liberation.

go-vadhassya niskrtis triloka-tirtha-kotibhi
radhayety avadi tena ta harih samahvayat
yatra parsni-ghata-je mamaj ja ca svayam muda
tatra krsna-kunda eva samsthitih stutastu nah

When Radha said, "To atone for killing a cow (Aristasura) You must visit millions of holy places in the three worlds," Krsna called all the holy places and then happily bathed in the lake that sprang from His heel. Let us glorify residence at Krsna-kunda.

kvapi papa-nasa eva karma-bandha-bandhanad
brahma-saukhyam eva visnuloka-vasita kvacit
prema-ratnam atyayatnam eva yatra labhyate
tatra krsna-kunda eva samsthitih stutastu nah

At some holy places one becomes free from all sins, at others one becomes free from the bondage of karma, at others one attains Brahman happiness, and at others one attains residence in Visnuloka. Let us glorify residence at Krsna-kunda, where without any effort one attains the jewel of pure love for Krsna.

phulla-madhavi-rasala-nipa-kunja-mandale
bhrnga-koka-kokiladi-kakali yad ancati
asta-yamikavitarka-koti-bheda-saurabham
tatra krsna-kunda eva samsthitih stutastu nah

Krsna-kunda is surrounded by groves of mango, kadamba and other trees with many madhavis and other vines. There is the music of cakravakas, cuckoos, and bees. At night there are millions of inconceivable sweet fragrances. Let us glorify residence at Krsna-kunda.

dola-keli-citra-rasa-nrtya-giti-vadanair
nihnava-prasuna-yuddha-sidhu-pana-kautukaih
yatra khelatah kisora-sekharau sahalibhis
tatra krsna-kunda eva samsthitih stutastu nah

With gopi friends the two crowns of youth enjoyed many pastimes there. They rode on a swing, danced wonderful rasa-dances, sang, played instrumental music, and talked. In a secluded place They eagerly drank the nectar of a flower-battle. Let us glorify residence at Krsna-kunda.

divya-ratna-nirmitavatara-sara-sausthavais
chatrika viraji caru kuttima-prabha-bharaih
sarva-loka-locanati-dhanyata yato bhavet
tatra krsna-kunda eva samsthitih stutastu nah

With the beauty of its glistening jewel shores and the splendor of its canopies and mosaic pavements it brings auspiciousness to all eyes. Let us glorify residence at Krsna-kunda.

mathuram vikunthato pi janma-dhama durlabham
vasakananam tato pi panina dhrto girih
sri-hares tato pi yat param saro ti-pavanam
tatra krsna-kunda eva samsthitih stutastu nah

The district of Mathura, Krsna's birthplace, is more sacred and difficult to attain than Vaikuntha. The forest where He lived is more sacred still, and the hill lifted by His hand is more sacred than that. More sacred than that is Lord Hari's very purifying lake nearby. Let us glorify residence at Krsna-kunda.

krsna-kunda-tira-vasa-sadhakam pathed idam
yo stakam dhiyam nimajya keli-kunja-rajitoh
radhika-girindradharinoh padambu jesu sa
prema-dasyam eva sighram apnuyad anamayam

May he who reads these eight verses, which convince one to reside at the shore of Krsna-kunda, and who also plunges his mind in the lotus flowers of Sri Sri Radha-Giridhari's feet, quickly attain sincere love for Them.

SRI GOVINDA-VIRUDAVALI by Srila Rupa Goswami
Translated by Kusakratha dasa

1 This book, Sri Govinda-virudavali, is very auspicious. When one reads it Sri Govinda becomes pleased.

2 O lotus-eyed Lord, when You wish to enjoy pastimes in the material world You appoint the demigod Brahma to create places for them and You also appoint the demigod Siva to eventually remove those places . The Viraja river, which is a moat surrounding the Vaikuntha worlds and which contains within its waters many millions of places where You enjoy pastimes, is like a small handful of water to You. O Lord, now that You have stopped enjoying pastimes in this world, what prayers shall the saintly devotees recite to glorify You?

3 May Lord Krsna's (the numberless waves of whose transcendental pastimes crushed the pride of the powerful demigod Indra) left hand, which lifted the king of mountains (Govardhana Hill) as if it were an umbrella, bring transcendental happiness to this world.

4 O Lord whose footsteps crush the pride of the elephant Airavata, O Lord whose charming bodily fragrance robs Your friends of their weariness, O Lord who crushes the strength and pride of the demons, O Lord who delights the hearts of the saintly devotees, O Lord who enjoys transcendental amorous pastimes without any check, O Lord whose arms are like two serpents, O Lord who wears flower-bud earrings, O Lord whose transcendental form is anointed with splendid sandal paste, O Playful and witty Lord, O Lord who defeated the Kaliya serpent, O Lord who gives the great favour (of liberation) to even the demons, O Lord whose charming smile removed the fears of the astonished demigod Brahma, O Lord whose affectionate (brother) Baladeva could guess (that you had expanded Yourself as the boys and calves), O Lord who was for an entire year separated from Your friends and calves, O Lord whose splendid voice defeats the roaring of thunder, O Lord who rebukes the envious demons, all glories to the sound of Your flute, which is a splendid moon that brings great tidal waves to the ocean of amorous desires of the beautiful girls in the heavenly planets, and which is an Agastya Muni drinking the ocean of peaceful composure of the very sober, responsible, and respectable girls of Gokula.

5 O lifter of Govardhana Hill, O protector of the surabhi cows, O friend of the cowherd boys, O helper of the devotees, O Lord Mukunda (Krsna), I pray that for You, who wear a great and splendid crown of peacock feathers, whose restless sidelong glances stun the wandering bumblebees, and who enjoys transcendental pastimes in a cottage in the forest by the shore of the Yamuna River, I may always feel the purest love.

6 O Lord whose garments are as splendid as lightning, O Lord whose broad arms are like slithering serpents, O Lord glorified by beautiful demigoddess maidens travelling in the sky, O Lord followed by a host of intelligent and dear friends intent on Your protection, O Lord who delights the charming and affectionate people of Vraja, O Lord from whose mouth come ever-new sounds that bring great happiness to the ear, O Lord who holds a beautiful blossomed lotus flower in Your hand, O Lord who removed the pride of the angrily bellowing bull-demon, O Lord who destroyed the angry demonic army in battle, O Lord decorated with golden tilaka, O Lord who tastes the nectar of love for the sometimes angry and sometimes satisfied young girls of Vraja, please reside in the loving hearts of Your devotees.

O Lord, O killer of the Agha demon, may we find happiness in the deep ocean of Your transcendental pastimes, where the great waves of Your smiles and laughter rock the universes, where the centre is always crowded with the many makharas of the surrendered souls, and where the swans of the great devotees drink to their full satisfaction.

7 O youthful, merciful Lord, O tamala tree decorated with gunja, flowering vines, and peacock feathers, O Lord decorating the gopas and delighting Rohini and Yasoda, the moon of Your glory, born from the ocean of Your Gokula pastimes, at one time illuminated this world.

8 O killer of Aristasura, O ornament of the devotees, O Lord decorated with sandal paste, O delight of the surrendered souls, O jubilantly restless Lord, O Lord who throws restless glances from the corners of Your glistening eyes, O Lord who wears swinging kadamba flower earrings, O Lord who enters a charming mountain cave, O Lord whose movements are more graceful than those of the most elegant great elephant, O handsome Lord who pleases a host of friends and relatives, please bring transcendental happiness now to the beautiful gopis in the great forest of Vrndavana.

9 O Lord who kills the demons, O Lord who kisses the murali flute, O Lord who bows down to offer respects to Your mother, O Lord who delights the gopis, all glories to you!

All glories to that person who is eternally in love with the lotuslike gopis, whose ever-fresh bodily fragrance attracts and intoxicates the bumblebees, who holds a charming lotus flower, who knows the deepest secrets and who enjoys pastimes like a regal elephant in the jungle by the Yamuna's shore.

10 O hero, all glories to You! All glories to You! O Hero of the mellows of transcendental amorous pastimes, O hero whose teeth defeat the thunderbolt, O hero who defeats the armies of the demons, O hero who enjoys pastimes with Your garlanded friends, O hero who wears a necklace of transcendental jewels, O enjoyer of the rasa dance, O hero with a blossoming smile, O hero splendidly anointed with fragrant powder, O hero whose forest-flower garland is glorified by hosts of bumblebees, O protector of the people of Vraja, O affectionate friend of the devotees, O hero whose glistening earrings swing on Your shoulders, O hero who attracts the swans with the musical sound of Your long flute, O hero who extinguished the forest fire, O hero who shines with love for Your affectionate friends, O hero whose voice is like thunder, O hero whose chest is anointed with kunkuma from the full breasts of the gopis, O hero who stopped the indra-yajna, O hero who at once lifted Govardhana Hill, all glories to You!

In Vraja's hero, who is beyond the rules of the Vedas, whose power and heroism is glorified in many beautiful songs, who is surrounded by His dear devotees, whose chest is now yellow, anointed with kunkuma, who enjoys pastimes in a newly constructed forest cottage, who wears a splendid golden sash, and who is a deep ocean of the nectar of love, may we place all our love.

11 O Lord whose curling locks of hair and whose splendid bimba-fruit lips are kissed by Your mother, all glories to You.

O Lord Krsna, O killer of the Mura demon, when the god of love saw the great flood of the splendour of Your toenails, a splendour far greater than the shining of hundreds of full moons, he became despondent and, abandoning all pride in his own handsomeness, became disembodied.

12 O Lord who punished a demon who made a great whirlwind of hard, sharp, dancing dust, O crusher of the demons, O protector of the devotees, O Lord whose unique transcendental qualities bring a great festival of happiness to Your friends, O Lord who, by lifting a mountain with one of Your transcendental arms, protected Your friends troubled by harsh thunder, O Lord who rebuked the king of heaven for his pride, O Lord to whom King Indra, his illusion now dispelled, offered prayers, O Lord who celebrated a great festival, O hero , O swan who plays in the Yamuna, all glories to the king of mantras: Your flute's fifth note, which bewilders the intelligence, drives away shyness, subdues the elephants of the fear of transgressing the rules of religion, and draws to it the transcendental forms of the beautiful-eyebrowed gopis.

13 O Lord who, with the sweet sound of Your flute, attracts the gopis to the forest, O Lord who is very pleased by intelligent Radhika, O Lord expert at delighting thousands of beautiful girls, O lover of a great multitude of affectionate gopis, O Lord please protect me.

May the arrows of Lord Krsna's sidelong glances, which are shot from moving eyebrow-bows more proud than the bow of the god of love, which pierce the hard armour of the pride of the most virtuous girls, and which become thunderbolts breaking the hearts of the most chaste young girls, bring transcendental happiness to you.

14 O Lord decorated with swinging vicalika flower earrings, O supreme ornament of all handsome men, O Lord who fought the king of the snakes, O Lord who removed the fear of the world, O Lord worshipped by Brahma and Siva, O Lord pleased by the brief prayers of Your servant, O Lord glorified by jubilant King Indra, O Lord expert at defeating the restless demons, O Lord whose motions defeat the most graceful elephant, O Lord whose neck is anointed with fragrant sandal paste, O Lord whose handsome arms are decorated with glistening armlets, O Lord who brings great happiness to Your friends, O Lord who wears jingling jewelled bracelets, O Lord who wears rangana flowers in Your moving hair, O Lord whose garments are splendid with kunkuma, O Lord whose bodily fragrance is very sweet, O Lord who brings transcendental auspiciousness to the home of King Nanda, O Lord handsomely anointed with colourful ghusrna, O Lord whose lotus soles are splendidly reddish, O Lord who increases the amorous desires of the young girls of Vraja, O Lord anointed with musk, please grant auspiciousness to me.

I pray that upon Lord Krsna, who is colourfully decorated with mineral pigments from Govardhana Hill, who is a spark to ignite the straw of the demons, who is a timingila fish sporting in the ocean of battling the demons, and who is the auspiciousness of Vraja, I may repose my love.

15 O handsome Lord accompanied by beautiful girls decorated with splendid necklaces, O ornament of the universe, O Lord whose splendour enchants the gopis, O hero, all glories to You.

The full moon (Lord Krsna) of Vrndavana, which shatters the darkness, delights the night blooming lotuses, and melts the candramani jewels of the devotees' hearts, shines with great splendour.

16 O Lord who displays all good qualities, O killer of Sakatasura, O Lord who carries a new stick, O Lord who wanders through the forest, O Lord who enjoys pastimes of dancing, O charming Lord, O Lord who fills the forest with a sweet fragrance, O Lord who protects the surabhi cows, O Lord who enchants the entire world with the music of Your flute, O Lord who has red lips, O youthful Lord, O Lord who has long arms, O Lord the slightest scent of whose mercy is as great as an ocean , O Lord who, expanded as Balarama, became like a baby elephant to squash the grasshopper (of Pralambasura), O Lord who holds a lotus flower, O Lord who associates with the great devotees expert at relishing the nectar of transcendental mellows, O thief of the yoghurt jar, O Lord who speaks very sweetly, O devoted lover of a multitude of beautiful and playful young girls, O hero, O Lord surrounded by beautiful doe-eyed girls, O Lord who enjoys pastimes like those of a male elephant enjoying with his many wives, O beloved of Tulasi, O Lord who made the demons' wives into widows and made them remove the part in their hair, O Lord, please be compassionate to me.

17 O Lord anointed with sandal paste, O fragrant Lord, O Lord whose cheeks are the dancing arena for swinging earrings, O Lord whose glistening neck is decorated with a splendid garland of blossomed jasmine flowers, O Lord gracefully decorated with asoka buds, O Lord whose handsome transcendental form is as splendid as black kajjala, O Lord who glows with love for Maharaja Nanda, O hero, all glories to the sweet sound of Your flute, the expert messenger that arouses the amorous desires of Srimati Radharani, pulls Her from Her home and takes Her into the forest.

18 O Lord, O auspiciousness of Nanda's wife Yasoda, O Lord who violently killed the demoness Putana and made her body fall to the ground, O Lord who harshly punishes the demons, O supremely powerful Lord, O Lord who becomes restless in adolescence, O Lord who hides in the porches of Gokula, O Lord who pleases the cows, land, and senses, O Lord who fills Srimati Radhika with intense transcendental bliss, O Lord who, by glancing at the blossoming madhavi creepers in the grove of vetasi trees, becomes inflamed with amorous passion, O delight of the doe-eyed gopis, O Lord who enjoys pastimes like a maddened elephant, O Lord who embraces the unembarrassed and affectionate gopis, O Lord whose neck is decorated with a flower garland that attracts a swarm of charming bees, O Lord eager to enjoy transcendental pastimes, O Lord whose great crown is decorated with many patali, kunda and madhavi flowers, O unlimited, Lord, O hero, please always protect me.

O Lord as handsome as a blossoming blue lotus flower, O root from which the most intense transcendental bliss has sprouted, O Govinda, please delight me with the fragrance of Your lotus feet.

19 O Lord whose teeth are like jasmine flowers, O Lord whose belt is carefully tied, O Lord dressed in golden garments, O Lord whose smiles and laughter are supremely charming, O husband of the goddess of fortune, may Your smile's transcendental splendour, which mocks the ocean of nectar, which is the most powerful aphrodisiac for the gopis, and which, to the eyes of the people of Vraja, is autumn moonlight that dispels the darkness of ignorance, give transcendental happiness to us.

20 O Lord who eclipses the splendour of the lustrous blue lotus flowers, O Lord whose expert dancing has removed the pride of the king of peacocks, O Lord more handsome than the newly blossoming blue lotus flowers, O Lord whose handsome yellow garments make You look like a dark monsoon cloud and a flash of lightning, O Lord who gracefully dances on the Yamuna's shore, O Lord whose dancing eyes have defeated a host of khanjana birds, O Lord whose arms are fragrant with haricandana, O Lord expert at pleasing the young gopis, O Lord whose playful sidelong glances are very sweet and filled with ever-new happiness, O Lord whose face is so fragrant that it attracts a swarm of restless bumblebees, O Lord whose handsome face is as splendid as an autumn moon, O Lord who wears charming, golden, shark-shaped earrings, O Lord whose arms are a cage to hold the parrot of the hearts of young girls, O Lord whose hair is gracefully decorated with many vicalika flowers, O Lord expert at kissing the moonlike faces of the beautiful and slender gopis, O Lord who violently crushes the pride of the demons in battle, O hero, O Lord Krsna, when You play Your flute the gopis tremble in ecstasy, disengage their hands from decorating their hair and, forgetting their husbands, at once run to the forest. When the demons hear the sound of Your flute they tremble in fear, throw away their swords and, forgetting their wives, flee into the forest.

21 O Lord who wears tilaka markings drawn in red kunkuma, O Lord who wears a garland of madhavi flowers, O Lord who wears many ornaments, O Lord whose neck is anointed with colour, O handsome golden drinking vessel where the bumblebees of the eyes of the doe-eyed gopis drink, O monarch of the pastimes of transcendental love, I glorify You, who are decorated with a host of auspicious ornaments.

22 O fearless Lord, O abode of pure transcendental love, O Lord who is inclined to Your dear friends, O Lord whose smile has defeated the conchshell, O musician who jubilantly plays clear, high notes, O Lord who happily dances, O Lord who stays with the affectionate deer, O Lord who wears swinging earrings of many red lavanga flowers strung together, O Lord who wounded a serpent with the waves of Your dancing, O Lord who becomes filled with transcendental amorous desire by the sight and sound of the waves of buzzing bees wandering among the blossoming flowers on the topmost branches of the tall trees, O Lord who has become the audience for the singing and dancing of the swarms of wandering bumblebees and the graceful waves of restless glances from the eyes of the happy does, O Lord who quickly glances from the corner of Your eye, O Lord who sits on the lap of Your gopi friend at Your secret rendezvous, O Lord whose face is glorified by the splendid moon, O Lord whose feet are like the lotus, all glories to You! O Lord, please be merciful to me, who am very poor and sinful.

O Lord whose garments are as splendid as the sunrise, O Lord expert in the arts of amorous battle, O Lord who, with the waves of Your restless sidelong glances, devours the thoughts of the gopis, O best of the gopas, please bring transcendental happiness to my eyes.

23 O Lord whose glistening forehead is decorated with fragrant kunkuma, O Lord who wears a softly jingling bell, O Lord whose complexion is more splendid then a mass of new monsoon clouds, O Lord whose flute produces waves of the most intense sweetness!

I pray that I may love the best of the gopas, who wears charming flower-blossom earrings, who is a cage where the cakora birds of the young gopis' eyes lie captive, and who, anointed with an abundance of fresh kunkuma, now displays a fair complexion.

24 O Lord whose hair moves in the wind, O splendid Lord, O Lord decorated with peacock feathers and five kinds of charming flowers, O Lord glorified by the demigod Brahma, O Lord whose sweet flute-music attracts the buzzing bees from the nearby hills and forests, O Lord who defeated a hostile serpent, O Lord made yellow by the fresh pollen carried by the breeze limping among the flowering vines, O Lord who extinguished the fire burning among the munja grasses, O Lord who is fond of gunja, O Lord who stays in the forest groves and on the hills, O Lord eager to enjoy transcendental amorous pastimes, O Lord whose hands are more splendid than a newly blossomed red lotus, O Lord who stopped torrential rains and great winds, O Lord who, with the tinkling sounds of Your ankle bells and the sweet fragrance of Your transcendental body, has brought to life a new god of love, O Lord who conquered the pride of the demigod Siva, all glories to You.

25 O Lord who enjoys the nectar mellows of transcendental amorous pastimes, O fragrant Lord, O Lord who enjoys the company of the young gopis, O Lord who has handsome long hair, O Lord decorated with flowers, O Lord who enjoys pastimes on Govardhana Hill!

O Lord whose dancing eyebrows are more wonderful than the bow of flowers held by the god of love, O lotus-eyed Lord, please decorate the lotus flower of my heart.

26 O Lord fond of carrying a stick, O Lord whose hair is decorated with peacock feathers, O Lord within whose cheeks is a smile that is the son of the crescent moon, O beehive filled with the honey of pure transcendental love, O moon-faced Lord, O lake filled with the nectar of transcendental amorous pastimes, O Lord who crushed the heads of a serpent, O Lord whose abdomen contains all the universes, O Lord whose anklebells tinkle melodiously, O Lord who fights very heroically in battle, O Lord whose arms are like two great elephant trunks, O Lord who kills all the violent and sinful demons, O Lord who with great learning defeats Your friends in a mock battle, O Lord fond of the bhandira tree, O Lord who broke the pots filled with yoghurt as white as new sea-foam, O Lord whose sweet flute-music stuns the cuckoos, O lover of the gopis whose beautiful necks are decorated with jewel necklaces, O hero who is like a powerful lion in battle, all glories to You! All glories to You!

O Lord whose very powerful arms are like the coils of great snakes, O Lord whose sandal tilaka marking is very glorious, O lotus-eyed Lord, please decorate my heart with the splendour of Your face, which eclipses a great host of rising moons.

27 O archer who moves the bows of Your eyebrows, which eclipse the pride of the bow carried by the god of love, O Lord who stays under the bhandira tree, O maddened elephant who stays by the shore of the Yamuna, O Lord surrounded by splendid lotuslike friends, all glories to You!

28 All glories to You! All glories to You! O slayer of the demons, O Lord who pleases the entire world with Your transcendental sweetness, O gentle hearted Lord, O Lord who is fond of Springtime, O Lord who has handsome white teeth, O Lord who casts restless glances from the corners of Your eyes, O Lord who is a continual flood of transcendental glory, O powerful companion of numberless friends, all the great liberated devotees are full of love for You. O Supreme Personality of Godhead, O son of Nanda, O source of all good qualities, O Lord whose transcendental form is as splendid as a dark monsoon cloud, O Lord whose teeth are like splendid jasmine flowers, O Lord whose abdomen contains numberless universes, O Lord whose hair is decorated with fresh mandara flowers that fill the forest of Vrndavana with a very sweet fragrance, O Lord worshipped by all the great demigods, O Lord glorified by the most eloquent poets, O Lord whose two feet rebuke the splendid lotus flowers and the glistening moon, O Lord whose pastimes delight the king of Nandisvara (Maharaja Nanda), all glories to You!

O Mukunda (Krsna), I pray that the lotus flower of Your face, which is filled with the flowing nectar of Your splendid smile and the sweet fragrance tasted by the great swanlike devotees, and which delights the bumblebees of the gopis' eyes may grow in the lake of my heart.

29 O Lord worshipped by the demigods flying in the sky, O Lord whose flute music defeats the gandharva musician Tumburu, O Lord surrounded by handsome-faced deer, O Lord dressed in yellow garments, please enjoy transcendental pastimes with the beautiful gopis on the charming kadamba flower filled shore of the Yamuna.

30 O Lord who dives into the nectar of transcendental mellows, all glories to You! O Lord who trembles with love, O Lord who brings auspiciousness to Your friends, O Lord who is very compassionate to those who bow before You with awe and trembling, O Lord whose hair is decorated with garlands of blossomed campa flowers that eclipse the splendour of lightning, O Lord whose face is glorified by earrings of blossomed kadamba flowers, O dear friend of the cowherd boys, O Lord whose face is like a splendid lotus flower blossoming wide with the rising of the sun, O Lord whose arms are very long and powerful, O Lord who is very bold in kissing the young gopis, whose lips are like bimba fruits and whose breasts like the bulging forehead of Ganesa, O Lord who is very eager to embrace the gopis, O Lord, please give auspiciousness to Your devotees. O Lord whose appearance mocks the splendour of a dark cloud and glistening lightning, O Lord to whom the demigod Siva bows down, O Lord who defeats the pride of Indra, who holds the powerful thunderbolt in his hand, O Lord, even though I am a debauchee at heart, please give to me a drop of Your perfect transcendental mercy.

O Lord who is like a maddened elephant in the blossoming forests and cottages of flowering vines by the shores of the Yamuna, O Lord whose splendid dark limbs condemn the glory of black anjana, please make me happy by splashing me with the waves of Your playful sidelong glance.

31 O Lord whose complexion mocks the splendour of blue lotus flowers, O Lord whose eyes are like two restless khanjana birds, O Lord who kisses the young gopis, O Lord who wears a kadamba flower in Your moving locks of hair, O Lord who, surrounded in the auspicious place of flowering vines by beautiful gopis restless wit love as they play love songs on vinas, jokingly plays the notes of mullara raga on Your flute, please make my eyes blossom wide open with the charming lightning flash of Your pastimes.

32 O Lord who, past the border of the great city of Vraja enters the grove of flowering vines filled with many small ponds and lakes, many crickets,and many beautiful malli, sivamalli and kumuda flowers, O Lord who enjoys the hallisaka dance, O Lord whose restless eyebrows have defeated the god of love, O Lord gracefully decorated with tilaka, O Lord as handsome as hundreds of demigods of love, O Lord who splashes in the lake of playful mock battles, O Lord whose transcendental pastimes are supremely auspicious, please protect us,

O Lord who, by moving the wonderful flowering vine bows of Your eyebrows makes the gopis tremble, O dear son of Yasoda, O Lord surrounded by the splendid surabhi cows and calves, please gloriously appear before us.

33 O perfect friend to play with the gopas, O Lord whose reddish lips are like newly blossomed sprouts, O Lord who is very submissive to Your beloved gopis, O Lord even a small drop of the intense sweetness of whose transcendental pastimes remains remote and difficult to attain for the great sages fixed in santa-rasa, O Lord who displays wonderful youthful prowess in pastimes of wrestling, O Lord surrounded by doe-eyed girls blossoming with happiness, O Lord the playful movements of whose eyebrows arouse their amorous passions, O Lord who bears the sweet fragrance of many jasmine flowers, O Lord whose sweet music enchants the deer, O Lord whose hair is circled by a garland of red hallaka flowers, O hero!

With great happiness I worship the Sri Krsna asoka tree, which, its shoulders embraced by the tendril hands of gopi vines, is now blossoming with transcendental bliss.

34 O Lord whose restless, reddish, merciful, handsome eyes have entered the hearts of the young gopis, O Lord who sometimes rests in a mountain cave, O shelter of the gopas, O Lord whose feet are like blossoming flowers, O Lord handsomely reddened with auspicious kunkuma, O Lord decorated with sandal paste, O Lord whose words are gladdening, O Lord who broke the cart demon, O Lord who punishes the fearful and arrogant demons, O Lord who is a festival of happiness for human society, O Lord who protects the surabhi cows, O Lord who carries a buffalo horn bugle, O Lord who defeated the Kaliya serpent, O Lord who lifted transcendental Govardhana Hill, O Lord whose eyes are very handsome, O Lord who walks as a graceful elephant, O abode of eloquent words that arouse the amorous desires of the gopis, O Lord who wears an elegant crown, O Lord who carries an asoka staff, O Lord whose hands are reddish, O Lord as powerful as a great horde of ferocious, roaring, eight-headed sarabha monsters, O Lord whose face is decorated with swinging earrings, O Lord whose complexion is as splendid as the dark waters of the jubilant Yamuna River, O Lord who wears a crown of forest flowers, O shelter of the gopas crying (in fear of the forest fire), O Lord surrounded by the surabhi calves, O Lord handsomely decorated with sandal paste, aguru, musk and kunkuma, O Lord decorated with splendid bracelets, O Lord whose pastimes are famous everywhere, O Lord, please grant auspiciousness to us.

I pray that in Sri Krsna, who is a scythe to cut down the demons, who is decorated with colourful mineral pigment, who fills the world with wonder, whose transcendental pastimes bring great bliss to the heart, and who is the gopis friend, I may place my love.

35 O Lord who, on the tall hilltop filled with wandering bumblebees, playfully makes waves of sound flow from Your buffalo-horn bugle, O hero, after turning the wives of the violent demons into widows, You filled the pundraka flower groves of Vrndavana forest with the beautiful girls of Vraja.

36 All glories to You! All glories to You! O Lord whose smile is handsome and charming, O Lord who used a great hill to defeat King Indra, O Lord who enjoys the nectar of transcendental amorous pastimes in the caves of Your own hill, O Lord who wears a jewel necklace, O Lord who is a grand palace of the jewels of transcendental virtues and talents, O Lord on whose chest the goddess of fortune rests, O Lord whose motions defeat the most graceful elephants, O Lord who is very affectionate to Your friends, O Lord who brings happiness to the demigod Siva, O Lord who wears tilaka drawn in sandal paste, O Lord worshipped by the demigod Brahma, O Lord whose forest of Madhuvana rebukes the charming sweetness of the celestial Nandana gardens filled with haricandana trees, O Lord pleased by the transcendental forest fragrant with many flowers, O Lord conquered by love, O Lord who wears earrings made of peacock feathers and bhandila flowers, O Lord whose splendid teeth defeat new white rice grains, O Lord expert in amorous battle, O Lord who plays jokes on the beautiful gopis, O Lord decorated with the gopis' nail scratches, O Lord bitten by the gopis' teeth, O hero, O handsome king of Vraja, we offer our respectful obeisances to You, who are delighted by the splendid gopis, whose virtues and talents embarrass Goddess Parvati and whose beauty makes goddess Laksmi revile the beauty of her own transcendental form.

37 O Lord who enjoys the different mellows of transcendental love, O Lord who is fond of the forest full of blossoming flowers, O Lord who enjoys amorous pastimes of dancing with the gopis, O Lord who stole the gopis' garments, O hero, O Krsna, may the sweet sound of Your flute, to which the Vedas and the six Vedangas respectfully bow down, which the demigoddesses of the Upanisads respectfully place upon their parted hair, and which the sacred syllable om respectfully glorifies with a happy heart, bring transcendental happiness to us all.

38 O moon shining in the family of Maharaja Nanda, O Lord who breaks the sleep of repeated birth and death, O Lord whose splendid teeth defeat the jasmine flowers, O Lord who kills the demons, O Lord who breaks the festival of the god of love, O Lord the narration of whose pastimes is as sweet as nectar, O Lord who enjoys transcendental amorous pastimes in the charming forest groves filled with blossoming jasmine flowers, flowering vines and humming bees, O Lord who stays in the company of Your charming friends, O Lord whose transcendental limbs glisten with happiness, O Lord who delights in transcendental amorous pastimes, O Lord whose sweet music is as charming as the singing of a maddened cuckoo, O fragrant Lord, O Lord delighted by the forest flowers, O Lord who tore apart the demon yaksa Sankhacuda, O Lord expert in battle, O Lord whose hair is handsomely decorated with a peacock feather, O Lord who crushes into powder the material desires of Your surrendered devotees, O hero, O Lord Krsna, please stand in my heart.

O Lord Krsna, Your flute overwhelms both friends and enemy alike. The one it charms with friendly waves of nectar, and the other it poisons with the most dangerous sound.

39 O Lord who leads the demons to liberation, O Lord who possesses limitless auspicious mercy, O Lord whose ankle-bells jingle like the twang of the bow held by the god of love, who shoots arrows of flowers, O hero.

May Lord Krsna, who tore apart the ferocious enemy (Kuvalayapida) sent by Kamsa, and who, by violently dancing in the arena, killed the tigerlike wrestlers, stay in the white lotus of your heart.

40 All glories, all glories to You, O Lord expert at playing the flute, O Lord whose restless, love filled eyes defeat the autumn lotus flowers, O Lord who steals away the peaceful composure of the wives of the Siddhas and Caranas, O Lord decorated with splendid jewel necklaces and earrings, O Lord who stays on splendid Govardhana Hill, which glistens with many pleasant lakes, O Lord whose transcendental form decorates Your decorations, O Lord who found and killed the bull-demon Aristasura, O Lord who wears a peacock feather in Your splendid, curling hair, O Lord whose face is more splendid than a host of moons, O Lord who enjoys amorous battle in a cottage in the forest grove, O Lord whose arms are two bold snakes eager to enjoy the nectar happiness of embraces, O Lord who is like a moving young tamala tree, O Lord who sincerely and expertly fulfils all the desires of the cowherd people, O Lord who holds a staff in Your right hand, O Lord whose splendour eclipses millions of suns and moons, O Lord who is decorated with handsome tilaka drawn with the yellow pigment gorocana, O Lord whose transcendental qualities delight Ananta Sesa, Brahma, Sanaka Kumara, and Sanandana Kumara, O handsome hero, please fill me with transcendental happiness.

O Lord, when the reddened, expanded sun of Your glory rises, the darkness of the demons flees to hide in caves.

41 O Lord who enjoys embracing the young gopis by the shore of the Yamuna, O Lord whose limbs glisten with the great waves of the nectar mellows of Your transcendental amorous pastimes, O hero, when the frightened demons headed by Arista, Vatsa and Kesi, saw Your kindness to the cows and other animals, they abandoned all pride and assumed the forms of animals.

42 O Lord with handsome hair, O Lord prayed to by Brahma, Siva, and Ananta Sesa, O Lord who has no material qualities, O Lord who has countless transcendental qualities, O hero of transcendental pastimes, O Lord who ferociously fought with the Kaliya serpent, O joy of Gokula, O Lord who dutifully bows down before Nanda Maharaja, O giver of intense transcendental bliss, O enchanter of the god of love, O Lord who drove away the pride of the young girls proud of their exquisite beauty, O graceful artist in the rasa dance, O Lord surrounded by fair-complexioned, buxom, beautiful girls, O Lord who stays with them in a hundred forest groves, O Lord who pleases the young gopis, O Lord worshipped by exquisitely beautiful Sri Radhika, O Lord who dallies with the shy gopis, O Lord whose crown is tilted, O Lord exhausted by enjoying many pastimes, O Lord whose eyes are filled with transcendental desire, O Lord whose eyes are red with anger, O Lord who grants liberation to the demons, O Lord to whom the whole world bows down, O protector of the gopas, O happiness of the poets, O abode of mercy, O hero, please protect me.

O Lord who wears a peacock feather crown, even though You defeat them, make them foam at the mouth with exhaustion, bind them, frighten them, and kill them, You still grant liberation to Your enemies.

43 O Lord whose sweet pastimes are filled with love, O Lord who is worshipped and served by the gopas, O Krsna, Your hair, decorated with a new peacock feather, and appearing as a wonderful sharp dagger carried by the god of love, who holds a bow of flowers, now agitates the doe-eyed gopis.

44 O Lord, seeing Your power in battle, the frightened demons pierced the coverings of the material universe and fled far away.

45 O Lord whose glance removes the pride of the proud girls, O sun that torments the owls of the demons, O Lord worshipped by the dindima playing demigods, O Lord who has two splendid bolts that are Your powerful arms, O Lord whose glance charmed the hearts of the young girls initiated for the sacrifice, O Lord who has a very gentle and splendid smile, O Lord who, by lifting the hill, destroyed the darkness of pride that had swallowed up King Indra, O Lord dressed in charming, splendid, colourful garments, O Lord who defeated the great power of the Kesi demon, O Lord who speaks very sweetly, O Lord who brings a great festival of happiness to the demigod Siva, O Lord whose flute is praised by the prayers of Brahma, O Lord who removed the earrings from Kamsa's wives, O Lord whose restless handsome eyes were tossed by waves of happiness in the dancing arena, O Lord made restless by the appearance of the god of love, O Lord who stole the gopis' garments, O Lord whose great festival in the dancing arena is glorified in the dramas of great poets, O slayer of repeated birth and death, please deliver me. O eternal hero, please glance upon me.

May Lord Krsna's armlet-decorated left arm, which is a thunderbolt chisel that broke the great stone of the horse-demon Kesi, and made its dreadful teeth fall out, make us expert in pure devotional service.

46 O Krsna, O Lord who is harsh to the demons, O Lord pleased by the young gopis, O Lord conquered by their charming fragrance, please appear before me.

O Lord even, though I have now come to the time of life that brings blindness and old-age, Your auspicious mercy has not yet come to me.

47 All glories to You, O Lord as splendid and handsome as a host of monsoon clouds, O Lord whose handsome and gentle smiles and laughter are like splendid and pure moonlight, O Lord who kisses the moon faces of the doe-eyed gopis, O Lord whose glistening eyes play like restless khanjana birds, O most expert tactician in the arts of amorous battle, O Lord who has been made into a jester by the great cleverness of affectionate Srimati Radhika, O Lord whose peerless flute music charms the young gopis, O Lord whose eternal sweetness delights the demigods, O Lord who wears a garland of peacock feathers in Your curling hair, O Lord whose jewelled, swinging, shark-shaped earrings dance about Your ears, O Lord who dances with great energy and enthusiasm, O Lord the splendour of whose teeth has conquered the white rice grains, O Lord who wears a beautiful dadimi flower in Your ear, O Lord whose leaf-flute has enchanted the restless calves with its sweet, soft sound!

May Lord Krsna, whose disarrayed hair is decorated with bunches of punnaga flowers and a crown of peacock feathers, whose complexion is as splendid as sapphires and who stands like a god of love in the forest by the Yamuna's shore, protect me.

48 All glories to You, O Lord who is dear to Garga Muni, O Lord glorified by the demigod Siva, O hero, O Lord who is submissive to the devotees who taste the nectar of eternal love for You!

O Lord Krsna, all glories to Your horn's sound, which can be heard from very far away, and which has become the initiating and instructing spiritual master of the demons' wives, teaching them how to follow the vows of widowhood.

49 O Lord whose hair is decorated with a multitude of flowers, O Lord whose nails have defeated the diamond mirrors, O Lord whose soldiers delighted the people with their prowess in battle, O Lord whose ferocious fighting is like the most graceful dance, O Lord whose feet crushed the angry Kaliya serpent, O shelter of all the cowherd people, O Lord whose happy eyes are charming and gladdening, O Lord who rests in the cave of a hill, O Lord who delights the young gopis, O Lord expert at fighting lovers' quarrels, O Lord who kills the troublesome demons, O Lord whose pure words full the world with nectar, O Lord whose soft, splendid, pure smile is a kumuda flower, O Lord whose charming face is a kamala flower, O Lord whose moving locks of hair are like black bees, O Lord who wears tilaka drawn in splendid kunkuma, O Lord who stole the hidden jar of yoghurt, O unconquerable Lord, O hero, please always splendidly display Your pastimes in my heart.

O Krsna, all glories to Your horn's thunder, which is the life and soul of Your cataka bird friends, the delight of the demigod peacocks, and the source of fear for the demon swans.

50 O Supreme Person, O hero, O Lord who stands on the wonderful shore of the Yamuna, O Lord whose flute-music floods the world, O Lord who likes to hear the lowing of the surabhi cows, O hero, all glories to Your powerful arms, which are the shelter of all the worlds, and which tore the demons apart with such ferocious violence that everyone thought all powerful Lord Nrsimhadeva had suddenly appeared.

51 O Murari (Krsna)! How wonderful it is that although the demons, who are always envious of the demigods, have failed to penetrate Your military phalanx, they have penetrated the region of mitra, the sun-globe.

Note: This translation is taken from Nectar of Devotion (page 195), where Srila Prabhupada explains: "The word mitra is used metaphorically. Mitra means the sun-globe, and mitra also means friend. The demons who opposed Krsna as enemies wanted to penetrate His military phalanx; but instead of doing this, they died in battle, and the result was that they penetrated the planet mitra, or the sun-planet. In other words, they entered into the Brahman effulgence. The example of the sun-planet is given here because the sun is ever-illuminating, like the spiritual sky, where there are innumerable illuminating Vaikuntha planets, the enemies of Krsna were killed, and instead of penetrating Krsna's phalanx, they entered into the friendly atmosphere of the spiritual effulgence. That is the mercy of Krsna, and therefore He is known as the deliverer of His enemies also."

52 O boat that carries the living entities across the ocean of sin, O Lord who enjoys wonderful transcendental pastimes, O protector of the innocent, O Lord who protected the Vidyadhara who had taken the body of a serpent, O protector in battle, O supremely purifying Lord, O scythe that cuts down the sufferings of material bondage, O Lord unlimitedly famous in all the worlds, O supremely intelligent Lord, O supremely strong Lord, O original spiritual master, O best of all, O gentle Lord, O Lord who never falls down, O Lord who is very far from the material mind, O Lord who in every pastime is always handsome and charming, O Lord who stays with Balarama, O splendid Lord, O Lord free from anger, O ornament of the universe, O glorious Lord, O killer of the Madhu demon, O Lord Hari, O enemy of the Mura demon, O limitless Lord who cannot be perfectly understood even by the demigod Siva, O eternal Lord, O playful Lord, O Lord who kills the enemies of the demigods, O Lord who plays in the waves of the Yamuna, O Lord who brought transcendental happiness to Garuda by exiling the Kaliya serpent to the ocean, O Lord who stays in the caves of the best hills, O Lord who goes to the rendezvous, O Lord who stays with Your beloved, O splendid Lord, O very handsome Lord, O peaceful Lord, O end of Your enemies, O killer of the demons, O unlimited Lord, O Lord who has very handsome teeth, O Lord who smiles and laughs from the corners of Your eyes, O king of spring, O Lord eternally worshipped and served by the devotees, O hero, I continually worship and serve You.

O Mukunka (Krsna), by drinking even a fraction of a drop of the ocean of Your transcendental handsomeness what pious girls will not become enchanted and filled with desire? May Your handsome smiles, the vigorous dancing of the flowering vines of Your eyebrows, the waves of Your playful sidelong glances, and all Your enchanting quality extend Your kingdom very far.

53 O Lord who enjoys the rasa dance on the charming shore of the river bank, O Lord who plays "soldiers" with the cowherd boys, O Lord dressed in yellow garments, O Lord who holds a lotus in Your hand, O killer of the demons, O Lord who enjoys transcendental pastimes in the forest, O best of heroes, O playful joking Lord, O Lord Krsna, all glories to You!

The elephant of my mind is drowning in the insurmountable waves of material illusion. Strongly held by the ferocious crocodile of the threefold miseries, it anxiously cries with fear in its heart. O Lord Hari (Krsna), please rescue it with Your glowing Sudarsana cakra, which cuts the sufferings of the demigods to pieces.

54 O Lord to whom the demigod Siva bows down, O Lord who angrily turned the wives of the demons into widows, O cowherd boy, O Lord dressed in elegant silk garments, O killer of Bakasura, O Lord decorated by the most expert artists, O Lord who pleases Nanda Maharaja with Your transcendental pastimes, O Lord who is an ocean of the nectar of intense transcendental love, O hero, O Lord who happily accepts the prayers, singing, music, and dancing offered for Your pleasure, O Lord a drop of the great waves of whose handsomeness captivates everyone, O Lord who delights the earth, O Lord who cripples the demons, O mountain that crushed the pride of the Kaliya snake, O benefactor of the surabhi cows, O Lord who is merciful to Your kinsmen, O Lord who lifted the king of hills, O Lord who enchants everyone with Your handsomeness, O Lord who stole the garments and left the young girls to stand in the water, O thief who stole the jewel of the most fortunate gopi's heart, O Lord who enjoys transcendental pastimes in the heart of that most fortunate gopi, O Lord whose garments are as splendid as lightning, O Lord who protects the devotees trembling in fear of the cycle of repeated birth and death, O Lord blossoming with happiness, O effulgent Lord, O hero.

May Sri Krsna, the king of the forest and the merciful physician who, in the mortar and pestle of single combat, crushed the demons causing pain to the cows and cowherd boys, and rolled them into a pill to cure the forest of Vrndavana, give transcendental happiness to you all.

55 O Lord whose glistening black hair is decorated with a peacock feather, O Lord whose handsome form is anointed with sandal paste, O Lord who broke the mystic powers of the demons, O Lord whose splendidly handsome form is decorated with ornaments, O Hero, O Lord who enlivens all the demigods , O Lord who liberates the demons, O Lord who brings a continual festival of transcendental bliss to the land of Vraja, O killer of the demon Mura, I glorify You.

56 O Mukunda (Krsna), may the moon of Your face, which is flooded with waves of nectar from Your very charming smiles, which brings violent waves to the ocean of the beautiful gopis' conjugal bliss, and which turns the candramani jewels of Your devotees' eyes into gushing mountain streams, bring transcendental happiness to us.

57 O eight-legged sarabha monster who playfully broke the neck of the arrogant Arista demon lion, O Lord dressed in exquisite silk garments that rival the splendour of new gold, O Lord whose stone chest is the kinsman of the mountain boulder, O Lord who expertly punished the Kaliya serpent, O Lord who charmingly plays with a toy ball, O Lord decorated with bhandila and vicalika flowers, O learned scholar in the science of fighting, O Lord who brings anguish to the fanged demons, O Lord who weakens the crooked and dishonest, O Lord whose handsome cheeks are decorated with glittering sapphire shark-shaped earrings, O Lord who delights Your friends with graceful and enthusiastic dancing in the great Bhandiravana forest, O Lord kissed by Nanda Maharaja, O Lord whose smile is like a jasmine flower, O fragrant Lord, O auspicious Lord, O Lord from whose abdomen a host of universes has come, O great garden tool that uprooted the thorn tree of Kamsa, the demonic king of the Bhojas, O Lord whose merciful sidelong glance is like a great sun that drives away the dense darkness of any misfortune that may afflict Your surrendered devotees, O Lord whose handsome face mocks the sweetness of the gentle and cooling autumn moon, O Lord who is the worshipable Deity of the great sages who consider great treasuries of precious jewels equal to a pile of dust, O beloved of the gopis, whose lips are very sweet and charming, O Lord worshipped by the demigod Brahma, O Lord who has given Brahma his post, O hero!

I pray that the monsoon clouds of Lord Krsna's transcendental handsomeness, which please the cataka birds of the gopis eyes, which continually wash the world with a flood of the nectar of liberation, which cover both sun and moon, and which are decorated with a charming peacock feather, may give transcendental happiness to us.

58 O Lord Krsna, O Lord who is always merciful, who scolded the demigod Varuna, who delighted Your father, whom the saintly devotees proclaim rescues the surrendered devotees from the illusory potency maya and has an eternal transcendental form as splendid as a dark monsoon cloud, who, Your transcendental glories described by the pious, and fearlessly killing the powerful demons, enjoys transcendental pastimes with Your loving devotees, whom, garlanded with flowers, enjoying transcendental pastimes, and enjoying a festival of transcendental amorous pastimes, celestials demigoddesses desire to attain, of whom, because You are a flood of transcendental prowess, because Your bodily splendour eclipses the sun, and because You are a powerful warrior, Your enemy is afraid, even when You are far away, who, splendidly handsome, the crown jewel of all existence, Your transcendental limbs effulgent, and Your restless eyes filled with sidelong glances, holds a flute in Your hand, and who, effulgent, splendidly smiling, charming, and playful, is the object of the auspicious love of the beautiful-eyed gopis, O fear of the demons, O Lord who is very kind and compassionate to whomever remains always steady in Your devotional service, O Lord who steals away all the fears of Vraja, O hero, all glories to You! All glories to You!

All glories to the auspicious, wave-filled river of Lord Krsna's mercy, a river the great swans of advanced spiritualists yearn to attain, a river where the cakravaka birds of the devotees splash and play.

59 O Lord delighted by the joking words of Your friends, O affectionate lover of Srimati Radharani, O blissful Lord, O hero, O Lord of Mathura, O sweet Lord, O husband of the goddess of fortune, O charming flutist, O enchanter of the god of love, please cheerfully crush the great illusion of my heart.

60 O infallible Lord, all glories to You! All glories to You, O Lord who is compassionate to the suffering, O Lord who stopped the sacrifice to Indra, O Lord who stopped the torrential rains, O splendidly handsome and playful Lord, O powerful and heroic Lord, O supremely opulent Lord, O Lord who is very merciful to the demigods, O Lord whose mercy is sometimes seen, just as the letter l is only rarely seen in the Sanskrit language, O Lord who remains invisible to those who have not received Your mercy, just as the letter l exists only theoretically and is never actually seen in the Sanskrit language, O Lord who makes the cowherd people prosper, O Lord as splendid as a host of moons, O splendidly powerful Lord, O Lord always free of anger, O Lord who has handsome broad shoulders, O Lord who has handsome broad shoulders, O Lord dressed in golden garments, O Lord who has bracelets on His hands, O Lord who broke the greatest demons, O Lord whose walking has defeated the most graceful elephant, O Lord whose turban and upper garment are anointed with kunkuma, O Lord fond of playing the flute, O Lord with restlessly moving flowering vine eyebrows, O Lord who cheated hundreds of pious gopis, O Lord prayed to by the demigod Brahma, O Lord decorated with shark-shaped earrings, O Lord who plays a leaf flute, O king who binds the earth to His instructions, O Lord whose moonlike face dispels the darkness of a host of clouds, O Lord who plays a large dhakka drum with the palm of Your hand, O Lord who lifted up the great hill with the small finger of Your left hand, O Lord whose restless eyes condemn the khanjana birds, O Lord who crushes the demons, O Lord who brings prosperity to the surabhi cows, O abode of happiness for Nanda Maharaja, O Lord whose feet are like lotus flowers, O Lord who was pleased by the prayers of the Kaliya serpent, O Lord who enjoys playing with Your friends, O lord with handsome curling locks of hair, O Lord decorated with a handsome garland, O Lord who carries a stick under His splendid arm, O Lord whose handsome face is like a lotus flower, O Lord who pleases the cowherd people with Your charming playfulness and expert intelligence, O Lord whose activities are the source of transcendental bliss, O Lord surrounded by bumblebees, O Lord who holds a lotus flower, O brother of Balarama, O Lord who possesses a great multitude of blissful transcendental qualities, O hero!

I pray that Lord Krsna, who wears a flower-bud on His ear, who is as handsome as the god of love, who makes the kila-kincita ecstasy sprout and bloom in His beloved gopis, who is an ocean of transcendental fame, and who in His youth, His anger multiplied millions of times, playfully leaped like a lion and brought great suffering to Kamsa, the king of the Kukuras, may grant our desire.

61 O Lord who walks by the shore of the Yamuna, O Lord who stole the garments of the fair-complexioned gopis, who had faithfully observed a vow to worship goddess Gauri, O Lord whose hands became two thieves, O hero, O Lord who moves in the marketplace of love, O Lord who cuts the throats of the harsh demon kings and soldiers, O Lord whose garment is anointed with kunkuma, please dance within my heart.

62 O Lord who with Your moving feet killed the Kakatasura demon, O Lord who killed the washerman (of Kamsa), O Lord who brought the enemy's army under submission, O Lord who dances on the splendid hill, O Lord who wears a new bracelet made of gold and emeralds, O Lord who pretended to cry, O Lord who with the soft soles of Your dancing feet broke the yoghurt pot, O Lord who made the Sakatasura demon become very heavy, O Lord whose broad hips are covered by a garment as splendid as a great mass of gold, O Lord who has curling hair, O Lord who gracefully dances in a banyan tree overspread with many branches and tender new shoots moving to and fro by the shore of the Yamuna, O Lord who cheats the young gopis, O hero, all glories to You!

O Lord who, with the tender new sprout of Your dancing, punished the formidable serpent demon Kaliya, O Lord surrounded by Your kinsmen in Vraja, O Lord who killed the demons who brought chaos to the earth, all glories to You!

63 O Lord whose anklebells jingle, O Lord whose nails are sharp, O Lord whose teeth have defeated the splendid sikhara jewels, I am drowning in the painful, fathomless whirlpool of repeated birth and death. O Lord, O friend of the shelterless, O effulgent moon of mercy, please, this one time, quickly extend Your hand to save me.

64 Now that we have become Your devotees, Your holy names have created a jubilant festival in out mouths. Your bodily splendour, like a dark rain cloud, has now become the black ointment of our eyes, and the music of Your flute has become the ornament of our ears. We no longer take pleasure in material desires. O Almighty Lord, material desires no longer appear beautiful to us.

65 May he who reads this Govinda-virudavali, vibrating it within his throat, become a perfect, faultless and staunch devotee of Lord Krsna.

66 Lord Vasudeva (Krsna) becomes very pleased when He is glorified by the recitation of this beautiful and delightful Govinda-virudavali, which is filled with the description of His transcendental qualities.

67 Lord Hari (Krsna) becomes very quickly pleased with a person who, residing in the district of Mathura, glorifies Him with this beautiful and delightful Govinda-virudavali.

Sri Sri Kesavastakam by Srila Rupa Goswami
1. I worship Kesava, who returns from the forest of Vraja with His ears beautified with earrings made of fresh Kadamba buds, whose crown is brightened by blooming Malati flowers and around whose neck a wreath of slightly blooming Yuthika flowers is wound.

2. I worship Kesava, who returns from the forest of Vraja, joyfully wandering amongst His surabhi cows, calling them by name: "Pisangi! Manikastani! Pranatasrngi! Pingeksane! Mrdangaªmukhi! Dhumale! Sabali! Hamsi! Vamsipriye!"

3. I worship Kesava, who returns from the forest of Vraja. He is softened by deep love, enjoys sweet joking conversations and He is the abode of all playful enjoyments. He shines in many different dresses and laughs at the best jokes that His friends make along the way.

4. I worship Kesava, who returns from the forest of Vraja. The leaves that were painted on His cheeks with mountain minerals are slightly washed away by drops of perspiration and His curly locks defeat the luster of a cluster of bees.

5. I worship Kesava, who returns from the forest of Vraja. The cows that eagerly look at their bound up calves deeply carve the soil with their dancing hooves, and He withholds them with the soft playing of His flute.

6. I worship Kesava, who returns from the forest of Vraja, beautifying the roads with His footprints, whose garland is made grey by the dust thrown up by His herd of restless cows and whose cloth, scarf and crown are moving along with the waves of the blowing wind.

7. I worship Kesava, who returns from the forest of Vraja, where He gladdened the minds of all the cowherd girls at once with the playful and artful tunes of His Murali flute, which causes them to horripilate of ecstasy within their inner quarters, and who constantly gives joy to the heart of the queen of Vraja, Yasoda.

8. I worship Kesava, who returns from the forest of Vraja, being worshipped by hundreds of dancing, playful glances and beautiful smiles of the beautiful girls ont he road, and the corners of whose bee like eyes move restlessly around their bud like breasts.

9. To anyone who nicely recites these eight prayers, that are a festival of bliss for all the cowherd girls, the friend of Visakha, Sri Krsna, will give firmly fixed attraction to His

lotus feet. Such a pure minded soul will attain all happiness.

End of Sri Sri Kesavastakam by Srila Rupa Goswami

Sri Govardhanastaka
1
krsna-prasadena samasta-saila-
samrajyam apnoti ca vairino pi
sakrasya yah prapa balim sa saksad
govardhano me disatam abhistam

May Govardhana Hill, which by Krsna’s mercy became the king of all mountains and received the respectful tribute of its arch-enemy Indra, fulfil my desire.

2
sva-prestha-hastambuja-saukumarya-
sukhanubhuter ati-bhumi-vrtteh
mahendra-vajrahatim apy ahanan
govardhano me disatam abhistam

As it was held above the earth it became so filled with happiness by experiencing the softness of its beloved Krsna’s lotus hand it did not even know it was being struck by Indra’s thunderbolt. May Govardhana Hill fulfil my desire.

3
yatraiva krsno vrsabhanu-putrya
danam grhitum kalaham vitene
sruteh sprha yatra mahaty atah sri-
govardhano me disatam abhistam

Trying to collect a toll, Krsna quarrelled there with King Vrsabhanu’s daughter. The personified Vedas yearn to listen to that quarrel. May Govardhana Hill fulfil my desire.

4
snatva sarah svasu samira-hasti
yatraiva nipadi-paraga-dhulih
alolayan khetali caru sa sri-
govardhano me disatam abhistam

Bathing in a nearby lake, the elephant of a pleasant breeze, covered with pollen of kadamba and other flowers, gracefully plays there. May Govardhana Hill fulfil my desire.

5
kasturikabhih sayitam kim atrety
uham prabhoh svasya muhur vitanvan
naisargika-sviya-sila-sugandhair
govardhano me disatam abhistam

How is it that sweet fragrance of the musk deer and the various natural scents there make the Lord so calm and relaxed? May Govardhana Hill fulfil my desire.

6
vamsa-pratidhvany-anusara-vartma
didrksavo yatra harim harinyah
yantyo labhante na hi vismitah sa
govardhano me disatam abhistam

Searching there for Lord Hari on the path of His flute music, the astonished deer do not find Him. May Govardhana Hill fulfil my desire.

7
yatraiva gangam anu navi radham
arohya madhye tu nimagna-naukah
krsno hi radhanugalo babhau sa
govardhano me disatam abhistam

As the divine couple travelled on the Ganges there the boat began to sink in the middle. Krsna was splendidly handsome as Radha clung to his neck. May Govardhana Hill fulfil my desire.

8
vina-bhavet kim hari-dasa-varya-
padasrayam bhaktir atah srayami
yam eva saprema nijesayoh sri-
govardhano me disatam abhistam

Without taking shelter of the feet of the hill that is the best of Lord Hari’s servants and full of love for the divine king and queen, how is it possible to attain pure devotional service? May Govardhana Hill fulfil my desire.

9
etat pathed yo hari-dada-varya-
mahanubhavastakam ardra-cetah
sri-radhika-madhavayoh padab ja-
dasyam sa vinded acirena saksat

May the reader of these eight verses glorifying Lord Hari’s greatest servant, his heart melting with pure love, quickly attain direct service to the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava.

Sri Sri Govardhana Samvasan Prarthana Dasakam by Srila Raghunath das Goswami
1.

O Govardhana! You became the umbrella which was held by the arm of your own Lord Krsna! In this way Sri Krsna diminished Indra, the king of the demigods, who was intoxicated by great pride. You are the incomparable king of all the big mountains, please allow me to live close by you.

2.

O Govardhana! The young Divine Couple, Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, play splendid wild loving games in your every cave, so I became very eager to see Them there. Please allow me to live close by you.

3.

O Govardhana! In topmost joy Krsna plays together with Balarama and the cowherd boys in your incomparable jeweled pavilions and thrones, in the hollows of your trees, in your caves, and valleys. Please allow me to live close by you!

4.

O Govardhana! You are the witness of Radha and Krsna's tax game (In which Krsna charges tax from the ghee the gopis carry on their heads) which is an ocean of mellows. You increase the joy of the mellows of the devotees with your display of bluish platforms that are full of splendour and fragrance. Please allow me to live close by you!

5.

O Govardhana! You affectionately and secretly embrace the neck of your own dear friend, Sri Radha Kunda, the place which is very dear to you and Lord Hari. Please allow me to live close by you and show me the intimate pastimes of the Divine Young Couple there!

6.

O Govardhana! You make your name, nourisher of cows, successful by constantly giving land, water, grass and the shade of your trees to the cows and thus you are famous in the three worlds. Please allow me to live close by you!

7.

O Govardhana! Your glories are increased by the enemy of Aghasura and Bakasura, Sri Krsna, when He protected the Vrajavasis and vanquished Indra by quickly using you as their new shelter from the rain. Please allow me to live close by you.!

8.

O Govardhana! King of mountains! Because the nectar of your name as Hari's best servant emanated from Srimati Radharani's pearl-like mouth, which was revealed by Vedic scriptures like Srimad Bhagavatam (10.21.18), you are called the new tilaka (because of your long thin bluish shape at the edge of Vraja) of Vraja. Please allow me to live close by you.

9.

O Govardhana! You are the only giver of joy to Sri Sri Radha Krsna and Their associates, that are always surrounded by the people, animals and birds of Vraja in the mood of friendship. Please mercifully accept me and allow me to live close by you.

10.

O Govardhana! Although I am vile and deceitful, the causelessly merciful Sri Sacinandana submitted me to you. Therefore, do not consider whether I am qualified or unqualified and accept me. Allow me please to live close by you.

11.

Anyone who carefully recites these ten verses praising the king of mountains Srila Govardhana, that are the givers of divine mellows, will swiftly attain a place to live close by Govardhana, the bestower of bliss, and he will attain the precious jewel of the auspicious loving service of the Divine Couple, Sri Sri Radha Krsna.

Sri Aisvarya-kadambini by Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana
A Glimpse into the Life of Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana

Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana was born in the early part of the 18th century in a village near the city of remuna. Even though he was born the son a vaisya farmer, in his youth he still received a very thorough education in Sanskrit, rhetoric, logic and scripture. In his youth he accepted sannyasa in the Madhva-sampradaya, and, staying in Jagannatha Puri, he quickly became prominent in intellectual circles. HIs study of Srila Jiva Goswami's Sandarbhas made him a follower of Sri Caitanay mahaprabhu. He visited Navadvipa and spent the remaining part of his life in Vrndavana, studying Srimad-Bhagavatam and other Vaisnava scriptures under the guidance of his spiritual master, Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti. At this time, by the order of Visvanatha Cakravarti, and by the mercy of the Deity of Sri Govinda, the famous Govinda-bhasya commentary on Vedanta-sutra was written to answer criticism that the followers of Sri Caitanya were not genuine followers of the Vedas because they had neglected to comment on the Vedanta.

The most important works of Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana are: 1. Govinda-bhasya, 2. Siddhanta-ratna, 3. Vedanta-syamantaka, 4. Prameya-ratnavali, 5. Siddhanta-darpana, 6. Aisvarya-kadambini, 7. Sahitya-kaumudi, 8. Chandah-kaustubha, 9. Kavya-kau-stubha, 10. Bhagavad-gita-bhasya, 11. Vaisnav-anandini tika (commentary on Srimad-Bhagavatam), as well as commenatries on 12. Tattva sandarbha, 13. Stava-mala, 14. Gopala-tapani Upanisad, 15. Visnu-sahasra-nam, 156. Laghu-bhagavatamrta, 17. Nataka-candrika, and 18. Syamanada-sataka.

Prathama vrsti
Bhagavat-tripada-vibhuti

First Shower
The Spritual World

Text 1

I offer my respectful obeisances to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose form is like blue lotus flower, who wears golden ornaments, who possesses a multitude of eternal transcendental qualities and opulences, and who bears the name Sri Krsna.

Appearing in this world with Srila Santana Goswami and Srila Rupa Goswami, and bringing great tidal waves to the ocean of transcendental bliss, may the wonderful and splendid rising moon of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu dispel the darkness within our hearts.

Note: If the word sanatana is interpreted to mean "eternal" and if the word rupam is interpreted to mean "form," then this verse may be understood in the following way: "Revealing its eternal transcendental form in this world, and bringing great tidal waves to the ocean of transcendental bliss, may the wonderful and splendid rising moon of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu dispel the darkness within our hearts."

Text 3

Lord Visnu's very wonderful realm is named Paravyoma. It is like a great city of regal palaces. It is filled with the most exalted transcendental knowledge, and it shines far beyond the darkness of matter.

Text 4

In this spiritual world Lord Krsna appears as Narayana, Vasudeva, and His other catur-vyuha expansions, and as Lord Nrsimha and His other lila expansions. In these forms He displays His transcendental opulences and enjoys pastimes with HIs devotees.

Text 5

Appearing in many blissful trancendental forms, endowed with a host of transcendental opulences, and accompanied by many froineds, who are all goddesses like her, the supreme goddess Laksmi eternally worships her husband Narayana, who aslo appears in many transcendental forms.

Text 6

Above he Paravyoma are therealms of Dvaraka, MAthura nd Vraja. In these places Lord Krsna, the son of Devaki, enjoys transcendental pastimes with His friends and relatives.

Text 7

In Mathura, and in the opulent city of Dvaraka, SAtyaki, Uddhava and many others worship the Lord and many goddesses of fortune, headed by Srimati Rukmini worship their husband, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Text 8

Accompanied by many friends and servants, Lord Hari, the orince of Vraja, stays in the beautiiful and opulent realm of Gokula. Sri Radhika, along with Her friwnds, who are all goddesses like Her, continually serve Him without engaging in any other activity.

Text 9

The Gopala-tapani Upanisad expalins theat although Lord Krsna eternally remains in the spiritual world, sometimes, accompanied by His personal expansions and confidential devotees, He descends to the material world.

Text 10

Because of His geat handsomeness, sweetness, charm, and opulence, because of the musical sound of His flute, because He is filled with love, and because of His host of friends and relatives, great poets and philosphers say that Lord Krsna, teh son of Maharaja Nanda, is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Dvitiya vrsti
Ekapada-vibhuti-bhagavat-purusady-avirbhava-krama-varnam

Second Shower
The Lord's Appearance in the Material World
as the Purusavataras and Other Incarnations

Text 1

After the period of universal annihilation was completed and the material world was again manifested, the Supreme Personlaity of Godhead, in His form of Sankarsana, glanced at the multitude of His own material universes and saw the suffering conditioned souls. Feeling compassion for them, the Lord appeared in the material realm and displayed His extraordinary opulences.

Text 2

Appearing within each universe, Lord Sankarsana then expanded Himslef as Pradyumna, who became the father of Lord Brahma. The all-pervading Lord Sankarsana also expanded Himself as Lord Matsya and coutnless other incarnations of Godhead, all manifesting unlimited transcendental qualities and opulences.

Text 3

He then expanded Himself as Aniruddha, who resides on the Ksirodaka Ocean, and who aslo expands Himself as the Supersoul, remaining within the hearts of all the conditioned souls. Lord Aniruddha enjoys pastimes with the demogods and displays His wonderful prowess by completely vanquishing their enemies.

Text 4

Whenever and wherever the hosts of demoniac armies cause a decline in the principles of religion, at that time the Supreme Lord descends as Lord vasudeva and Lord Brahma to stop the decline f religion.

Text 5

Compassionatley observing the sufferings of His devotee Prahlada, the Supreme Personlaity of Godhead assumed the ferocious form of Lord Nrsimha and killed His devotee's enemy. All glories to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Govinda, the son of Maharaja Nanda.

Text 6

Lord Krsna, the original Supreme Personlaity of Godhead, sometimes descends to the world of men with His associates and transcenental abode. He removes the burden of the earth and delights His devotees.

Text 7

At first the Lord's transcendental abode becomes manifest within this world, and then, one by one, the Lord's parents and other elderly personalities appear. After that the Supreme Lord, full of transcendental opulences, and accompanied by the goddess of fortune and Her dear companions, who are all like Her, appears within this world.

Text 8

In these assocites of the Lord are manifest all transcendental knowledge and expertise, all opulences and good fortune, and ardent devotion to Lord Hari.

Trtiya Vrsti
sudeva-nandayor
Vrsni-camsodbhavety-adi-varnanam

Third Shower
The Appearance of Vasudeva and Nanda in the Vrsni Dynasty

Text 1

King Devamida as born in the Vrsni dynasty. He had two wives: Ksatriya and Arya. From Kstariya a son named Sura was born, and from Arya a son named Parjnaya was born.

Text 2

From Sura was born the great Vasudeva, whose wife was the virtuous Devaki. From Parjanya, the king of Vraja, was born Nanda, whose wife was the splendidly beautiful Yasoda.

Text 3

When Vasudeva was born, teh enigods, blossoming with happiness, played musical instruments to celebrate the occasion. Vasudeva became very generous and a pious servant of the brahmanas. He was respected by all. He became the place where Lord Visnu made His appearance in this world.

Text 4

The learned Sukadeva Goswani explained that Devaki is deva-rupini, which means that she is the equal of all demi-gods. Within her womb Devaki held the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the maintainer of all the universes. WHat could be more wonderful than this?

Text 5

Nanda was the king of Vrajabhumi and a great devotee of Lord Narayana, the husband of the goddess of fortune. Surrounded by many affectionate friends and counsellors, he lived in a beautiful and opulent palace that resounded with wonderfully melodious instrumental music. He was the fabulously wealthy master of an unlimited herd of cows and bulls, and the possessor of many chariots and other vehicles. BEcause he was both a scholar learned in all Vedic literatures and a strict follower of religious principles, he wasrespected by all.

Text 6

Lord Visnu, the omnipotent, all-pervading Personality of Godhead, tehmaster of the entire universe, became satisfied simply by sitting on Mother Yasoda''s lap and drinkinh\g milk from her breast. Seeing Mother Yasoda's exalted position, the Goddess of Fortune personally offered respectful obeisances to her, bowing down to her lotus feet with great awe and reverence. Who can describe the auspicious good fortune of Mther Yasoda?

Text 7

Nanda Maharaja's friends and relatives were all intelligent, learned and devoted to Lord HAri and the spiritual masters and the brahmanas. They carefully kept the sacred fire. They were the masters of many cows, bulls, and horses.

Text 8

Nanda Maharaja's friend, King Vrsabhanau, was full of all auspiocious qualitiies, and his daughter Srimati Radharani, was full of all auspicious qualities. The Vedas describe Srimati Radharanias the supreme empress who rules over all the goddesses of fortune.

Text 9

Nanda Maharaja was a great patron of the arts, and talented poets, singers, musicians, and dancers would display their skill to Him. He would please all these artists by rewarding them handsomely and fulfilling all their desires.

Text 10

His kingdom was the mother of many rivers, which bestowed abundant charity in the form of water. The kalpa-vrksa trees and surabhi cows in hi k ingdom eternally showered the fulfilment of all desires.

Text 11

In his kingdom there was a hill named Govardhana. Go means "cow" and vardhana means "increases." The hill was very appropriately named, for it amply nourished all teh surabhi cows by providing fresh grass for the cows to eat. Decorated with many jewels, swiftly moving streams, caves that appeared to be palaces, and nice fruits and flowers, this hill earnestly served Nanda Maharaja.

Caturthi Vrsti
Sri Nandanrpa-rajadhani-varnanam

Fourth Shower
Nanda Maharaja's Capitol

Text 1

Nanda Maharaja's large capitol, full of many beautiful palaces and decorated with large, regal gates, was splendidly manifested in the forest of Mahavana. I that city Lord Visnu, who is full of al auspicious transcendtal qualities, who never takes birth, and who rescues His devotees from the cycyle of birth and death, wa born in this world.

Text 2

Nearby was Kinf Vrsabhanu's splendid palace, whereby Queen Radhika, the beloved companion of Lord Krsna, the moon of Vraja, appeared in this world.

Text 3

Charming Nandisvara Hill bore an abundance of fruits nad lfowers. Near its summit, which was studded with jewels, stood the hgreat city of the king of Vraja.

Text 4

In Nanda Maharaja's capitol were many beautiful gardens, wells, ponds, marketplaces, and palces studded with wonderful jewels.

Text 5

In Nanda Maharaja's capitol were many beautiful residences for surabhi cows, and many large gates, studded with jewels and protected by the Kings soldiers decked in golden ornaments. These opulences enchanted everyones heart.

Text 6

In the middle of that city was Nanda Maharaj's splendid palace made of lazuli, precious coral, emeralds, and, many others jewels, constructed with many large pillars, elegant windows and lattices, a beautiful roof, rooftop apartments, and many glistening flags.

Text 7

Although expertly constructed with many playful and amazing tricls, the assembly halls of Maharaja Nanda, who was worshipped by everyone, were beyond the touch of the illusory potency, maya. They were the residence of teh goddess of forrtune and they were admired by the best of architects.

Text 8

Outside the halls were large gates made of gold and jewels and protected by royal guards whose handsome limbs removed the pride of King Indra.

Text 9

In Nandan Maharaja's kingdom there was a very wonderful sysytem of aqueducts carrying water fromt he hills to every house and garden by a series of bamboo pipes.

Text 10

The splendid homes of the people inNanda Maharaja's kingdom were made of lapis lazuli, duamonds, and many other precious gems, and were decorated with many glistening flags. In each home there were continual festivals celebrating the glories of Lord Visnu, the husband of the goddess of fortune.

Text 11

Nanda Maharaja's kingdom was surrounded by a very tall, splendid, well fortified wall with beautiful gardens on its topmost ramparts. Circling the entire kingdom was a great moat filed by streams flowing form the hills.

Text 12

The forests of Maharaja Nandas kingdom were filled with the sound of musk deer, camaras, and other wild animals as they walked thorugh the mud and clay of the forest. The forest streams were filled with the sound of the waves rushng past the many lotus flowers.

Text 13

Maharaja Nanda's large, splendid, and transcendental kingdom around Nandisvara Hill was faithfully served by Sarasvati, teh goddess of learning. It was the favourite place of Lord Hari, and it stood next to the kingdom of Maharaja Vrsabhanu.

Pancami Vrsti
Sa-parikara-bhagavaj-janmotsava-varnanam

Fifth Shower
Description of the Festival of the Births of the Supreme Personlaity of Godhead and His Asscoiates.

Text 1

Lotus-eyed Lord Krsna, themaster of all transcendental opulenceand glory, entered Maharaja Vasudeva and appeared before Maharaja Nanda. Leraned and exalted, Vasudeva and Nanda gave Lord Krsna to their wives, who both held Him as their son.

Text 2

Because of Lord Krsna's entrance in their wombs, the two friends Devaki and Yasoda became very beautiful. Appearing as splendid lightning they delighted the pious devotees and pained the envious demons.

Text 3

When Lord Mukunda (Krsna) appeared in this world, musical instrumnets sounded of their own accord, trees and flowers blossomed, and the minds and hearts of the brahamanas and devotees also blossomed with happiness.

Text 4

On the eight night of the dark moon, at midnight, when the star Rohini was near the moon, the queen of Vraja easily gave birth to twins: Lord Hari and the goddess Durga; and at the same moment Deavki gave birth to a single child: Lord Hari. When Lord Hari appeard in this way the pure hearted devotees became filled with joy.

Text 5

Seeing his son and knowing Him to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva became filled with happiness and gave away millions of cows in charity within his mind. Because he was afraid of Kamsa, Vasudeva quickly carried his unlimitedly powerful son to the home of his brother, the king of Vraja.

Text 6

Vasudeva placed his own son in Nanda's home, took Yasoda's daughter, and gave her to King Kamsa. By Lord Krsna's inconceivable potency the two Krsnas born separately from Devaki and Yasoda became one tiny child.

Note: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada mentions this pastime in the following words (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.3.47 Purport): "Srila Visvanath Cakravati discusses that Krsna appeared simultaneously as the son of Devaki and the son of Yasoda, along with the spiritual energy Yogamaya. As the son of Devaki, He first appeared as Visnu, and becasue Vasudeva was not in the positionof pure affection for Krsna, Vasudeva wi\orshipped his osn as Lord Visnu. Yasoda, however, pleased herso n Krsna without understanding is Godhood. This is the differnce between Krsna as the son of Yasoda and as the son of Devaki. This is explained by Visvanath Cakravati on the authority of Hari-vamsa."

Srila Rupa Goswami also discusses this pastime in these words(Laghu-Bhagavatamrta 1.5.454-456):

kecid bhagavath prahur
evam atra puratanah
vyuhah pradurbhaved adyo
grheso anakadundubheh
gosthe tu mayaya sradhanam
sri-lila-purusottamah

"In ancient times ome devotees have said that the Lord appeared in Hid Vasudeva feature in the home Maharaja Vasudeva, and at the same time appeared in His original form of Krsna in the village of Vraja. In this way these devotees have said tha Sri Krsna and Yogamaya were the twin children of Yasoda in Vrajabhumi."

gatva yadu-varo gostham
tatra suri-grham visan
kanyam eva param viksya
tam adayavrajat puram
pravisad vasudevas tu
sri-lila-purusottama

"When Maharaja Vasudeva arrived in Vrajabhumi he entered Yasoda-devis maternity room, saw Yasodas daughter, took her, and returned with her to Mathura. The Vasudeva expansion Maharaja Vasudeva carried with him entered the body of Sri Krsna, who had justtaken birth as the son of Yasoda. In thi way the two forms of Vasudeva and Krsna became one."

tac cati-rahasyatvan
noktam tatra katha-krame
kintu kvacit prasangena
sucyate sri-sukadibhih

"Because this pastime is very confidential it is not related in Srimad-Bhagavtam. Nevertheless Sukadeva Goswami and other great devotees have indirectly described it in some of their writings."

Text 7

From his associates, the king of Vraja learned aboutt he birth of his son, who was in truth the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Overcome with joy, the king dressed in costly garments and ornaments and had the best of brahmanas perform the birth ceremony according to the rules of the Sruti-sastra.

Text 8

Nanda Maharaja was naturally generous and full of faith in the Supreme Personlaity of Godhead. Overwhelmed with joy at the festive celebration of his son's birth, he gave two million nicely decorated cows along with their calves in charity to the brahamanas.

Text 9

Nanda Maharaja gave to the brahmanas seven hills of grain along with many jewels, golden ornaments, and costly garments. All teh cows were carefully decorated for the occassion. Vraja became filled with wonder.

Text 10

The brahmanas, sutas, magadhas and vandis recited asupcious prayers. Musical instruments were sounded, and there was a great winder of singing and dancing.

Text 11

Hearing about the auspicious transcendetal qualities of Nanda Maharaja's son, the cowherd people became full of joy. Nicely dressed, wearing jeweled ornaments, and beariing valuable gifts in their hands, they eagerly went to the home of the king of Vraja.

Text 12

Dressed in wonderful colorful ornaments, beautiful jewel earrings, ankle bells, and great necklaces, and carrying gifts in their hands, the women of th town of Vrajapura came to the kings palace, eager to see Lord Krsna.

Text 13

Their voices decorated witht the shouts of jaya, the people of Vraja sprinkled ghee, yoghurt, and tumeric. AS if mad with happiness, Brahma, Siva, Sanakumara, and all the demigods danced in the kings courtyard.

Text 14

With a joyful heart the king of Vraja welcomed his friends and realitves and gave them gifts of many pricelss jewelled ornaments, costly garments, and fragrant incense and perfume, fulfilling all their desires.

Text 15

Nanda Maharaja glowed with happiness at the celebration of his son's birth. He opened wide the doors of his treasurey and gave charity without restriction. Drowning in a flood of happiness, the beggars loudly praised the kings charity that fulfilled all their desires.

Text 16

At first the king of Vraja and his subjects experienced a happiness within measured limists, but when child Krsna, the Supreme Lord, arrived, everyones happiness at once passed beyond all limits.

Text 17

Behind Krsna came Sri Balarama, Sridama, Ujjvala, and many other children. Shining with great luster, these boys made Vraja appear like the peak of a mountain of jewels.

Text 18

Filled with transcendental glory and opulence, Govindfa and theother boys filled with happiness the homes of the fortunate cowherd men headed by Maharaja Nanda in Vrajabhumi.

Text 19

Even though Lord Krsna, the son of Maharaja Nanda, is the Supreme Personlaity of Godhead, the ultimate goal of all living entities, He still considers that the supreme goal of His life is Sri Radha, who has fathomless beauty and numberless transcendetal qualities, an who appeared in the holy abode of Vraja as the daughter of Kirtida-devi.

Text 20

At the time of teh festival of Sri radha's birth, even the prayers of the great demigods left the world unsatisfied. When the women of Vraja saw the auspiiocus marks on Her lotus feet they all became convinced that this girl was the goddess of fortune.

Text 21

Whenpoets attempt to describe Sri Radha they became filled with awe and they loudly rebuke the moon, the lotus, and other beautfil things of this world. By constantly meditating on Sri Radha and by repeatedly offering obeisances to Her, these poets attain intense happiness within their hearts.

Text 22

Every kind of transcendental glory and opulence is manifest from Sri radha's sidelong glance. Even Lord Krsna, the Supreme Pesonality of Godhead is not able to edscribe them all.

Text 23

Sri radha's friends, who expertly serve Her, and whose beauty, virtue, and transcendental qualities resmeble Hers, then appeared in the capitol of the king of Vraja in the homes of the best of the cowherds.

Sasthi Vrsti
Bhagavad-balyadi-krama-lila varnanam

Sixth Shower
The Lord's Childhood Pastimes and Other Pastimes

Text 1

Observing a lotus flower, disk, conchshell, jambu, tree, barleycorn, half-moon, rod for controlling elephants, flag, thunderbolt, and other auspicious markings on the hands and feet of their tiny child the king and queen of Vraja became jubilant and thought, "Our osn must be a great exalted person."

Text 2

Assuming a disguised form, sinful Putana came to kill Krsna by feeding Him the poisoned milk from her breast. Pleased by her acceptance of a mother's role, the tiny child Krsna purified her and awarded her the post of His eternal mother in the spiritual world.

Text 3

By quickly tearing apart the cart demon Sakatasura and the stroong whirlwind demon Trnavarta, the supremely powerful child Krsna delighted the residents of Vrndavana.

Whenever tiny Krsna was seated on His mothers lap He became very restless and mishievous. Seeing His mischievous pastimes, the elderly gopis and all th eother residents of Vrajabhumi became plunged in the ocean of transcendental bliss.

Text 5

Krsna received many names from Gargacarya, and later the gopis, to describe His confidential pastimes called Him Mukunda(the giver of liberation) and Corika-narma-deva(the playful king of thieves).

Text 6

When great sages yearned for some of th dust where child Krsna was playing, on the pretext of giving them a handful of dust, the generous Lord gave them the sweetest nectar.

Text 7

Sometimes restless, curious Krsna would approach His father, King Nanda, in the midst of the royal assembly. His forehead as splendid as the crescent moon, His eyes decorated with black ointment, and His words very sweet and charming, He delighted everyone and kept them from their business for a very long time.

Text 8

Dressed in yellow silk and decorated with bracelets, anklets, necklaces, splendid armlets, and golden earrings, child Krsna stole everyone's heart with the tinkling sounds He made as He walked.

Text 9

Riding on a chariot with His brother Balaram, and accompanied by His mother, who rode on a palanquin, Lord Hari would sometimes travel to the forest to serve the great devotees-sages at their hermitages in the forest. When the Lord offerd them yoghurt, modaka candies, and toher palatable foodstuffs, the intelligent sages became filled with bliss.

Text 10

Disguised as birds, the great demigods would regularly eat the remnants of Krsna's and Balarama's meals. This is agreat wonder.

Text 11
Acompanied by Hs friends, Krsna would steal milk products from the gopis, eat some, give some to the minkeys. Even though these pranks were described to His mother, they only increased her love for Him. Amused by all His pranks, she did not punish Him.

Text 12

One day Krsna's elder brother informed His mother that "Krsna has eaten clay." When His mother angrily rebuked Him, frightened Krsna showed her the entire universe within His mouth. PAcifying her in this way, child Krsna became jubilant.

Text 13

Bound up by His mother when she saw His pranks, Krsna displayed His great power. Even though He was Himslef bound, He broke the two arjuna trees and gave them both liberation. For this reason He is known as Mukunda, the giver of liberation.

Text 14

Satying in Vrndavana forest and herding the calves with His friends, Krsna killed Vatsasura, Bakasura, and Aghasura. Once, When His lunch was interrupted, He purifies the demigod Brahma.

Text 15

When Krsna crushed the Kaliya serpent and purified the Yamuna River, he observed the great and wonderful love the residents of Gokula held for Him, and He became very pleased at heart.

Text 16

Playing with His friends in pairs, Lord Krsna arranged that Balarama, the enemy of Dhenukasura, would kill the demon Pralamba, the enemy of the demigods. By swallowing a fire in the Munjatavi forest, Krsna displayed the friendhsip He bears for His devotees.

Text 17

Placing the gopis' garments on His shoulder and gazing at the beauty of their bodies, Lord Krsna revealed to the world the pure devotees' unlimited desires to attain Him.

Text 18

When the demigods offered prayers and dance, Krsna will not even glance at them form the corner of His eye, although He himself glorifies the trees of Vrjabhumi and very happily embraces them with both His arms.

Text 19

After eating the foodstuffs offered by the wives of the brahmanas, Lord Krsna blessed them to attain His own lotus feet. Rejecting the importance of Vedic rituals, he proclaimed that their pure faith in Him was th casue of their advancement in pure devotional service.

Text 20

In His youth Krssna lifted Govardhana Hill and defeated Indra, the proud king of the demigods. For His sake the hearts of teh girls of Vraja were filled with armorous passions as if surrounded by a host of balzing fires.

Text 21

When all the girls of Vraja married Lord Krsna, the moon of Vraja, according to the gandharva rite, the demigoddesses in the celestial planets jubilantly and wonderfully scttered flowers, sang, danced, and played mrdangas.

Text 22

Seeing Brahma offering prayers, Siva expressing his devotion, and Indra and all the demigods acting as servants of Nanda's son, Krsna, the cowherd people understood that Kamsa's demoniac allies were as insignificant as so many pieces of strw.

Text 23

As they agzed on Lord Krsna, the only friend of the surrendered souls, th husband of the goddesses of fortune, the object of worship for the leader sof the demigods, His face the moon, His eyes lotus flowers, His compexion splendid as a dark atasi flower, His spiritual form anointed with sandal paste, dressed in exquisite golden ornaments, decorated with glistening ornaments, crowned with a wonderfully colorful turban, and always surrounded by His friends, the people of Vraja became filled with bliss and love.

Text 24
Seeing Him very gentle, humble, and filled with transcenedntal good qualities, at an auspicous moment, and with many auspicious ceremonies, King Nanda crowned his son(Krsna) the prince of Vraja.

Text 25

Nanda built a beautiful palace and appointed Lord Balarama prime minister and governor of Vrajabhumi. In this way he plunged evryone into an ocean of happiness.

Text 26

To his personal architect's son, a boy who was an ocean of intelligent and whose physical strength had no farther shore, Nanda ordered: "Please build a very wonderful palace that will please your friend Krsna."

Text 27

For Lord Krsna, the moon of Vraja, he at once built a very beautiful palacevwith a network of splendid roofs and rooftop apartmens and with many beautiful courtyards, lattices, windows, doorways, and decorative water fountains.

Text 28

Decoarated with four clear lakes full of blossoming lotus flowers and bounded by jewelled shores and gardens full of many kinds of blossomig flowers and humming bumblebees, that palce was splendidly beautiful.

Text 29

On many mountain peaks the architect buily many different jewelled palaces more beautiful tahn anything built by the celestial architect, Visvakarma. Expert at appreciating art and architecture, Krsna was very pleased, and with a happy heart gave the architect many jeweled ornaments and valuable garments.

Text 30

Their forms the abodes of nectar of teh most splendid transcendental handsomeness and Their hearts pierced by each others smilingglances, the lovers Sri Sri Radha and Krsna enjoy many pastimes with Their friends in these jeweled palaces.

Text 31

When, invited for a visit, the king of Vraja travelled with his wife, son, friends, all decorated with glistening jewels and fanned with camara wisks, and all riding on chariots, palanquins, or horses to the accompaniment of a band of turyas, even the great demigods became struck with wonder to the see the splendid sight.

Text 32

When the king of Vraja entered the palce, Maharaja Vrsabhanu and his associates, with great repsect and cordial hospitality, at once brough him many kinds of palatable foods.

Text 33

Gazing at the shower of nectar that is Lord Krsna, all these friends, and especially the young girls, who were deeply in love with Him, became plunged into an ocean of transcendental bliss.

Text 34

Thirsting to enjoy transcendental amorous pastimes, Sri Sri Radha-Krsna drank the nectar of each other's charming smiles. A monsoon shower of sidelong glnaces rose from the dark lotus petal eyes of the dark mountain monsoon cloud and glittering lightning flash that were Sri Sri Radha-Krsna.

Text 35

Presenting many valuable ornaments and other gifts, Maharaja Vrsabhanu worshiped the king of Vraja. He and his associates followed the king of Vraja and his party for a great distance, and only with great reluctance did he finally turn back and enter his own beautiful garden.

Text 36

After this visit Princess radhika, the object of Lord Krsna's love and th auspiciousness of Vraja, desired to travel to Vraja. She wished to go there decorated with costly garments and ornaments adn holding a lotus flower in Her hand in the company of Her mother nad friends.

Text 37

The many very splendid palanquins and chariots, studded with vaidurya jewels, decorated with glittering ornaments, and covered with golden cloths, entered the courtyard of Maharaja Nanda.

Text 38

Decorated with tinkling ornaments and taliking with great animation, the splendidly beautiful girls happily assembled for the journey.

Text 39

Then Sri Radhika and the other girls, who were all very dear to Lord Krsna, the son of Nanda, ascended their chariots and palanquins. Singing many songs, and gently fanned by maidservants holding camara and other fans, the beautiful-eyebrowed girls left the palace courtyard.

Text 40

A band of conchshells, kettledrums, and wind intrumnets played auspiciouc music during Princess Radhika's journey. A band of heroic soldiers, armed with golden clubs, swords, bows, and arrows, guarded the travelling party on the front and sides.

Text 41

A fragrant breeze gently blew, a greta cloud became like a parasol to shade the travelling party, and the demigoddesses in the celestial planets sang, danced, recited prayers, and played mrdangas and other musical instruments.

Text 42

Seeing the sprawling city of Nandagrama, which was encircled by walls and a moat and which appeared to them to be like a coiled-up serpent, a sublimely complicated argument offered by the grammarian Patanjali, or a celestial vine that fulfils all desires, the girls happily spoke many prayers glorifiying Lord Krsna.

Text 43

The girls descended from their palnquins and chariots, rewarded the palanquin bearers and chariot drivers, bowed down to offer respects to the queen of Gokula, and accepted from her a gift of excellent betelnuts.

Text 44

Then the lotus-eyed girls, whose tinkling anklets charm the hearts of their husbands, returned to their own homes, bathed, and performed thei household duties to please their husbands.

Text 45

As He herdrd the surbhai cows, Maharaja's glorious and handsome son, who has the heart of a rake, trembled with passionate love fort hedoe-eyed gopis.

Text 46

Receivnig the prayers and worship of Varuna, the controller of the waters, and bringng his fther, who had been kidnapped by Varuna, to his own home again, and in this way pleasing the people of Vrajabhumi, the all-powerful Supreme Lord appeared very splenddi and glorious.

Text 47

when Krsna saw the beauty of moonlit Vrndavana forest He hebgan to play His flute. He was quickly decorated by the splendid gopis who rushed to meet Him there.

Text 48

Singing, dancing, and playing musical instruments, the beautiful gopis affectionately worshipped Krsna. Tehse pastimes confirm the scriptures's statement that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is full of unlimited transcendental pleasure.

Text 49

How can even Sarasvati-devi, the goddess of eloquent speech, attain the power to describe the transcenedntal happiness created in the arena of the rasa dance by the wonderful sounds of the flutes, lutes, drums, ankle-bells, glistening belts and many ornamnets, by the sounds of tatathai from the hand cymbals, by the wonderful singing and dancing, by the graceful hand gestures, and by the splendid jewels that were the beautiful slender forms of the gopis?

Text 50

All-powerul Lord Krsna rescued Vidyadhara Sudarsana from the life of a serpent and transformed him to a demigod. The Lord also personally killed Sankhacuda and took his Symanataka jewel.

Text 51

Overcome with feelings of separation, for along time the lotus-eyed girls of Vraja sang the glories of Lord Krsna, the ancient Supreme Personlaity of Godhead, who was the brother of the dark monsoon clouds and who had then disappeared into the forest. At that time throughout the entire world the swanlike pure devotees rapt in meditation became like flowing rivers of hot tears of anguish and cold tears of transcendental joy.

Text 52

When the colorful bird of the sound of Krsna's flute flew into the sky in Vrndavana forest, Brahma, Siva, Indra, Narada and all the demigods became struck with ownder, the hills began to flow like rivers, the rivers stood like immovable hills, and all the girls of Vraja became plunged in the river of transcendental unrest.

Text 53

The demigods offered respectful obeisances to Lord Krsna, who plunged the Arista demon into a flood of pain, who led the Kesi demon to his death and who made the Vyoma demon enter the great sky of the impersonal void.

Text 54

Then Lord Krsna went to MAthura, where He killed Kamsa and removed the sufferings of His parents. After installing Ugrasena as king of the Yadu lands, the Lord immediately went to Dvaraka.

Text 55

Lord Krsna killed the demoniac sons of Dhrtarastra, the king of teh Kurus, and installed Yudhisthira, the son of Yamaraja, as emperor of the entire earth. After killing a great host of demons, Lord Krsna returned to Vraja, where for two months he fulfilled everyone's desires.

Saptami Vrsti
Sri Gokulagamanady-uttara-lila-varnanam

Seventh Shower
Lord Krsna's Return to Gokula and His Later Pastimes

Text 1

When Uddhava and other messengers begged that He returm to Gokula, Lord Krsna assented to their request. When the Lord returned, melodious sounds of dundubhi drums thundered, asupicious shouts of joy arose in every home, and the forests of Vrndavana showered a great monsoon of nectar.

Text 2

When the moon of Lord Krsna arose, the land of Vraja became like an ocean filled with waves of transcendental bliss.

Text 3

When Lord Krsna arrived, the forest of Vrndavan suddenly blossomed into spring.

Text 4

The splendid kadamba trees suddenly burst into bloom. Tears flowing on to their chests, all the people of Vraja embraced Lord Krsna with intense feelings of love and bliss.

Text 5

Many sannyasi sages and ascetic householders came there to see Lord Krsna. The Lord worshiped them with great reverence and they spoke many prayers glorifying the Lord with great love and devotion.

Text 6

They said: "O Lord, You are the master of everyone. You are the giver of ultimate liberation. You give Yourself to Your devotees. You are full of love for your devotees. Your transcennetal form is the abode of all knowledge and bliss. You are the resting place of Srivatsa and Laksmi."

Text 7

"O Lord you are splendidly decoarted with the Kaustabha jewel. You are the only cause of the birth, maintenance, and destruction of all universes. You are the master of all inconceivable potencies. You are teh origin of the purusa-avataras. Brahma and all teh demigods are Your servants."

Text 8

"O Govinda, O son of Nanda, O killer of Kamsa and his friends, O husband of the goddess of fortune, please purify us. O glorious king of Gokula who is always surrounded by great devotees, all glories to You."

Text 9

"O infallible Lord as splendid as a dark monsoon cloud, Your devotional service creates intense transcendental bliss. O jewel of all generous and charitable persons, please give this nine-fold devorional service to us. We think that no blessing is better than this."

Text 10

Riding on splendid palnaquins, chariots, and horses, Lord Krsna and His friends went to the forests of Vrndavana. There He enjoyed with them the nectar of transcendental pastimes. There He was worshipped by the supreme goddess of fortune.

Text 11

With His friends who are like Him in good quality, handsome form, and transcendental opulence, He enjoyed many wonderful pastimes as He herded the cows on Govardhana Hill and in the forests of Vraja.

Text 12

Eager to enjoy the ultimate transcendental pleasure, He entered at night deep within the forest of Vrndavana, adn there, even though He is the natural blissful Supreme Personlaity of Godhead, He enjoyed the unlimitedly beautiful girls of Vraja.

Text 13

These eternal and blissful transcendental pastimes of the Supreme Lord, Visnu, the son of Mahraja Nanda, whichi have been related to us by the faithful pure devotees , completely extinguish the blazing fire of repeated birth and death in the confines of thematerial world.

Text 14

Originally spoken by the sage Srila Sukadeva Goswami in the assembly of great devotees, these transcendental and blissful pastimes of Lord Krsna have now been repeated by Baladeva Vidyabhusana. These pastimes should be worshiped in the same way the transcendental form of the Lord is worshiped and served.

Text 15

By the mercy of Sri Krsnadeva Sarvabhauma Prabhu this monsoon of the transcendental opulences of the Lord has now risen to relieve the sufferings of the saintly devotees whose lotus hearts have become dry, wilted, and lusterless, scorched by thepainful heat of the inability to hear the glorification of the transcendental opulences of Lord Krsna, the moon of Vraja.

Text 16

The unprecedented, blissful, and festive monsoon of the opulences of Lord Krsna, the son of Nanda, that precedes this verse has appeared in this world in 1701 of the Saka era (AD 1779). May this monsoon become dear to the saintly devotees who have taken shelter of Lord Krsna's lotus feet.

Sri Prarthana by Srila Narottama dasa Thakura
Lalasamayi (Longings)

Song 1

1 gauranga bolite habe pulaka-sarira
hari hari bolite nayane ba'be nira

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 ara kabe nitai-cander koruna hoibe
somsara-basana more kabe tuccha habe

When will I obtain the mercy of Lord Nityanandacandra? When, by His mercy will the desire for material enjoyment become very insignificant?

3 bisaya chairya kabe suddha habe mana
kabe hama herabo sir-brndabana

When the mind is completely purfied, 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 rupa-raghunatha-pade hoibe akuti
kabe hama bu jhabo se jugala piriti

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 rupa-raghunatha-pade rahu mora asa
prarthana koroye sada narottama-dasa

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.

Song 2

Samprarthanatmika (An appeal)

1 radha-krsna nibedana ei jana kore
donhe ati rasamaya sa karuna-hrdaya
abadhana kara natha more

O Radha and Krsna, this person presents an appeal before you. You are both very charming and full of nectar, and Your hearts are full of compassion. My Lords, please listen to my request.

2 he krsna gokulacandra gopijana-vallabha
he krsna-preyasi-siromani
hema-gauri syama-gaya sravane parasa paya
guna suni judaya parani

O dark-complexioned Krsna, O moon of Gokula, O lover of the gopis, O golden-complexioned Radha, O crest jewel of the gopis who are so dear to Krsna, when I hear the glories of Your transcendental virtues my heart becomes pacified.

3 adhama-durgati-jane kevala karuna mane
tribhuvana e jasah-kheyati
suniya sadhura mukhe srvana lai nu sukhe
upekhile nahi mora gati

Hearing from the devotees' mouths that You are very merciful to the fallen and miserable, I joyfully take shelter of You. If You neglect me I have no place to go.

4 jaya radhe jaya krsna jaya jaya radhe krsna
krsna krsna jaya jay radhe
anjali mastake kori narottama bhume padi
kahe donhe purao manah-sadhe

O Radha, all glories to You. O Krsna all glories to You. O Radha and Krsna all glories to You. O Krsna, O Krsna, all glories to You. O Radha, all glories to You. Narottama dasa places His folded hands upon his head and falls to the ground before You. Please fulfill the desires of his heart.

Dainya-bodhika (The Author Describes His fallen Condition)

Song 3

1 hari hari ki mora korama gati manda
braje radha-krsna pada na bhajinu tila-ardha
na bhjhinu ragera sambandha

O Lord Hari, Lord Hari, how wicked I am! I did not worship the lotus feet of Radha and Krsna in Vrajabhumi even for half a moment, and I am completely unable to understand the mellows of transcendental love.

2 swarupa sanatana rupa raghunatha bhatta-yuga
bhugarbha sri-jiva lokanatha
inha sabhara pada-padma na sevinu tila-ardha
ara kise puribeka sadha

Even for half a moment I did not worship the lotus feet of Srila Svarupa Damodara Gosvami, Srila Sanatana Gosvami, Srila Rupa Gosvami, Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Srila Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, Srila Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, Srila Bhugarbha Gosvami, Srila Jiva Gosvami and Srila Lokanatha Gosvami. How will it be possible for me to attain my desire?

3 krsnadasa kaviraja rasika bhakata-majha
jenho kaia caitanya-carita
gaura-govinda-lila sunite galaye sila
tahate na haila mora cite

Among the devotees Krsna dasa Kaviraja is extremely expert at relishing the transcendental nectar of the mellows of love of God. When the stones hear his Caitanya-caritamrta and Govinda Lilamrta, they begin to melt in ecstasy. In spite of this, I have no appreciation in my heart.

4 se saba bhakata-sanga je karila tara sanga
tara sange kene nahila basa
ki mora dukhera katha janama gonainu vrtha
dhik dhik narottama dasa

Furthermore, I refuse even to associate with the friends and companions of these great souls. How sad is my tale. I have spent my life uselessly. Fie, fie on Narottama dasa!

Song 4

1 hari hari! biphale janama gonainu
manusya-janama paiya radha-krsna na bhaijiya
janiya suniya bisa khainu

O Lord Hari, Lord Hari, I have spent my life uselessly. Although I have obtained a human birth, I have refused to worship Radha and Krsna, and in this way I have knowingly drunk poison.

2 golekera prema-dhana, hari-nama-sankirtana
rati na janmilo kene tay
somsara-bisanale, diba-nisi hiya jwale
juraite na koinu upay

The treasure of love of God has descended from the spiritual world of Goloka Vrndavana, appearing in this world as the sankirtana movement of the chanting of Lord Hari's holy names. Why was I not attracted to it? Day and night I burned in the poison of material existence, but still I refused to take the antidote.

3 brajendra-nandana jei, saci-suta hoilo sei
balarama hoilo nitai
dina-hina jata chilo, hari-name uddharilo
tara saksi jagai madhai

Lord Krsna, the prince of Vraja, has appeared as Lord Caitanya, the son of Saci-devi and Lord Balarama has appeared as Lord Nityananda. The most fallen and degraded were lifted from their fallen condition by the chanting of the holy Name of Lord Hari. The story of Jagai and Madhai testifies to the truth of this.

4 ha ha prabhu nanada-suta, brsabhanu-suta-juta
koruna karoho ei-baro
narottama-dasa koy na theliho ranga pay
toma bine ke ache amara

O Lord Krsna, O son of Maharaja Nanda, O companion of Srimati Radharani, the daughter of Maharaja Vrsabhanu, please be merciful to me. Now that I have finally attained Your reddish lotus feet, please do not push me away. Except for You, who is my shelter?

Song 5

1 praneswara nibedana ei jana kore
govinda gokulacandra parama ananda-kanda
gopi-kula-priya dekha more

O master of my life, this person places an appeal before You. O Govinda, O moon of Gokula, O source of all transcendental bliss, O beloved of the gopis, please cast Your glance upon me.

2 tuya-pada-padma-seba eidhana more diba
tumi natha karunara nidhi
parama mangala jasa sravane parama rasa
kara kiba karya nahe siddhi

O my Lord, You are an ocean of mercy. Please give me the treasure of service to Your lotus feet. Hearing Your supremely auspicious glories is the greatest nectar for the ears. If You bestow Your mercy, then what difficult task cannot be accomplished?

3 daruna-samsara-gati bisama-bisaya-mati
tuya bismarana-sela buke
jara jara tanu mana acetana anuksana
jiyante marana bhela duhkhe

I wander through this world of suffering, my mind fixed on the objects of the senses, which bring only pain, and my chest pierced by the javelin of forgetfulness of You. My body and mind are withered and shattered, and from moment to moment I become unconscious. Immersed in pain, I am like a living corpse.

4 mo-hena adhama jane kara krpa-niriksane
dasa kari rakha vrndabane
sri-krsna-caitanya-nama prabhu mora guna gaura-dhama
narottama laila sarane

Please give me Your merciful glance. Make me Your servant and allow me to stay in Vrndavana. The golden-complexioned person who bears the name Sri Krsna Caitanya is my master. Narottama dasa takes shelter of Him.

Song 6

1 hari hari krpa kari rakha nija-pade
kama krodha chaya jane lana phire nana sthane
bisaya-bhunjaya nana-mate

O Lord Hari, O Lord Hari, please give me shelter at Your feet. Six men headed by lust and anger take me here and there and force me to enjoy my senses in many ways.

2 haiya mayara dasa kari nana abhilasa
tomara smarana gela dure
artha-labha ei ase kapata-baisnaba-besa
bhramiya bulaye ghare ghare

Filled with material desires, a servant of material illusion, and my memory of You fled far away, disguised as a Vaisnava I wandered from house to house, hoping to get some money.

3 aneka duhkhera pare layechile braja-pure
krpa-dora galaya bandhiya
daiva-maya balat kare khasaiya sei dore
bhaba kupe dileka dhariya

When I suffered many miseries You tied Your rope of mercy around my neck and dragged me to Vraja. The illusory energy then forcibly untied those ropes and again threw me into the well of material existence.

4 punah yadi krpa-kari e janare kesa dhari
taniya tulai braja-dhame
tabe se dekhiya bhala natuba parana gela
kahne dina dasa narottama

If, grasping his hair, You mercifully pull this person from illusion's well and place him in the abode of Vraja, he will see that as his great good fortune. Otherwise his life will end. Poor and fallen Narottama dasa sings this song.

Song 7

1 hari hari bada sela marame rahila
paiya durlabha tanu sri-krsna-bhajan binu
janma mora biphala haila

O Lord Hari, O Lord Hari, a great javelin has pierced me in the core of the heart. Having attained this difficult to get human body, I have neglected the worship of Sri Krsna, and in this way my life has become useless.

2 brajendranandana hari nabadwipe abatari
jagat bhariya prema dila
muni se pamara-mati bisese kathina ati
teni more karuna nahila

Although Lord Hari, the prince of Vraja, descended to Navadvipa and filled the universe with pure love of God, He was not merciful to me because I was very cruel and sinful at heart.

3 swarupa sanatana rupa raghunatha bhatta-yuga
tahate na haila mora mati
dibya cintamani dhama brndabana hena sthana
sei dhame na kainu vasati

My mind refuses to think of Srila Svarupa Damodara Gosvami, Srila Sanatana Gosvami, Srila Rupa Gosvami, Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Srila Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, and Srila Gopala Bhatta Gosvami. I decline to make my residence in Vrndavana-dhama, the abode of transcendental cintamani gems.

4 bisesa bisaye mati nahila baisnabe rati
nirantara kheda uthe mane
narottama dasa kahe jibara ucita nahe
sri-guru-baisnaba-seba bine

My mind is absorbed in sense-gratification, and I do not take pleasure in the association of Vaisnavas. For this reason pain and regret arise in my heart. Narottama dasa says: It is not good to live without serving the spiritual master and Vaisnavas.

Dainya-bodhika prarthana (Prayer Where the Author Describes His Fallen Condition)

Song 8

1 hari hari ki mora karama abhaga
biphale jibana gela hrdaye rahila sela
nahi bhela hari-anuraga

O Lord Hari, Lord Hari, everything I do is inauspicious. I have uselessly wasted my life, and I have no love for You. It is as if my heart were pierced by a sharp javelin.

2 yajna dhana tirtha-snana punya-karma japa dhyana
akarane saba gela mohe
bujhilana mane hena upahasa haya jena
bastrahina alankara dehe

My Vedic sacrifices, charity, bathing in holy places of pilgrimage, pious deeds, mantra-chanting, and meditation, are all useless and illusory. In my heart I know that without devotional service these things are a joke, like placing valuable ornaments on a naked body.

3 sadhu-mukhe kathamrta suniya bimala cita
nahi bhela aparadha-karana
satata asat-sanga sakali haila bhanga
ki kariba aile samana

Although I sometimes hear the nectarean message of Godhead from the mouths of the devotees, because I commit so many offenses, I do not become purified. I continually associate with non-devotees, and in this way all my spiritual advancement is broken apart. What will I do when death comes?

4 sruti smrti sada rabe suniyachi ei sabe
hari-pada abhaya sarana
janama laiya sukhe krsna na balinu mukhe
na karinu se rupa-bhabana

Although again and again I heard the Sruti and Smrti scriptures' declaration that one should take shelter of the Lord Hari's lotus feet in order to become fearless, I did not chant Krsna's name, and I did not meditate on His transcendental form.

5 radha-krsna dunha-paya tanu mana rahu taya
ara dure jauka basana
narottama dase kaya ara mora hani bhaya
tanu mana sampinu apana

I will now concentrate my mind on the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna, and all my material desires will flee far away. Narottama dasa says: Now that I have fixed my mind on Sri Sri Radha and Krsna, I am no longer afraid of my future.

Swabhista-lalasa (Longings)

Song 9

1 hari hari hena dina haibe amara
dunha anga parasiba hunhu anga nirakhiba
sebana kariba donhakara

O Lord Hari, O Lord Hari, when will this day be mine? When will I see Your lotus feet? When will I directly serve Your lotus feet? When will I touch Your lotus feet?

2 lalita-bisakha-sange sebana kariba range
mala ganthi' diba nana phule
kanaka-samputa kari karpura tambula puri
yogaiba adhara-jugale

When, in the company of Lalita and Visakha, will I happily serve You? When will I make garlands of many flowers for You? When, filling a golden box with them, will I place camphor and betel-nuts on your lips?

3 radha-krsna brndabana ei mora prana-dhana
ei mora jibana-upaya
jaya patita-pabana deha more ei dhana
toma-bine anya nahi bhaya

Sri Sri Radha-Krsna and Their abode of Vrndavana are the valuable treasure of my life. It is They who sustain me. O deliverer of the fallen, please give this treasure to me, for I have no one to turn to, except for You.

4 sri-guru karuna-sindhu adhama-janera bandhu
lokanatha lokera jibana
ha ha prabhu kara daya deha more pada-chaya
narottama laila sarana

O my spiritual master, O ocean of mercy, O friend of the fallen, O Lokanatha Gosvami, O life of the people, O master, please be merciful to me. Please give me the shade of your lotus feet. Narottama dasa takes shelter of you.

Song 10

1 hari hari kabe mora haibe su-dine
keli-kautuka-range kariba sebane

O Lord Hari, Lord Hari, when will I directly serve You as You enjoy blissful transcendental pastimes? When will that auspicious day be mine?

2 lalita-visakha sange jateka sangira gane
mandali kariba donha meli
rai kanu kare dhari nrtya kare phiri phiri
nirakhi' gona'ba kutuhali

When, in the company of Lalita and Visakha, will I directly meet Sri Sri Radha and Krsna in the circle of their friends? When, seeing Them holding hands and dancing in Their transcendental pastimes, will my voice become choked with ecstatic love?

3 alasa-bisrama-ghare gobardhana giri-bare
rai kanu karibe sayana
narottama dasa kaya ei jena mora haya
anuksana carana sebana

When the dancing pastimes are ended, Sri Sri Radha and Krsna will take rest in a cottage on Govardhana hill, the best of mountains. Narottama dasa says: I pray that I will always serve the lotus feet of the Divine Couple

Song 11

1 gobardhana giri-bare kebala nirjana sthala
rai kanu karibe sayane
lalita-bisakha-sange sebana range
sukhamaya ratula carane

In a solitary place on Govardhana Hill, the best of mountains, Sri Sri Radha and Krsna sit on a couch. When, accompanied by Lalita and Visakha, will I jubilantly serve Their reddish lotus feet?

2 kanaka samputa kari karpura tambula bhari
jogaiba badana-kamale
manimaya kinkini ratana nupura ani'
paraiba carana-jugale

When will I take camphor and betel-nuts from a golden box, and place it in their lotus mouths? When will I place jewel ankle-bells on Their lotus feet?

3 kanaka katora puri sugandhi candana buri
donhakara sri-ange dhaliba
guru-rupa sakhibame tribhanga bhangima thame
camarera batasa kariba

When will I fill a golden goblet for the Divine Couple? When will I anoint Their beautiful limbs with aromatic sandal paste? When, my spiritual master, in his original form as a gopi, at my left, will I fan Their three-fold bending forms with a camara wisk?

4 donhara kamala ankhi pulaka haiya dekhi
dunhu pada parisaba kare
caitanya-darse dasa mane matra abhilasa
narottama dase sada sphure

When, seeing the lotus eyes of the Divine couple, will the hairs of my body stand up in ecstacy? When will I directly touch their lotus feet? Narottama dasa, who is the servant of Lord Caitanya's servants, desires in this way. He has no other desire.

Song 12

1 hari hari ara ki emana dasa
kabe brsabhanu-pure ahiri gopera ghare
tanaya haiya janamiba

When will I take birth as a gopi in the town of Maharaja Vrsabhanu, where many gopas and gopis live? O Lord Hari, Lord Hari will I someday attain this condition of life?

2 jabate amara kabe e prani-grahana habe
basati kariba kabe taya
sakhira parama srestha je tahara haya prestha
sevana kariba tanra paya

When will I live in the city of Vrsabhanu and be accepted by its residents as one of their kin? When will I serve the feet of the gopis' beloved master?

3 tenha krpaban haina ratula carane lana
amare karibe samarpana
saphala haibe dasa puribe manera asa
se dunhara jugala-carana

When Lord Krsna is merciful to me I will be able to attain His reddish lotus feet. When I attain the lotus feet of the Divine couple, then my life will be successful, and all the desires of my mind will be fulfilled.

4 brndabana dui-jana caturddike sakhi-gana
sebana kariba abasese
sakhi-gana caribhite nana jantra laina hate
dekhiba manera abhilase

When will I be able to directly serve the Divine Couple, who are surrounded by Their gopi-friends? When I directly serve the Divine Couple in the association of the gopis, all the desires of my heart will be fulfilled.

5 dunhu canda-mukha dekhi' judabe tapita ankhi
nayane bahibe asru-dhara
brndara nidesa paba donhara nikate jaba
hena dina haiba amara

When will I approach the Divine Couple? When will streams of tears flow from my eyes by seeing Their moonlike faces? When will I receive direct orders from Vrnda-devi? When will that day be mine?

6 sri-rupa-manjari sakhi more anathini dekhi
radhibe ratula duti paya
narottama dasa bhane priya-narma-sakhi-gane
kabe dasi karibe amara

When will Sri Rupa-manjari, seeing me helpless and without any shelter, protect me with her reddish feet? Narottama dasa say: When will I become one of the maidservants of the dear and playful gopis?

Song 13

1 hari hari ara ki emana dasa haba
chadiya purusa-deha kabe ba prakrti haba
dunhu amge candana paraba

When, relinquishing this male material body, and obtaining the spiritual body of a gopi, will I anoint the limbs of the Divine Couple with sandalwood paste? O Lord Hari, Lord Hari, when will this day be mine?

2 taniya bandhiba cuda naba gunja-hare beda
nana phule ganthi diba hara
pita-basana ange paraiba sakhi-sange
badane tambula diba ara

When will I arrange the hair of the Divine Couple? When will I give them gunja-necklaces and garlands strung with various flowers? When will I give Them yellow garments? When, accompanied by the other gopis, will I place betel-nuts in Their lotus mouths?

3 dunhu rupa manohari deriba nayana bhari
nilambare rai sajaiya
naba-ratna-jari ani bandhiba bicitra beni
tate phula malati gabthiya

When will I gaze at the beautiful forms of the Divine Radharani in blue garments, and decorate her braided hair with garlands of jasmine flowers and strings of nine different kinds of jewels on a golden thread.

4 sei rupa-madhuri dekhiba nayana bhari'
ei kari mane abhilasa
jaya rupa sanatana deha more ei dhana
nibedaye narottama dasa

My desire is that some day I shall be able to directly see the sweet beauty of the transcendental forms of the Divine Couple. O Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Sanatana Gosvami, all glories to you both. Please bestow this treasure upon me. Please grant my desire. Narottama dasa appeals to you in this way.

Song 14

1 kusumita brndabane nacate sikhi-gane
pika-kula bhramara jhankare
priya sahacari sange gaiya jaiba range
manohara nikunja-kutire

Vrndavana is filled with blossoming flowers, the dancing of peacocks and the sounds of cuckoos and bumble-bees. When, in the association of the dear gopis, will I melodiously sing in a charming cottage in a grove of Vrndavana?

2 ari hari manoratha phalibe amare
dunhuka manthara gait kautuke heraba ati
anga bhari pulaka antare

When, seeing the slowly and gracefully moving Divine Couple, will my hairs stand on end because of the ecstacy in my heart?

3 caudike dakhira majhe radhikara ingite
ciruni laiya kare kari'
kutila kuntala saba bithariya ancaraba
banaiba bicitra kabari

When, in the company of the gopis, will Srimati Radharani gesture that she wants me to comb her hair, and when will I then take the comb in my hand, and carefully comb her curling locks?

4 mrgamada amlajaja saba ange lepaba
paraiba manohara hara
candana kunkume tilaka banaiba
heraba mukha-sudhakara

When will I anoint Srimati Radharani's limbs with sandalwood paste and musk? When will I give her a beautiful garlands? When will I gaze on her moonlike face as I decorate it with tilaka markings drawn in sandlewood paste and kunkuma?

5 nila patambara yatane paraiba
paye diba ratana-manjire
bhrngarera jale ranga- carana dhoyaiba
muchaba apana cikure

When will I carefully dress Srimati Radharani in blue garments? When will I place jeweled anklets on her feet? When will I take water from a jar and wash her reddish lotus feet? When will I then dry her feet using my own hair as a towel?

6 kusuma-kamala-dale sesa bichaiba
sayana karaba donhakare
dhabala camara ani mrdu mrdu bi jaba
charamita dunhuka sarire

When will I make a couch of lotus petals for the Divine Couple? When will I gently fan Them with a white camara wisk?

7 kanaka samputa kari karpura tambula bhari
jogaiba donhara badane
adhara sudha-rase tambula subase
bhokhava adika yatane

When from a golden box will I take betel-nuts and camphor, and place them in the lotus mouths of the Divine Couple? When will I carefully chew the aromatic remnants of such betel-nuts, which have become mixed with nectar from mouths of the Divine Couple?

8 sri-guru karuna-sindhu lokanatha dina-bandhu
mui dine kare abadhana
radha-krsna, brndabana priya-narma-sakhi-gana
narottama mage ei dana

O Lokanatha Gosvami, O my spiritual master, O friend of the poor and wretched conditioned souls, O ocean of mercy, please hear the appeal of this person who is very miserable and poor-hearted. O Radha and Krsna, O holy land of Vrndavana, O intimate gopi-friends of the Divine Couple, I beg that you all grant this charity to me. Please fulfill these desires.

Punah Svabhista-lalasa (The Author Continues the Description of His Longings)

Song 15

1 hari hari kabe mora haibe sudina
gobardhana giri-bare parama nibhrta ghare
rai kanu karaiba sayana

When, in a secluded cottage on Govardhana Hill, the best of mountains, will I prepare a couch for Sri Sri Radha and Krsna? O Lord Hari, Lord Hari, when will that auspicious day be mine?

2 bhrngarera jale ranga- carana dhoyaiba
muchaba apana cikure
kanaka-samputa kari karpura tambula puri
jogaiba dunhuka adhare

When will I take water from a jar and wash the lotus feet of the Divine Couple? When will I then dry Their feet using my own hair as a towel? When from a golden box will I take betel-nuts and camphor, and place on the lotus lips of the Divine Couple?

3 priya-sakhi-gana-sange sebana kaiba range
carana sebiba nija-kare
kunhuka kamala-dithi kautuka heraba
dunhu anga pulaka antare

When, in the association of the gopis, will I directly serve the lotus feet of the Divine Couple with my own hand? When, by seeing the lotus eyes of the Divine Couple, will the hairs of my body stand erect because of the ecstasy within my heart?

4 mallika malati juthi nana phule mala ganthi
kabe diba donhara galaya
sonara katora kari karpura candana bhari
kabe diba donhakara gaya

When will I string garlands of mallika and malati flowers and place them on the necks of the Divine Couple? When will I fill a golden goblet with camphor and sandalwood paste, and then anoint the transcendental forms of the Divine Couple with this mixture?

5 ara kabe emana habe dunu-mukha-nirakhiba
lila-rasa nijunja-sayane
sir-kundalatara sange keli-kautuka range
narottama karibe srabane

When will I directly see the lotus faces of the Divine Couple? When will Narottama dasa jubilantly hear Kundalata-devi's narration of the nectarean pastimes performed by the Divine Couple in the groves of Vrndavana? When will that day be?

Lalasa (Longings)

Song 16

1 sri-rupa-manjari-pada sei mora sampada
sei mor bhajana-pujana
sei mora prana-dhana sei mora abharana
sei mor jibanera jibana

Sri Rupa-manjari's lotus feet are my only treasure. They are my devotional service and my worship. They are my life's breath,and the ornament I wear. They are the sustainer of my life.

2 sei mora rasa-nidhi sei mora banca-siddhi
sei mora bedera dharama
sei brata, sei tapa sei mora mantra-japa
sei mor dharama-karama

For me those lotus feet are an ocean of nectar. They are the fulfilment of my desires. For me they are the spiritual path outlined in the Vedas, and they are my religious vows. They are my austerities and my chanting of mantras. They are my pious activities.

3 anukula habe bidhi se-pade hoibe siddhi
nirakhibo e dui nayane
se rupa-madhuri-rasi prana-kubalaya sasi
prafulita habe nisi dine

Those feet will make destiny become kind to me and grant me perfection. They will enable me to directly see the Divine Couple with my own eyes. Those feet are a great reservoir of beauty and sweetness. They are like a moon that causes the lotus flower of my life-breath to blossom. Those lotus feet bloom within my heart through the entire day and night.

4 tuwa adarasana-ahi garale jaralo dehi
ciro-dina tapita jibana
ha ha rupa koror doya deho mora-pada-chaya
narottama loilo sarana

The venom of the snake of separation from You has caused this spirit soul to wither and decay. For many days my life-breath has burned in the fire of separation from you. O Rupa-manjari, please be merciful to me. Please give me the shade of your lotus feet. Narottama dasa takes shelter of you

Song 17

1 suniyachi sadhu-mukhe bale sarba-jana
sri-rupa-krpaya mile jugala-carana

I have heard from the mouths of the saintly devotees that everyone says that by the mercy of Srila Rupa Gosvami one may approach the lotus feet of the Divine Couple.

2 ha ha prabhu sanatana gaura-paribara
sabe mili bancha purna karaha amara

O Sanatana Prabhu, O personal associate of Lord Caitanya, please fulfill my desire.

3 sri-rupera krpa jena ama prati haya
se pada asraya jaba sei mahasaya

Please fulfill my desire that saintly Srila Rupa Gosvami may be merciful to me, and that I will be able to take shelter of his lotus feet.

4 prabhu lokanatha kabe sange lana jabe
sri-rupera pada-padme more samarpibe

When will my master, Lokanatha Gosvami, place me at the lotus feet of Srila Rupa Gosvami?

5 hena ki haibe mora - narma-sakhi-gana
anugata narottame karibe sasane

When, by your mercy, will your faithful follower Narottama dasa become eligible to receive direct instruction from the gopi-friends of the Divine Couple?

Song 18

1 ei naba-dasi bali sri-rupa cahibe
hena subha-ksana mora kati-dine habe

When will I be a young gopi-maidservant? When will Sri Rupa-manjari directly order me? When will that auspicious time be?

2 sighra ajna karibena--dasi hetha aya
sebara susajja-karya karaha twaraya

When will Sri Rupa-manjari repeatedly order me about, saying: "O maidservant, come here. Quickly arrange for my fance garmanets and ornaments."

3 anandita hana hiya ajna-bale
pabitra manete karya karibe tat-kale

By hearing these orders I will become delighted. These orders will completely absorb the attention of my purified mind.

4 sebara samagri ratna-khalate kariya
subasita bari swarna-jharite puriya

When, in Sri Rupa-manjari's service, will I fill a jewelled tray with various paraphernalia for worship? When, engaged in her service, will I fill a golden goblet with aromatic water?

5 donhara sammukhe la'ye diba sighra-gati
narottamera dasa kabe haibe e-mati

When will I be able to quickly approach the Divine Couple? When will Narottama dasa attain this condition of life?

++
Song 19

1 sri-rupa pascate ami rahiba bhita hana
donhe punah kahibena ama pane cana

I timidly follow behind Sri Rupa-manjari. When will she say to me: "Fetch some water for the Divine Couple?

2 sadaya hrdaya donhe kahibena hasi
kothaya paile rupa ei naba dasi

When will the Divine Couple, compassionately smiling, say: "Where has Rupa-manjari gotten this young maidservant?"

3 sri-rupa-manjari tabe donha bakya suni
manjunali dila more ei dasi ani

Hearing these words, Sri Rupa-manjari will say: "Manjunali gave this maidservant to me.”

4 ati namra-citta ami haibe janila
seba-karya niya tabe hethaya rakhila

At that time I will feel very humble at heart, and I will diligently engage in the service of the Divine Couple.

5 hena tattwa konhakare saksate kahiya
narottame sebaya mijukta kariya

When will the Divine Couple directly speak in this way to Narottama dasa, engaging him in Their service?

Song 20

1 ha ha prabhu lokanatha rakha pada-dwandwe
krpa-drste caha jadi haiya anande

O Lokanatha Gosvami, O my master, please place me at your lotus feet. If you are pleased with me, please place your merciful glance upon me.

2 mano-bancha siddhi tabe nana purna-trsna
hethaya caitanya mile setha radha-krsna

If you are satisfied with me, then all the wishes of my mind will be attained, and my

thirst for happiness will be satiated. If you are satisfied with me, then I will attain the association of Lord Caitanya. If you are satisfied with me, then I may be able to attain the association of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna.

3 tumi na karile daya kr karibe are
manera basana purna kara ei bara

O master, if you do not become merciful to me, then what will become of me? Please fulfill my mind's desire, at least this one time.

4 e tina samsare mora ara keha nai
krpa kari pada-tale deha thani

In the entire world there is no one as much in need of your mercy as I am. Please be merciful to me, and give me shelter at the soles of your lotus feet.

5 radha-krsna-lila-guna gana ratri-dine
narottama-bancha purna nahe tuya bine

Although he spends all his days and nights glorifying the transcendental pastimes and virtues of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna, Narottama dasa knows that his desire to attain Their association cannot be fulfilled without your mercy.

Song 21

1 lokanatha prabhu tumi daya kara more
radha-krsna-carana jena sada citte spure

O Lokanatha, O my master, please be merciful to me and bless me that Sri Sri Radha-Krsna's lotus feet may be always manifest within my mind.

2 tomara sahita thaki sakhira sahite
ei ta basana mora sada uthe cite

I wish to have your association when you manifest your form as a gopi-friend of the Divine couple. This desire continually arises in my mind.

3 sakhi-gan-jyestha jenho tanhara carana
mora samarpibe kabe sebara karane

O master, when, by your mercy, will I be allowed to serve the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani, the best of all gopis.

4 tabe se haibe mora banchita purana
anande sebiba donhara jugala carana

If you will fulfill my desire, then I will be able to blissfully serve the lotus feet of the Divine Couple.

5 sri-rupa-manjari sakhi krpa-drste cana
tappi narottame sinca sebamrta diya

O Sri Rupa-manjari, O friend of the Divine Couple, please caste your glance of mercy upon me. Pleas sprinkle this distressed Narottama dasa with the nectar of your devotional service.

Song 22

1 ha ha prabhu kara daya karuna tomara
micha maya-jale tanu dahiche amara

My body and mind burn in a network of material illusions. O master, please be merciful and save me.

2 kabe hena dasa habe sakhi-sanga paba
brndabane phula ganthi donhake paraba

When will I attain the association of the gopis? When will I string flower garlands in the forest of Vrndavana, and then place those garlands on the necks of the Divine Couple?

3 sammukhe basiya kabe camara dhulaba
aguru-candana-gandha donha ange diba

When will I meet the Divine Couple face-to-face? When will I fan Them with a camara whisk? When will I anoint Their limbs with aguru, sandalwood paste, and other fragrant substances?

4 sakhira ajnaya kabe tambula jogaba
sindura tilaka kabe donhake paraba

When, following the gopis' orders will I offer betel-nuts to the Divine Couple? When will I draw artistic tilaka markings in red sindura on the Divine Couple's foreheads?

5 bilasa-kautuka keli dekhiba nayane
candra-jukha nirakhiba basaye simhasane

When, with my own eyes, will I see the Divine Couple jubilantly perform pastimes? When will I see Their moonlike faces as They sit on Their thrones?

6 sada se madhuri dekhi manera lalase
kata-dine habe daya narottama dase

My heart longs to see Their sweetness. How many days must pass before They are compassionate on Narottama dasa?

Song 23

1 hari hari kabe dasa habe mora
sebiba donhara pada anande bibhora

When, overwhelmed with bliss, will I directly serve the lotus feet of the Divine Couple? O Lord Hari, Lord Hari, when will I attain this?

2 bhramara haiya sada rahiba carane
sri-caranamrta sada kariba aswadane

When will I become a bumble-bee staying continually at the lotus feet of the Divine Couple, and continually drinking the honey of Their lotus feet?

3 ei asa kari ami--jata sakhi-gana
tomadera krpaya je banchita purana

This is my desire: to join the company of the gopi-friends of the Divine Couple. O my master, by your mercy only can my desire be fulfilled.

4 bahu-dina bancha kari purna jate haya
sabe meli daya kara haiya sadaya

For many days I have desired in this way. Please be merciful to me and fulfill my request.

5 seba ase narottama kande diba-nisi
krpa kari kara more anugata dasi

Yearning and hoping in this way Narottama dasa weeps day and night. Please be merciful to me, and make me your follower and gopi-maidservant.

Song 24

1 jaya jaya sri-krsna-caitanya nityananda
jayadwaitacandra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda

O Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, all glories to You. O Prabhu Nityananda, all glories to You. O Lord Advaitacandra, all glories to You. O devotees of Lord Gauranga, all glories to you all.

2 krpa kari sabe meli karaha karuna
adhama patita-jane na kariha ghrna

I beg all of you to please be merciful to me. Please do not despise or reject this most fallen person who is approaching You all.

3 e tina-samsara-majhe tuya pada sara
bhariya dekhinu mane-gati nahi ara

Your lotus feet are the most valuable thing in this material world. I always see Your lotus feet within my mind. I have no other goal.

4 se pada pabara ase kheda uthe mane
byakula hrdaya sada kariye krandane

I hope to one day attain Your lotus feet, and this causes great pain to arise within my mind. I constantly cry, my heart full of suffering.

5 ki-rupe paiba kichu na pai sandhana
prabhu-lokanatha pada nahika smarana

I do not see how I will ever be able to attain Your lotus feet. I do not see how I can always remember the lotus feet of Lokanatha Gosvami, my spiritual master.

6 tumi ta dayalu prabhu caha eka-bara
narottama hrdayera ghuca-o andhakara

O master, if you are at all merciful to me, then please glance upon me one time. Please dispel the darkness in Narottama dasa's heart.

Sadhaka-dehocita Lalasa (The Devotee's Aspiration)

Song 25

1 hari hari kabe mora haibe su-dina
bhajiba sri-radha-krsna haina premadhina

When will I directly worship Sri Sri Radha and Krsna? When will I be overwhelmed with love for the Divine Couple? O Lord Hari, when will that auspicious day be mine?

2 sujantre misana gaba su-madhura tana
anande karibe dunhara rupa-guna-gana

When, accompanying myself on a musical instrument, will I happily sing sweet songs describing the beautiful forms and qualities of the Divine Couple.

3 radhika govinda bali kandiba uccaih-sware
bhijibe sakala anga nayanera nire

When will I loudly call out "O Radhika, O Govinda," the tears from my eyes wetting my entire body.

4 ei-bara karuna kara rupa sanatana
raghunatha dasa mora sri-jiva-jivana

O Srila Rupa Gosvami, O Srila Sanatana Gosvami, O Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, O Srila Jiva Gosvami, my life and soul, please be merciful to me this one time.

5 ei bara karuna kara lalita-bisakha
sakhya-bhabe sridama-subala-adi sakha

O Lalita, O Visakha, O Sridama, O Subala and other friends of Lord Krsna, please be merciful to me this one time.

6 sabe mili kara daya puraak mora asa
prarthana karaye sada narottama dasa

All of You please be merciful to me and fulfill my desire. This is the constant prayer of Narottama dasa.

Sadhaka-dehocita-Sri-brndabana-basa-lalasa (The Devotee's Aspiration to Reside in Sri Vrndavana)

Song 26

1 hari hari ara ki emana dasa haba
ei bhaba samsara tyaji parama anande maji
ara kabe brajabhume jaba

When will I renounce the circle of material family life, and, drowning in transcendental bliss, go to Vrajabhumi? O Lord Hari, Lord Hari, when will this be?

2 sukhamaya brndabana kaba habe darsana
se dhuli lagibe kabe gaya
preme gadagada haina radha-krsna-nama laina
kandiya bedaba ubharaya

When will I see the blissful land of Vrndavana? When will I smear the dust of Vrndavana over my body? When will I walk about Vrndavana, loudly singing the names of Radha and Krsna, and crying, my voice choked with ecstatic love.

3 nibhrta nikunja jana astange pranama haina
dakiba ha radha-natha bali
kabe jamunara tire parasa kariba nire
kabe piba kara-pute tuli

When, in a solitary grove in Vrndavana, will I offer my full obeisances to the Divine Couple? When will I call out: "O Krsna, O master of Srimati Radharani?" When standing on the shore of the Yamuna, will I drink some of its water in my cupped hands?

4 ara kabe emana haba sri-rasa-mandale jaba
kabe gadagadi diba taya
bamsibata-chaya pana parama ananda hana
padiya rahiba tara chaya

When will this be? When will I go to the arena of the rasa-dance, and roll about in the dust, overwhelmed with ecstasy? When will I visit Vamsivata, and fall down to the ground, overwhelmed by transcendental bliss?

5 kabe gobardhana giri dekhiba nayane bhari
kabe habe radha-kunde basa
bhramite bhramite kabe ei deha patana habe
kahe dina narottama dasa

When will I see Govardhana Hill, my eyes filling with tears? When will I reside at Radha-kunda? When, as a result of constantly wandering in Vrndavana, will this body fall down? Poor-hearted Narottama dasa speaks in this way.

Song 27

1 hari hari ara kabe palatibe dasa
e saba kariya bame jaba brndabana-dhame
ei mane kariyachi asa

When will I renounce all material impediments and go to Vrndavana-dhama? O Lord Hari, Lord Hari, when will my life change in this way? I hope I will be able to change my mode of living in this way.

2 dhana jana putra dare e saba kariya dure
ekanta haiya kabe jaba
saba duhkha parihari brndabane basa kori
madhukari magiya khaiba

When will I leave all my wealth, followers, children, and wife far behind and with only one desire, go to Vrndavana? When will I leave all material miseries, and live in Vrndavana, eating only whatever food I can obtain by begging?

3 jamunara jala jena amrta samana hena
kabe piba udara puriya
kabe radha-kunda-jale snana kari kutuhale
syama-kunda rahiba padiya

When will I take long drinks of the Yamuna's water, which is as sweet as nectar? When, with great happiness, will I bathe at Radha-kunda? When will I permanently reside at Syama-kunda?

4 bhramiba dwadasa bane rasa-keli je je sthane
premabese gadagadi diya
sudhaiba jane jane vraja-basi-gana-sthane
nibediba carana dhariya

When will I wander in the twelve forests of Vrndavana, where Lord Krsna enjoyed nectar pastimes, and when, overwhelmed with ecstastic love, will I roll about in the dust of these places? When will I become pure in heart? When will I offer obeisances to all the residents of Vraja, reverently touching their lotus feet?

5 bhajanera sthana kabe nayana-gocara habe
ara jata ache upabana
ara madhye brndabana narottama dasera mana
asa kare jugala carana

When will I be able to see the gardens of Vrndavana where the great devotees worshipped the Lord? Narottama dasa hopes to one day attain the lotus feet of the Divine Couple.

Song 28

1 karanga kaupina lana chenda kanha gaya diya
tejabiga sakala bisaya
krsna anuraga habe brajera nikunja kabe
jaina kariba nijalaya

When will I renounce all sense-gratification? When will I accept only a water-pot and torn garment? When will I constantly sing Lord Krsna's holy names? When will I go to the groves of Vraja and make my permanent residence there? When will I attain ecstatic love for Krsna?

2 hari hari kabe mora haibe su-dina
phala-amula brndabane khana diba-abasane
bhramiba haiya udasina

When will I wander in Vrndavana, detached from material affairs, and only eating some roots and fruit at the end of the day? O Lord Hari, Lord Hari, when will that auspicious day be mine?

3 sitala jamuna jale snana kari kutuhale
premabese anandita hana
bahura upara bahu tuli brndabane kuli kuli
krsna bali bedaba kandiya

When will I become full of bliss, overwhelmed by ecstatic love by bathing in the cool waters of the Yamuna river? When will I wander about Vrndavana with my arms upraised calling out the name of Lord Krsna and crying?

4 dekhiba sanketa-sthana judabe tapita prana
premabese gadagadi diba
kanha radha praneswari kanha giribara-dhari
kanha natha baliya dakiba

When will I see the place where Radha and Krsna secretly met? When, overwhelmed with ecstatic love, will I roll about in the dust at that place? When will I call out: "O Radha, O controller of my life, where are You? O Krsna, O lifter of Govardhana Hill, where are You? O my masters, where are You?"

5 madhavi-kunjera pari sukhe basi suka-sari
gaibeka radha-krsna-rasa
taru-mule basi taha suni judaiba hiya
kabe sukhe gonaba dibasa

When will I happily pass my days at the roots of a tree in the grove of madhavi creepers, listening to a parrot-couple jubilantly sing the glories of the nectarean pastimes of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna?

6 sri-govinda gopinatha srimati-radhika-sakha
dekhiba ratana-simhasane
dina narottama dasa karaye durlabha asa
e-mati haibe kata dine

When will I see Lord Govinda, the master of the gopis, accompanied by Srimati Radharani, as They both sit on a jewelled throne? Poor-hearted Narottama dasa hopes that some day he will be able to obtain this so-difficult-to-obtain desire.

+++
Song 29

1 hari hari kabe haba brndabana-basi
nirakhiba nayane jugala-rupa-rasi

O Lord Hari, Lord Hari, when will I become a resident of Vrndavana? When with my own eyes will I see the great beauty of the Divine Couple?

2 tyajiya sayana-sukha bicitra palanka
kabe brajera dhulaya dhrasa habe anga

When will I renounce very comfortable sleeping arrangements and instead take rest on the ground of Vraja?

3 jada-rasa-bhojana dure parihari
kabe braje magiya khaiba madhukari

When will I renounce materially palatable foodstuffs and simply eat whatever I can obtain by begging in the land of Vraja?

4 parikrama kariya bedaba bane bane
bisrama kariba jai jamuna-puline

When will I circumambulate the land of Vraja, wandering from forest to forest? When, becoming fatigued, will I stop to rest on the shore of the Yamuna?

5 tapa dura kariba sitala bamsibate
kabe kunje baithaba hama baisnaba-nikate

When will I find relief from the heat of midday by resting in the cooling shade of Vamsivata? When will I associate with the Vaisnavas in the groves of Vrndavana?

6 narottama dasa kahe kari parihara
kabe be emana dasa haibe amara

Narottama dasa renounces the materialistic way of life and says: "When will I attain the perfection of spiritual life?"

Sa-bilapa Sri Brndabana-basa-lalalas (Lamentation and Yearning to Reside in Sri Vrndavana)

Song 30

1 ara ki emana dasa haba
saba chadi brndabane jaba

When will I renounce everything and go to Vrndavana? When will this be?

2 ara kabe sri-rasa-mandale
gadagadi diba kutuhale

When in great ecstasy will I roll about on the ground where Lord Krsna performed the rasa-dance?

3 ara kabe gobardhana giri
dekhiba nayana-juga bhari

When will I see Govardhana Hill, my eyes filling with tears?

4 syama-kunde radha-kunde snana
kari kabe judaba parana

When by bathing in Syama-kunda and Radha-kunda, will I attain the stage of dedicating my entire life and soul to the service of the Divine Couple?

5 ara kabe jamunara jale
majjane haiba niramale

When will I become pure at heart by bathing in the waters of the Yamuna?

6 sadhu-sange brndabane basa
narottama dasa kabe asa

Narottama dasa hopes that he will be able to reside in Vrndavana in the association of the saintly devotees.

Mathura-virahocita Darsana-lalasa (The Author Yearns to see Mathura again)

Song 31

1 kabe krsna-dhana paba hiyara majhare thoba
judaiba tapita-parana
sajaiya diba hiya basaiba prana-priya
nirakhiba se candra-bayana

When will I attain the dark treasure known as Lord Krsna? When, agitated with ecstatic love, will I give my heart to Lord Krsna? When will I consider Lord Krsna more dear to me than my own life's breath? When will I be able to see Lord Krsna's moonlike face?

2 he sajani kabe mora habe su-dina
seprana-nathera sanga kabe ba phiriba range
sukhamaya jamuna-pulina

When will I regain my master's association? When will I happily return with singing and dancing to the shore of the Yamuna? O friend, when will this auspicious day be mine?

3 lalita bisakha lana tanhare bhetiba giya
sajaiya nana upahare
sadaya haiya bidhi milaibe guna-nidhi
hena bhagya haibe amara

When, in the company of Lalita and Visakha, will I meet Lord Krsna? When will I be able to offer various gifts to please Him? When will destiny be compassionate to me? When will my destiny become like a virtuous person who is an ocean of good qualities? When will this good fortune be mine?

4 daruna bidhira nata alinga premera hata
tila-matra na rakhila tara
kahe narottama dasa ki mora jibane asa
chadi gela brajendra-kumara

Cruel fate has made me poverty-stricken and I do not have even a penny to purchase the goods sold in the marketplace of pure love for Krsna. Nevertheless, Narottama dasa says: "My life's hope is to renounce everything and attain the prince of Vraja.”

Song 32

1 ei-bara paile dekha carana du khani
hiyara majhare rakhi judaba parani

I pray that I may now see the two lotus feet of Lord Krsna. I will place these lotus feet in my heart. I will dedicate my entire life and soul to them.

2 tanre na dekhiya mora mane bada tapa
anale pasiba kimba jale diba jhampa

If I am not able to see Lord Krsna's lotus feet, my heart will burn with suffering. I will end this life by entering a blazing fire, or jumping into the water.

3 mukhera muchaba ghama khaojaba pana guja
ghamete batasa diba candanadi cuja

When I meet Lord Krsna I will serve Him in various ways. I will wipe the perspiration from His face. I will give Him nice food and drink. I will offer Him betel-nuts. I will fan Him. I will anoint His body with sandalwood paste and other fragrant things.

4 brndabandera hulera ganthiya diba hara
binaiya bandhiba cuda kuntalera bhara

I will string a garland of Vrndavana forest flowers, and then present that garland to Lord Krsna. I will carefully arrange His hair and tie His topknot.

5 kalape tilaka diba candanera canda
narottama dasa kahe piritera phanda

I will decorate Lord Krsna with a peacock feather, tilaka markings, and a moon drawn in sandalwood paste. Narottama dasa says: In this way I will gradually attain love for Lord Krsna.

Song 33

1 brndabana ramya-sthana dibya-cintamani-dhama
ratana-mandira manohara
abrta kalindi-nire raja-hamsa keli kore
tahe sobhe kanaka-kamala

Beautiful Vrndavana is filled with cintamani gems and many jewel palaces and temples. Many regal swans play in the waters of the Yamuna, and in those waters a splendid golden lotus flower grows.

2 tara madhye hema-pitha asta-dale bestita
asta-dale pradhana nayika
tara madhye ratnasane bosi achen dui-jane
syama-sange sundari radkhika

In the middle of that lotus is a golden place surrounded by eight petals. On these eight petals the eight principal gopis reside, and in the centre Lord Syamasundara and beautiful Srimati Radharani sit on a jewel throne.

3 o-rupa-labanya-rasi amiya poriche khasi
hasya-pariasa-sambhasane
narottama-dasa koy nitya-lila sukha-moy
sadai sphuruka mora mane

The great beauty of the Divine couple and Their charming joking and laughter continually showers nectar everywhere. Narottama dasa says: I pray that these blissful eternal transcendental pastimes of the Divine Couple may be always manifest in my heart.

Song 34

1 kadamba tarura dala namiyache bhume bhala
phutiyache phula sari sari
parimale bharala sakala brndabana
keli kare bhramara bhramari

In Vrndavana the kadamba trees offer obeisances, their flowering branches reverently touching the ground. Bumble bees enjoy pastimes in Vrndavana, which is filled with a very sweet fragrance.

2 rai kanu bilasai range
kiba rupa labani baidagadha-khani dhani
manimaya abharana ange

Radha and Krsna stay in the place where They enjoy pastimes. How beautiful They are. Their bodies are decorated with jewel ornaments, and They are wealthy with many gem mines of intelligence and wit.

3 radhara daksina kare dhari priya giridhari
madhura madhura cali jaya
age pache sakhi-gana kare phula barisana
kona sakhi camara dhulaya

Dear Giridhari holds Srimati Radharani's right hand, and together They gracefully stroll about. The gopis shower flowers before and behind Them, and one gopi fans them with a camara whisk.

4 parage dhusara sthala candra-kare su-sitala
manimaya bedira upare
rai kanu kara jodi nrtya kare phiri phiri
parase pulake tanu bhare

That place is filled with the aromatic pollen of the lotus, and it is made pleasantly cool by the shining of the moon. On a raised platform there, Radha and Krsna dance, holding hands, the hairs of Their bodies standing up in ecstasy.

Song 35

1 mrgamada-candana kare kari sakhi-gana
barikhaye phula gandha-raje
srama-jala bindu bindu sobha kare mukha-indu
adhare murali kiba raje

The gopis decorate the Divine Couple with musk and sandalwood paste, and shower Them with aromatic flowers. Drops of perspiration make Lord Krsna's moonlike face splendid. The flute is gracefully placed against Lord Krsna's lips.

2 hasa-bilasa-rasa sarala madhura bhasa
narottama-manoratha bharu
dunhuka bicitra besa kusuma racita kesa
locana-mohana lila karu

With the nectar of Their joking and laughter and the sweetness of Their charming talks, the Divine Couple fulfills all the desires of Narottama dasa. Dressed in wonderful colourful garments and Their hair decorated with flowers, the Divine Couple enjoys pastimes, enchanting the eys of everyone.

Swa-nistha (My Faith)

Song 36

1 dhana mora nityananda pati moro gauracandra
prana mora jugala-kisora
adwaita acarya bala gadadhara mora kula
narahari bilasai mora

Lord Nityananda is my wealth. Lord Gauracandra is my master. The youthful Divine Couple is my life. Advaita Acarya is my strength. Gadadhara is my family. Narahari Sarakara is my glory.

2 baisnabera pada-dhuli tahe mora snana-keli
tarpana mora baisnabera nama
bicara kariya mane bhakti-rassa aswadane
madhyastha sri-bhagabata purana

The dust of the devotees' lotus feet is my bathing water. The chanting of the devotees names is my satisfaction. Considering the merits of all Vedic literatures in the light of devotional service, I have concluded that the Srimad Bhagavatam is the best of all scriptures.

3 baisnabera ucchista tahe mora mano-nistha
baisnabera namete ullasa
brndabane cautara tahe mora mano-ghera
kahe dine narottama dasa

My mind is firmly convinced of the spiritual benefit obtained by eating the remnants of foodstuff left by the devotees. The names of the devotees are my happiness. The land of Vrndavana is the enclosure within which I keep my mind. Poor-hearted Narottama dasa speaks in this way.

Nityananda-nistha (Faith in Lord Nityananda)

Song 37

1 nitai-pada-kamala koti-candra-susitala
je chayay jagata juray
heno nitai bine bhai radha-krsna paite nai
drrha kori dharo nitair pay

Lord Nityananda's lotus feet are a shelter where one will get the soothing moonlight not only of one, but of millions of moons. The shade of Lord Nityananda's lotus feet give relief from the sufferings of material existence. If one does not take shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda, then it will be very difficult for him to approach Radha and Krsna. Therefore, with firm conviction, one should take shelter of Lord Nityananda's lotus feet.

2 se sambandha nahi jar brtha janma gelo tar
sei pasu boro duracar
nitai na bolilo mukhe majilo somsara-sukhe
bidya-kule ki koribe tar

Anyone who has not contacted a relationship with Lord Nityananda is understood to have spoiled his human birth. Such a person is just like a misbehaved animal. Such persons never say the name of Lord Nityananda. Such person simply become absorbed in so-called material enjoyment. What benefit will such persons obtain by their so-called academic education or birth in a high family or great nation?

3 ahankare matta hoiya nitai pada pasariya
asatyere satya kori mani
nitaiyer koruna habe braje radha-krsna pabe
dharo nitai-carana du'khani

These persons have become maddened by a false concept of bodily life, and thus they have forgotten their eternal relationship with Nityananda and instead accept the illusory material energy as factual. If you actually want to approach the association of Radha-Krsna, you must achieve the mercy of Lord Nityananda first. When he is merciful toward you, then you will be able to approach Radha-Krsna. For this reason one should firmly catch the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda.

4 nitaiyer carana satya tahara sebaka nitya
nitai-pada sada koro asa
narottama boro dukhi nitai more koro sukhi
rakho ranga caranera pasa

The lotus feet of Lord Nityananda are not illusion. They are a fact, and therefore one who engages in the transcendental loving service of Nityananda is also transcendental. For this reason one should always try to catch the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda. O Lord Nityananda, this Narottama dasa is very unhappy, and therefore I am praying that You please make me happy. Please keep me in a corner of Your reddish lotus feet.

Gauranga-nistha (Faith in Lord Caitanya)

Song 38

1 are bhai bhaja mora gauranga-carana
na bhajiya mainu duhkhe dubi grha-bisa-kupe
dagdha kaila e panca parana

O brother, please worship the lotus feet of Lord Gauranga. I have not worshipped them, but instead have dived into the poisonous well of materialistic household-life, and as a result my five life-airs are burning with the poison of material life.

2 tapa-traya-bisanale ahar-nisi hiya jwale
deha sada haya acetana
ripu-basa indriya haila gora-pada pasabila
bimukha haila hena dhana

Day and night I burn in the poisonous fire of the threefold miseries of material life, and as a result I faint again and again. My senses are overwhelmed by lust, greed, and numberless other enemies, and I am averse to the great treasure that is the lotus feet of Lord Gauranga.

3 hena gaura dayamaya chadi saba laja-bhaya
kaya mane laha re sarana
parama durmati chila tare gora uddharila
tara haila patita-pabana

O brother, give up all fear and shyness, and take shelter of merciful Lord Gauranga. Lord Gauranga rescues those who are most wicked at heart, and therefore He is known as Patita-pavana, the saviour of the fallen.

4 gora dwija-nata-raje bandhaha hrdaya-majhe
ki karibe samsara-samana
narottama dasa kahe agora-sama keha nahe
na bhajite deya prema-dhana

If you place Lord Gauranga, the brahmana king of dancers, within your heart, then what will death be able to do to you? Narottama dasa says: There is no one equal to Lord Gauranga. Even if one will not become His devotee, still Lord Gauranga will freely give him the treasur of love for Krsna.

Sabarana-Gaura-mahima (The Glories of Lord Gauranga)

Song 39

1 gaurangera duti pada jar dhana sampada
se jane bhakati-rasa-sar
gaurangera madhura-lila jar karne prabesila
hrdoya mirmala bhelo tar

Anyone who has accepted the two lotus feet of Lord Caitanya can understand the true essence of devotional service. If one is captivated by the pleasing pastimes of Lord Caitanya, the dirty things in his heart will all become cleansed.

2 je gaurangera nama loy tara hoy premodoy
tare mui jai bolihari
gauranga-gunete jhure, nitya-lila tare sphure
se jana bhakati-adhikari

One who simply takes the holy name of Gaurasundara, Sri Krsna Caitanya, will immediately develop love of God. To such a person I say: Bravo. Very nice. Excellent. If one appreciates the merciful pastimes of Lord Caitanya and feels ecstasy and sometimes cries, this process will immediately help him to understand the eternal pastimes of Radha-Krsna.

3 gaurangera sangi-gane nitya-siddha kori mane
se jay brajendra-suta-pas
sri-gauda-mandala-bhumi jeba jane cintamani
tara hoy braja-bhume bas

Simply by understanding that the associates of Lord Gauranga are eternally free from material contamination, one can immediately be promoted to the transcendental abode of Lord Krsna. If one simply understands that the land of Navadvipa is not different from Vrndavana, then he actually lives in Vrndavana.

4 gaura-prema-rasarnave se tarange jeba dube
se radha-madhava-antaranga
grhe ba banete thake ha gauranga bole dake
narottama mage tara sanga

If one says: "Let me dive deep into the waves of the nectarean ocean of the transcendental loving movement introduced by Lord Caitanya", he immediately becomes one of the confidential devotees of Radha and Krsna. It does not matter whether one is a householder living at home or a vanaprastha or sannyasi living in the forest, if he chants "O Gauranga, and becomes a devotee of Lord Caitanya, then Narottama dasa begs to have his association.

Punah Prarthana (Another Prayer)

Song 40

1 sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu doya koro more
toma bine ke doyalu jagat-somsare

My dear Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, please be merciful to me, because who can be more merciful than Your Lordship within these three worlds?

2 patita-pavana-hetu taba abatara
mo sama patita prabhu na paibe ara

Your incarnation is just to reclaim the conditioned fallen souls, but I assure You tha You will not find a greater fallen soul than me. Therefore my claim is first.

3 ha ha prabhu nityananda premananda sukhi
krpabalokana koro ami boro duhkhi

My dear Lord Nityananda, You are always joyful in spiritual bliss. Since You always appear very happy, I have come to You because I am most unhappy. If You kindly put Your merciful glance over me, I may also become happy.

4 doya koro sita-pati adwaita gosai
taba krpa-bale pai caitanya-nitai

My dear Advaita Prabhu, husband of Sita, You are so kind. Please be kind to me. If You are kind to me, naturally Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda also will be kind to me.

5-6 ha ha swarup sanatana, rupa, raghunatha
bhatta-yuga, sri-jiva ha prabhu lokanatha
doya koro sri-acarya prabhu srinivasa
ramacandra-sanga mage narottama-dasa

O Sri Svarupa Damodara Gosvami, O Sri Sanatana Gosvami, O Sri Rupa Gosvami, O Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, O Sri Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami and Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, O Sri Jiva Gosvami, O my master, Sri Lokanatha Gosvami, O Sri Srinivasa Acarya, I beg you all to please be merciful to me. Narottama dasa prays that he may always have the company of Ramacandra Cakravarti.

Sa-parsada-bhagavad-viraha-janita-vilapa (Separated from the Lord and His Associates, the Author Laments)

Song 41

1 je anilo prema-dhana koraun pracur
heno prabhu kotha gela acarya-thakur

He who brought the treasure of divine love and who was filled with compassion and mercy-where has such a personality as Srinivasa Acarya gone?

2 kaha mora swarup rupa kaha sanatan
kaha dasa raghunatha patita-paban

Where are my Svarupa Damodara and Rupa Gosvami? Where is Sanatana? Where is Raghunatha dasa, the saviour of the fallen?

3 kaha mora bhatt-juga kaha kabiraj
eka-kale kotha gela gora nata-raj

Where are my Raghunatha Bhatta and Gopala Bhatta and where is Krsnadasa Kaviraja? Where did Lord Gauranga, the great dancer, suddenly go?

4 pasane kutibo matha anale pasibo
gauranga gunera nidhi kotha gele pabo

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 se-saba sangira sange je koilo bilas
se-sanga na paiya kande narottama das

Being unable to obtain the association of Lord Gauranga accompanied by all of these devotees in whose association He performed His pastimes, Narottama dasa simply weeps.

Aksepa (Regret)

Song 42

1 gora panhu na bhajiya mainu
prema-ratana-dhana helaya harainu

I did not worship Lord Gauranga Prabhu and thus I became full of suffering. I refused to accept the treasure of pure love of Krsna, and thus I became lost.

2 adhane jatana kari dhanatejaginu
apana karama-dose apani dhubinu

I reject the treasure of love of Krsna and deliberately struggled to become poor. I dived into a host of sinful deeds.

3 sat-sanga chadi kainu asate bilasa
te-karane lagila je karma-bandha phamsa

I rejected the association of the saintly devotees, and instead tried to enjoy among the impious non-devotees. In this way I became caught in the noose of karma.

4 bisaya bisama bisa satata khainu
gora-kirtana-rasa magana na hainu

I continually drank the virulent poison of sense-gratification. I refused to swin in the nectar of Lord Caitanya's sankirtana movement.

5 kena ba achaye prana ki sukha paiya
narottama dasa kena na gela mariya

Why do I stay alive? What happiness do I have? Why did Narottama dasa not die long ago?

Song 43

1 hari hari ki mora karama anurata
bisaye kutila-mati sat-sange na haila rati
kise ara taribara patha

My crooked mind delights in sense-gratification, but not in the association of the saintly devotees. Why do I follow this dangerous path? O Lord Hari, Lord Hari, how have I become so attached to materialism?

2 swarupa sanatana rupa raghunatha bhatta-juga
lokanatha siddhanta-sagara
sunitama se-saba katha ghucita manera byatha
tabe bhala haita antara

In the past I continually heard the philosophy of Krsna consciousness from Srila Svarupa Damodara Gosvami, Srila Sanatana Gosvami, Srila Rupa Gosvami, Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Srila Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, Srila Gopala Bhatta Gosvami and Srila Lokanatha Gosvami, who is like a great ocean of devotional truth. By hearing their words the pain within my mind subsided, and I attained an auspicious condition of life.

3 jakhana gaura-nityananda adwaitadi-bhakta-brnda
nadiya-nagare abatara
takhana na haila janma ebe dehe kiba karma
micha matra bahi phiri bhara

Lord Caitanya, Lord Nityananda, Lord Advaita, and the devotees who are Their personal associates have descended from the spiritual world to the land of Nadiya. They have not taken birth as ordinary mortals do. How wonderful are Their transcendental activities! I am not like Them. I simply trudge along carrying a great heap of illusory materialistic burdens.

4 haridasa adi bule mahotsabapadi kare
na herinu se sukha-bilasa
ki mora duhkhera katha janama gonanu brtha
dhik dhik narottama dasa

Haridasa Thakura and the other devotees travelled about absorbed in a constant festival of the glorification of Lord Krsna, but I myself was unable to see these blissful pastimes. How sad is my tale. I have wasted my life. Fie, fie on Narottama dasa.

Baisnaba-mahima (Glorification of the Devotees)

Song 44

1 thakura baisnaba-pada abanira su-sampada
suna bhai hana eka mana
asraya laiya bhaje tare krsna nahi tyaje
ara saba mare akarana

O brother, please hear my words with rapt attention. The lotus feet of the Vaisnavas are the most valuable treasure of this world. These Vaisnavas continually take shelter of Lord Krsna and worship Him. They never abandon their Lord. They are liberated. They are free from the cycle of birth and death.

2 baisnaba-carana-jala prema-bhaktidite bala
ara keha nahe balabanta
baisnaba-carana-renu mastake bhusana binu
ara nahi bhusanera anta

The water that has washed the lotus feet of the Vaisnavas bestows devotional service in pure love of God. Nothing else is as effective for attaining this divine love. I place dust from the lotus feet of the Vaisnavas upon my head. I wear no other ornament.

3 tirtha-jala pabitra-guna likhiyache purane
se saba bhaktira prabancana
baisnabera padodaka sama nahe ei saba
jate haya banchita purana

The purifying power of the waters at the various holy places of pilgrimage is described in the Puranas, although this is something of a deceptive trick. Actually there is not anything as purifying as the water that has washed the lotus feet of the Vaisnavas. This water fulfills all desires.

4 baisnaba-sangete mana anandita anuksana
sada haya krsna-para-sanga
dina narottama kande hiya dhairya nahi bandhe
mora dasa kena haila bhanga

Moment after moment my mind finds pleasure in the association of the Vaisnavas. I always seek out the company of those who are devoted to Lord Krsna. Poor-hearted Narottama dasa breaks down and cries. How has this fallen condition come upon me?

Baisnaba-bijnapti (Prayer to the Vaisnavas)

Song 45

1 thakura baisnaba-gana kari ei nibedana
mo bada adhama duracara
daruna-samsara-nidhi tahe dhubaila bidhi
keses dhari more kara para

O saintly Vaisnavas, although I am very fallen and misbehaved, I still place this appeal before you: My destiny has plunged me in the fearsome ocean of repeated birth and death. Please grab me by the hair and pull me to the opposite shore.

2 bidhi bada balaban na sune dharama-jnana
sadai karama-pase bandhe
na dekhi tarana lesa jate dekhi saba klesa
anatha katare teni kande

My destiny is very powerful. I am not able to hear the knowledge of spiritual life, and I am always bound by the ropes of karma. I cannot see any way to escape my condition. I see only suffering. Helpless and stricken with grief, I cry.

3 kama krodha lobha moha mada abhimana saha
apana apana sthane tane
aichana amara mana phire jena andha jana
supatha vipatha nahi jane

My blind mind cannot see what path is auspicious or inauspicious. My blind mind is helplessly dragged from here to there by lust, anger, greed, bewilderment, madness and pride.

4 na lainu sat mata asate majila cita
tuya paye na karinu asa
narottama dase kaya dekhi suni lage bhaya
taraiya laha nija pasa

My mind became immersed in the impermanent satisfaction of the senses, and I could not understand the real goal of life. For this reason I did not aspire to attain Your lotus feet. Narottama dasa says: Now that I am able to see, hear, and touch the Vaisnavas, I have become free from all fear.

Song 46

1 ei-baro karuna koro baisnava gosai
patita-pavana toma bine keho nai

O Vaisnava Gosvami, please be merciful to me now. There is no one except you who can purify the fallen souls.

2 jahara darsane saba papa dure jay
emona doyalaprabhu debakothapay

Where does anyone find such a merciful personality by whose mere audience all sins go far away?

3 gangara parasa hoile pascate paban
darsane pabitra koro-ei tomara gun

After bathing in the waters of the sacred Ganges many times, one becomes purified, but just by the sight of you, the fallen souls become purified. This is your great power.

4 hari-sthane aparadhe tare harinam
toma sthane aparadhe nahi paritran

The holy name delivers one who has committen an offense to Lord Hari, but if one commits an offense to you, there is no means of deliverance.

5 tomara hrdoye sada gobinda-bisram
gobinda kohena-mam baisnava paran

Lord Govinda always stays within your heart. Lord Govinda says: "The Vaisnavas are my life and soul."

6 proti-janme kori asa caranera dhuli
narottame koro doya apanara boli

I hope that in every birth I may attain the dust of your lotus feet. Please declare this Narottama dasa to be your property. Please be merciful to him.

Song 47

1 ki-rupe paiba seba mui duracara
sri-guru-baisnabe rati na haila amara

I have no devotion for either the Vaisnavas or my own spiritual master. How is it possible for a rascal like me to attain devotional service?

2 asesa mayate mana magana haila
baisnabete lesa-matra rati na janmila

My mind is always drowning in illusion. I have not even the smallest fragment of devotion for the Vaisnavas.

3 bisaye tuliya andha hainu diba-nisi
gale phamsa dite phire maya se pisaci

I have become blind by constantly meditating on the objects of the senses. The maya-witch has placed a hangman's noose around my neck.

4 inhare kariya jaya chadana na jaya
sadhu-krpa bina ara hanika upaya

Even if I can cure my blindness and defeat the maya-hangman, I cannot become free from material illusion without the mercy of the saintly devotees.

5 adosada-rasi-prabhu patita-uddhara
ei-bara narottame karaha nistara

O master, O purifier of the sinful, O saviour of the fallen souls, please rescue this Narottama dasa.

Sri Rupa-rati-manjaryah Vijnaptih (Prayer to Sri Rupa-manjari and Sri Rati-manjari)

Song 48

1 radha-krsna-sebon muni jibane marane
tanra sthana tanra lila dekhon ratri dine

I shall serve Sri Sri Radha and Krsna in this life and also after my death. Night and day I shall see Their transcendental abode and pastimes.

2 je sthane lila kare jugala-kisora
sakhira sangini hana tanhe hana bhora

Wherever the youthful Divine Couple go to perform transcendental pastimes I will follow as an associate of Their gopi-friends, and I will stay with Them until sunrise.

3 sri-rupa-manjari-pada sebon nirabadhi
tanra pada-padma mora mantra-mahausadhi

I will continually serve the lotus feet of Sri Rupa-manjari. Her lotus feet are my purifying mantra and my medicinal herb.

4 sri-rati-manjari devi more kara daya
anuksana deha tuya pada-padma-chaya

O Sri Rati-manjari-devi, please be merciful to me. Please give me the continual shade of your lotus feet.

5 sri-rasa-manjari devi kara abadhana
anuksana deha tuya pada-padma-dhyana

O Sri Rasa-manjari-devi, please notice me. Please allow me to always meditate on your lotus feet.

6 brndabane nitya nitya jugala-bilasa
prarthana karaye sada narottama dasa

Please allow me to join the eternal pastimes of the Divine Couple in Vrndavana. Narottama dasa constantly prays in this way.

Sakhi-vrnde Vijnaptih (Prayer to the Gopis)

Song 49

1 radha-krsna prana mora jugala-kisora
jibane marane gati nahi mora

The youthful Divine Couple Sri Sri Radha and Krsna are my life and soul. In life or death I have no other refuge but Them.

2 kalindira kule keli-kadambera bana
ratana-bedira upara bosabo ju'jana

I shall install the Divine Couple on a jewelled throne in a pleasant forest of kadamba trees on the shore of the Yamuna River.

3 syama-gauri-ange dibo candanera gandha
camara dhulabo kabe heir mukha-candra

When will I place aromatic sandalwood paste on the limbs of Lord Symasundara and Srimati Gaurangi-devi? When will I fan Them with a camara whisk? When will I see Their moonlike faces?

4 gathiya malatir mala dibo dohara gale
adhare tuliya dibo karpura-tambule

When will I string garlands of malati flowers and place them on the necks of the Divine Couple? When will I place betel-nuts mixed with camphor in Their lotus mouths?

5 lalita bisakha-adi jata sakhi-brnda
ajnaya koribo seba caranarabinda

When, following the orders of Lalita, Visakha and the other gopis, will I serve the lotus feet of the Divine Couple?

6 sri-krsna-caitanya-prabhur daser anudasa
seba abhilasa kore narottama-dasa

Narottama dasa, the servant of the servant of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, longs for this service to the Divine Couple.

Siddha-dehena Sri Vrndavanaisvaryam saksad-vijnaptih (The Author Prays to Attain a Spiritual Body in Sri Vrndavana-dhama)

Song 50

1 praneswari ei bara karuna kara more
dasanete trna dhari anjali mastake kari
ei-jana nibedana kare

This person places a straw between his teeth and his folded hands over his head. This person appeals to you. O queen of my life, please be merciful to me.

2 priya-sahacari-sange sebana kariba range
ange besa karibeka sadhe
rakha ei seba-kaje nija pada-pankaje
priya-sahacari-gana-majhe

Please engage me in the service of Your lotus feet. Please place me among Your gopi-associates. In their company I will serve You with great happiness. I will dress You in nice garments, and serve You in many ways.

3 sugandhi candana manimaya abharana
kausika basana nana range
ei saba seba janra dasi jena hana tanra
anhuksana thaki tanra sange

I will anoint You with aromatic sandalwood paste. I will happily decorate You with a variety of silken garments and jewel ornaments. I will always stay near You as Your maidservant.

4 jala subasita kari ratana bhrngare bhari
karpura-basita guya pana
e-saba sajaiya dala labanga malati-mala
bhaksya-dravya nana anupama

I will bring You fragrant water in a jewel pitcher and betel-nuts mixed with camphor. I will bring You a clove-twig, a garland of jasmine flowers, and a variety of incomparably delicious foods.

5 sakhira ingita habe e-saba aniya kabe
jogaiba lalitara kache
narottama dasa kaya ei jena mora haya
dandaiya bahu sakhira pache

When will I carry out every order hinted or gestured by the gopis? When will I attain the association of Lalita-devi? Narottama dasa says: I hope that by praying in this way I will some day become eligible to follow behind the gopi friends of the Divine Couple.

Song 51

1 aruna-kamala-dale sesa bichaiba
basaiba kisora-kisori
alaka-abrta-mukha- pankaja manohyara
marakata-syam hema-gauri

When will I scatter red lotus petals before the charming youthful Divine Couple, whose lotus faces are decorated with curling locks of hair, and who are like a dark sapphire and glittering gold?

2 praneswari kabe more habe krpa dithi
ajnaya aniya kabe bibidha phula-bara
sunaba racana dunhu mithi

O queen of my life, when will you place Your merciful glance on me? When, directly hearing the orders of the Divine Couple, will I bring them many flowers and sweet candies?

3 mrgamada tilaka sa-sindura banayaba
lepaba candana-gandhe
ganthi malati-phula hara pahiraoba
dhaoyaba madhukara-brnde

When will I anoint the Divine Couple with tilaka markings made of musk and red sindura? When will I anoint Their bodies with sandalwood paste? When will I string a garland of jasmine flowers for Them, and then have to flee from the swarm of bumble-bees eager to claim the honey of those flowers?

4 lalita kabe more bijana deoyaba
bijana maruta mande
srama-jala sakala mitaba dunhu-kalebara
heraba parama anande

When, on Lalita's order will I gently fan the Divine Couple, banishing the perspiration from Their transcendental bodies? When will I see the Divine Couple, my heart filling with spiritual bliss?

5 narottama dasa asa pada-pankaja
sebana madhuri-pane
ho-oyaba hena dina na dekhiye kona cihna
dunhu-jana heraba nayane

Narottama dasa hopes that some day he will be able to drink the sweet honey of the service of the lotus feet of the Divine Couple. Will that day ever be? I do not see any indication that I will become able to see the Divine Couple directly with my own eyes.

Sri Krsne Vijnaptih (Prayer to Sri Krsna)

Song 52

1 prabhu he ei-bara karaha karuna
jugala-carana dekhi saphala kariba ankhi
ei mora manera kamana

The sight of the lotus feet of the Divine Couple will be the crowning success of my eyes. My heart and mind yearn to attain this sight. O Lord, please be merciful and grant this sight to me.

2 nija-pada-seba diba nahi more upekhiba
dunju pahu karuna-sagara
dunhu binu nahi janon ei bada bhagya manon
mui bada patita pamara

Please grant me the service of Your lotus feet. Do not neglect me, for You, my two Lords, are like two oceans filled with compassion. I know that You are full of all transcendental glory and opulence, and I do not know anyone except You. I am very fallen and sinful. Please be merciful to me.

3 lalita adesa pana carana sebiba yana
priya-sakhi sange haya mane
dunhu data-siromani ati dina more jani
nikate carana dibe dane

By Your mercy I will attain the association of the gopis. By Your mercy I will become Lalita's maidservant, to be ordered about by her. By Your mercy I will attain the service of Your lotus feet. I know that You are both the crest-jewels among all wealthy philanthropists, and You know that I am the poorest of the poor. Please, therefore, give me the charity of Your lotus feet.

4 paba radha-krsna-pa ghucibe manera gha
dure jabe e-saba biphala
narottama dase kaya ei bancha siddhi haya
deha prana sakala saphala

By Your mercy I will attain Your lotus feet. By Your mercy all the painful wounds in my mind and heart will heal. By Your mercy my lack of success will go far away. Narottama dasa says: By Your mercy all my desires will be fulfilled, and this body and life will at last become fruitful.

Song 53

1 aji rase badara nisi
preme bhasala saba brndabana-basi

Soon all the residents of Vrndavana will float in the nectar of pure love for Radha and Krsna.

2 syama-ghana barikhaye prema-sudha-dhara
kore rangini radha bijuri-sancara

Sri Krsna is like a dark cloud that showers the nectar of pure love, and Srimati Radharani is like a restless lightning flash sitting in the lap of that cloud.

3 preme pichala patha gamana bhela banka
mrgamada-candana-kunkume bhela panka

The path of love for Krsna is winding and crooked. It is slippery, and filled with mud and mixed with kunkuma, sandalwood paste, and musk.

4 dig bidig nahi premera pathara
dubila narottama na jane santara

The great ocean of love of Krsna stretches without limit in all directions. Although Narottama dasa does not know how to swim across that ocean, he plunges head first into it.

Sri Prema-bhakti-candrika by Srila Narottama dasa Thakura
Table of Contents

* Song 1 sri guru carana padma, kebala bhakati sadma
* Song 2 anya abhilasa chadi, jnana karma parihari
* Song 3 tumi ta dayara sindhu, adhama janera bandhu
* Song 4 ana katha ana byatha, nahi jena jai tatha
* Song 5 ragera bhajana patha, kahi ebe abhimata
* Song 6 jugala carana prati, parama ananda tati
* Song 7 Radha krsna karon dhyana, swapane na bala
* Song 8 bacanera agocara, brndabana dhama bara
* Song 9 ana katha na suniba, ana katha na baliba

Introduction

1 om ajnana-timirandhasya
jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena
tasmai sri-gurava namah

I was born in the darkest of ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him.*

2 sri-caitanya-mano bhistam
sthapitam yena bhutale
svayam rupah kada mahyam
dadati sva-padantikam

When will Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada, who has established within this material world the mission to fulfil the desire of Lord Caitanya, give me shelter under his lotus feet.*

3 akhila-rasamrta-murtih
prasrmara-ruci-ruddha-taraka-palih
kalita-syama-lalito
radha-preyan vidhur jayati

Let Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, be glorified! By virtue of His expanding attractive features, He subjugated the gopis named Taraka and Pali and absorbed Syama and Lalita. He is the most attractive lover of Srimati Radharani and is the reservoir of pleasure for all devotional mellows.*

Song 1

sri-guru-carana-padma, kebala-bhakati-sadma
bando mui sabadhana mate
jahara prasade bhai, ei bhava toriy a jai
krsna-prapti hoy jaha hate

To the lotus feet of my spiritual master, which are the abode of pure devotional service, I who am very fallen bow down with great care and attention in my heart. O brother, crossing the realm of repeated birth and death by his mercy, we will attain Krsna.

2 guru-mukha-padma-bakya, cittete koriba aikya,
ar na koriho mane asa
sri-guru-carane rati, ei sei uttam-gati
je prasade pure sarba asa

I will make the words from my spiritual master's lotus mouth one with my heart. I do not want the desire for any other thing to stay in my heart. Love for the spiritual master's lotus feet is the highest goal. By his mercy all desires are fulfilled.

3 cakhu-dan dilo jei, janme janme prabhu sei
dibya-jnan hrde prokasito
prema-bhakti jaha hoite, abidya binasa jate
bede gay jahara carito

He who gave me eyes to see is my lord, birth after birth. He made divine knowledge shine in my heart. From him has come prema-bhakti, which destroys ignorance. The Vedic scriptures sing of his character.

4 sri-guru karuna-sindhu, adhama janara bandhu
lokanath lokera jibana
ha ha prabhu koro doya, deho mora pada-chaya
ebe jasa ghusuk tribhuvana

O spiritual master, O ocean of mercy, O friend of the fallen, O Lokanatha, O life of the world, O master, be merciful to me. Give me the shade of your feet. May your glories be proclaimed in the three worlds.

5 baisnaba-carana-renu bhusana kariya tanu
jaha haite anubhaba haya
marjana haya bhajana sadhu-sange anuksana
ajnana-abidya-parajaya

By making the dust of the Vaisnavas' feet the ornament of my body, ecstatic love comes. Washing the Vaisnavas' lotus feet is my method of worship. By always associating with the Vaisnavas, I shall overcome the darkness of ignorance.

6 jaya sanatana rupa prema-bhakti-rasa-kupa
jugala-ujjwala-rasa-tanu
janhara prasade loka pasarila saba soka
parakatala kalpa-taru janu

O Srila Sanatana Gosvami and Srila Rupa Gosvami, who are two deep wells of the nectar of pure love, two personifications of the splendid nectar of the Divine Couple, and two desire trees by whose mercy the entire world is free from suffering, all glories to you!

7 prema-bhakti-riti jata nija-granthe su-byakata
kariyachena dui mahasaya
jahara srabana haite parananda haya cite
jugala-madhura-rasasraya

In your books you two great souls clearly described prema-bhakti. You are reservoirs of the sweet nectar of the Divine Couple. Hearing about you brings bliss to the heart.

8 jugala-kisora-prema jini' laksa bana hema
hena dhana prakasila janra
jaya rupa sanatana deha' more sei dhana
sei ratana mora gela hara

You are fabulously wealthy, possessing ecstatic love for the youthful Divine Couple, a love more precious than gold purified in ten thousand flames. O Rupa and Sanatana Gosvami, all glories to you! I beg you, please give me in charity some of these jewel necklaces.

9 bhagabata-sastra-marma naba-bidha bhakti-dharma
sadai kariba su-sebana
anya-devasraya nai tomare kahinu bhai
ei bhakti parama-bhajana

I shall eternally engage in the nine-fold process of devotional service, which is the essential message of Srimad-Bhagavatam, and I shall not worship the demigods. O brother, I say to you: Devotional service is the most exalted kind of worship.

10 sadhu-sastra-guru-bakya cittete kariya aikya
satata bhasiba prema-majhe
karmi jnani bhakti-hina ihare karibe bhina
narottama ei tattwa gaje

Making the words of the guru, sadhus and sastras one with my heart, I constantly float and swim in the ocean of pure love. I am different from the karmis and jnanis, who have no devotion for Krsna. Narottama speaks the truth.

Song 2

Invocation

srimad-rupa-gosvami-prabhupadenoktam

anyabhilasita-sunyam
jnana-karmady-anavrtam
anukuleyna krsnanu-
silanam bhaktir uttama

Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada has said (Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.1.11)

"Uttama bhakti, or unalloyed devotion unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna, involves the rendering of devotional service in a way that is favourable to the Lord. This devotional service should be free from any extraneous motive and devoid of fruitive karma, impersonal jnana and all other selfish desires."*

1 anya-abhilasa chadi jnana karma parihari
kaya mane kariba bhajana
sadhu-sange krsna-seba na pujiba devi-deva
ei bhakti parama-karana

Rejecting all other desires, and abandoning philosophical speculation and fruitive work, in the company of the devotees I will worship and serve Lord Krsna with my body and mind. I will not worship the demigods and demigoddesses. Devotional service is the reason for my life.

2 maha janera jei patha tate habe anurata
purbapara kariya bicara
sadhana-smarana-lila ihate na kara hela
kaya mane kariya susara

Devotedly follow the path of the great devotees in the past. Properly using your body and mind, don't neglect either the regulative devotional practices or the remembrance of the Lord's pastimes.

3 asat-sanga sada tyaga chada anya gita-raga
karmi jnani parihari dure
kebala bhakata-sanga prema-katha-rasa-ranga
lila-katha braja-rasa-pure

Always reject the company of the impious. Give up attraction to non-devotional songs. Leave the karmis and jnanis far away. Only associate with the devotees. Take pleasure in hearing the nectar descriptions of pure love for Krsna. Become flooded by the nectar of the narrations of the Lord's pastimes in Vraja.

4 jogi nyasi karmi jnani anya-debata-pu jaka dhyani
iha-loke dure parihari
karma dharma duhkha soka jeba thake anya joga
chadi bhaja giribara-dhari

Putting the yogis, svamis, karmis, jnanis, demigod-worshippers, and meditators far away, and rejecting the torments that are fruitive work, ordinary religion, and the other yogas, worship Lord Giridhari.

5 tirtha-jatra parisrama kebala manera bhrama
sarba-siddhi gobinda-carana
drdha-biswasa hrde dhari mada-matsar ja parihari
sada kara ananya bhajana

The struggle to travel to various holy pilgrimage places is simply the mind's mistake, because to make spiritual advancement all one actually needs is the lotus feet of Lord Govinda. Abandoning pride and envy, and with firm faith in your heart, always worship Lord Govinda without deviation.

6 krsna-bhakta sanga kari krsna-bhakta anga heri
sraddhanbita srabana-kirtana
arcana bandana dhyana naba-bhakti maha-jnana
ei bhakti parama-karana

See the devotees of Lord Krsna, associate with the devotees of Lord Krsna. Faithfully engage in the nine-fold process of devotional service, which includes hearing about the Lord, chanting His glories, worshipping Him, offering obeisances to Him, and remembering Him. Following these activities enlightens the devotees with spiritual knowledge.

7 hrsike gobinda-seba na pujiba devi-deva
ei ta ananya-bhakti-katha
ara jata upalambha bisesa sakali dambha
dekhite lagaye mane byatha

I shall use these senses to serve Lord Govinda, and I shall decline to worship the various demigods and demigoddesses. I shall only speak about pure devotional service. The numberless different philosophies and conceptions of life are all products of the conditioned soul's pride. Trying to understand them brings no real benefit but only a pain within the mind.

8 dehe baise ripu-gana jateka indriya-gana
keha kara badhya nahi haya
sunile na suna kana janile na jane prana
drdhaite na pare niscaya

The insubordinate senses are like enemies that live within the body. Tell the ear to hear and it may rebel, refusing to hear. Tell the mind to understand a particular point, or become firm in a certain way, and it may very well disobey.

9 kama krodha moha lobha mada matsar ja dambha-saha
sthane sthane ni jukta kariba
ananda kari hrdaya ripu kari parajaya
anayase gobinda bhajiba

I shall fight with lust, anger, bewilderment, greed, madness, envy and pride. Defeating them, I will become blissful at heart, and I will easily become able to worship Lord Govinda.

10 kama krsna-karmarpane krodha bhakta-dwesis-jane
lobha sadhu-sange hari-katha
moha ista-lablha-bine mada krsna-guna-gane
nijukta kariba jatha tatha

Lust I will engage in offering the fruits of my work to Lord Krsna. Anger I will direct towards the enemies of the devotees. Greed I will engage by being greedy to hear the topics of Lord Hari in the association of the saintly devotees. Bewilderment will be manifested because I cannot immediately attain my worshipable Lord. Madness will be there when I madly glorify the transcendental attributes of Lord Krsna. In this way I will engage each of these in the service of Lord Krsna.

11 anyatha swatanta kama anrthadi jara dhama
bhakti-patha sada deya bhanga
kiba ba karite pare kama-krodha sadhakere
jadi haya sadhu-janara sanga

If lust is not controlled, then it becomes the breeding ground for a host of vices and checks one's advancement on the path of devotional service. However, if one stays in the association of the saintly devotees, then that association will carry him beyond the influence of lust, anger, and their friends.

12 krodha ba na kare kiba krodha-tyaga sada diba
lobha moha ei ta kathana
chaya ripu sada hina kariba manera adhina
krsnacandra kariya smarana

I shall not become angry. I shall renounce anger. I shall become free from my six enemies, such as greed and bewilderment. I shall control my mind, and always remember Lord Krsnacandra.

13 apani palabe saba suniya gobinda raba
simha-raba jena kari-gana
sakala vipatti jabe mahananda sukha pabe
jara haya ekanta bhajana

When lust and his friends hear the word "Govinda" they immediately begin to flee, as a herd of elephants flees when it hears a lion's roar. If one engages in single-pointed devotional service to Lord Krsna, then the worshipper attains transcendental bliss, and all kinds of calamities flee from him.

14 na kariba asat-cesta labha puja pratistha
sada cinta gobinda-carana
sakala santapa jabe parananda sukha pabe
prema-bhakti parama-karana

Don't sin. Take no interest in profit, adoration, and distinction. Instead meditate on the lotus feet of Lord Govinda. In this way all sufferings will go far away and transcendental bliss and pure love for Lord Krsna will spontaneously come.

15 asat-sanga kutinati chada anya paripati
anya debe na hariha rati
apana apana sthane piriti sabai tane
bhakti-pathe padaye bigati

Give up the association of the impious non-devotees. Give up the tendency to find fault in others. Don't follow any spiritual path other than devotional service. Don't worship the demigods. If one takes to the worship of the demigods, he becomes deviated from the path of devotional service.

16 apana bhajana-pantha taha habe anurata
ista-deva-sthane-lila-gane
naisthika bhajana ei tomare kahila bhai
hanuman tahate pramana

O brother, please become attached to your worshipable Lord alone. Serve Him without deviation and sing the glories of His pastimes. I will now quote the words of Hanuman, who demonstrates this exclusive devotion to one's worshipable Deity. Hanuman said:

17 srinathe janaki-nathe
abhedah paramatmani
tathapi mama sarvasvam
ramah kamala-locanah

Although He is not different from Lord Narayana, lotus-eyed Lord Rama alone is the be-all and end-all of my life.

18 devaloka pitrloka paya tara maha-sukha
sadhu sadhu bale anuksana
jugala bhajaye jara premanande bhase tara
tandera nichani tri-bhubana

If one attains the planets of the demigods or Pitas and enjoys celestial happiness there, then I congratulate him, saying: well done, well done. However, I myself would never strive to attain such a thing. For myself I am content simply to worship the Divine Couple and swim and float in the bliss of pure love for Them. This pure love is the most valuable object in the three worlds.

19 prthak ayasa-joge duhkamaya-bisaya-bhoge
braje basa gobinda-sebana
krsna-katha krsna-nama satya-satya rasa-dhama
braja-jane-sange anuksana

Although I have taken great trouble to try to enjoy the miserable sense-gratification available in this world, I shall now give it up. I shall now reside in Vraja, serve Lord Govinda, hear and chant the topics of Lord Krsna, chant the holy names of Lord Krsna, and at every moment relish the transcendental mellows of devotional service in the association of the residents of Vraja.

20 sada seba-abhilasa manete kari biswasa
sada-kala haiya nirbhaya
narottama dasa bole padinu asat-bhole
paritrana kara mahasaya

I shall always aspire to serve the Lord, and great faith in the Lord will become manifested in my mind. In this way I shall remain always fearless in all situations. Narottama dasa says: Somehow or other I have accepted the role of a non-devotee. O my master, O great soul, please deliver me.

Song 3

1 tumi ta dayara sindhu adhama-janera bandhu
more prabhu kara abadhana
padinu asat-bhole kama-timingile gile
ohe natha kara paritrana

O Lord, You are an ocean of mercy. You are the friend of the fallen souls. Please notice me. I have become like a non devotee, swallowed by the timingila fish of lust. O Lord, please protect me.

2 javat janama mora aparadhe hainu bhora
niskapate na bhajinu toma
tathapi ha tumi gat na chadiha prana-pati
mora sama nahika adhama

In every birth I repeatedly offended You. In every birth I failed to worship You sincerely. No one is as fallen as I. Nevertheless, You are the only goal of my life. O Lord of my life, please do not abandon me.

3 patita-pabana nama ghosana tomara syama
upekhile nahi mora gati
jadi hana aparadhi tathapiha tumi gati
satya satya jena satyira pati

O Lord, You are known as Patita-pavana, the deliverer of the fallen, and You are also known as Syamasundara. Please do not ignore my appeal. Even if I am an offender, I think that You are the real goal of life. That is the truth.

4 tumi ta parama deba nahi more upekhiba
suna suna pranera iswara
jadi karon aparaadha tathapiha tumi natha
seba diya kara anucara

O Supreme Personality of Godhead, please do not neglect me. O master of my life, please hear my words. Even if I have committed offenses to You, I always think of You as my master. Please allow me to serve You as Your associate and follower.

5 kame mora hata cita nahi jane ni ja hita
manera na ghuce durbasana
more natha angikuru tumi bancha-kalpa-taru
karuna dekhuka sarba-jana

Lust has destroyed my mind. I do not know what is actually beneficial for me. O Lord, You glance mercifully on all living entities and You are like a desire tree fulfilling the desires of everyone. Please accept me as Your servant.

6 mo-sama patita nai tribhuvane dekha cai
narottama-pavana nama dhara
ghusuka samsare nama patita-uddhara syama
nija-dasa kara giridhara

O Lord, You will not see anyone in these three planetary systems who is as fallen as I. O Lord, please accept the name "Narottama-pavana" (the deliverer of Narottama), and let that name be broadcast throughout the material world. O Lord Syamasundara, O lifter of Govardhana Hill, O deliverer of the fallen, please accept me as Your servant.

7 narottama bada duhkhi natha more kara sukhi
tomara bhajana sankirtane
antaraya nahi jaya ei sei parama bhaya
nivedana kari anuksana

Narottama dasa is very unhappy. O Lord please engage him in Your sankirtana movement and thus make him happy. O Lord, I am very afraid that I will not be able to overcome the many obstacles that stop every me from advancing in devotional service. O Lord, at every moment I beg You to remove all those obstacles.

Song 4

1 ana katha ana byatha nahi jena jai tatha
tomara carana smrti-majhe
abirata abhikala tuya guna kala-kala
gai jena satera samaje

O Lord, I do not perform the painful activity of talking about anything other than You, but instead I only talk and think about Your lotus feet. O Lord, I constantly and without deviation glorify Your transcendental attributes in the assembly of devotees.

2 anya-brata anya-dana nahi karon bastu-jnana
anya-seba any-deba-puja
ha ha krsna bali bali bedara ananda kari
mane ara nahe jena duja

I shall not perform any vows not related to You. I shall not give in charity except as a service to You. I shall not acquire knowledge except to serve You. I shall not worship the demigods. I shall not serve anyone except You. I shall blissfully wander about repeatedly calling out: "O Krsna! O Krsna!" No one but You will stay in my mind.

3 jibane marane gati radha-krsna prana-rati
donhara piriti-rasa-sukhe
jugala bhajaye janra premanande bhase tanra
ei katha rahu mora buke

During the life of this body and after its death, Sri Sri Radha-Krsna will always remain my goal, and the two master's of my life's breath. I worship the Divine Couple and I swim and float in the nectarean ocean of love for Them. I pray that the description of Their forms, qualities, and pastimes may always remain within my heart.

4 jugala-carana-seba ei dana mora diba
jugalete manera piriti
jugala-kisora-rupa kama-rati guna-bhupa
mane bahu o lila-piriti

Please give me the service of the lotus feet of the Divine Couple. Please give this charity to me. My mind is filled with love for the Divine Couple, whose youthful forms are like the beautiful forms of King Kamadeva and his queen Rati.

5 dasanete trna kari ha ha kisora-kisori
caranabje nibedana kari
braja-raja-suta syama brsabhanu-suta nama
sri-radhika-nama manohari

I place a straw between my teeth, and place the following appeal before the lotus feet of the Divine Couple: O Sri Sri Kisora-Kisori, O Lord Syamasundara, O prince of Vraja, O beautiful girl name Sri Radhika, O daughter of Maharaja Vrsabhanu.....

6 kanaka-ketaki rati syama marakata taya
kandarpa-darapa karu cura
nata-bara-siromani natinira sikharini
dunhu-gune dunhun-mana jhura

....O Srimati Radharani, as beautiful as a golden ketaki flower. O Lord Syamasundara, as splendid as a blue sapphire, O Lords whose transcendental glory crushes Kamadeva's pride into fine powder, O two crest-jewels of all expert dancers, please allow my mind to remain rapt in thinking of Your transcendental qualities.

7 abharana manimaya prati ange abhinaya
tachu paye narottama kahe
diba nisi guna gana parama ananda pana
mane ei abhilasa haya

O Lords whose limbs are decorated with many jewel ornaments, Narottama dasa approaches Your lotus feet and says: My Lords, I wish that I may attain transcendental bliss by singing the glories of Your transcendental qualities both day and night. That is my mind's desire.

Song 5

1 ragera bhajana-patha kahi ebe abhimata
loka-beda-sara ei bani
sakhira anuga hana braje siddha-deha pana
ei bhabe judabe parani

I shall now describe the path of spontaneous love for Krsna, which is glorified by the exalted devotees and the Vedic literatures. By traversing this path of spontaneous love one becomes a follower of the gopis and attains the perfect spiritual body of a liberated soul.

2-3 sri-radhikara sakhi jata taha ba kahiba kata
mukhya sakhi kariye ganana
lalita bisakha tatha sucitra campakalata
rangadevi sudevi kathana
tungabidya indurekha ei asta-sakhi lekha
ei kahi narma -sakhi gana
ihon seba-shacari priya-prestha nama dhari
prema-seba kare anuksana

I shall now describe the most important of Srimati Radharani's gopi-friends. Lalita, Visakha, Sucitra, Campakalata, Rangadevi, Sudevi, Tungavidya, and Indulekha, are the eight most important gopi friends of Srimati Radharani. Her other gopi-friends are divided into groups: the narma-sakhis, priya-sakhis, and prestha-sakhis. All these gopis constantly render loving service to Srimati Radharani.

4 sri rupa-manjari ara sri-rati-manjari sara
labanga-manjari manjunali
sri-rasa-manjari-sange kasturika-adi range
prema-seba kare kutuhali

Sri Rupa-manjari, Sri Rati-manjari, Lavanga-manjari, Manjunali, and Sri Rasa-manjari eagerly and lovingly serve Srimati Radharani, supplying her musk and various other articles.

5 ei-sabara anuga hana prema-seba niba cana
ingite bhujiba saba kaje
rupa guna dagamagi sada haba anuragi
basati kariba sakhi majhe

I am the follower of all these gopis. I shall serve them with great love. I will completely understand their orders, even when couched in casual hints or gestures. I shall become immersed in wonder at their transcendental virtues and beauty, and I shall dearly love them. I shall always remain in their company.

6 brdabane du jana cari-dike cakhi-gana
samayera seba rasa-sukhe
sakhira ingita habe camara dhulaba tabe
tambula jogaba canda-mukhe

Immersed in the happiness of serving the Divine Couple surrounded by Their gopi-friends in Vrndavana, I will understand the gopis' hints, and, taking up the camara wish I will fan the Divine Couple, and after that I will place betel nuts in Their moonlike mouths.

7 jugala-carana sebi nirantara ei bhabi
anurage thakiba sadaya
sadhane bhabiba jaha siddha-dehe paba taha
raga pathera ei sei upaya

Someday I will constantly serve the lotus feet of the Divine Couple with great love. At present I will follow the rules of sadhana-bhakti until I attain a perfected spiritual body and am able to love the Divine Couple spontaneously.

8 sadhane je dhana cai siddha-dehe taha pai
pakwa pakwa matra sei bicara
pakile sei prema-bhakti apakwe sadhana khyati
bhakati-laksana-anusara

That treasure of pure love of God for which I hanker while I follow the regulative practices of sadhana-bhakti, I will attain when I have the spiritual body of a liberated soul. Actually sadhana-bhakti and prema-bhakti are the same devotional service. Sadhana-bhakti is the stage where love for Krsna has not fully ripened yet, and prema-bhakti is the same devotion where love for Krsna has reached the mature, ripened stage. That is the description of devotional service.

9 narottama dasa kahe ei jena mora haye
braja-pure anurage basa
sakhi-gana-gananate amare ganibe tate
tabahun puriba abhilasa

Narottama dasa says: I hope that I may attain the stage of spontaneous love for the Divine Couple in the town of Vraja. I hope that I will be counted among the gopi-friends of the Divine Couple. O Divine Couple,, in this way I will be able to serve You and satisfy all Your desires.

10 tatha hi--
sakhinam sangini-rupam
atmanam vasana-mayim
ajna-seva-param tat-tat-
krpalankara-bhusitam

The stage of prema-bhakti is described in the following statements of Vaisnava literature:

"One should meditate on oneself as being the maidservant of the gopis, and in this way one will attain their mercy."

11 krsnam smaran janam casya
prestham nija-samhitam
tat-tat-katha-ratas casau
kuryad vasam vraje sada

"The devotee should always think of Krsna within himself, and one should choose a very dear devotee who is a servitor of Krsna in Vrndavana. One should constantly engage in topics about that servitor and his loving relationship to Krsna, and one should live in Vrndavana. However, if one is physically unable to go to Vrndavana, he should mentally live there."*

Song 6

1 jugala-carana-prati parama-ananda tati
rati-prema hau para-bandhe
krsna-nama-radha-nama upasana rasa-dhama
carane padiye paranande

Love for the lotus feet of the Divine Couple is the resting place of transcendental bliss. Radha and Krsna's holy names are the reservoir of transcendental sweetness. I happily fall down to offer my respectful obeisances to Radha and Krsna's lotus feet.

2 manera smarana prana madhura madhura nama
bilasa jugala smrti-sara
sadhya sadhana ei ara nai iha bai
ei tattwa sarba-tattwa-sara

The Divine Couple's sweet, sweet holy name is life of the mind's memory. Their pastimes are the best remembering. Remembering Them is both the goal and the way to attain it. That is the truth of all truths. This book is not the only place that it is said.

3 jalada-sundara-kanti madhura madhura bhati
baidagadhi-abadhi subesa
su-pita-basana-dhara abharana mani-bara
mayura-candrika karu kesa

Sri Krsna is splendid like a monsoon cloud, very sweet and charming, expert, gracefully dressed in yellow garments, decorated with jewel ornament, and crowned with a peacock feather placed in His hair.

4 mrgmada su-candana kunkumadi bilepana
mugdha-kari murati tri-bhanga
nabina-kusumabali sri-ange sobhaye bhali
madhu-lobhe phire matta bhrnga

He is decorated with musk, sandal paste, kunkuma, and other fragrances. His three-fold bending form is sweet and charming. His transcendental body is decorated with garlands of flowers so fresh they draw swarms of maddened bumblebees eager for honey.

5 isat madhura-smita baidagadhi-lilamrta
lubadhala braja-badhu-brnda
carana-kamala-para manimaya su-manjira
nakha-mani jini bala-candra

His gentle smile is sweet. He is expert at tasting the nectar of transcendental pastimes. He is surrounded by the amorous girls of Vraja. His lotus feet are decorated with jewel anklets. His toenails eclipse the glory of the crescent moon.

6 nupura-marala-dhwani kula-badhu-maralini
suniya rahite nare ghare
hrdaye barhaye rati jena mile pati sati
kulera dharama jara dure

When they hear the warbling of the male swan that is Krsna's anklets, the female swan gopis can no longer remain peacefully in their homes. Love for Him growing in their hearts, they run, leaving their household duties far behind, to meet Him, their lover.

7 krsna-mukha-dwija-raje sarala-bamsi-biraje
jara dhwani bhubana mataya
srabane patha diya hrdaye prabesa hana
prana adi akarsi anaya

The music of the straight flute placed to Krsna's lips enchants the world. Entering first the ear and then the heart, that music attracts all living beings.

8 gobinda-sebana satya tanhara sebaka nitya

brndabana-bhumi te jomaya
tahate jamuna-jala kare nitya jhalamala
tara tire asta kunja haya

Devotional service to Lord Govinda is eternal. They who serve Him are His servants eternally. The land of Vrndavana is glorious. There the Yamuna's water glitters eternally. Eight forests are on the Yamuna's shore.

9 sitala-kirana-kara kalpa-taru-guna-dhara
taru-lata sad-rtu-seba
purna-candra-sama jyoti cid-ananda-maya murti
mahananda-darsana-lobha

Vrndavana is splendid with cooling moonlight and glorious with kalpa-vrksa trees and kalpa-lata vines blossoming in all six seasons. Full of transcendental bliss and glorious as the full moon, it makes everyone eager to see its blissful form.

10 gobinda anandadamaya nikate banita-caya
bihare madhura ati sobha
dunhu prema dagamagi dunhu donha anuragi
dunhu rupa dunhu manolobha

Surrounded by the gopis and very handsome and charming. Lord Govinda is full of transcendental bliss. The Divine Couple is beautiful, charming and overcome with passionate love.

11 braja-pura-banitara carana asraya sara
kara mana ekanta kariya
anya bola gandu-gola nahi suna utarola
rakha prema hrdaye bhariya

O mind, take shelter of the lotus feet of the Vrajagopis. Don't listen to the useless din of the materialists' words. Fill my heart with pure love for the Divine Couple.

12 krsna prabhu eka-bara karibena angikara
jena mana e satya bacana
dhanya lila brndabana radha-krsna-sri-carana
dhanya sakhi manjirira gana

O mind, just this one time accept Lord Krsna as your supreme master. I tell you the truth. Sri Sri Radha and Krsna's lotus feet are supremely glorious, Their pastimes are glorious, Their land of Vrajapura is glorious, and their friends, the sakhi-gopis and manjari-gopis are glorious.

13 papa-punya-maya deha sakala anitya eha
dhana jana saba micha dhanda
marile jaibe kotha tahate na pao byatha
tabu kar ja kara sada manda

This material body, which one attains because of his previous pious and impious deeds is temporary and the foolish attempt by all conditioned souls to accumulate more and more wealth is a clever trick of the illusory potency maya. When the material body dies, what will happen to all the carefully collected wealth? Where will it go? O mind, don't work day and night with a great struggle simply to collect money. You are so foolish that you constantly work for such a fleeting goal.

14 rajara je rajya-pata jena natujara nata
dekhite dekhite kichu naya
hena maya kare jei parama iswara sei
tanre mana sada kara bhaya

A monarch's kingdom is just like the dramatic performance of an actor: although one sees them, they are never actually real, but only a pretence arranged by the illusory energy maya. O mind, don't pay attention to these false material things. Fix your mind always on the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Fear His displeasure. Don't be concerned with other things.

15 pape na kariha mana adhama sei papi-jana
tare mana dure parihari
punyaje sukhera dhama tara na laio nama
punya dui tyaga kari

O mind, don't sin. Stay far away from sinful persons. Don't work to attain material piety, the resting place of material happiness. Don't strive for the false liberation imagined by the impersonalists.

16 prema-bhakti-sudha-nidhi tahe du/ba nirabadhi
ara jata ksara nidhi praya
nirantara sukha pabe sakala santapa jabe
para-tattwa karile upaya

Dive into the shoreless nectar ocean of pure love for Krsna, larger than the largest salt-water ocean. If one swims in that nectar ocean of live for Krsna, Lord Krsna will make all his sufferings disappear, and he will attain endless transcendental bliss.

17 anyera parasa jena nahi haya kadacana
ihate haibe sabadhana
radha-krsna nama gana ei se parama dhyana
ara na kariha paramana

Take great care only to serve the Divine Couple, and don't let any other activity touch you. Know that the chanting of the holy names of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna is the supreme spiritual meditation. Please don't try to raise any objections to this, or try to present evidence confirming any other view.

18 karmi jnani micha-bhakta na habe taya anurakta
suddha-bhajanete kara mana
braja-janera jei mata tahe habe anugata
ei se parama tattwa-dhana

O mind, please engage in pure devotional service, which cannot be followed by the fruitive workers, speculative philosophers, or pseudo-devotees. Just accept that the opinion of the exalted devotees in Vraja is the perfect explanation of the Absolute Truth.

19 prarthana kariba sada suddha-bhave prema-katha
nama-mantre kariya abheda
astika kariya mana bhaja range sri-carane
granthi-papa habe pariccheda

I shall continually offer prayers to the Divine Couple, and I shall describe the pure love of the Lord and His devotees. With my words I shall prove that the Supreme Lord is not different from the chanting of His holy names. O mind, have firm faith in Lord Krsna, and worship the reddish soles of His lotus feet. Do this, and the karmic results of your past sins will be smashed.

20 radha-krsna sri-carana matra paramartha-dhana
sa-jatane hrdayete lao
dunhu nama suni suni bhakta-mukhe puni puni
parama ananda sukha-pana

O mind, please place in my heart Sri Sri Radha Krsna's lotus feet, which are my only treasure. Again and again hear the holy names of the Divine Couple from the mouths of the devotees, and in this way attain transcendental bliss.

21 hema-gaura-tanu rai ankhi darasana cai
rodana karaye abhilase
jaladhara dhara dhara anga ati manohara
rupete bhubana parakase

Srimati Radharani's transcendental form has the splendour of gold. Weeping, I pray to attain the glance of Her lotus eyes. Sri Krsna's handsome form is splendid as a monsoon cloud. From it the entire material cosmos is manifested.

22 sakhi-gana cari-pase seba kare abhilase
parama se sobha-sukha dhare
ei mane asa mora aiche rase hana bhora
narottama sada-i bihare

I yearn to engage in devotional service with the gopis at my four sides. That service is my great happiness. Again and again Narottama says: This is the desire in my heart.

Song 7

1 radha-krsna karon dhyana swapane na bala ana
prema binu ara nahi cana
jugala-kisora-prema jini laksa-bana hema
arati-piriti-rase dhana

Meditate on Sri Sri Radha-Krsna. Don't desire anything else, even in your dreams. The treasure of love for the youthful Divine Couple is more valuable than gold purified in ten thousand flames.

2 jala binu jena mina duhkha paya ayu hina
prema binu ei-mata bhakta
cataka jalada-gati e-mati ekanta-rati
jei jane sei anurakta

As a fish without water suffers and dies, so a devotee perishes without love for the Divine Couple. As a cataka bird carefully follows the clouds, so a devotee loves the Divine Couple.

3 saroja-bhramara jena cakora-candrika tena
pati-brata stri-lokera pati
anyatra na cale mana jena daridrera dhana
ei-mata prema-bhakti-riti

As a bumblebee yearns for lotus flowers, a cakora bird yearns for moonlight, a chaste wife yearns for her husband, and a pauper yearns for money, a devotee yearns to attain love for the Divine Couple.

4 bisaya garala-maya nahe mana sukha-caya
sei na sukha duhkha kari mana
gobinda-bisaya-rasa sanga kara tanra dasa
prema-bhakti satya kari jana

The happiness of the senses is full of poison. Pride does not bring happiness. These things do not bring happiness. They bring only pain. Taste the nectar of serving Lord Govinda. Associate with His devotees. Learn the truth of loving devotional service.

5 madhye madhye ache dusta drsti kari haya rusta
gunahi biguna kari mane
gobinda-bimukha-jane sphurti nahe hena dhane
laukika kariya saba jane

The treasure of divine love does not present itself before the demons, who turn their backs on Lord Govinda, become angry when they see the devotees, and think the devotees are ordinary people.

6 ajnana abhaga jata nahi laya sata-mata
ahankare na jane apane
abhimani bhakti-hina jaga-majhe sei dina
brtha tara asesa bhabana

These unfortunate fools cannot understand the truth. Proud, bewildered by false-ego, and empty of devotion for the Lord, they are the poorest and most wretched people in the world. All their thoughts are empty and without meaning.

7 ara saba parihari parama iswara hari
seba mana prema kari asa
eka-braja-raja-pura gobinda rasika-bara
karaha sadai abhilasa

O mind, renounce everything and desire only to love and serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Hari. Lord Govinda, the best of they who taste transcendental nectar, stays in King Nanda's house. Desire Him alone.

8 narottama dasa kahe sada mora prana dahe
hena bhakta-sanga na paiya
abhagyera nahi ora micha-mohe hainu bhora
duhkha rahe antare jagiya

Narottama dasa says: Because I cannot attain the association of devotees, my life is like a burning fire. No one is unfortunate as I. I am overcome by material illusion, and great pain is beginning to waken in my heart.

Song 8

1 bacanera agocara brndabana dhama-bara
swaprakasa premananda-ghana
jahate prakata sukha nahi jara-mrtyu-duhkha
krsna-lila-rasa anuksana

Vrndavana is beyond the descriptive power of words. It is the best of all holy places. It is self-manifest, filled with most intense transcendental bliss, free from the touch of material miseries of old-age and death, and the place where Lord Krsna eternally enjoys nectar pastimes.

2 radha-krsna dunhu prema jini laksa-bana hema
donhara hillole rasa-sindhu
cakora nayana-prema kama-rati kare dhyana
piriti sukhera dunhu bandhu

Radha and Krsna's love is more glorious than gold purified in ten thousand flames. Radha and Krsna make great waves in the ocean of nectar. The love in Their eyes is like a cakora bird. Kama and Rati meditate on Them. Their love and happiness are the closest of friends.

3 radhika preyasi-bara bama ange manohara
kanaka-kesara-kanti dhare
anuraga-rakta sari nila-patta manohari
pratyange bhusana sobha kare

Charming Srimati Radharani, the best of the gopis, stays on Lord Krsna's left side, Her complexion the colour of the filament of a golden flower, clothed in the garment of ecstatic love for Krsna and a blue silk sari, and Her limbs are beautiful with many ornaments.

4 karaye locana pana rupa-lila dunhu prana
anande magana sahacari
beda-bidhi-agocara ratana-bedira para
seba niti kisora-kisori

Become Their gopi-companion. Make Them more dear than life. With your eyes drink the nectar of Their beauty and pastimes. Dive in an ocean of bliss. Always serve the youthful Divine Couple, who are seated on a jewel throne and beyond the rules of the Vedas.

5 durlabha janama hena nahi bhaja hari kena
ki lagiya mara bhaba bandhe
chada anya kriya karma nahi dekha deba-dharma
bhakti kara krsna-pada-dwandwa

Why don't you worship Lord Hari now that you have this rare human birth? If you don't worship Him, what do you think will be your fate after death? Give up all other duties. Don't worship the demigods. Serve Lord Krsna's feet.

6 bisaya bisama-gati nahi bhaja braja-pati
sri-nandanandana sukha-sara
swarga ara apabaraga samsare naraka-bhoga
sarba-nasa janama-bikara

Do not worship Lord Nandanandana, the blissful master of Vraja, and the entire world around you will become filled with pain. Become attracted to higher material realms, the attainment of liberation, or the hellish pleasures of this sphere, and your valuable human birth will become spoiled.

7 dehe na kariha astha manda rite jama sasta
duhkhera samudre karma-gati
dekhiya suniya bhaja sadhu-sastra-mata yaja
jugala-carane kara rati

Do not put your trust in the material body. After death Yamaraja will punish you and your karma will push you into an ocean of pain. Now that you have heard and understood this, please follow the path of the saints and scriptures. Worship and love the feet of the youthful Divine Couple.

8 karma-kanda jnana-kanda kebala bisera bhanda
amrta baliya jeba khaya
nana joni sada phire kadar ja bhaksana kare
tara janma adhah-pate jaya

The fruitive worker of karma-kanda and the speculations of jnana-kanda are two pots of poison. If one drinks these two poisons, and then proclaims that they are both as sweet as nectar, he will fall from the human realm and spend a long time wandering in many species of life, eating many abominable things, and enjoying many horrible pleasures.

9 radha-krsne nahi rati anya jane bale pati
prema-bhakti kichu nahi jane
nahi bhaktira sandhana bharame karaye dhyana
brtha tara se chara bhabane

They who proclaim someone else as their Lord and don't love Radha-Krsna don't understand anything of loving devotional service. Not asking about devotional service and all their thoughts placed in the illusory material world, they have wasted their lives.

10 jnana karma kare loka nahi jane bhakti-yoga
nana-mate haiya ajnana
tara katha nahi suni paramartha-tattwa jani
prema-bhakti bhakta-gana-prana

Most people know only of work and philosophy. They don't know anything about devotional service. Each with a different opinion, they are all fools. Don't listen to their talk. Learn about devotional service, the life of the devotees.

11 jagata-byapaka hari aja-bhaba ajna-kari
madhura madhura lila-katha
ei tattwa jane jei parama uttama sei
tanra sanga kariba sarbatha

Lord Hari is present in every corner of the material world. Brahma and Siva are His order-carriers. Talk of His pastimes is very very sweet. One who know this is a great soul. I yearn for his association.

12 parama iswara krsna tankhe hao ati-trsna
bhaja tanre braja-bhaba lana
rasika-bhakata sange bihara ni jata range
braja-pure basati karina

Thirst to attain Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Worship Him. Love Him as the residents of Vraja did. Reside in Vrajapura, where Lord Krsna eternally enjoys pastimes. Stay in the company of great souls that relish the nectar of Krsna.

13 diba-nisi bhaba-bhare manete bhabana kare
nanda-braje rahibe sadai
ei bakya satya jana kabhu ithe nahi ana
pramana sri-jiva gosai

Great souls stay always in Vraja, day and night their hearts full of love for Krsna. That is the truth. It is not otherwise. Srila Jiva Gosvami has proved it.

14 sri-krsna-bhakata-jana tanhara carane mana
aropiya katha-anusare
sakhira sarbatha mata haina tanhara jutha
sada bihariba braja-pure

I will meditate on the lotus feet of the devotees, hear from them, remember Lord Krsna's gopi-friends, and always be happy in Vrajapura.

15 lila-rasa-katha gana jugala-kisora dhyana
prarthana kariba abhilase
jibane marane ei ara kichu nahi cai
kahe dina narottama-dasa

I will meditate on the youthful Divine Couple and sing of Their nectar pastimes. I pray for that. In this life or after death I have no other desire. Thus speaks poor-hearted Narottama dasa.

Song 9

1 ana katha na suniba ana katha na baliba
sakali kahiba paramartha
prarthana kariba sada lalasa abhista-katha
iha binu sakali anartha

I will not hear other talk. I will not speak other talk. I will speak about the most precious thing. I always pray for this. Aside from the talk I yearn to hear, all other words are useless.

2 iswarera tattwa jata taha kahiba kata
ananta apara keba jane
braja-pura-prema nitya ei se parama satya
bhaja sada anuraga-mane

How can I describe the Supreme Personality of Godhead? He is limitless. Who can know Him? The love the people of Vraja feel for Lord Krsna is eternal. It is the true reality. Always strive to attain that love.

3 gobinda gokulacandra parama ananda-kanda
paribara-gopa-gopi sange
nandiswara janra dhama giridhari janra nama
sakhi-sange bhaja tanra range

Lord Krsna is the pleasure of the cows, land and senses, the moon of Gokula, and the root of transcendental bliss. He stays with many gopa and gopi friends. His home is Nandisvara, and His name is Giridhari. Please, in the company of the gopis, worship Him with love.

4 prema-bhakti-tattwa ei tomare kahila bhai
ara durbasana parihari
sri-guru-prasade bhai ei saba bhajana pai
prema-bhakti sakhi anucari

O brother, the truth of loving devotional service has already been explained to you. O brother, I will leave all material desires behind and, by my guru's mercy I will perfectly worship Lord Krsna with pure love, and I will become His gopi-maidservant.

5 sarthaka bhajana-patha sadhu-sanga abirata
smarana bhajana krsna-katha
prema-bhakti haya jadi tabe haya manah suddhi
tabe jaya hrdayera byatha

Follow the path of sincere devotional service. Stay among the devotees. Remember Krsna and talk about Him. When loving devotion comes, your mind will become pure and all sufferings will flee from your heart.

6 hisaya bipatti jana samsara swapana mana
nara-tanu bhajanera mula
anurage bhaja sada prema-bhabe lila-katha
ara jata hrdayera sula

Know that sense happiness is a calamity. Know that the material world is a dream. Know that this human life is the root from which devotional service may sprout. With love always worship Lord Krsna. With love always hear His pastimes. To do anything else is to plunge a spear in your own heart.

7 radhika-carana-renu bhusana kariya tanu
anayase pabe giridhari
radhika-caranasraya kare jei mahasaya
tanre muni jana balihari

If one decorates his body with the dust from Srimati Radharani's lotus feet, then it will be very easy for him to attain Lord Giridhari. I congratulate such a great soul who takes shelter of Srimati Radharani's lotus feet and I say to him" Well done! Bravo! Excellent!

8 jaya jaya radha-nama brndabana yanra dhama
krsna-sukha-bilasera nidhi
hena radha-guna-gana na sunila mora kana
bancita karila more bidhi

Glory, glory to She who is named Radha, whose home is Vrndavana, and who is Lord Krsna's treasury of blissful pastimes! Alas, destiny has cheated me, for my ears have not heard Radha's glories.

9 tanra bhakta-sange sada rasa-lila-prema-katha
je kare se paya ghanasyama
ihate bimukha jei tara kabhu siddhi nai
nahi jena suni tara nama

A person who, in the company of the devotees, again and again hears the stories of the pure love in the rasa-dance pastimes will attain Lord Krsna, who is dark as a monsoon cloud. A person averse to hearing these pastimes will never attain perfection. I refuse to hear the name of such an offender.

10 krsna-nama-gane bhai radhika-carana pai
radha-nama-gane krsnacandra
sanksepe kahila katha ghucaha manera byatha
duhkha-maya any-katha-dwandwa

O brother, by chanting Krsna's name I will attain Radha, and by chanting Radha's name I will attain Krsna. Now I have briefly told you how to chase all sufferings from your heart. What contradicts my words will bring only pain.

11 ahankara abhimana asat-sanga asaj-jnana
chadi bhaja guru-pada-padma
kara atma-nibedana deha-geha-parijana
guru-bakya parama mahattwa

Abandon false ego, pride, company with materialists, and useless material knowledge, and worship the lotus feet of your spiritual master. Offer your home, friends, relatives, body and self to him. His words are supreme.

12 sri-krsna-caitanyadeba nirabadhi tanre seba
prema-kalpa-taru-bara-data
sri-braja-raja-nandana radhika-jibana-dhana
aparupa ei saba katha

Always serve Sri Krsna Caitanyadeva, who is a kalpa-vrksa tree giving away the treasure of pure love. He is Lord Krsna Himself, the prince of Vraja and the life of Srimati Radharani. Talk about Him is full of wonder.

13 nabadwipe abatari radha-bhabe angikari
tanra kanti angera bhusana
tina bancha abhilasi saci-garbhe parakasi
sange lana parisada-gana

Accepting the loving emotions of Sri Radha and accepting Her bodily lustre as the ornament of His limbs, Lord Krsna descended to Navadvipa. Desiring to attain three things, He appear in Saci's womb. He attained His desires in the company of His devotees.

14 gaura-hari-abatari premera badara kari
sadhila manera tina kaja
radhikara prana-pati kiba bhabe kande niti
iha bujhe bhakata-samaja

Appearing in a fair-complexioned form, He made a great monsoon of spiritual love. In this way He attained His three desires. Why did Lord Krsna, the master of Radha, cry again and again? Only the devotees can know.

15 gopane sadhile siddhi sadhana nabadha bhakti
prarthana kariba dainye sada
kari hari-sankirtana sadai bibhola mana
ista-labha binu saba badha

In private I will practice the nine kinds of devotional service and in this way I will attain perfection. I will always humbly pray for that. In public I will perform Hari-sankirtana, my heart overcome with love. Any activity that does not lead to My worshipable Lord is an obstacle.

16 samsara batojare kama-phanse banhi mare
phukari kahaye haridasa
karaha bhakata-sanga prema-katha-rasa-ranga
tabe habe bipada binasa

When arrested by the highwaymen of material illusion, bound about the neck with ropes of lust, and about to take his last breath, the devotee of Lord Hari calls out for the Lord's help and is saved. O devotees, call out in this way, glorifying the nectar topics of pure love for Krsna. Then the calamity of repeated birth and death will come to an end.

17 stri-putra bandhaba jata mari jabe sata sata
apanake hao sabadhana
muni se bisaye hata na bhajinu hari-pada
mora ara nahi paritrana

Hundreds and hundreds of women, children and other relatives will someday die. Take care of yourself. I, who am very fallen, am already killed by sense gratification. I would not worship Lord Hari's feet. Now I have no protection.

18 ramacandra kabiraja sei sange mora kaja
tanra sanga binu saba sunya
jadi haya janma punah tanra sanga haya jena
tabe haya narottama dhanya

I desire the association of Ramcandra Kaviraja. Without his company the entire world is a desert. If I must take birth again, I would feel myself fortunate to have his association.

19 apana bhajana-katha na kahiba jatha tatha
ihate haio sabadhana
na kariha keha rosa na laiho mora dosa
pranamaha bhaktera carana

I will not describe the specific devotional activities of each devotee. Perform your devotional service carefully. Don't become angry. Don't find fault with others. Offer obeisances to the devotees' feet.

20 sri-gauranga prabhu more bolana je bani
taha kahi bhala manda kichui na jani

Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu has enabled me to write these words. Without His mercy I am simply a fool who cannot distinguish right from wrong.

21 lokanatha prabhupada hrde kari asa
prema-bhakti-candrika kaya narottama dasa

In his heart aspiring to attain the mercy of Srila Lokanatha Gosvami Prabhupada, Narottama dasa speaks this book, Sri Prema-bhakti-candrika (The Moonlight of Loving Devotion).

SRI SRI RADHA-KRSNA-GANODDESA-DIPIKA by Srila Rupa Goswami
INTRODUCTION

1

I offer my respectful obeisances to the lotus feet of my spiritual master. I offer my respectful obeisances to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who appeared in this world with Nityananda Prabhu and is surrounded by His devotees.

2

I offer my respectful obeisances to the two lotus feet Srimati Radharani. I offer my respectful obeisances Lord Nandanandana, who is surrounded by the gopis and enchants the minds of the residents of Vrndavana.

3

The celebrated personal associates of the King and Queen of Vrndavana are briefly but truthfully described with great delight in both Vedic literatures and oral tradition. This book will also describe them.

4 - 5

These associates of the Lord are described by the residents of Mathura-mandala, by the various books written by devotees , various Vedic literatures such as the Puranas and Agamas and by the great devotees and saintly persons. For the satisfaction of my dear friends, these associates of the Lord will now be briefly describing in writing, following the previous authorities in the path of ecstatic love of God.

6

The associates of Krsna who reside in Vrajabhumi may be divided into three groups: 1. protectors of domestic animals, 2. brahmanas, 3. others.

7

The Protectors of Domestic Animals

These are descendants of the Yadu dynasty and they may be divided into three groups: 1. vaisyas, 2. abhiras, 3. gurjaras.

8

The Vaisyas

For the most part the most important vaisyas earn their livelihood by protecting cows. Some of the vaisyas are born from lower-caste mothers and they are known as abhiras.

9

The Abhiras

The abhiras are those who have vaisya fathers and sudra mothers. A little inferior to the vaisyas, who are engaged in cow protection, the abhiras earn their livelihood by protecting buffalo. They are known by various names, such as ghosa.

10

The Garjaras

A little inferior to the abhiras, the garjaras earn their livelihood by protecting goats and similar animals. Their bodily features are a little chubby and they reside on the outskirts of Vraja.

11

The Brahmanas

Learned in all the Vedas, the brahmanas engage in performing sacrifices, worshiping the Deity and other brahminical occupations.

12

The Bahisthas

The bahisthas earn their livelihood by engaging in various trades and crafts. In this way we have described five kinds of associates (vaisyas, abhiras, garjaras, brahmanas and bahisthas) of Lord Hari in Vrajabhumi.

13

Lord Krsna's associates may also be divided into the following eight groups: 1. worshipable superiors, 2. relatives who are on the same level (such as brothers and sisters) 3. gopi messengers, 4. servants, 5. craftsmen, 6. maidservants, 7. contemporary cowherd friends and 8. dear gopi friends. Included among the worshipable superiors are the brothers and similar relatives of Nanda Maharaja, Nanda's contemporary friends, servants, other associates and the elderly gopis. Krsna is always respectful to these superiors.

14

1. Worshipable Superiors

The worshipable superiors include Krnsa's grandfather, other elderly relatives and also the community of brahmanas.

15 - 16

Krsna's fair-complexion, white-haired and white-attired grandfather is named Parjanya Maharaja, because he is like a great cloud (parjanya) showering the nectar of auspiciousness. He is the best of all the residents of Vraja.

Desiring a worthy descendant, he followed the advice of Devarsi Narada and engaged in the worship of Lord Narayana, the husband of Laksmi. As he was worshiping Narayana at Nandisvara-pura, a pleasant voice spoke the following words from the sky.

17 - 18

" Because of your pious austerities you will obtain five sons. Of these sons the middle one, named Nanda, will be the best. Nanda's glorious son will delight the residents of Vraja. He will defeat all oppositions. Both the demigods and demons will worship Him, touching the jewels of their crowns to His lotus feet."

19

Hearing this, Parjanya Maharaja became happy and decided to reside at the place. He lived there until he saw the Kesi demon arrive and at that time he became frightened and fled with all his associates to Mahavana.

20

Krsna's grandmother Variyasi is respected in the land of Vraja. She is short in stature and her complexion is the colour of a kusumbha flower. She is attired in green garments and her hair is the color of milk.

21

Parjanya Maharaja's brothers are named Urjanya and Rajanya and his sister is an expert dancer named Suverjana. Her husband is named Gunavira and they live in the town named Surya-kunja.

22 - 23

Krsna's father is Nanda Maharaja. Nanda delights the residents of Vraja and he is worshiped by all the worlds. He has a protuberant belly, his complexion is the colour of sandalwood, he is tall in stature and his garments are the colour of a bandhujiva flower. His beard is a mixture of black and white hairs, like rice and toasted sesame seeds mixed together.

24

Nanda is the king of the cowherd men, the younger brother of Upananda and the intimate friend of Maharaja Vasudeva. Nanda and his wife Yasoda are the king and queen of Vrajabhumi and the parents of Lord Krsna.

25

Because he possesses the splendor (deva) of great wealth (vasu), Nanda Maharaja is also known as Vasudeva. He is also famous by the name Anakadundubhi and it is known that in his previous birth he was named Drona.

26

These names of Maharaja Nanda are described in the Mathura-mahima section of the Garuda Purana. Nanda's most intimate friend is named Maharaja Vrsabhanu.

27

Krnsa's mother is named Yasoda because she bestows (da) fame (yasah) on the cowherd residents of Vraja. She is like the personification of parental love for Krnsa. Her complexion is dark and her garments are like a rainbow.

28

Mother Yasoda's body is of a medium size, neither large nor small. She has long black hair. Her closest friends are Aindavi and Kirtida.

29

Yasoda is the wife of Nanda, the king of Gokula. She is the queen of the cowherd men in Vraja, the friend of Devaki and the mother of Lord Krsna.

30

The friendship of Yasoda is described in the following statement of the Adi Purana: " The wife of Maharaja Nanda was known by two names, Yasoda and Devaki. Partly because they share the same name (Devaki) the wife of Maharaja Nanda and the wife of Maharaja Vasudeva were great friends."

31

Lord Balarama's mother is named Rohini, because she is filled with a constantly rising (arohini) flood of transcendental bliss. Although she dearly loves her son Balarama, she loves Krsna millions of times more.

32

Nanda Maharaja's elder brothers are Upananda and Abhinanda and his younger brothers are Sannanda and Nandana. These are the names of Lord Krsna's parental uncles.

33

Upananda's complexion is pink. He has a long beard and wears green garments. Tungi-devi is his dear wife. Both her complexion and garments are the colour of a cataka bird.

34

Abhinanda wears dark garments and his long beautiful beard is like a great conchshell. Pivari-devi is his wife. She wears blue garments and her complexion is pink.

35

Sannanda is also known as Sunanda. His complexion is white and he wears dark-colored clothing. He has two or three white hairs and he is very dear to Lord Kesava.

36

Kuvalaya-devi is Sannanda's wife. Her complexion is the colour of a blue lotus flower and she wears red garments. Nandana wears garments the color of a candata flower and his complexion is like the color of a peacock.

37

Nandana lives in the same house with his father, Parjanya Maharaja. He is full of love for his yound nephew Krsna. Atulya-devi is Nandana's wife. Her complexion is like lightning and her garments resemble a dark cloud.

38

Krsna's father has two sisters, Sananda-devi and Nandini-devi. They both dress in garments of many different colors. They have beautiful teeth and their complexions are the color of white foam. Sananda-devi's husband is Mahanila and Nandini's husband is Sunila.

39 - 40

Kandava and Dandava are the two sons of Upananda. Their faces are as beautiful as lotus flowers and they become especially happy in the association of their friend Subala.

Catu and Batuka are Nanda Maharaja's two ksatriya cousins born in Vasudeva Maharaja's dynasty. Catu's wife is Dadhisara and Batuka's wife is Havihsara.

41

Krsna's energetic and enthusiastic maternal grandfather is named Sumukha. His long beard is like a great conchshell and his complexion is the color of a ripe jambu fruit.

42

Queen Patala-devi is Krsna's maternal grandmother and she is very famous in Vrajabhumi. Her hair is the white color of yogurt, her complexion is the pink color of a patala flower and her garments are green.

43

Patala-devi's dear friend is named Mukhara-gopi. Out of intense affection for her friend, Mukhara used to feed the infant Yasoda with her own breast milk.

44 - 45

Carumukha is Sumukha's younger brother. His complexion is the color of black eye-cosmetics and his wife Balaka-gopi was raised by her stepparents. Gola is the brother of Patala-devi, Krsna's maternal grandmother. His garments are the color of smoke. His brother-in-law, Sumukha, used to make fun of him and laugh and because of this Gola was very angry with him. Because he had worshiped Durvasa Muni in his previous birth, Gola was allowed to take birth in Vrajabhumi in the family of Ujjvala.

46

Jatila-devi is Gola's wife. She has a large belly and her complexion is the color of a cow. Her sons Yasodhara, Yasodeva and Sudeva head the group of Krsna's maternal uncles.

47

Krsna's maternal uncles have complexions like the color of a dark atasi flower and they dress in white garments. Their wives have complexions like karkati flowers and they dress in smoke-colored garments.

48

Rema-devi, Roma-devi and Surema-devi are the daughters of Krsna's parental uncle Pavana. Yasodevi and Yasasvini are the sisters of Krsna's mother Yasoda. Yasasvini's husband is named Malla.

49

Yasodevi is elder. Her complexion is dark and she is also known by the name Dadhisara. Yasasvini is younger. Her complexion is fair and she is also known by the name Havihsara. Both dress in vermillion-colored garments.

50

Yasoda's sisters married the two ksatriyas Catu and Batuka (see text 40). Yasoda's uncle Carumukha has one son who is named Sucaru.

++
51

Sucaru's wife is Tulavati-devi, the daughter of Sumukha's brother-in-law Gola. Tundu, Kutera, Purata and others are the comtemporary associates of Krsna's parental grandfather.

52

Kila, Antakela, Tilata, Krpita, Purata, Gonda, Kallota, Karanda, Tarisana, Varisana, Viraroha and Vararoha are among the contemporary associates of Krsna's maternal grandfather.

53

The elderly ladies Silabheri, Sikhambara, Bharuni, Bhangur, Bhangi, Bharasakha and Sikha are among the contemporary associates of Krsna's parental grandmother.

54 - 55

Bharunda, Jatila, Bhela, Karala, Karabalika, Gharghara, Mukhara, Ghora, Ghanta, Ghoni, Sughantika, Dhvankarunti, Handi, Tundi, Dingima, Manjuranika, Cakkini, Condika, Cundi, Dindima, Pundavanika, Damani, Damari, Dambi and Danka are among the contemporary associates of Krsna's maternal grandmother.

56 - 58

Mangala, Pingala, Pinga, Mathura, Pitha, Pattisa, Sankara, Sangara, Bhrngaq, Ghrni, Ghatika, Saragha, Pathira, Dandi, Kedara, Saurabheya, Kala, Ankura, Dhurina, Dhurva, Cakranga, Maskara, Utpala, Kambala, Supaksa, Saudha, Harita, Harikesa, Hara and Upananda are among the contemporary associates of Krsna's father, Nanda Maharaja.

59

Having taken a vow of friendship in their youth, Parjanya and Sumukha always remain the best of friends. Nanda Maharaja and many other of the cowherds are descended from their families.

60 - 62

Vatsala, Kusala, Tali, Medura, Masrna, Krpa, Sankini, Bimbini, Mitra, Subhaga, Bhogini, Prabha, Sarika Hingula, Niti, Kapila, Dhamanidhara, Paksati, Pataka, Pundi, Sutunda, Tusti, Anjana, Tarangaksi, Taralika, Subhada, Malika, Angada, Visala, Sallaki, Vena and Vartika are among the contemporary associates of Krsna's mother, Yasoda-devi.

63

Ambika and Kilimba are the two nurses who fed Krsna with their breast milk. Of the two, Ambika, the dear friend of Vraja's queen, is the most important.

64 -65

The Brahmanas

Two groups of brahmanas reside in Gokula: those maintained by Nanda Maharaja and those who are priests engaged in the performance of Vedic sacrifices. Among the priests, Vedagarbha, Mahayajva and Bhaguri are prominent. Their respective wives are Samadheni, Mahakavya and Vedika.

66

Sulabha, Gautami, Gargi, Candila, Kubjika, Vamani, Svaha, Sulata, Sandili, Svadha and Bhargavi are the most important of the brahmana ladies respectfully worshiped by the residents of Vraja.

67 - 69

Full of transcendental opulences, Paurnamasi-devi is the incarnation of the Lord's Yogamaya potency. She makes the arrangements of Lord Krsna's pastimes to be properly performed. She is slightly tall in stature and has a fair complexion. Her hair is the color of kasa flowers and she wears red garments. She is greatly respected by Nanda Maharaja and all the other residents of Vrajabhumi. She was the dear student of Devarsi Narada and on his advice she left her favorite son, Sandipani Muni, in Avantipura and came to Gokula, impelled by great love for her worshipable Lord Krsna.

70

Krsna's associates may be divided into two groups: gopis and gopas. The gopis may be divided into three groups: 1. Gopi friends of the same age as Krsna, 2. maidservants and 3. gopi messengers.

71 - 72

Learned scholars have also divided Lord Krsna's associates into the following nine categories: 1. yutha, 2. kula, 3. mandala, 4. varga, 5. gana, 6. samavaya, 7. sancaya, 8. samaja, 9. and samanvaya.

73 - 75

Krsna's Gopi Friends:

Of the three kinds of gopi associates of the Lord of the three kinds of gopi associates of the Lord mentioned in text 70, the first group, Krsna's contemporary gopi friends, are the most exalted, the second group, the maidservants are the next most exalted, and the gopi messengers come after them. These three groups correspond to the groups mentioned as samaja, mandala and gana respectively (in texts 71 - 72). The first group, Krsna's contemporary gopi friends, may be further divided into varistha (the most exalted ) and vara (exalted).

76

Varistha (The Most Exalted Gopis)

The varistha gopis are more famous than all the others. They are eternally the intimate friends of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna. No one can equal or exceed the love they bear for the divine couple.

77

Of all Krsna's friends, the varistha gopis are the most worshipable. They are decorated with incomparable transcendental qualities, bodily beauty and all other charming opulences.

78

Krsna's Gopi Friends

Lalita, Visakha, Citra, Campakamallika, Tungavidya, Indulekha, Rangadevi and Sudevi are the most intimate of Lord Krsna's gopi friends.

79

Lalita

Of these eight gopis, the first one, Lalita-devi, is the best. She is a dear friend of the divine couple and she is 27 years old, the eldest of Krsna's gopi friends.

80

Lalita is famous as Srimati Radharani's constant companion and follower. Lalita is contrary and hot-tempered by nature. Her complexion is like the yellow pigment gorocana and her garments are like peacock feathers.

81

Her mother is Saradi-devi and her father is Visoka. Her husband is named Bhairava. He is a close friend of Govardhana-gopa.

82 - 83

Visakha

Visakha is the second most important of these eight varistha-gopis. Her attributes, activities and resolve are all muck like those of her friend Lalita. Visakha was born at the exact same moment as her dear friend Srimati Radharani appeared in this world. Visakha's garments are decorated with stars and her complexion is like lightning. Her father is Pavana, the son of the sister of Mukhara-gopi and her mother is Daksina-devi, the daughter of the sister of Jatila. Her husband is Vahika-gopa.

84

Campakalata

Campakalata is the third of the varistha-gopis. Her complexion is the color of a blossoming yellow campaka flower and her garments are the color of a blue-jay's feature. She is one day younger than Srimati Radharani.

85

Her husband is Arama, her mother is Vatika-devi and her husband is Candaksa. Her qualities are much like those of Visakha.

86

Citra

Citra is the fourth of the varistha gopis. Her fair complexion resembles the color of kunkuma and her garments are the color of crystal. She is 26 days younger than Srimati Radharani. When Lord Madhava is full of blis, she becomes satisfied.

87

Her father is Catura, the paternal uncle of Suryamitra. Her mother is Carcika-devi. Her husband is Pithara.

88

Tungavidya

Tungavidya is the fifth of the varistha gopis. Her complexion is the color of kunkuma and the fragrance of her body is like sandalwood mixed with camphor. She is fifteen days younger than Srimati Radharani

89

Tungavidya is hot-tempered and expert at dissimulation. She wears white garments. Her parents are Puskara and Medha-devi and her husband is Balisa.

90

Indulekha

Indulekha is the sixth of the varistha gopis. She has a tan complexion and wears garments the color of a pomegranate flower. She is three days younger than Srimati Radharani.

91

Her parents are Sagara and Vela-devi and her husband is Durbala. She is contrary and hot-tempered by nature.

92

Rangadevi

Rangadevi is the seventh of the varistha gopis. Her complexion is the color of a lotus filament and her garments are the color of a red rose. She is seven days younger than Srimati Radharani.

93

Her personal qualities are much like those of Campakalata. Her parents are Karuna-devi and Rangasara.

94

Sudevi

Sudevi is the eighth of the varistha gopis. She is sweet and charming by nature. She is the sister of Rangadevi. Her husband is Vakreksana, the younger brother of Bhairava.

95

Her marriage with Vakreksana was arranged by his younger brother. Her form and other qualities are so similar to those of her sister Rangadevi that they are often mistaken for one another.

96 - 97

The Vara-Gopis

Just as there are eight varistha (most exalted) gopis, the same way there are also eight vara (exalted) gopis. The vara-gopis are all teenage girls. Their names are Kalavati, Subhangada, Hiranyangi, Ratnalekha, Sikhavati, Kandarpa manjari, Phullakalika and Ananga manjari

98

Kalavati's parents are Sindhumati-devi and Kalankura-gopa, the maternal uncle of Arkamitra.

99

Her complexion is the color of yellow sandalwood and she wears garments the color of a parrot. Her husband is Kapota, the youngest brother of Vahika.

100

Subhangada

Subhangada is the younger sister of Visakha. She is a very fair complexion and is married to Patatri, the younger brother of Pithara.

101

Hiranyangi

Hiranyangi's complexion is the color of gold and she appears to be a temple or palace in which all beauty is conserved. She was born from the womb of Harini-devi.

102

Mahavasu-gopa is pious, famous and devoted to performing Vedic sacrifices. He is decorated with wonderful good qualities and he is the close friend of Arkamitra.

103

Mahavasu-gopa desired to beget a powerful and heroic son and a beautiful daughter. To attain this end the self-controlled Mahavasu engaged Bhaguri Muni in performing a Vedic sacrifice.

104

Certain nectarean foodstuffs appeared from that sacrifice and the delighted Mahavasu gave them to his wife, Sucandra-devi.

105 - 106

As Sucandra-devi was hastily eating the sacred foodstuff on her front porch, she spilled some of it. At that time the doe named Suranga, who was the mother of the doe named Rangini, was wandering in Vrajabhumi. Seeing Sucandra-devi spill some of the foodstuff, the doe Suranga quickly came forward and ate some of it. As a result of eating this sacred foodstuff, both the gopi Sucandra and the doe Suranga became pregnant.

107

Sucandra-devi gave birth to a son whom the gopas called Stokakrsna and the deer gave birth to the girl Hiranyangi in the village of Vraja.

108

Hiranyangi is very dear to Srimati Radharani and Srimati Radharani is very dear to her. Hiranyangi is dressed in beautiful garments that appear like a great multitude of unparalleled blossoming flowers.

109

With great respect the father Mahavasu then promised the exalted Hiranyangi in marriage to an elderly gopa who was completely unfit to become her husband.

110 - 111

Ratnalekha

Maharaj Vrsabhanu's maternal cousin Payonidhi had a son but no daughter. His wife Mitra-devi desired to have a daughter also and to achieve this end she faithfully worshiped the sun-god, Vivasvan. By Vivasvan's mercy she gave birth to a daughter who was named Ratnalekha.

112

Ratnalekha's complexion is the red color of the mineral manahsila and her garments appear like a beautiful swarm of bumblebees. She is very dear to Srimati Radharani, the daughter of Maharaja Vrsabhanu. Her mother engages both her and her friend Radharani in the devoted attentive worship of the sun-god. When Ratnalekha sees Lord Madhava, her eyes begin to roll in ferocious anger and she severly rebukes Him.

113

Sikhavati

Sikhavati's father is Dhanyadhanya and her mother is Susikha-devi. Sikhavati's complexion is the color of a karnikara flower. She is the younger sister of Kundalatika.

114

She is like sweetness and charm personified. Her garments are the spotted color of an old francoline partridge. She is married to Garjara-gopa, who is also known as Garuda-gopa.

115 - 116

Kandarpa-manjari

Kandarpa-manjari's father is Puspakara and her mother is Kuruvinda-devi. Kandarpa-manjari's father did not give her marriage to anyone, for he considered in his heart that Lord Hari is the only suitable husband for his daughter. Kandarpa-manjari's complexion is the color of a kinkirata bird and her garments are decorated with many different colors.

117

Phullakalika

Phullakalika's father is Srimalla and her mother is Kamalini. Phullakalika's complexion is dark like a blue lotus flower and her garments are like a rainbow.

118

Her forehead is naturally marked with yellow tilaka lines. Her husband, Vidura has a loud voice and is able to call the buffaloes from a great distance.

119

Ananga-manjari

Ananga-manjari is exquistely beautiful and therefore it is very appropriate that she is named after Ananga (cupid). Her complexion is the color of a springtime ketaki flower and her garments are the color of a blue lotus.

120

Her proud husband Durmada is also her sister's brother-in-law. She is especially dear to Lalita and Visakha.

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121

General Description of the Activities of Krsna's Contemporary Gopi Friends

Krsna's contemporary gopi friends decorate their own dear friend Srimati Radharani. They cheat their husbands parents and other guardians (by going to meet Radha and Krsna) and they take Srimati Radharani's side when she has a lover's quarrel with Lord Hari.

122

These gopis assist Radha and Krsna in Their secret rendezvous. These gopis serve palatable meals to the divine couple and afterward relish tasting the remnants left by Them. These gopis carefully guard the secret of Radha's and Krsna's confidential pastimes together.

123

Their minds are pure and they are very expert and intelligent. They serve Radha and Krsna very appropriately. They glorify their own group and criticize the followers of Candravali, Radharani's rival.

124

They please Radha and Krsna by expertly singing, dancing and playing instrumental music. At the appropriate time they beg to be engaged in various appropriate services.

125

For the most part the learned devotees know about these activities of Krsna's gopi friends. All the gopis are aware of these and all the other similar services and they actively serve Radha and Krsna by performing these activities.

126

The gopis who are close associates of the divine couple are directly engaged in these services, whereas other gopis are not. We shall now describe, one by one, the gopis engaged in these intimate services.

127

Among these most exalted gopis who are most dear to Krsna, the leader and controller is Lalita-devi.

128

Lalita-devi is full of ecstatic love for the divine couple. She is expert at arranging both Their meeting and Their conjugal struggle. Sometimes, for Radha's sake, she offends Lord Madhava.

129

The beauty of all the other gopis appears to be conserved in the form of Lalita-devi. In an argument her mouth becomes bent with ferocious anger and she expertly speaks the most outrageous and arrogant replies.

130

When the arrogant gopis pick a quarrel with Krsna, she is in the forefront of the conflict. When Radha and Krsna meet, she audaciously remains standing a little away from them.

131

With the help of Purnamasi-devi and the other gopis she arranges for the meeting of Radha and Krsna. She carries the parasol for the divine couple, she decorates Them with flowers and she decorates the cottage where They rest at night and rise in the morning.

132 - 133

Some gopis serve the divine couple in the garden known as Madanonmadini among the flowering creepers, betel creepers and betel trees. Some gopis are expert at playing various magic tricks, some are expert at composing riddles and some are appointed to provide betel nuts for the divine couple. All these gopis are the servants of Srimati Radharani.

134

Other gopis are specifically the friends of Lord Baladeva. Lalita-devi is the leader and controller of all these exalted and worshipable young gopis.

135

Ratnalekha and the eight other dear vara-gopis described here all follow the footsteps of Lalita-devi always and in all respects.

136

Among these eight gopis Ratnaprabha-dvie and Ratikala-devi are famous for their transcendental virtues, beauty, experise and charming sweetness.

137 - 138

Flower Decorations

The flower ornaments of the divine couple are 1. flower crown, 2. flowers in the hair, 3. flower earrings, 4. flowers decorating the forehead, 5. flower necklaces, 6. flower armlets, 7. flower sashes, 8. flower braelets, 9. flower anklets, 10. flower bodices and many other kinds of flower ornaments. Just as these ornaments may be fashioned from precious jewels, gold or other materials, in the same way they may be made of flowers.

139 - 140

Crown

The divine couple's crowns may be made of rangini flowers, yellow jasmine flowers, navamali flowers, sumali flowers, dhrti gems, rubies, gomeda gems, pearls or splendid moonstones. These may be artistically arranged to construct beautiful crowns.

141

The crowns may be made with seven points and they may also have gold ketaki flowers or various flower buds among their colorful and beautiful ingredients. These crowns enchant the mind of Lord Hari.

142

The flower crowns known as puspapara are the best of all and they are more pleasing than even the best jeweled crowns (ratnapara). Lalita-devi learned how to make these puspapara crowns from Srimati Radharani.

143

These puspapara crowns are made with flowers and flower buds of five different colors arranged in five points.s This crown is especially used to decorate Srimati Radharani.

144

Balapasya

A garland of flower buds and similar ingredients closely strung together and placed on the hair is called balapasya.

145

Earrings

Skilled craftsmen say there are five kinds of earrings. They are known by the names tadanka, kundala, puspi, karnika and karna-vestana.

146

Tadanka

A hollow gold post worn in the ear is called a tadanka. This kind of earring is of two varieties. In the first variety the petal of golden ketaki flower is attached to this earring. In the second kind the petal of some other colorful flower is attached.

147

Kundala

When an earring is fashioned from flowers in order to resemble a certain object, the earring is called kundala. There are many different kinds of kundala earrings. The flowers may be arranged to resemble a peacock, shark, lotus, half-moon or many other things.

148

Puspi

The puspi earrings is fashioned from four different kinds of flowers placed in a circle with a large gunja berry in the middle.

149

Karnika

The karnika earring is fashioned from the whorl of a blue lotus surrounded by yellow flowers. In the middle are a bhrngika flower and pomegranate flower.

150

Karna-vestana

When the flower earring is so large it completely covers the ear, the earring is known as karna-vetsana.

151

Decoration for the Forehead.

A garland of flowers placed on the upper forehead along the hairline is called lalatika. Such a garland should have flowers of two colors: red in the middle of the garland and the other color flowers on the two sides.

152

Graivekyaka (flower collar)

Made of a single kind of flower, a necklace strung four times around the neck is called graiveyaka.

153

Angada (armlet)

A flower-armlet (angada) may be fashioned of three kinds of flowers strung one after another to resemble a little flower creeper.

154

Kanci (sash)

A sash made of flowers of five different colors, artistically strung together in a gently waving pattern, is called a kanci.

155

Kataka (flower anklets)

Anklets made of many different flower buds are called kataka. These are of many different varieties.

156

Mani-bandhani (bracelet)

A bracelet made of flowers of four colors, with bunches of flowers hanging down at three places, is called mani-bandhani.

157

Hamsaka (flower shoes)

When the decoration of flowers covers the entire top and side parts of the feet and there are bunches of flowers in four places, such a decoration is called hamsaka.

158

Kanculi (flower bodice)

A bodice made of flowers of six colors, artistically arranged and perfumed with musk and which begins from the neck, is called kanculi.

159

Chatra (parasol)

Made of thin white sticks, decorated with white flowers and with a handle decorated with yellow jasmine flowers, a flower parasol is called a chatra.

160

Sayanam (couch)

The couch is fashioned of campaka and malli flowers and decorated with small bells. It has a large cushion of navamali flowers.

161

Ulloca (an awning)

An awning is made of a latticework of various colorful flowers, ketaki petals and various leaves. Many malli flowers hang down from this awning.

162

Candratapa (an awning)

When many sindhuvara flowers as white as pearls decorate the sides and fresh lotus flowers hang down in the middle, the awning is called candratapa.

163

Vesma (cottage)

With reeds as pillars and various colorful flowers as the roof and four walls, a vesma (flower cottage0 is constructed.

164 a

Gopi Messengers

Vrnda, Vrndarika, Mela and Murali are the most important gopi messengers. The gopi messengers expertly know the geograhy of Vrndavana and they intimately know each grove and garden there. They are also learned in the science of gardening.

164 b

These exalted gopi messengers are all filled with great love for Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. The gopi messengers are fair complexioned and they dress in colorful garments. Vrnda-devi is the most important among them.

165

Visakha

Visakha-devi, the intimate friend of the divine couple, although she is more exalted than these younger gopis, also takes up the work of carrying messages between Radha and Krsna and she is the most intelligent and expert of all the gopi messengers. Loquacious Visakha is expert at joking with Lord Govinda and she is the perfect counsellor of the divine couple. She is expert at all aspects of amorous diplomacy and she knows all the arts of how to conciliate an angered lover, how to bribe him and how to quarrel with him.

166

Rangavali-devi and other gopis are expert at drawing various designs in tilaka, artistically stringing flower garlands, composing clever verses and acrostics such as sarvatobhadra, conjuring magical illusions by chanting mantras, worshipable the sun god with various paraphernalia, singing in various foreign languages and composing different kinds of poetry.

167

Maidservants who dress Srimati Radharani.

Madhavai, Malati, and Candrarekha are the leaders the gopi servants who dress and decorate Srimati Radharani.

168 - 169

The gopi messengers appointed by Vrnda-devi have the flowering trees of Vrndavana under their jurisdiction. Malika-devi isthe leader of these wonderfully blissful gopis. In addition to these two groups of gopi messengers (1. Visakha and 2. the followers of Vrnda-devi), Campakalata-devi is the third of the gopi messengers.

170

Campakalata veils her activities in great secrecy. She is expert at the art of logical persuasion, and she is killed diplomat who knows how to thwart Srimati Radharani's rivals.

171

Campakalata is expert at collecting fruits, flowers, and roots from the forest. Using only the skill of her hands shecan artistically fashion things from clay.

172

Campakalata is an expert cook who knows all the literature describing the six flavors of gourmet cooking.

Sheis so expert at making various kinds of candythat she has become famous by the name Mistahasta (sweet hands).

173

There are also eight gopi maidservants expert at cooking various preparations from the milk products Vraja village. Kurangaksi-devi is the leader of these gopi cooks.

174

Activities of the Eight Principal Gopies

Of all these gopis who are appointed as protectoresses of the trees, creepers, and bushes of Vrndavana, the leader is Campakalata-devi.

175

Citra

Citra-devi is wonderfully expert in all the activities wehavejust described. She is especially expert in the

lover's quarrel between Radha and Krsna (the third of the six

definitions of the word abhisarana).

176

Citra-devi can read between the lines of books and letters written in many different languages, perceiving the hidden intentions of the author. She is a skilled gourmet and can understand the testes of various foods made with honey, milk, and other ingredients simply by glancing at them.

177

She is expert in playing music on pots filled with varying degrees of water. She is learned in the literature describing astronomy and astrology, and she is well versed in the theoretical and practical activities of protecting domestic animals.

178

She is especially expert at gardenting and she can nicely make various kinds of nectarean beverages.

179

There are also eight other gopi maidservants, headed by Rasalika-devi, who are expert at making various kinds of nectarean beverages.

180

There are other gopis who mostly collect transcendental herbs and medicinal creepers from the forest and do not collect flowers or anything else. Citra-devi is the leader of these gopis.

181

Tungavidya

Tungavidya is one of the leaders of the gopis. She is learned in the eighteen branches of knowledge.

182

She has full faith in Krsna. She is very expert at arranging the meeting of the divine couple. She is learned in rasa-sastra (transcendental mellows), niti-sastra(morality), dancing, drama, literature and all other arts and sciences.

183

She is a celebrated music teacher expert at playing the vina and singing in the style known as marga.

184

Eight gopi messengers headed by Manjumedha-devi are especially expect at arranging political alliances (sandhi) the first of diplomatic maneuvers in the art of politics between Radha and Krsna.

185

These gopis are the best of dancers. They are musicians expert at playing the mrdanga and singing in recital halls.

186

These gopis are especially engaged in fetching water from the streams in Vrndavana. Tungavidya is the leader of these gopis.

187

Indulekha

Noble Indulekha is learned in the science and mantras of the Naga-sastra, which describes various methods of charming snakes. She is also learned in the Samudraka-sastra, which describes the science of palmistry.

188

She is expert at stringing various kinds of wonderful necklaces, decorating the teeth with red substances, gemology and weaving various kinds of cloth.

189

In her hand she carries the auspicious messages of the divine couple. In this way she creates the good fortune of Radha and Krsna by creating Their mutual love and attraction.

190

The group of gopis headed by Tungabhadra-devi are the friends and neighours of Indulekha. Among these gopis is a group, headed by Palindhika-devi, which acts as messengers for the divine couple.

191

Indulekha-devi is fully aware of the confidential secrets of the divine couple. Some of her friends are engaged in providing ornaments for the divine couple, others provide exquisite garments and others guard the divine couple's treasury.

192

Indulekha-devi is thus the leader of all the gopis engaged in these services in the various parts of Vrndavana.

193

Ranga-devi

Ranga-devi is always like a great ocean of coquettish words and gestures. She is very fond of joking with her friend Srimati Radharani in the presence of Lord Krishna.

194

Among the six activities of diplomacy she is especially expert in the fourth: patiently waiting for the enemy to make the next move. She is an expert logician and because of previous austerities she has attained a mantra by which she can attract Lord Krsna.

195

Kalakanti-devi is the leader of the eight most important friends of Ranga-devi. These friends are all expert in the use of perfumes and cosmetics.

196

Ranga-devi's friends are expert at burning aromatic incense, carrying coal during the winter and fanning the divine couple in the summer.

197

Ranga-devi's friends are able to control the lions, deer and other wild animals in the forest. Ranga-devi is the leader of all these gopis.

198

Sudevi

Sudevi always remains at the side of her dear friend Srimati Radharani. Sudevi arranges Radharani's hair, decorates Her eyes with mascara and massages Her body.

199

She is expert in training male and female parrots and she is also expert in the pastimes of roosters. She is an expert sailor and she is fully aware of the auspicious and inauspicious omens described in the Sakuna-sastra.

200

She is expert at massaging the body with scented oils, she knows how to start fires and keep them burning and she knows which flowers blossom with the rising of the moon.

++++
201

Kaveri-devi and the other friends of Sudevi are expert at constructing leaf-spitoons, playing music on bells and decorating couches in various ways.

202 - 203

Sudevi's friends are also entrusted with the decoration of the divine couple's sitting place. Sudevi's friends act as clever spies, disguising themselves in various ways and moving among Radharani's rivals (Candravali and her friends) to discover their secrets. Sudevi's friends are the deities of Vrndavana forest and they are charged with the protection of the forest birds and bees. Sudevi is the leader of these gopis.

204

Description of the Various Gopis

The wonderful arts, crafts and other duties that comprise the activities of the gopis will now be described.

205 - 206

Pindaka-devi, Nirvitandika-devi, Pundarika-devi, Sitakhandi-devi, Carucandi-devi, Sudantika-devi, Akunthita-devi, Kalakanthi-devi, Ramaci-devi and Mecika-devi are among the gopis who are very strong and stubborn when there is an argument or conflict. Among them Pindaka-devi is the leader. She dresses in red garments. She is very beautiful. When Lord Krsna comes she embarrasses Him by attacking Him with many ferocious witty puns.

207

Haridrabha-devi, Hariccela-devi and Harimitra-devi speak many illogical and frivolous objections as they lead Lord Krsna to the place where Srimati Radharani waits for Him.

208

Pundarika-devi's garments and complexion are both the color of a white lotus flower. She ferociously mocks lotus-eyed Lord Krsna.

209

Gauri-devi always wears white garments. Her complexion is the color of a peacock. Because her sweet and charming words are often laced with acid sarcasms, Lord Krsna jokingly calls her Sitakhandi (always sweet).

210

Gauri-devi's sister is known as Carucandi because her words are sometimes mild and pleasant (caru) and sometimes harsh and violent (candi). Carucandi's complexion is the color of a black bee and her garments are the color of lightning.

211

Sudantika-devi wears garments the color of a kurunthaka flower. Her complexion is the color of a sirisa flower. She is expert at inflaming the amorous sentiments of ujjvala-rasa.

212

Akunthita-devi's complexion is the color of a lotus stem. She wears white garments the color of the fibers within a lotus stem. She likes to insult Krsna for the amusement of her gopi friends.

213

Kalakanthi-devi's complexion is the color of a kuli flower and her garments are the color of milk. She speaks to Lord Krnsa, describing Radharani's jealous anger and advising Him to beg forgiveness from Her.

214

Ramaci-devi's is the daughter of Lalita-devi's nurse. Ramaci's complexion is golden and her garments are the color of a parrot. She takes pleasure in jokingly insulting Krsna and laughing at Him.

215

Ramaci-devi always wears white garments. Her complexion is the color of a pinda flower. She is expert at insulting Lord Krnsa.

216 - 217

Petari-devi, Varuda-devi, Cari-devi, Kotari-devi, Kalatippani-devi, Marunda-devi, Morata-devi, Cuda-devi, Cundari-devi and Gondika-devi are the leaders of those gopi messengers who are past the prime of youth. These older gopis can argue with great stubbornness and they can also nicely sing as the divine couple take their meal. These gopis are always engaged in making arrangements for the forest pastimes of the divine couple.

218

Petari-devi is an elderly Gujarati lady whose hair is the color of fibers within a lotus stem. Varudi-devi is a native of Garuda-desa and her braided hair is like the current of a river.

219

Cari-devi, who is Kucari-devi's siste, is also known by the name Tapahkatyayani, because she performed severe austerities (tapah) and took shelter of goddess Katyayani (Durga). Kotari-devi was born in the abhira caste. Her hair is a mixture of black and white resembling rice mixed with toasted sesame seeds.

220

Kalatippani-devi is an elderly washerwoman with white hair. Marunda-devi has white eyebrows and a shaved head.

221

Agile Morata-devi has hair the color of a kasa flower. Cuda-devi has a wrinkled face and a forehead decorated with many grey hairs.

222

The brahmani Cundari-devi is not as old as the others. Lotus-eyed Lord Krsna glorifies her and treats her with great respect. Gondika-devi shaves the splendid white hairs on her head. Her cheeks are wrinkled with age.

223 - 224

Gopi Messengers who Arrange the Meeting of the Divine Couple

Sivada-devi, Saumyadarsana-devi, Suprasada-devi, Sadasanta-devi, Santida-devi and Kantida-devi are the leaders of the gopi messengers who expertly arrange the meeting of Radha and Krsna. These gopis consider Lalita-devi to be their dearmost life and soul. They are counted among the intimate associates of Lord Krsna.

225

At a certain time Srimati Radharani quarrels with Lord Krsna and refuses to see Him. Understanding the hints of Lalita-devi, these gopis then approach Lord Krsna.

226 - 227

These gopis appease Lord Krsna and please Him in different ways. With great effort they convince Him that His actual desire is to meet Radha again. When These gopis bring to Her the gift that Lord Krsna gave them as a peace offering, Srimati Radharani becomes very pleased with them and grants them Her mercy.

228 - 229

Sivada-devi was born in the Ragyhu dynasty, Saumyadarsana-devi in the dynasty of the moon-god, Suprasada-devi in the Puru dynasty, Sadasanta-devi in a family of ascetics and Santida and Kantida in brahmana families. By the mercy of Narada Muni they were all able to reside in Vraja.

230

The Second Gruop of Gopis

After this first group of gopis there is a second group of gopis, whose love for the divine couple is a little less than that of the first group. This second group of gopis may again be divided into two groups: sama-prema and asama-prema. These gopis will be described in the following verses.

231

The sama-prema gopis may be divided into two groups - those who are eternally perfect and those who have attained perfection by engaging in devotional service.

232

Out of one hundred million gopis, eight hundred thousand are eternally perfect.

233 - 234

The direct followers of the eight principal gopis are counted in different ways. Some say they number five thousand, others say they number four or five thousand, still others say they number three or four thousand and still others say they number one thousand.

235

Some say the followers of the eight principal gopis are divided into many groups and others say they are not divided into groups at all. Some say they are divided into sixteen groups according to the nature of their love for the divine couple.

236

Some say these gopis are divided into twenty groups, some say there are twenty-five groups, some say there are thirty, some say there are sixty and some say there are sixty-four groups of gopis.

237

Some say this group of gopis is in turn divided into two subgroups. Others say it is divided into two or three subgroups and others say it is divided into three or four subgroups.

238

The entire gopi community may be divided in different ways. Some say there are forty groups of gopis and others that there are five hundred groups.

239 - 246

Aside from the eight varistha-gopas and the eight vara-gopis, sixty four gopis are considered most important. Their names are: 1. Ratnaprabha, 2. Ratikala, 3. Subhadra, 4. Ratika,

5. Sumukhi, 6. Dhanistha, 7. Kalahamsi, 8. Kalapini, 9. Madhavi, 10. Malati, 11. Candrarekha, 12. Kunjari, 13. Harini,

14. Capala, 15. Damni, 16. Surabhi, 17. Subhanana, 18. Kurangaksi, 19. Sucarita, 20. Mandali, 21. Manikundala, 22. Candrika, 23. Candralatika, 24. Pankajaksi, 25. Sumandira,

26. Rasalika, 27. Tilakini, 28. Sauraseni, 29. Sugandhika,

30. Ramani, 31. Kamanagari, 32. Nagari, 33. Nagavenika,

34. Manjumedha, 35. Sumadhura, 36. Sumadhya, 37. Madhureksana,

38. Tanumadhya, 39. Madhuspanda, 40. Gunacuda, 41. Varangada,

42. Tungabhadra, 43. Rasottunga, 44. Rangavati, 45. Susangata,

46. Citrarekha, 47. Vicitrangi, 48. Modini, 49. Madanalasa, 50. Kalakanthi, 51. Sasikala, 52. Kamala, 53. Madhurendira,

54. Kandarpa-sundari, 55. Kamalatika, 56. Prema-manjari,

57. Kaveri, 58. Carukavara, 59. Sukesi, 60. Manjukesi,

61. Harahira, 62. Mahahira, 63. Harakanthi, 64. Manohara.

247

The Sammohana-tantra's Description of Srimati Radharani's Eight Principal Friends

A different list of Srimati Radharani's eight principal gopi friends is found in the following statement of Sammohana-tantra: " Lilavati, Sadhika, Candrika, Madhavi, Lalita, Vijaya, Gauri and Nandi are the eight principal gopi friends of Srimati Radharani."

248

Another Description of the Eight Principal Gopis

Another quotation from Vedic literature gives the following description: " Kalavati, Srimati, Sudhamukhi, Visakha, Kaumudi, Madhvi and Sarada are the eight prinicpal gopis.

249 - 250

The numbers presented in this description of the gopis has no actual relevance to the number of eternally liberated gopis in the spiritual world. There the associates of the king and queen of Vrndavana are unlimited in number. No one can count them. We have simply given some hints so the reader may understand the vast number of the associates of the divine couple.

251

Preparing the divine couple's couch, food, drink and betel nuts, swinging Them on a swing and decorating Them with tilaka are among the many services performed by the gopis. The learned devotees may research this and enumerate all these services.

252

Rupa Goswami prays that the effulgent Krsna-sun may remove the blindness from his eyes and enable him to properly see and understand the various rasa-sastras that describe Sri Sri Radha-Krsna and Their associates.

253

In the year 1472 of the Saka era (1550 A.D.) on Sunday, the sixth day of the month of Sravana, at Nandagrama, the home of the king of Vraja, this book, the Radha-Krsna-ganoddesa-dipika was completed.

PART TWO

1

Sri Krsna's Transcendental Form and Attributes

Sri Krsna's form glistens with the black mascara of the sweetness of His nectarean handsomeness. His complexion is the color of a blue lotus flower or a sapphire.

2

His complexion is as enchanting as an emerald, a tamala tree, or a group of beautiful dark clouds. He is an ocean of nectarean handsomeness.

3

He wears yellow garments and a garland of forest flowers. He is decorated with various jewels and He is a great reservoir of the nectar of many transcendental pastimes.

4

He has long, curling hair and He is anointed with many fragrant scents. His handsome crown is decorated with many different flowers.

5

His handsome forehead is splendidly decorated with tilaka markings and curling locks of hair. The playful movements of His raised, dark eyebrows enchant the hearts of the gopis.

6

His rolling eyes are as splendid as red and blue lotus flowers. The tip of His nose is as handsome as the beak of Garuda, the king of birds.

7

His charming ears and cheeks are decorated with earrings made of various jewels.

8

His handsome lotus face is as splendid as millions of moons. He speaks many charming jokes and His chin is exquisitely handsome.

9

His handsome, smooth and charming neck bends in three places. Decorated with a necklace of pearls, the beauty of His neck enchants the residents of the three planetary systems.

10

Decorated with a necklace of pearls and with the Kaustubha gem, which shines like lightning, Krsna's handsome chest longs to enjoy the company of the beautiful gopis.

11

Decorated with bracelets and armlets, Krsna's arms hang down to His knees. His reddish lotus hands are decorated with various auspicious signs.

12

Krsna's hands are beautifully decorated with the auspicious signs of a club, conchshell, barleycorn, parasol, half-moon, rod for controlling elephants, flag, lotus flower, sacrificial post, plow, pitcher and fish.

13

Krsna's charming abdomen is the pastime abode of handsomeness. His nectarean back seems to long for the playful touch of the beautiful gopis.

14

The nectarean lotus flower that is Lord Krsna's hips bewilders the demigod Cupid. Krsna's thighs are like two beautiful plantain trees that charm the hearts of all women.

15

Krsna's knees are very splendid, charming and handsome. His charming lotus feet are decorated with jeweled ankle-bells.

16 - 17

Krsna's feet have the luster of roses, and they are decorated with various auspicious markings, such as the markings of the disc, half-moon, octagon, triangle, barleycorn, sky, parasol, waterpot, conchshell, cow's hoofprint, svastika, rod for controlling elephants, lotus flower, bow and jambu fruit.

18

Krsna's handsome lotus feet are like two oceans filled with the happiness of pure love. His reddish toes are decorated with the row fo full moons that are His toenails.

19

Although we have sometimes compared Krsna's handsomeness to various things, nothing can actually be equal to it. In this place we have given a small indication of Krsna's handsomeness to arouse the attraction of the reader.

TEXY 20

Krsna's Friends

Now Lord Krsna's friends will be described. The most important of Krsna's friends is His elder brother, Balarama.

21

Different Kinds of Friends

Krsna's friends are divided into four groups: 1. well-wishing friends (suhrt), 2. ordinary friends (sakha), 3. more confidential friends (priya-sakha), and 4. initmate friends

(priya-narma-sakha)

22

Well-wishing Friends (suhrt)

The well-wishing friends include Krsna's cousins:

Subhadra, Kundala, Dandi and Mandala. Sunandana, Nandi, Anandi and others who accompany Krsna as He herds the cows and calves in Vrndavana forest are also well-wishing friends.

23 - 24

Also included among the well-wishing friends are Subhadra, Mandalibhadra, Bhadravardhana, Gobhata, Yaksendra, Bhata, Bhadranga, Virabhadra, Mahaguna, Kulavira, Mahabhima, Divyasakti, Suraprabha, Ranasthira and others. These well-wishing friends are older than Krsna and they try to protect Him from any danger.

25

Krsna's parents love their son very dearly. They consider Him many millions of times more important than their own life's breath. Very frightened that the demon Kamsa would harm their son, they engaged these well-wishing friends (suhrt) to protect Him. The leader of these well-wishing friends is a boy named Vijayaksa, whose mother, Ambika-devi, was Krsna's nurse. Ambika-devi worshiped goddess Parvati and performed great austerities to get a powerful son who could protect Krsna.

26

Subhadra

Subhadra has a splendid dark complexion. He wears yellow garments and various ornaments.

27

Subhadra's father is Upananda, and his mother the chaste and faithful Tula-devi. Kundalata-devi will become his wife. Subhadra is full of the glory of youth.

28 - 29

Krsna's Ordinary Friends (sakha)

Visala, Vrsabha, Ojasvi, Devaprastha, Varuthapa, Mandara, Kusumapida, Manibandhakara, Mandara, Candana, Kunda, Kalindi, Kulika and many others are included in the group of Krsna's ordinary friends (sakha). These friends are younger than Krsna and are always eager to serve Him.

30 - 31

Krsna's confidential friends (priya-sakha)

Krsna's confidential friends are Sridama, Sudama, Dama, Vasudama, Kinkini, Bhadrasena, Amsu, Stokakrsna, Vilasi, Pundarika, Vitankaksa, Kalavinka and Priyaskara. These friends are the smae age of Krsna. Their leader is Sridama, who is also known as Pithamardaka.

32

Bhadrasena is the general who leads Krsna's childhood friends in military pastimes. Stokakrsna is very appropriately named, for he is just like a small (stoka) Krsna.

33

These confidential friends (priya-sakha) delights Lord Krsna with their enthusiastic and jubliant wrestling, stick-fighting and other sports.

34

These confidential friends are all very peaceful by nature. Each of them considers Lord Krsna equal to his own life's breath.

35

Krsna's Intimate Friends (priya-narma-sakha)

Subala, Arjuna, Gandharva, Vasanta, Ujjvala, Kokila, Sanandana and Vidagdha are the msot important of Krsna's intimate friends.

36

Krsna keeps no secrets from these intimate friends. Among them Madhumangala, Puspanka and Hasanka are the leaders of those fond of joking. Handsome Sanandana is very pleased by his close friendship with Krsna and splendid Ujjvala appears like the personified ruler of all transcendental mellows. Lord Krsna, the crest jewel of playful boys, is submissive to His dear friend Ujjvala.

37

Sridama has a handsome dark complexion. He wears yellow garments and a necklace of jewels.

38

He is a splendid youth sixteen years old. He is a great resevoir of the nectar of innumerable transcendental pastimes. He is Lord Krsna's dearest friend.

39

His father is Maharaj Vrsabhanu and His mother is the chaste Kirtida-devi. Srimati Radharani and Ananga-manjari are his two younger sisters.

40

Sudama

Sudama's handsome complexion is somewhat fair. He is decorated with jeweled ornaments and wears blue garments.

41

His father's name is Matuka and His mother is Rocana-devi. He is very young and fond of playing many kinds of games.

42

Subala

Subala has a fair complexion. He wears handsome blue garments and he is decorated wtih many kinds of jewels and flowers.

43

He is twelve-and-a-half years old and He glows with youthful luster. Although he is Krsna's friend, he is immersed in serving Krsna in many different ways.

44

He is expert at arranging the meeting of the divine couple. He is charming and full of transcendental love for Them. He is cheerful and full of good qualities. He is very dear to Krsna.

45

Arjuna

Arjuna's glistening complexion is the color of a red lotus flower. His garments are the color of moonlight and He is decorated with many kinds of jewels.

46

His father is Sudaksina, his mother Bhadra-devi, and his elder brother Vasudama. He is always plunged in transcendental love for the divine couple.

47

He is fourteen-and-a half and full of the luster of youth. He wears a garland of forest flowers and many other kinds of flower-ornaments.

48

Gandharva

Handsome Gandharva has a complexion the color of moonlight. He wears red garments and many different ornaments.

49

He is twelve years old and full of youthful luster. He is decorated with many kinds of flowers.

50

His mother is the saintly Mitra-devi and his father the great soul Vinoka. He is very playful and very dear to Sri Krsna.

+++++
51

Vasanta

Vasanta has a splendid fair complexion. His garments glitter like the moon and he is decorated with various jewels.

52

He is eleven years old. He is decorated with many different flower garlands. His mother is the saintly Saradi-devi and his father is the great soul Pingala.

53

Ujjvala

Ujjvala has a splendid reddish complexion. His garments are decorated with star patterns and he is decorated with pearls and flowers.

54

His father is named Sagara and his mother is the chaste Veni-devi. He is thirteen years old and full of youthfull luster.

55

Kokila

Kokila is fair-complexioned and very handsome. He wears blue garments and is decorated with many kinds of jewels.

56

He is eleven years and four months of age. His father is named Puskara and his mother is the famous Medha-devi.

57

Sanandana

Handsome Sanandana has a fair complexion. He wears blue garments and is decorated with many different ornaments.

58

He is fourteen years old. He wears garlands of flowers. His father is Arunaksa and his mother is Mallika-devi.

59

Handsome Sanandana is very happy to have the friendship of Lord Krsna. He is like the splendid monarch of all transcendental mellows.

60

Vidagdha has a splendid complexion the color of a yellow campaka flower. He wears blue garments and a necklace of pearls.

61

He is fourteen years old and full of youthful luster. His father is named Matuka and his mother is Rocana-devi.

62

His elder brother is Sudama and his sister is Susila-devi. He is very dear to Sri Krsna. He is full of transcendental love for the divine couple.

63

Madhumangala

Madhumangala has a slightly dark complexion. He wears yellow garments and a garlands of forest flowers.

64

His father is the saintly Sandipani Muni, his mother the chaste Sumukhi devi, his sister is Nandimukhi-devi and his parental grandmother is Paurnamasi-devi.

65

An expert comedian who always plays the buffoon, Sri Madhumangala is the constant companion of Lord Krsna.

66 - 67

Sri Balarama

Powerful Lord Balarama has a fair complexion the color of crystal. He wears blue garments and a garland of forest flowers.

68

His handsome hair is tied in a graceful topknot. Splendid earrings decorate His ears.

69

His neck is splendidly decorated with garlands of flowers and strings of jewels. His arms are splendidly decorated with bracelets and armlets.

70

His feet are decorated with splendid jeweled anklets. His father is Maharaja Vasudeva and His mother is Rohini-devi.

71

Nanda Maharaja is the friend of His father. Yasoda-devi is His mother, Sri Krsna His younger brother and Subhadra His sister.

72

He is sixteen years old and full of the luster of youth. He is Sri Krsna's dearest friend. He is a great reservoir of the nectar mellows of many kinds of transcendental pastimes.

73

Vitas

Expert in music, drama, literature, the science of various kinds of scents and a host of ther arts, the vitas are very happy to serve Lord Krsna in many different ways.

74 - 75

Krsna's Servants

Bhangura, Brngara, Sandhika, Grahila, Raktaka, Patraka, Patri, Madhukantha, Madhuvrata, Salika, Talika, Mali, Mana and Maladhara are the most prominent of Lord Krsna's servants.

76

These servants carry Krsna's venu and murali flutes, buffalo-horn bugle, stick, rope and other paraphernalia. They also bring the mineral dyes (the cowherd boys use to decorate their bodies).

77 - 78

Betel-nut Servants

Pallva, Mangala, Phulla, Komala, Kapila, Suvilasa, Vilasaksa, Rasala, Rasasali and Jambula are the most important of Lord Krsna's betel-nut servants. They are younger than Krsna and always expert at singing and playing musical instruments. They are younger than Krsna and always stay near Him.

79

Water Carriers

Payoda and Varida are the most important of the servants engaged in carrying water for Lord Krsna.

Clothing Washers

Saranga and Bakula are the most important of the servants engaged in expertly washing Lord Krsna's laundry.

80

Decorators

Premakanda, Mahagandha, Sairindhra, Madhu, Kandala and Makaranda are the most important of the servants constantly engaged in decorating Lord Krsna with various ornaments and clothing.

81

Servants Who Provide Aromatic Substances

Sumanah, Kusumollasa, Puspahara, Hara and others expertly provide Krsna with various aromatic substances such as flowers, flower ornaments, flower garlands and camphor.

82

The Napitas

Svaccha, Susila, Praguna and others are engaged in various services, such as caring for the Lord's hair, massaging Him, giving Him a mirror and guarding over His treasury.

Others

Vimala, Komala and others are engaged in various services, such as caring for the Lord's kitchen.

83

Maidservants

Dhanistha-devi, Candanakala-devi, Gunamala-devi, Ratiprabha-devi, Taruni-devi, Induprabha-devi, Sobha-devi and Rambha-devi are the leaders of the gopis engaged in Krsna's service. These gopis are expert at cleaning and decorating Krsna's home, anointing it with various aromatic substances, carrying milk and performing other duties.

84

Other Maidservants

Kurangi-devi, Bhrngari-devi, Sulamba-devi, Alambika-devi and other gopis also serve Krsna in these ways.

85

Spies

Catura, Carana, Dhiman and Pesala are the leaders of Krsna's expert spies, who travel in various disguises among the cowherd men and gopis.

86

Gopa Messengers

Visarada, Tunga, Vavaduka, Manorama and Nitisara are the leaders of the gopa messengers. They carry Krsna's messages to the gopis to arrange for pastimes and also to settle quarrels.

87

Krsna's Gopi Messengers

Paurnamasi-devi, Vira-devi, Vrnda-devi, Vamsi-devi, Nandimukhi-devi, Vrndarika-devi, Mela-devi and Murali-devi are the leaders of Krsna's gopi messengers.

88

Among all these gopi messengers Vrnda-devi is the best. She is expert at arranging the meeting of Radha and Krsna and she is fully conversant with the geography of Vrndavana, knowing the best places for the divine couple's rendezvous.

89

Paurnamasi

Paurnamasi's complexion is like molten gold. She wears white garments and many jeweled ornaments.

90

Paurnamasi is very learned and famous. Her father is Suratadeva and her chaste mother is Candrakala. Her husband is Prabala.

91

Her brother is Devaprastha. She is like a perfect crest jewel decorating the land of Vraja. She is expert at making various arrangements for the meeting of Radha and Krsna.

92(A)

Vira

Another gopi messenger is Vira-devi. She is very famous and is much respected in Vraja. She can speak very arrogantly and boldly and she can also speak sweet and flattering words, as Vrnda-devi does.

92(B)

She has a dark complexion. She wears splendid white garments and various jewels and flower garlands.

93

Her husband is Kavala, her mother is the chaste Mohini-devi, her father Visala and her sister is Kavala-devi. She is very dear to Jatila-devi. She resides in the village of Javata

94

She is expert at making various arrangements for the meeting of Radha and Krsna.

95

Vrnda-devi

Vrnda-devi has a beautiful complexion the color of molten gold. She wears blue garments and is decorated with pearls and flowers.

96

Her father is Candrabhanu and her mother is Phullara-devi. Her husband is Mahipala and her sister is Manjari-devi.

97

She always remains in Vrndavana, immersed in love for Radha and Krsna and yearning to both arrange for Their meeting and taste the nectar of assisting in Their transcendental pastimes.

98

Nandimukhi-devi

Nandimukhi-devi has a fair complexion and wears exquisite garments. Her father is Sandipani Muni and her mother is the chaste Sumukhi-devi.

99

Her brother is Madhumangala and her paternal grandmother is Paurnamasi-devi. She wears various jeweled ornaments and she glows with youthful luster.

100

She is expert at various arts and crafts. Full of love for Radha and Krsna, she is expert at making various arrangements for Their rendezvous.

101

A General Description of Lord Krsna's Servants

Sobhana, Dipana and other provide lamps for the Lord and Sudhakara, Sudhanada, Sananda and others play the mrdanga for His satisfaction.

102

Vicitrarava and Madhurarava are the leaders of the talented an virtuous poets who compose prayers glorifying Sri Krsna, while Candrahasa, Induhasa and Candramukha are leaders of the servants who dance for the Lord's satisfaction.

103

Kalakantha, Sukantha, Sudhakantha, Bharata, Sarada, Vidyavilasa, Sarasa and others are learned in the arts of all kinds of literary composition. They carry their books and papers with them and they are fully aware of all the mellows fo devotional service.

104

Raucika is the tailor who sews clothes for the Lord. Sumukha, Durlabha, Ranjana and others wash the Lord's laundry.

105

Punyapunja and Bhagyarasi are the two sweepers who clean the area around Krsna's home.

106

Rangana and Tankana are goldsmiths who make ornaments for the Lord. Pavana and Karmatha are potters who make drinking vessels and jugs for churning butter.

107

Vardhaki and Vardhamana are carpenters who serve the Lord by building carts, couches and other objects. Sucitra nd Vicitra are talented artists who paint pictures for the Lord.

108

Kunda, Kanthola, Karanda and others are craftsmen who make ropes, churning rods, axes, baskets, balances for carrying heavy objects and various other ordinary utensils.

109

Mangala, Pingala, Ganga, Pisangi, Manikastani, Hamsi and Vamsipriya are the most important of the surabhi cows, who are all very dear to Lord Krsna.

110

Padmagandha and Pisangaksa are Krsna's pet oxen. Suranga is His pet deer and Dadhilobha is His pet monkey.

111

Vyaghra and Bhramaraka are Krsna's pet dogs. Kalasvana is His pet swan, Tandavika His pet peacock and Daksa and Vicaksana His pet parrots.

112

Places of Krsna's Pastimes Described

The best of all places of Krsna's pastimes is the great garden known as Vrndavana forest. Another important place of the Lord's pastimes is the beautiful and opulent Govardhana Hill. This Hill is very appropriately named for it nourishes (vardhana) Krsna's cows (go) with its grasses.

113

On Govardhana Hill is the cave known as Manikandali and the river-landing place named Nilamandapika. On the Manasa-ganga river is the famous landing place named Paranga.

114

The boat named Suvilasatara remains at this Paranga landing place. Another important place is Nandisvara Hill, Krsna's home, where the goddess of fortune is personally present.

115

On Nandisvara Hill is the splendid white stone house where Krsna grew up. This house is named Amodavardhana because it is always filled with (vardhana) the pleasant fragrance (amoda) of incense and other aromatic substances.

116

The lake near Krsna's home is named Pavana and on its shore there are many groves where the Lord enjoys pastimes. Also near Krsna's home is the grove named Kama Mahatirtha and the jeweled pathway named Mandara.

117

The splendid kadamba trees named Kadambaraj and the king of the banyan trees named Bhandira grow in the forest of Vrndavana. On the sandy bank of the Yamuna is the pastime place named Anagaranga-bhu.

118

On the shore of the Yamuna River is the sacred place known as Khela-tirtha, where Lord Krsna eternally enjoys pastimes with His dearmost Srimati Radharani.

119

Sri Krsna's Paraphernalia

Krsna's mirror is named Saradindu and His fan is named Marumaruta. His toy lotus flower is named Sadasmera and His toy ball is named Citrakoraka.

120

Krsna's golden bow is named Vilasakarmana. The two ends of this bow are studded with jewels and it has a bowstring named Manjulasara.

121

His glistening jewel-handled scissors are named Tustida. His buffalo-horn bugle is named Mandraghosa and His flute is named Bhuvanamohini.

122

Krsna has another flute named Mahananda, which is like a fishook that captures the fish of Srimati Radharani's heart and mind. Another flute, which has six holes is known as Madanajhankrti.

123

Krsna's flute named Sarala makes a low, soft tone like the sound of a softly singing cuckoo. Krsna is very fond of playing this flute in the ragas gaudi and garjari.

124

The wonderful sacred mantra He chants is the name of His dearmost Radharani. His cane is named Mandana, His vina is named Tarangini, the two ropes He carries are named Pasuvasikara and His milk bucket is named Amrtadohani.

125

Krsna's ornaments

On Krsna's arm is an amulet studded with nine jewels and placed there by His mother for His protection.

126

His two armlets are named Rangada, His two bracelets are named Sobhana, His signet ring is named Ratnamukhi and His yellow garments are named Nigamasobhana.

127

Krsna's string of small bell is named Kalajhankara and His two anklets are named Hamsaganjana. The tinkling sounds of these ornaments enchant the deer that are the minds of the deer-eyed gopis.

128

Krsna's pearl necklace is named Taravali and His jewel necklace is named Taditprabha. The locket He wears on His chest is named Hrdayamodana and within it is a picture of Srimati Radharani.

129

Krsna's jewel is named Kaustubha. In the Kaliya lake the Kaliya serpent's wives gave this jewel to the Lord with their own hands.

130

Krsna's shark-shaped earrings are named Ratiragadhidaivata, His crown is named Ratnapara and its crest-jewel is named Camaradamari.

131

Krsna's peacock feather crown is named Navaratnavidamba, His gunja necklace is named Ragavalli and His tilaka marking is named Drstimohana.

132

Krsna's garland of forest flowers and leaves, which reaches down to His feet and contains flowers of five different colors, is called Vaijayanti.

133

The eighth night of the dark moon in the month of Bhadra, when the moon rose together with its dear companion, the star Rohini, is the sacred time decorated by the birth of Lord Krsna in this world.

134

Krsna's Dear Gopis

Now the very wonderful gopis, who are decorated with the good fortune of pure love of God to a greater degree than even Laksmi-devi and the other goddesses of fortune, will be glorified.

135

Srimati Radharani

Among all the beautiful gopis Srimati Radharani is the best. Radharani is the queen of Vrndavana. She has many famous friends, headed by Lalita and Visakha.

136 - 139

Srimati Radharani's rival is Candravali. Among Candravali's friends are Padma, Syama, Saibya, Bhadra, Vicitra, Gopali, Palika, Candrasalika, Mangala, Vimala, Lila, Taralaksi, Manorama, Kandarpa-manjari, Manjubhasini, Khanjaneksana, Kumuda, Kairavi, Sari, Saradaksi, Visarada, Sankari, Kunkuma, Krsna, Sarangi, Indravali, Siva, Taravali, Gunavati, Sumukhi, Keli-manjari, Haravali, Cakoraksi, Bharati and Kamala.

140

The beautiful gopis may be considered in hundreds of groups, each group containing hundreds of thousands of gopis.

141

Among all these gopis the most important are Srimati Radharani, Candravali, Bhadra, Syama and Palika. These gopis are full of all transcendental good qualities.

142

Of these gopis Srimati Radharani and Candravali are the best. Each of them has millions of doe-eyed gopi followers.

143

Because She possesses all charm and sweetness, Srimati Radharani is the better of the two. She is supremely famous. In the Sruti-sastra She is known by the name Gandharva-devi.

144

Sri Krsna, the cowherd prince whose charming sweetness has no equal or superior, is very dear to Srimati Radharani. She considers Him millions and millions of times more dear than Her own life's breath.

145

Now the beauty of Srimati Radharani's trancendental form will be described. Srimati Radharani is expert in all the fine arts and Her transcendental form is like an ocean of nectar.

146

Her splendid bodily luster is like the yellow pigment gorocana, molten gold, or stationary lightning.

147

She wears wonderfully beautiful blue garments and She is decorated with various pearls and flowers.

148

She is very beautiful and She has long nicely braided hair. She is decorated with a garland of flowers and a beautiful pearl necklace.

149

Her splendid forehead is decorated with the red pigment sindura and with beautiful locks of curling hair.

150

Decorated with blue bangles, Her arms have defeated Cupid's staff with their beauty.

151

Decorated with black mascara and reaching back almost to Her ears, Srimati Radharani's lotus eyes are the most beautiful in all the three planetary systems.

152

Her nose is as beautiful as a sesame flower and it is nicely decorated with a pearl. She is anointed with various perfumes. She is splendidly beautiful.

153

Her ears are decorated with wonderful earrings and Her nectarean lips defeat the red lotus flowers.

154

Her teeth are like a row of pearls and Her tongue is very beautiful. Decorated with a nectarean smile of pure love for Krsna, Her beautiful face is a splendid as millions of moons.

155

The beauty of Her chin has defeated and bewildered the demigod Cupid. Decorated with a drop of musk, Her chin appears like a golden lotus flower with a bumblebee.

156

Bearing all the marks of wonderful beauty, Her neck is decorated with a string of pearls. Her neck, back and sides are enchantingly beautiful.

157

Her beautiful breasts are like two splendid waterpots covered with a bodice and decorated with a necklace of pearls.

158

Her beautiful enchanting arms are decorated with jeweled armlets.

159

Her arms are also decorated with jeweled bracelets and other kinds of jeweled ornaments. Her hands are like two red lotus flowers illuminated by the series of moons that are Her fingernails

160

Auspicious Markings on Srimati Radharani's Hands

Srimati Radharani's hands are decorated with many auspicious markings such as the signs of the bumblebee, lotus, crescent moon, earring, parasol, sacrificial post, conchshell, tree, flower, camara and svastika.

161

These auspicious marks are manifest in various ways on Srimati Radharani's lotus hands. Her splendidly beautiful fingers are also decorated with jeweled rings.

162

Charming, full of sweet nectar and decorated with a deep navel, Srimati Radharani's beautiful waist enchants the three worlds.

163

Her sloping hips lead to Her charmingly beautiful slender waist, which is bound by a creeper of three beautiful folds of skin and decorated with a sash of tinkling bells.

164

As beautiful as two exquisite plantain trees, Her thighs enchant the mind of Cupid. Her beautiful knees are like two reservoirs filled with the nectar of various transcendental pastimes.

165

Her beautiful lotus feet are decorated with jeweled ankle-bells and Her toes with toe rings as beautiful as the treasure of Varuna.

166

The Auspicious Markings on Srimati Radharani's Lotus Feet

The auspicious markings on Srimati Radharani's lotus feet include the signs of the conchshell, moon, elephant, barleycorn, rod for controlling elephants, chariot flag, small drum, svastika and fish.

167

Srimati Radharani is fifteen years old and full of the luster of youth.

168

Yasoda-devi, the queen of the cowherds, is more affectionate to Radharani than millions of mothers can be. Radharani's father is King Vrsabhanu, who is as splendid as the sun.

169

Srimati Radharani's mother is Kirtida-devi, who is also known in this world as Ratnagarbha-devi. Radharani's paternal grandfather is Mahibhanu and Her maternal grandfather is Indu.

170

Her maternal grandmother is Mukhara-devi and Her paternal grandmother is Sukhada-devi. Her father's brothers (Her uncles) are Ratnabhanu, Subhanu and Bhanu.

171

Bhadrakirti, Mahakirti and Kirticandra are Radharani's materal uncles. Menaka-devi, Sasthi-devi, Gauri-devi, Dhatri-devi and Dhataki-devi are Radharani's materal aunts.

172

Radharani's mother's sister is Kirtimati-devi, whose husband is Kasa. Radharani's father's sister is Bhanumudra-devi, whose husband is Kusa.

173

Radharani's elder brother is Sridama and Her younger sister is Ananga-manjari. Radharani's father-in-law is Vrkagopa and Her brother-in-law is Durmada.

174

Jatila-devi is Radharani's mother-in-law and Abhimanyu is Radharani's so-called husband. Kutila-devi, who is always eager to find fault, is Radharani's sister-in-law.

175

Lalita, Visakha, Sucitra, Campakalata, Ranga-devi, Sudevi, Tungavidya and Indulekha are the eight dearest friends of Srimati Radharani. These gopis are considered the leaders of all the others.

176

Kurangaksi, Mandali, Mankiundala, Matali, Candralalita, Madhavi, Madanalasa, Manjumedha, Sasikala, Sumadhya, Madhureksana, Kamala, Kamalatika, Gunacuda, Varangada, Madhuri, Candrika, Prema-manjari, Tanumadhyama, Kandarpa-sundari and Manjukesi are among the millions of dear friends (priya-sakhi) of Srimati Radharani.

177

Lasika, Kelikandali, Kadambari, Sasimukhi, Candrarekha, Priyamvada, Madonmada, Madhumati, Vasanti, Kalabhasini, Ratnavali, Manimati and Karpuralatika are among those friends (jivita-sakhi) for whom Srimati Radharani is as dear as life.

178

Kasturi, Manojna, Manimanjari, Sindura, Candanavati, Kaumudi and Madira are among Sriamti Radharani's eternal friends (nitya-sakhi).

179 - 181

Srimati Radharani's Manjari Friends.

Ananga-manjari, Rupa-manjari, Rati-manjari, Lavanga-manjari, Raga-manjari, Rasa-manjari, Vilasa-manjari, Prema-manjari, Mani-manjari, Suvarna-manjari, Kama-manjari, Ratna-manjari, Kasturi-manjari, Gandha-manjari, Netra-manjari, Sripadma-manjari, Lila-manjari and Hema-manjari are among Srimati Radharani's manjari friends. Prema-manjari and Rati-manjari are both also known by the name Bhanumati-devi.

182

The Objects of Srimati Radharani's Worship

Srimati Radharani's worshipable deity is the sun-god, who enlivens the lotus flowers and acts as an eye for the entire world. Srimati Radharani's maha-mantra is the name of Lord Krsna. Srimati Radharani's benefactor, who brings Her all good fortune, is Bhagavati Paurnamasi.

183

Specific Description of Various Gopis

Lalita-devi and the other eight principal gopis, the other gopis and the manjari have forms that are for the most part like the transcendental form of Srimati Radharani, the queen of Vrndavana.

184

Vrnda-devi, Kundalat-devi and their followaers assist the divine couple in Their pastimes in the various forests of Vrndavana. Dhanistha-devi, Gunamala-devi and their followers remain in the home of Nanda Maharaja,the cowherd king and assist the Lord's pastimes from there.

185

Kamada-devi is the daughter of Srimati Radharani's nurse. Kamada is an especially close friend of Radharani. Ragalekha-devi, Kalakeli-devi and Manjula-devi are some of Radharani's maidservants.

186

Nandimukhi-devi and Bindumati-devi are the leaders of those gopis who arrange the rendezvous of Radha and Krsna. Syamala-devi and Mangala-devi are the leaders of those gopis who act as well-wishers of Srimati Radharani.

187

Candravali-devi is the leader of those gopis who are Srimati Radharani's rivals.

188

The talented musicians Rasollasa-devi, Gunatunga-devi,Kalakanthi-devi, Sukhanti-devi, and Pikakanti-devi delight Lord Hari by singing Visakha's musical compositions.

189

Maniki-devi, Narmada-devi, and Kusumapesala-devi serve the divine couple by playing drums, cymbals, string instruments like the vina, and wind instruments like the flute.

190

In this way we have described some of the sakhis (gopi friends), nitya-sakhis (eternal gopi friends), prana-sakhis (gopi friends who are as dear as life), priya-sakhis (dear gopi friends) and parama-prestha-sakhis (dearest gopi friends)

191

Srimati Radharani's Maidservants

Ragalekha-devi, Kalakeli-devi and Bhurida-devi are the leaders fo those gopis who are Srimati Radharani's maidservants. Among these maidservants are Sugandha-devi and Nalini-devi (the two daughters of Divakirti-devi) and Manjistha-devi and Rangaraga-devi (the two daughters of Nanda Maharaja's laundry washers).

192

Palindri-devi serves Srimati Radharani by dressing and decorating Her. Citrini decorates Radharani with various cosmetics. Mantriki-devi and Tantriki-devi are astrologers who reveal the future to Srimati Radharani.

193

Katyayani-devi is the leader of those gopi messengers who are older than Srimati Radharani. Bhagyavati-devi and Punyapunja-devi, the two daughters of Maharaja Nanda's sweeper, are also the maidservants of Srimati Radharani.

194

Tunga-devi, Malli-devi and Matalli-devi are the leaders of those girls descended from the uncivilized mountain tribe known as the Pulindas. In Vrndavana some of the Pulinda girls act as the friends of Srimati Radharani and some are the friends of Sri Krsna.

195

Also included among Srimati Radharani's servants are Gargi-devi and other very respectable brahmana girls, Bhrngarika-devi and other girls from the ceti community, Vijaya-devi, Rasala-devi, Payoda-devi and other girls from the vita community, as well as the boys Subala, Ujjvala, Gandharva, Madhumangala and Raktaka.

196

Tunga-devi, Pisangi-devi and Kalakandala-devi always remain near Srimati Radharani to serve Her. Manjual-devi, Bindula-devi, Sandha-devi, Mrdula-devi and others, although very young still engage in Radharani's service.

197

Sunada, Yamuna and Bahula are the most important of Srimati Radharani's pet surabhi cows. Tungi is Her chubby pet calf, Kakkhati is Her old pet monkey, Rangini is Her pet doe and Carucnadrika is Her pet cakori bird.

198

Tundikeri is the name of Radharani's pet swan, who is fond of swimming in Radha-kunda. Madhuri is Radharani's pet elephant and Suksmadhi and Subha are Her two pet parrots.

199

The two parrots perfectly imitate Lalita-devi's playful jokes spoken to her master and mistress (Sri Sri Radha-Krsna). By this wonderful repetition the parrots astonish the gopis.

200

Srimati Radharani's Ornaments

Srimati Radharani's tilaka marking is named Smarayantra. Her jeweled necklace is named Harimohana, Her jeweled earrings are named Rocana and the pearl decorating Her nose is named Prabhakari.

201

Her locket which contains a picture of Lord Krsna, is named Madana. Her Syamantaka jewel is also known as Sankhacuda-siromani 9Sankhacuda's crest-jewel).

202

The auspicious jewel She wears around Her neck is called Puspavan because it eclipses the simultaneous rising of the sun and moon (puspavan0 with its splendor. Her anklets are called Catakarava because their tinkling sounds resemble the warbling of cataka birds. Her bracelets are called Manikarvura.

203

Srimati Radharani's signet ring is named Vipaksamardini. Her sash is named Kancanacitrangi and Her ankle-bells, which stun Lord Krsna with their tinkling sounds, are named Ratnagopura.

204

Srimati Radharani's garments are named Meghambara. Her upper garment is red like a ruby and it is the favorite of Lord Hari. Radharani's lower garment is the color of a blue cloud and it is Her own favorite.

205

Srimati Radhrani's jeweled mirror is named Sudhamsudarpaharana, which means "that which removes (harana) the moon's (sudhamsu) pride (darpa)."

206

Her golden stick for applying mascara is named Narmada, Her jeweled comb is named Svastida and Her private flower garden is named Kandarpakuhali.

207

In Radharani's garden is a vine of golden jasmine flowers that She has named Tadidvalli ("the vine of lightning"). Her private lake bears Her own name (Radha-kunda) and on the shore of that lake is a kadamba tree that is the site of very confidential talks between Her and Lord Krsna.

208

Her favorite ragas are mallara and dhanasri and Her favorite dances are chalikya and rudravallaki.

209

Srimati Radharani's glorious birth occured on the eighth day of the bright moon in the month of Bhadra. Although generally not full on that day, the moon appeared full to celebrate Radharani's appearance in this world.

210

In this way we have revealed a little about the countless associates of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna, the two monarchs of Sri Vrndavana.

Sri Radha Kunda Astaka
vrsabha danuja nasan narma dharmokti rangair
nikhila nija sakhibhir yat sva hastena purnam
prakatitam api vrndaranya rajna pramodais
tad ati surabhi radhakundam evasrayo me

May very fragrant Radhakunda, which, prodded by the gopis' many joking words after Vrsabhasura's death, the king of Vrndavana forest happily built and filled with His own hand, be my shelter.

vraja bhavi mura satroh preyasinam nikamair
asulabham api turnam prema kalpa drumam tam
janayati hrdi bhumau snatur uccair priyam yat
tad ati surabhi radhakundam evasrayo me

May very dear and fragrant Radhakunda, which for one who bathes in it immediately creates in the land of the heart a desire tree of pure love rare even among the gopi beloveds of Lord Krsna in Vraja, be my shelter.

agha ripur api yatnad atra devyah prasada
prasara krta kataksa prapti kamah prakamam
anusarati yad uccaih snana sevanubandhais
tad ati surabhi radhakundam evasrayo me

May very dear and fragrant Radhakunda, where, yearning to attain the merciful sidelong glance of His queen, Lord Krsna, diligently follows Her bathing attendants, be my shelter.

vraja bhuvana sudhamsoh prema bhumir nikamam
vraja madhura kisori mauli ratna priyeva
paricitam api namna yac ca tenaiva tasyas
tad ati surabhi radhakundam evasrayo me

May very fragrant Radhakunda, which is named after a girl who is a realm of love for He who is the moon of Vraja, a girl who is like the most precious jewel in the crown of the sweet girls of Vraja, be my shelter.

api jana iha kascid yasya seva prasadaih
pranaya sura lata syat tasya gosthendra sunoh
sapadi kila mad isa dasya puspa prasasya
tad ati surabhi radhakundam evasrayo me

The mercy obtained by serving Radhakunda makes the celestial vine of pure love for the prince of Vraja, which is famous for bearing the flowers of service to my queen, sprout. May that very fragrant Radhakunda be my shelter.

tata madhura nikunjah klpta namana uccair
nija parijana vargaih samvibhaj yasritas taih
madhukara ruta ramya yasya rajanti kamyas
tad ati surabhi radhakundam evasrayo me

May very fragrant Radhakunda, on the shores of which are many splendid and charming forest groves filled with the sweet sounds of bumblebees and each named after one of Sri Radha's friends, be my shelter.

tata bhuvi vara vedyam yasya narmati hrdyam
madhura madhura vartam gostha candrasya bhangya
prathayati mitha isa prana sakhyalibhih sa
tad ati surabhi radhakundam evasrayo me

May very fragrant Radhakunda, on the shore of which, in a pleasant courtyard Queen Radha and Her friends sweetly joke with Lord Krsna, the moon of Vraja, be my shelter.

anudinam ati rangaih prema mattali sanghair
vara sarasija gandhair hari vari prapurne
viharata iha yasmin dam pati tau pramattau
tad ati surabhi radhakundam evasrayo me

May very fragrant Radhakunda, where the passionate divine couple daily plays with Their passionate friends in the charming lotus scented water, be my shelter.

avikalam ati devyas caru kundastakam yah
paripathati tadiyollasi dasyarpitatma
aciram iha sarire darsayaty eva tasmai
madhu ripur ati modaih slisyamanam priyam tam

To one who is completely dedicated to Queen Radha's service and who happily reads these eight beautiful verses describing Her lake, even in this present body Lord Krsna shows His beloved as He happily embraces Her.

Sri Sri Radhika Astotara Sata Nama Astakam by Srila Raghunatha Dasa Goswami
aviksatmesvari kascid vrndavana-mahesvarim
tat padamboja-matraika gati dasyati katara
patita tat-saras tire ruda tyartha-ravakulam
tac chri-vaktreksanavaptyai namanyetani sanjagau
Some maidservant, unable to find her mistress, has fallen on the bank of Radhakunda, crying in great anxiety, being very eager to take exclusive shelter of Her lotus feet, glorifying Her by singing the following names of Her:

radha gandharvika gosthayuva-rajaika-kamita
gandharva radhika candrakantir madhava-sangini
1. Radha, 2. Gandharvika, 3. The only girl desired by the prince of Vraja, 4. Who is worshipped by the Gandharva-angels, 5. Whose luster is like the moon, 6. Who accompanies Madhava.

damodaradvaita-sakhi kartikotkirtidesvari
mukunda dayita-vrnda dhammilla mani-manjari
7. Damodar's unrivalled girlfriend, 8. The queen who bestows fame on the Kartika month, 9. The crestjewel of Mukunda's ladyfriends.

bhaskaropasika varsabhanavi vrsabhanuja
ananga manjari jyestha sridama varajottama
10. Who worships the sun, 11. Who belongs to King Vrsabhanu, 12. Who is born from King Vrsabhanu, 13. Ananga Manjari's older sister, 14. Sridama's younger sister, 15. The greatest (fem.)

kirtida-kanyaka matr-sneha-piyusa-putrika
visakha-savayah prestha visakha jivitadhika
16. Kirtida's daughter, 17. Who is the nectarean object of Her mother's affection, 18. Who is of the same age as Visakha, 19. Who is dearer than life to Visakha.

pranadvitiya lalita vrndavana viharini
lalita prana-laksaika-raksa vrndavanesvari
20. Who is none other than Lalita's very life, 21. Enjoys in Vrndavana, 22. Who saves Lalita's life lakhs of times, 23. Queen of Vrndavana.

vrajendra-grhini krsna-praya-sneha-niketanam
vraja go-gopa-gopali jiva-matraika-jivanam
24. Who is as dear to Mother Yasoda as Krsna, 25. Who is the only life of the life of the cows, cowherdsmen and cowherdgirls of Vraja.

snehalabhira-rajendra vatsalacyuta-purva-ja
govinda pranayadhara surabhi sevanotsuka
26. Who is the object of King Nanda's affection, 27. Who gets parental affection from Balaram, 28. Who is the object of Govinda's love (Govinda is eager to serve His surabhi cows).

dhrta nandisvara-ksema gamanotkanthi-manasa
sva-dehadvaitata drsta dhanistha dhyeya-darsana
29. Who is very eager to go to Nandisvara for serving Krsna, 30. Who is regarded as non-different from her by Dhanistha and seen in her meditations, (Dhanistha is Yasoda's maidservant).

gopendra-mahisi paka-sala-vedi prakasika
ayur-varddha-karaddhana rohini ghrata-mastaka
31. Who is seen in Mother Yadosa's kitchen, 32. Whose cooked grains increase Krsna's life, 33. Whose head is smelt by Rohini.

subala nyasta sarupya subala priti-tosita
mukhara-drk sudha-naptri jatila drsti-bhasita
34. Who has bestowed a form equal to Hers to Subala, 35. Who is very fond of Subala, 36. Who is nectar in Mukhara's eyes, 37. Who is afraid to see Her mother-in-law, Jatila.

madhumangala narmokti janita-smita-candrika
paurnamasi bahih khelat prana-panjara sarika
38. Who smiles like the moonbeams after hearing Madhumangala's jokes, 39. The she-parrot of Whose heart is caught in Paurnamasi's cage.

sva ganadvaita jivatuh sviyahankara-vardhini
sva ganopendra padabja sparsa-lambhana harsini
40. Who is the only life of Her friends, 41. Who increases the pride of Her relatives, 42. Who is very happy to touch Upendra's feet with Her friends.

sviya vrndavanodyana paliki krta-vrndaka
jnata vrndatavi sarva lata-taru-mrga-dvija
43. Who has placed Vrnda in charge of Vrndavana's gardens, 44. Who is known by all the vines, trees, deer and birds of Vrndavana.

isac candana samghrsta nava-kasmira-deha-bhah
java-puspa pritha-hari patta cinarunambara
Whose body shines with fresh vermillion ground with some sandalpaste, 46. Whose silken dress shines more reddish than the java flower.

caranabja-tala-jyotir arunakrta-bhutala
hari citta camatkari caru nupura nihsvana
47. Whose lotus footsoles make the surface of the earth shine crimson-red, 48. Who astonishes Hari's mind with the sweet sound of Her anklebells.

krsna-sranti-hara sroni pitha-valgita ghantika
krsna sarvasva pinodyat kucancan mani-malika
49. The nice sounds of whose waistbells remove Krsna's fatigue, 50. The pearl necklace on whose firm, raised breasts is everything to Krsna.

nana-ratnollasad sankha-cuda caru bhuja-dvaya
syamantaka-mani bhrajan mani-bandhati-bandhura
51. Whose two beautiful arms are adorned with conchshell bangles inset with various jewels, 52. On Whose wrist the beautiful Syamantaka jewel shines.

suvarna darpana-jyotir ullanghi mukha-mandala
pakka dadima bijabha dantakrstaghabhic chuka
53. The shining of Whose face defeats that of a golden mirror, 54. Whose teeth, that shine like ripe pomegranate seeds, attract the parrot-like Aghabhit (Krsna).

abja-ragadi srstabja-kalika karna-bhusana
saubhagya kajjalankakta netranandita khanjana
55. Whose ruby earrings are shaped like lotus buds, 56. Whose wagtail-like eyes are anointed with beautiful eyeliner, giving great joy to the eyes.

suvrtta mauktika mukta nasika tilapuspika
sucaru nava-kasturi tilakancita-bhalaka
57. Whose nose, that is beautiful as a sesame flower, is adorned with a round pearl, 58. Whose forehead is adorned with beautiful tilak made of fresh musk.

divya veni vinirdhuta keki-pincha-vara-stutih
netranta-sara vidhvamsakrta canurajid dhrtih
59. Whose divine hairbraid is worshiped by peacock feathers (being defeated in beauty), 60. The arrows of Whose glances destroy the patience of Krsna, Who defeated the Canura wrestler.

sphurat kaisora-tarunya sandhi-bandhura-vigraha
madhavollasakonmatta pikoru madhura-svara
61. Who is blooming teenage beauty personified, 62. Who pleases Madhava, 63. Who maddens Madhava with Her sweet, cuckoo-like voice.

pranayuta-sata prestha madhavotkirti-lampata
krsnapanga-tarangodyat smita-piyusa-budbuda
64. Who is more attached to Madhava's great glories than to millions of lives, 65. Whose nectarean smiles provide bubbles on the waves of Krsna's glances.

punjibhuta jagallajja vaidagdhi-digdha-vigraha
karuna vidravad deha murtiman madhuri-ghata
66. Who is the very form of cleverness, embarrassing the whole world, 67. Whose body melts in kindness, 68. Who is abundant sweetness personified.

jagad-gunavati-varga giyamana gunoccaya
sacyadi subhaga-vrnda vandyamanoru-saubhaga
69. Whose glories arre loudly sung by all the great ladies of the world, 70. Who is incessantly praised by beautiful ladies like Saci.

vina-vadana sangita rasalasya visarada
narada pramukhodgita jagad anandi sad-yasah
71. Who is expert in singing and playing vina in the rasa dance, 72. Whose pure glories are sung by sages headed by Narada, giving joy to the world.

govardhana-guha geha grhini kunja-mandana
candamsu-nandini baddha bhagini-bhava-vibhrama
73. She is the housewife in the caves in Govardhana, 74. She decorates the kunja, 75. She has a sisterly relationship with Yamuna, (Yamuna is the daughter of the sun and Radha is thedaughter of Vrsabhanu, the sun in Taurus).

divya kundalata narma sakhya-dama-vibhusita
govardhanadharahladi srngara-rasa-pandita
76. She is adorned with the wreath of divine Kundalata's friendship, 77. She is the professor in amorous rapture, giving joy to the holder of Govardhana.

girindra-dhara vaksah srih sankhacudari-jivanam
gokulendra-suta-prema kama-bhupendra-pattanam
78. She is Laksmi on the chest of the holder of Govardhan, 79. She is the life of the enemy of Sankhacuda, 80. She is the settlement of Cupid for the love of the son of Gokulendra.

vrsa-vidhvamsa narmokti sva-nirmita sarovara
nija kunda-jala-krida jita sankarsananuja
81. Who made Her own pond after the killer of Arista mocked Her, 82. Who defeats Sankarsana's younger brother in sports in Her own pond.

mura-mardana mattebha vihara-mrta-dirghika
girindra-dhara-parindra rati-yuddhoru simhika
83. She is the ambrosial pond of enjoyment for the intoxicated elephant who defeated Mura, 84. She is a powerful lioness fighting amorous sports with the king of lions, the holder of the best of mountains.

sva tanu-saurabhonmatti krta mohana madhava
dor-muloccalana krida vyakuli-krta kesava
85. Who enchants Madhava with Her intoxicating bodily fragrance, 86. Who agitates Kesava by playfully showing Her armpit.

nija kunda-tati kunja klrpta keli kalodyama
divya malli-kulollasi sayyakalpita vigraha
87. Who expands Her artful plays in the kunja on the bank of Her own pond, 88. Who makes a bed of divine jasmine flowers there with joy.

krsna vama-bhuja nyasta caru daksina gandaka
savya bahu-lata baddha krsna daksina sad-bhuja
89. Who places Her beautiful right cheek on Krsna's left arm, 90. Who holds Krsna's right arm with Her left vine-like arm.

krsna daksina caruru slista vamoru-rambhika
girindra-dhara drg-vaksor mardi-sustana-parvata
91. Whose beautiful, broad, banana-like left hip touches Krsna's right hip, 92. Whose nice, mountain-like breasts are being massaged by the Holder of Govardhana.

govindadhara piyusa vasitadhara-pallava
sudha-sancaya carukti sitali-krta madhava
93. Whose leaf-like lips are scented by the nectar of Govinda's lips, 94. Whose beautiful words distribute nectar, cooling Madhava off.

govindodgirna tambula raga rajyat kapolika
krsna sambhoga saphali-krta manmatha sambhava
95. Whose cheeks are colored by the pan from Govinda's lips, 96. Who realizes Krsna's fancies of amorous enjoyments.

govinda marjitoddama rati-prasvinna sanmukha
visakha vijita krida-santi nidralu-vigraha
97. The profuse perspiration from whose face is wiped off by Govinda, 98. Who is being fanned by Visakha when She falls asleep after playing with Krsna.

govinda-carana-nyasta kaya-manasa jivana
svapranarbuda nirmanchya hari pada-rajah kana
99. Who has placed Her life, body and mind at Govinda's lotus feet, 100. Who worships the dust of Hari's lotus feet with billions of hearts.

anumatracyutadarsa sayyamanatma locana
nitya-nutana govinda vaktra-subhramsu-darsana
101. Who curses Her eyes for every second that they do not see Acyuta, 102. Who beholds Govinda's ever-fresh moonlike face.

nihsima hari-madhurya saundaryadyeka-bhogini
sapatnya dhama murali-matra bhagya kataksini
103. Who is the only enjoyer of Hari's endless sweetness and beauty, 104. Who can only blink at the fortune of Her co-wife, the Murali flute.

gadha buddhi-bala krida jita vamsi-vikarsini
narmokti candrikotphulla krsna kamabdi-vardhini
105. Who takes Krsna's flute after defeating Him in a gambling match, 106. Who increases the ocean of Krsna's desires by the full moonbeams of Her joking words.

vraja-candrendriya-grama visrama-vidhu-salika
krsna sarvendriyonmadi radhetyaksara-yugmaka
107. Who is the moonlike resting place for all the senses of the moon of Vraja (Sri Krsna), 108. The two syllables of Whose name Ra-dha madden all of Krsna's senses.

idam sri radhika namnam astottara satojjvalam
sri radhalambhakam nama stotram caru-rasayanam
yo dhite parama pritya dinah katara-manasah
sa natham acirenaiva sa natham iksate dhruvam

Whoever recites these 108 names of Sri Radha, that consists of all beautiful, nectarean Radha-nama, with great love, humility and eagerness, will certainly and swiftly behold Her Master.

iti srimad raghunatha dasa gosvami viracita stavavalyam sri radhika-stottara-sata nama stotram sampurnam.

Thus ends Srimad Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami's Sri Radhika's 108 names-prayer.

Saranagati & Gitavali by Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Saranagati

Introductory song

1. sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu jibe doya kori
swa-parsada swiya dhama saha abatori

2.atyanta durlabha prema koribare dana
sikhaya saranagati bhakatera prana

3.dainya, atma-nivedana, goptritwe barana
abasya rokhibe krsna — biswasa, palana

4.bhakti-anukula-matra karjera swikara
bhakti-pratikula-bhava barjanangikara

5.sad-anga saranagati hoibe jahara
tahara prarthana sune sri-nanda-kumara

6.rupa-sanatana-pade dante trina kori
bhakativinoda pore duhun pada dhori

7.kandiya kandiya bale ‘ami-to’ adhama
sikhaye saranagati koro he uttama

Translation

Out of compassion for the fallen souls, Sri Krisna Caitanya came to this world with His personal associates and divine abode to teache saranagati, surrender to the almighty Godhead, and to freely distribute ecstatic love of God, which is ordinarily very difficult to obtain. This saranagati is the very life of the true devotee

The ways of saranagati are humility, dedication of the self, acceptance of the Lord as one’s only maintainer, faith that Krishna will surely protect, execution of only those acts favorable to pure devotion, and renunciation of conduct adverse to pure devotion.

The youthful son of Nanda Maharaja, Sri Krishna, hears the prayers of anyone who takes refuge in Him by this six-fold practice.

Bhaktivinoda places a straw between his teeth, prostrates himself before the two Goswamis,Sri Rupa and Sri Sanatana, and clasps their lotus feet with his hands. “I am certainly the lowest of men.” he tells them weeping, “but please make me the best of men by teaching me the ways of saranagati”

(1) Dainya, humility, 7 songs

1. bhuliya tomare, somsare asiya
peye nama-bidha byatha
tomara carana asiyachi ami,
bolobo duhkhera katha

2. janani-jathare, chilama jakhona,
bisama bandhana-pase
ek-bara prabhu! dekha diya more,
boncile e dina dase

3. takhona bhavinu, janama paiya,
koribo bhajana taba
janama hoilo, pori maya-jale
na hoilo jnana-laba

4. adarera chele, swajanera kole,
hasiya katanu kala
janaka-janani- snehete bhuliya,
somsara lagilo bhalo

5. krame dina dina, balaka hoiya,
khelinu balaka-saha
ara kichu dine, jnana upajilo,
patha pori ahar-ahah

6. bidyara gaurave, bhromi dese dese,
dhana uparjana kori
swajana palana, kori eka-mane,
bhulinu tomare, hari!

7.bardhakye ekhona, bhakativinoda
kandiya katara ati
na bhojiya tore, dina britha gelo,
ekhona ki habe gati!

Translation

I forsook You, O Lord, and came to this world of pain and sorrow. Now I submit my tale of woe at Your lotus feet.

While still in the unbearable fetters of my mother’s womb, I saw You before me You revealed Yourself but briefly and then abandoned this poor servant of Yours.

At that moment I swore to worship You after taking birth; but birth came, and with it the network of wordly illusion which robbed me of all good sense.

As a fonded son in the lap of relatives, I passed my time smiling and laughing. My parents’ affection helped me to forget the pangs of birth, and I thought the world was very nice.

Day by day I grew and soon began playing with other boys. Shortly my powers of understanding emerged. I read and studied my lessons incessantly.

Travelling from place to place, proud of my education, I grew wealthy and maintained my family with undivided attention. O Lord Hari, I forgot You!

Now in old age, Bhaktivinoda is sad. He weeps. I failed to worship You, O Lord, and instead passed my life in vain. What will be my fate now?

(2)

1.bidyara bilase katainu kala,
parama sahase ami
tomara carana, na bhojinu kobhu,
ekhona sarana tumi

2. porite porite, bharasa barilo
jnane gati habe mani
se asa bifala, se jnana durbala
se jnana ajnana jani

3. jada-bidya jato, mayara vaibhava,
tomara bhajane badha
moha janamiya, anitya somsare,
jibake karaye gadha

4. sei gadha ho’ye, somsarera ‘bojha,
bhavinu aneka kala
bardhakye ekhona, sakti na abhave,
kichu nahi lage bhalo

5. jibana jatana, hoilo ekhona,
se bidya abidya bhelo
abidyara jwala, ghatilo bisama,
se bidya hoilo selo

6. tomara carana, bina kichu dhana,

somsare na ache ara
bhakativinoda, jada-bidya chari
tuwa pada kare sara

Translation

Confidently, I spent my time in the pleasures of mundane learning and never worshiped Your Lotus feet, O Lord. Now You are my only shelter.

Reading on and on, my hopes grew, for I considered material knowledge to be life’s true path. How fruitless was that hope, and how feeble that knowledge proved to be. I know now that all such knowledge is ignorance.

Knowledge of this world is knowledge born of Your illusory energy (maya). It impedes devotional service and makes an ass of the eternal soul by encouraging his infatuation with this temporary world.

Here is one such ass who for so long has carried on his back the burden of material existence. Now in my old age, for want of the power to enjoy, nothing pleases me.

Life has become agony now, my knowledge has proven itself worthless, and ignorance has penetrated my heart with the intolerable, burning pain of a pointed shaft.

O Lord, I seek no other treasure in this world than Your lotus feet. Bhaktivinoda abandons everything to make them the sum and substance of his life.

(3)

1. jaubane jakhona, dhana-uparjane,
hoinu bipula kami
dharama smariya, grihinira kara,
dhorinu takhona ami

2. somsara pata’ye tahara sahita,
kala-khoy koinu kato
bahu sutaasuta, janama lobhilo,
marame hoinu hato

3. samsarera bhara, bare dine dine,
acala hoilo gati
bardhakya asiya, gherilo amare,
asthira hoilo mati

4. piraya asthira, cintaya jwarita
abhave jwalita citta
upaya na dekhi, andhakara-moya,
ekhona ho’yeche bhita

5. somsara-tatani srota nahe sesa
marana nikate ghora
saba samapiya, bhojibo tomaya
e asa bifala mora

6. ebe suno prabhu! ami gati-hina
bhakativinoda koya
taba krpa bina, sakali nirasa,
deho more padasroya

Translation

When I was young, I greatly desired to earn money. At that time bearing in mind the codes of religion, I took a wife.

Together we set up a household, wasted much time, had many sons and daughters... my heart grew heavy.

The burden increased day by day, I felt my life at a standstill. Old age came, grabbed me, and made my mind fickle and disturbed.

Diseases trouble me now, and constant anxiety has made me feverish. My heart burns from lack of satisfaction, and I see no way out. All is darkness and I am very much afraid.

The current of this worldly river is strong and relentless. A frightening, gloomy death approaches. How I wish I could give up my worldly attachements. I would worship You, O Lord, but it is a useless hope.

Now please hear me, O Lord, for I am utterly helpless. Bhaktivinoda says, “Without Your mercy, everything is lost. Please give me the shelter of Your lotus feet.”

(4)

1.amara jibana, sada pape rata
nahiko punyera lesa
parere udvega, diyachi je kato
diyachi jibere klesa

2 nija sukha lagi, pape nahi dori,
doya-hina swartha-paro
para-sukhe duhkhi, sada mithya-bhase,
para-duhkha sukha-karo

3 asesa kamana, hrdi mahje mora,
krodhi, dambha-parayana
mada-matta sada, bisaye mohita,
himsa-garva vibhusana

4 nidralasya hata, sukarje birata,
akarje udyogi ami
pratistha lagiya, sathya acarana,
lobha-hata sada kami

5 e heno durjana, saj-jana-barjita,
aparadhi nirantara
subha-karja-sunya, sadanartha-matah,
nana duhkhe jara jara

6 bardhakye ekhona, upaya-bihina,
ta te dina akincana
bhakativinoda, prabhura carane
kare duhkha nibedana

Translation

I am an impious sinner and have caused others great anxiety and trouble.

I have never hesitated to perform sinful act for my own enjoiment. Devoid of all compassion, concerned only with my own selfish interests, I am remorseful seeing others happy. I am a perpetual liar, and the misery of others is a source of great pleasure for me.

The material desires within the core of my heart are unlimited. I am wrathful, devoted to false pride and arrogance, intoxicated by vanity, and bewildred by worldly affairs. Envy and egotism are the ornaments I wear.

Ruined by laziness and sleep, I resist all pious deeds; yet I am very active and enthusiastic to perform wicked acts. For worldly fame and reputation I engage in the practice of deceitfulness. Thus I am destroyed by my own greed and am always lustful.

A vile, wicked man such as this, rejected by godly people, is a constant offender. I am such a person, devoid of all good works, forever inclined toward evil, worn out and wasted by various miseries.

Now in old age, deprived of all means of succes, humbled and poor, Bhaktivinoda submits his tale of grief at the feet of the Supreme Lord.

(5)

1.(prabhu he!) suno mor duhkher kahini
bisaya-halahala sudha-bhane piyalun
ab abasana dinamani

2.khela-rase saisaba, porhaite kaisora,
gowaolun, na bhelo vibeka
bhoga-base jaubane, ghara pati boshilun
suta-mita barhalo aneka

3.brddha-kala aolo, saba sukha bhagalo,
pida-base katainu katar
sarbendriya durbala, khina kalebara,
bhogabhave duhkhita antar

4.jnana-laba-hina bhakti-rase banchita,
ara mora ki habe upaya
patita-bandhu, tuhun, patitadhama hama,
kripaya uthao tapa paya

5.bicarite abahi, guna nahi paobi,
krpa karo, chorato bicara
taba pada-pankaja- sidhu pibaoto
bhakativinoda karo para

Translation

Hear, O Lord, my story of sadness. I drank the deadly poison of worldliness, pretending it was nectar, and now the sun is setting on the horizon of my life.

I spent my childhood in play, my youth in academic pursuit, and in me there was no sense of right or wrong. In young manhood I set up a household and settled down to the spell of material enjoyment. Children and friends quickly multiplied.

Soon old age arrived, and all happiness departed. Subjected to disease, troubled and weak, all my senses are feeble now, my body racked and exhausted, and my spirits downcast in the absence of youthful pleasures.

Devoid of even a particle of devotion, lacking any enlightenment — what help is there for me now? Only You, O Lord, friend of the fallen. I am certainly fallen, the lowest of men. Please, therefore lift me to Your lotus feet.

Where You to judge me now, You would find no good qualities. Have mercy and judge me not. Cause me to drink the honey of Your lotus feet and thereby deliver this Bhaktivinoda.

(6)

1.(prabhu he!) tua pade e minati mor
tava pada-pallaba, tyajato maru-mana,
bisama bisaye bhelo bhor

2.uthayite takata, punah nahi milo-i,
anudina korohin hutas
dina-jana-natha, tuhun kahayasi,
tomara carana mama asa

3.aichana dina-jana, kohi nahi milo-i,
tuhun more koro parasada
tuwa jana-sange, tuwa katha-range,
charahun sakala paramada

4.tuwa dhama-mahe, tuwa nama gaoto,
gowayabun dina-nisi asa
tua pada-chaya, parama susitala,
mage bhakativinoda dasa

Translation

At Your feet, soft as new-grown leaves, I offer this humble prayer. Those feet shelter the fallen souls who burn from the heat of material existence. But I gave up their shelter, and now my mind scorched by the fire of worldliness, has dried up like a desert.

I find no strength to go on, and thus I spend my days lamenting My only desire now is for Your lotus feet, O Lord of the meek and humble.

Has there ever been a soul as forlorn as me? Please be merciful and award me the association of Your devotees, for by tasting the pleasure of hearing your pastimes I shall give up all evils.

One hope animates my soul: to spend day and night in Your divine abode singing Your holy name. Your tiny servant Bhaktivinoda begs a place in the delightfully cooling shade of Your feet.

(7)

1.(prabhu he!) emona durmati, samsara bhitore,
poriya achinu ami
tab nija-jana, kono mahajana

pataile dile tumi

2.doya kori’ more, patita dekhiya,
kohilo amare giya
ohe dina-jana suno bhalo katha
ullasita he’be hiya

3.tomare tarite, sri-krishna-caitanya,
nabadwipe abatara
toma heno kato, dina hina jane,
korilena bhava-para

4.bedera pratijna, rakhibara tare,
rukma-barna bipra-suta
mahaprabhu name, nadiya mataya,
sange bhai abadhuta

5.nanda-suta jini, caitanya gosai,
nija nama kori’dana
tarilo jagat, tumi-o jaiya,
loho nija-paritrana

6.se katha suniya, asiyachi, natha!
tomara carana-tale
bhakativinoda, kandiya kandiya,
apana-kahini bale

Translation

A wicked mind brought me into this world, O Lord, but one of Your pure and elevated devotees has come to bring me out.

He saw me so fallen and wretched, took pity, and came to me saying, “O humbled soul, please listem to this good tiding, for it will gladden your heart.

Sri Krishna Caitanya has appeared in the land of Navadvipa to deliver you. He has safely conducted many miserable souls such as you across the sea of worldly existence.

“To fulfill the promise of the Vedas, the son of a brahmana bearing the name Mahaprabhu of golden complexion, has descended with His brother the avadhuta Nityananda. Together They have overwelmed all of Nadia with divine ecstasy.

“Sri Caitanya, who is Krishna Himself, the son of Nanda, has saved the world by freely distributing His own holy name. Go also and receive your deliverance.”

O Lord, hearing those words, Bhaktivinoda has come weeping to the soles of Your lotus feet and tells the story of his life.

(Atma-nivedana, dedication of the self, 8 songs)

(1)

1.na korolun karama, geyana nahi bhelo,
na sebilun carana tohara
jada-sukhe matiya, apanaku banca-i,
pekhahun caudisa andhiyara

2.tuhun natha! karuna-nidana
tuwa pada-pankaje atma samarpilun,
more krpa korobi bidhana

3.pratijna tohara oi, jo hi saranagata,
nahi so janabo paramada
so hama duskrti, gati nahi oi ana,
ab magon tuwa parasada

4.ana mano-ratha, nihsesa chorato,
kab hama haubun tohara
nitya-sebya tuhun, nitya-sebak mui,
bhakativinoda bhava sara

Translation

I have earned neither piety nor knowledge. Overwhelmed by sensual pleasures, I have cheated myself and now see only darkness in all directions.

You, O Lord, are the fountainhead of all mercy. I surrender myself at Your lotus feet. Kindly show me Your compassion.

It is Your promise that one who takes refuge in You will know no dangers or fear. For a sinner like me there is no other shelter. I beg You now for infinite grace.

O when will I know freedom from desire and thus become Yours? You are eternally to be served, I am Your eternal servant, and that is the sum of Bhaktivinoda’s devotional mood.

(2)

1.(praneswar!) kohabun ki sarama ki bat
aichana pap nahi, jo hama na koralun,
sahasra sahasra beri nath

2.sohi karama-fala bhave moke pesa-i,
dokha deobo ab kahi
takhonaka parinam, kichu na bicaralun
ab pachu tara-ite cahi

3.dokha bicara-i, tunhu danda deobi,
hama bhoga korabun somsara
karato gatagati, bhakata-jana-sange,
bati rohu carane tohara

4. apana caturpana, tuwa pade sonpalun,
hrdoya-garaba dure gelo
dina-doya-moya tuwa krpa niramala,
bhakativinoda asa bhelo

Translation

How much more shall I tell You of my shameful story? There is no sin which I have not committed thousands and thousands of times.

My life in this world has been one of affliction and torment as a result of those sins. Whom will I blame but myself? At the time I did not consider the consequences; now, in the aftermath, I seek to be saved.

After judging my sins, You should punish me, for I deserve to suffer the pangs of rebirth in this world. I only pray that, as I wander through repeated births and deaths, my mind may ever dwell at Your lotus feet in the company of Vaisnavas.

I offer You this judicious prayer. My heart’s false pride has gone far away. O You who are so kind to the meek, Your pure mercy has become Bhaktivinoda’s only hope.

(3)

manasa, deho, geho, jo kichu mor
arpilu tuwa pade, nanda-kisor!

sampade vipade, jivane-marane
day mama gela, tuwa o-pada barane

marobi rakhobi - jo iccha tohara
nitya-dasa prati tuwa adhikara

janma obi moe iccha jadi tohar
bhakta-grhe jani janma hau mora

kita-janma hau jatha tuwa dasa
bahir-mukha brahma-janme nahi asa

bhukti-mukti-sprha vihina je bhakta
labhaite tako sanga anurakta

janaka, janani, dayita, tanaya
prabhu, guru, pati--tuhu sarva-moya

bhakativinoda kohe, suno kana!
radha-natha! tuhu hamara parana

Translation

Mind, body, and family, whatever may be mine, I have surrendered at Your lotus feet, O youthful son of Nanda!

In good fortune or in bad, in life or at death, all my difficulties have disappeared by choosing those feet of Yours as my only shelter.

Slay me or protect me as You wish, for You are the master of Your eternal servant.

If it is Your will that I be born again, then may it be in the home of Your devotee.

May I be born again even as a worm, so long as I may remain Your devotee. I have no desire to be born as a Brahma averse to You.

I yearn for the company of that devotee who is completely devoid of all desire for worldly enjoyment or liberation.

Father, mother, lover, son, Lord, preceptor, and husband; You are everything to me.

Thakura Bhaktivinoda says, "O Kana, please hear me! O Lord of Radha, You are my life and soul!"

(4)

1.‘aham mama’ — sabda-arthe jaha kichu hoy
arpilun, tomara pade, ohe doya moy!

2.‘amara’ ami to’ natha! na rohinu ara
ekhona hoinu ami kebala tomar

3.‘ami’ sabde dehi jiba ahamta charilo
twadiyabhimana aji hrdoye posilo

4.amar sarbaswa — deho, geho anucara
bhai, bandhu, dara, suta, drabya, dwara, ghara

5.se saba hoilo taba, ami hoinu dasa
tomara grhete ebe ami kori basa

6.tumi grha-swami, ami sebaka tomara
tomara sukhete cesta ekhona amara

7.sthula-linga-dehe mor sukrita duskrita
ar mor nahe, prabhu! Ami to’nrskrita

8.tomar ichayaya mor ichaya misaila
Bhakativinoda aja apane bhulilo

Translation

Whatever I am, whatever I possess, I offer at Your lotus feet, O merciful Lord.

I no longer belong to myself. Now I am exclusively Yours.

The soul inhabiting this mortal body has given up the false ego attached to the word “I”, and now the eternal, spiritual sense of being Yours has entered his heart.

All my possessions - body, brothers, friends, and followers, wife, sons, personal belongings, house and home- all of these I give You, for I have become Your servant. Now I dwell in Your house.

You are the Lord of my house, and I Your most obedient servant.. Your happiness is my only endeavor now.

Whatever piety or sins were done by me, by mind or deed, are no longer mine, for I am redeemed

My desire has become one with Yours. From this day Bhaktivinoda has no other identity.

(5)

1.‘amara’ bolite prabhu! are kichu nai
tumi-i amara matro pita-bandhu-bhai

2.bandhu, dara, suta, suta — taba dasi dasa
sei to’ sambandhe sabe amara prayasa

3.dhana, jana, grha, dara ‘tomara’ boliya
rakha kori ami matro sebaka hoiya

4.tomara karjera tareuparjibo dhana
tomara somsare-byaya koribo bahana

5.bhalo-manda nahi jani seba matro kori
tomara samsare ami bisaya-prahari

6.tomara icchaya mora indriya-calana
srabana, darsana, ghrana, bhojana-basana

7.nija-sukha lagi’ kichu nahi kori ara
bhakativinoda bale, taba suka-sara

Translation

Nothing remains “mine”. Father, friend, brother — You are even these to me.

Those whom I called friends, wife, sons, and daughters are all Your servants and maidservants. Whatever care I take for them is only as it relates to You.

If I continue to maintain my wealth, family members, home, and wife, it is because they are Yours. I am a mere servant.

For Your service I will earn money and bear the expense of Your houselhold.

I know neither good nor bad. I merely serve. I am but a watchman who guards the properties in Your household.

The exercising of my senses — hearing, seenig, smelling, tasting, touching — is done according to Your desire.

I no longer do anything for my own pleasure. Bhakativinoda says, “Your happiness is the essence of everything”.

(6)

1. bastutoh sakali taba, jiba keho noya
‘aham’ — ‘mama’ — bhrame bhromi’ bhoge soka-bhoy

2.aham-mama-abhimana ei-matro dhana
baddha jiba nija boli’ jane mane mana

3.sei abhimane ami somsare poriya
habudubu khai bhava-sindhu santariya

4.tomara abhaya-pade loiya sarana
aji ami korilama atma-nibedana

5.‘aham’ — ‘mama’-abhimana charilo amaya
ar jeno mama hrde stana nahi paya

6. ei matro balo prabhu! dibe he amare
ahamta-mamata dure pari rakhi bare

7. atma-nibedana-bhava hrde drdha roy
hasti-snana sama jeno khanika na hoy

8. bhakativinoda prabhu nityananda pay
mage parasada, jahe abhimana jay

Translation

In truth, all things belong to You. NO jiva is owner of anything. The tiny soul wanders in this world mistakenly thinking, “I am this transitory body, and everything related to this body is mine.” Thus he suffers sorrow and fear.

The conditined soul is falsely proud and considers everything attached to the words “I” and “mine” to be his treasures alone.

Due to that same vanity, I fell into this world. Floundering in the ocean of mundane existence like a drowning man, I suffer the pangs of rising and sinking in that ocean.

I take shelter at Your lotus feet, which award fearlessness, and dedicate myself to You on this day.

The vanity of “I” and “mine” has left me now. May it never again find a place within my heart.

O Lord, please give me this strength, that I may be able to keep the false conceptions of “I” and “Mine” far away.

May the mood of self-surrender to the Supreme Lord remain firmly fixed in my heart and not prove to be like the momentary cleanliness of an elephant after a bath.

Bhaktivinoda begs at the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda for the grace which delivers one from all false pride.

(7)

1.nibedana kori prabhu! tomara carane
patita adhama ami, jane tri-bhuvane

2.ama-sama papi nahi jagat -bhitore
mama sama aparadhi nahika somsare

3.sei saba papa ara aparadha, ami
parihare pai lajja, saba jano’ tumi

4.tumi bina ka’ra ami loibo saran?
tumi sarbeswareswara, brajendra-nandan!

5.jagat tomara natha! tumi sarba-moy
toma prati aparadha tumi koro’ khoy

6. tumi to’ skhalita-pada janera asroy
tumi bina ara kiba ache, doya-moy!

7.sei-rupa taba aparadhi jana jato
tomara saranagata hoibe satato

8. bhakativinoda ebe loiya saran
tuwa pade kare aj atma-samarpan

Translation

I submit at Your lotus feet, O Lord, that I am fallen and wretched, a fact known to the three worlds.

There is no sinner more sinful than me. In the entire material creation there is no offender whose offenses equal mine.

By attempting to clear myself of all these sins and offenses I am put to shame and beg Your forgiveness. All this is understood by You.

Of whom will I take shelter except for You? O son of the King of Vraja, You are the Lord of all lords.

This world is Yours, and You pervade all things in it. You forgive the offenses committed against You.

You alone are the shelter of those who have gone astray. Apart from You, what else exists, O merciful Lord?

Those like me who have offended You will know no peace until achieving Your shelter.

Bhaktivinoda takes shelter in You and surrenders himself at Your lotus feet on this very day.

(8)

1.atma-nibedana, tuwa-pade kori’
hoinu parama sukhi
duhkha dure gelo, cinta na rohilo,
caudike ananda dekhi

2.asoka-abhaya, amrita-adhara,
tomara carana-dwaya
tahate ekhona, bisrama labhiya
charinu bhavera bhoya

3.tomara somsare, koribo sebana,
nahibo falera bhagi
taba sukha jahe, koribo jatana,
ho ‘ye pade anuragi

4.tomara sebaya, duhkha hoya jato,
sei ‘to parama sukha
seba-sukha-duhkha, parama sampada
nasaye abidya-duhkha

5.purba itihasa, bhulinu sakala,
seba-sukha pe’ye mane
ami to’tomara, tumi to ‘amara,
ki kaja apare dhane

6.bhakativinoda, anande dubiya,
tomara sebara tare
saba cesta kare, taba iccha-mato,
thakiya tomara ghare

Translation

I have become supremely joyful by surrendering myself at Your holy feet. Unhappiness has gone away, and there are no more anxieties. I see joy in all directions.

Your two lotus feet are reservoirs of immortal nectar where one may live free from sorrow and fear. I have found peace there now and have given up the fear of worldly existence.

I shall render service in Your household and not endeavor to enjoy the fruits of that service, but rather I shall strive for whatever pleases You, fully devoted to Your lotus feet.

Troubles encountered in Your service shall be the cause of great happiness, for in Your devotional service joy and sorrow are equally great riches. Both destroy the misery of ignorance.

I have completely forgotten all past history by feeling great joy in my mind. I am most certainly Yours, and You are indeed mine. What need is there of any other treasure?

Bhaktivinoda, diving into the ocean of bliss, devotes all his efforts for Your service and dwells in Your house according to Your wishes.

(Goptritve-varana, acceptance of the Lord as Maintainer, 4 songs)

(1)

1.ki jani ki bale, tomara dhamete,
hoinu saranagata
tumi doya-moy, patita-pabana
patita-tarane rata

2. bharasa amara, ei matro natha!
tumi to’ karuna-moya
taba doya-patra, nahi mora sama,
abasya ghucabe bhoya

3.amare tarite, kaharo sakati,
abani-bhitore hani
doyala thakura! ghusana tomara,
adhama pamare trahi

4. sakala chariya, asiyachi ami,
tomara carane natha!
ami nitya-dasa, tumi palayita,
tumi gopta, jagannatha!

5. tomara sakala, ami matro dasa,
amara taribe tumi
tomara carana, korinu barana,
amara nahi to’ ami

6.bhakativinoda, kandiya sarana,
lo’yeche tomara paya
khomi’ aparadha, name ruci diya,
palana korohe taya

Translation

How has one such as I come to Your shelter? Surely it is by Your mercy alone, for You are everseeking the purification and deliverance of the fallen souls.

You are my only hope, for You are full of compassion and mercy. There is no one who needs Your mercy more than I. You will surely drive away all fear.

No one else has the power to deliver me. O merciful Lord, by Your declaration, kindly deliver this vile and lowly sinner.

I have given up everything and come to Your lotus feet. I am Your eternal servant, and You are my protector and maintainer, O Lord of the universe!

Everything is Yours. I am merely a servant, certain that You will deliver me. I have chosen Your lotus feet as my only shelter. I no longer belong to myself.

Weeping, Bhaktivinoda takes shelter at Your feet. Forgive his offenses, afford him a taste for the holy name, and kindly maintain him.

(2)

1.dara-putra-nija-deho-kutumba-palane
sarbada bhakula ami chinu mane mane

2.kemone arjibo artha, yasa kise pabo
kanya-putra-vivaha kemone sampadibo

3.ebe atma-samarpane cinta nahi ara
tumi nirbahibe prabhu, somsara tomara

4.tumi to’palibe more nija-dasa jani’
tomar sebaya prabhu baro sukha mani

5.tomara icchaya prabhu saba karja hoy
jiba bale, — ‘kori ami’, se to’ satya noy

6.jiba ki korite nare, tumi na korile?
asa matro jiba kare, taba iccha-fale

7.niscinta hoiya ami sebibo tomaya
grhe bhalo-manda ho’le nahi mora daya

8.bhakativinoda nija-swatantrya tyajiya
tomara carana sebe’ akincana hoiya

Translation

Within my heart I have always been anxious for the maintenance of my wife and children, my own body and relatives.

How will I earn money? How will I obtain fame? How will I arrange the marriages of my sons and daughter?

Now, through self-surrender, I have been purged of all anxiety. O Lord, surely You will provide for the maintenace of Your household.

Surely You will preserve me, knowing me to be Your own servant. O Lord, in Your devotional service I feel great happiness.

All events take place by Your will, O Lord. The deluded soul of this world declares, “I am the doer,” but this is pure folly.

If You do not act first, then what is a tiny soul actually able to do? By Your will he can only desire to act, and unless You fulfill his desire, he cannot do anything.

I will serve You free from all anxiety, and at home, if any good or evil should occur, it will not be my responsibility.

Bhaktivinoda thus gives up his independence and engages in the exclusive service of Your lotus feet with no other interest in life.

(3)

1.sarbaswa tomar, carane sampiya,
porechi tomara ghare
tumi to’thakur, tomara kukur,
boliya janaho more

2.bandhiya nikate, amare palibe,
rohibo tomara dware
pratipa-janere, asite na dibo
rakhibo garera pare

3.taba nija-jana, prasad sebiya,
ucchista rakhibe jaha
amara bhojan, parama-anande,
prati din habe taha

4.boshiya suiya, tomara carana,
cinitibo satata ami
nacite nacite, nikate jaibo,
jakhona dakibe tumi

5.nijera posan, kabhu na bhavibo
rohibo bhavera bhore
bhakativinoda, tomare palaka,
boliya barana kare

Translation

Now that I have surrendered all I possess, I fall prostrate before Your house. You are the Supreme Lord. Kindly consider me Your household dog.

Chain me nearby and maintain me as You will. I shall remain at the doorstep and allow no enemies to enter Your house. I will keep them at the bounds of the moat surrounding Your home.

Whatever remnants Your devotees leave behind after honoring Your prasada will be my daily sustenance. I will feast on those remnants with great ecstasy.

While sitting up, while lying down, I will constantly meditate on Your lotus feet. Whenever You call, I will immediately run to You and dance in rapture.

I will never think of my own maintenance but rather remain transported by a multitude of ecstasies. Bhaktivinoda accepts You as his only support.

(4)

tumi sarbeswareswara brajendra-kumara!
tomara icchaya biswe srjana samhara

taba iccha-mato brahma karena srjana
taba iccha-mato visnu karena palana

taba iccha-mate siba karena samhara
taba iccha-mate maya srje karagara

taba iccha-mate jiber janama-marana
samriddhi-nipate duhkha sukha-samghatana

miche maya-baddha jiba asa-pase fire
taba iccha bina kichu korite na pare

tumi to’ rakhaka ar palaka amara
tomara carana bina asa nahi ara

nija-bala-cesta-prati bharasa chariya
tomara icchay achi nirghara koriya

bhakativinoda ati dina akincana
tomara icchay ta’ra jibana marana

Translation

O youthful son of the King of Vraja, You are Lord of all. Creation and destruction take place in the universe according to Your will.

According to Your will Lord Brahma creates, and in accordance with Your will Lord Visnu maintains.

Lord Siva destroys in similar obedience to You, and by Your wish maya constructs the prison house of this world.

By Your will the living beings take birth and die, and by Your will they meet with prosperity and ruin, happiness and sorrow.

The tiny soul bound up by maya vainly struggles in the fetters of worldly desire. Without Your sanction he is unable to do anything.

You are my protector and maintainerl Without Your lotus feet there is no hope for me.

No longer confident of my own strength and endeavor, I depend solely on Your will.

Bhaktivinoda is most poor, and his pride has been leveled. Now he lives or dies, as You wish.

++
(Avasya Raksibe Krsna — Viswasa Palana, faith in Krsna as protector, 4 songs)

(1)

ekhona bujhinu prabhu! tomara carana
asokabhoyamrta-purna sarva-khana

sakala chariya tuwa carana-kamale
poriyachi ami natha! taba pada-tale

taba pada-padma nath! rokhibe amare
ar rakha-karta nahi e bhava-somsare

ami taba nitya-dasa — janinu e-bara
amara palana-bhar ekhonu tomara

bara duhkha paiyachi swatantra jibane
saba duhkha dure gelo o pada-barane

je-pada lagiya rama tapasya korila
je-pada padiya siba sibatwa lobhila

je-pada lobhiya brahma krtartha hoila
je-pada narada muni hrdoye dhorila

sei se abhaya pada sirete dhoriya
parama-anande naci pada-guna gaiya

somsara-vipad ho’te abasya uddhara
bhakativinoda, o pada koribe tomara

Translation

I know now Your divine feet are a refuge free from all sorrow and fear, eternally full of sweet nectar.

At the soles of those lotus feet I surrender myself and all I possess.

O Lord, there is no other protection but You in this world of birth and death.

At last I know myself to be Your eternal servant, whose maintenance You have assured.

Life before, without You, held nothing but sorrow. Now I live free from all misery

Laksmi, desiring such a place at Your lotus feet, excuted austerities. Only after secureing a place by Your lotus feet did Lord Siva attain his sivatva, or quality of auspiciousness.

Upon obtaining those feet Lord Brahma became successful in life, and the great sage Narada Muni held those two feet to his heart.

Your lotus feet drive away all fear. Having held them to my head, I dance in great ecstasy, singing their glories.

Your lotus feet will deliver Bhaktivinoda from the perils of worldly journey.

(2)

1.tumi to’ maribe jare, ke tare rakhite pare,
taba iccha-basa tribhuvana
brahma-adi deba-gan, taba dasa aganan,
kare taba ajnara palana

2.taba iccha-mate jato, graha-gana abirato,
subhasubha fala kare dana
roga-soka-mrti-bhoy, taba iccha-mate hoy,
taba ajna sada balavan

3.taba bhoye bhayu boy, candra surja samuday,
swa-swa niyamita karja kare
tumi to’ parameswar, para-brahma paratpar,
taba basa bhakata-antare

4.sada-suddha siddha-kama, ‘bhakata-vatsala’ nama,
bhakata-janera nitya-swami
tumi to’rakhibe jare, ke tare marite pare,
sakala bidhira bidhi tumi

5.tomara carane natha! koriyache pranipata,
bhakativinoda taba das
bipad hoite swami! abasya tahare tumi
rokhibe, — tahara e viswas

Translation

Who can protect that person whom You wish to slay? The three worlds are obedient to Your will. The gods, headed by Brahma, are Your countless servants and stand ready to execute Your command,

By Your will the planets exercise their auspicious or inauspicious influences. Illness, grief, death, and fear occur by Your will. Your command is all-powerful.

In fear of You the wind blows, and the sun, moon, and all others perform their allotted duties. You are the Supreme Lord, the Supreme Spirit, supreme above all. Your residence is in the heart of Your loving devotee.

You are eternally pure. All Your desires are fulfilled. Your name is Bhakta-vatsala, for You are very affectionate to the Vaisnavas. You are the eternal Lord of Your loving devotees. Who can slay that person whom You wish to protect? You are the law of all laws.

O Lord, Your eternal servant Bhaktivinoda has bowed down at Your lotus feet. O master, he cherishes the faith that You will surely protect him from all dangers.

(3)

atma-samarpane gela abhiman
nahi korobun nija rakha-bidahan

tuwa dhana jani’ tuhun rakhobi, nath’
palya godhana jnana kori’ tuwa sath

caraobi madhaba! jamuna-tire
bamsi bajaoto dakobi dhire

agha-baka marato rakha-bidhan
korobi sada tuhun gokula-kan!

rakha korobi tuhun niscoy jani
pana korobun hama jamuna-pani

kaliya-dokha korobi binasa
sodhobi nadi-jala, baraobi asa

piyato dabanala raknobi mo’y
‘gopala’, ‘gobinda’ nama taba hoy

sura-pati-durmati-nasa bicari
rakhobi barsane, giri bara-dhari!

catur-anana korabo jab cori
rakha koro- i mujhe, gokula-hari!

bhakativinoda — tuwa gokula-dhan
rakhobi kesava! korato jatan

Translation

Surrendering to You lifted from me the burden of false pride. No longer will I try to secure my own well-being.

O Lord, I am confident of Your protection, for, like one of Your cows or calves, I am Your treasured property.

O Madhava, I see You leading Your herds to pasture on the banks of the Yamuna. You call to them by gently playing Your flute.

By slaying giant demons such as Agha and Baka You will always provide full protection, O Gokula Kana!

Fearless and confident of Your protection, I will drink the water of the Yamuna.

The Kaliya serpent’s venom poisoned the Yamuna’s waters, yet that poison will not act. You will purify the Yamuna and by such heroic deeds enhance our faith.

You who are called Govinda and Gopala will surely protect me by swallowing the forest fire.

When Indra, king of the gods, sends torrents of rain, You will counteract his malice and protect us by lifting the mighty Govardhana Hill!
When the four-headed Brahma steals Your cowherd boyfriends and calves, then, too, You will surely protect me, O Gokula Hari!

Bhakativinoda is now the property of Gokula, Your holy abode, O Kesava, kindly protect him with care.

(4)

chorato purusa-abhiman
kinkori hoilun aji, kan!

baraja-bipine sakhi-sath
sebana korobun, radha-nath!

kusume ganthobun har
tulasi-mani-manjari tar

jatane deobun sakhi-kare
hate laobo sakhi adare

sakhi dibo tuwa duhuk gale
durato herobun kutuhale

sakhi kahabo, — suno sundari!
rahobi kunje mama kinkori

ganthobi mala mano-harini
niti radha-krishna-bimohini

tuwa rakhana-bhara hamara
mama kunja-kutira tohara

radha-madhava-sebana-kale
rahobi moe hamara antarale

tambula saji’ karbura ani’
deobi moe apana jani’

bhakativinoda suni’ bat
sakhi-pade kare pranipat

Translation

Gone is the variety of male egoism, O Kana. Now I am Your faithful maidservant.

O Lord of Radha, in the groves of Vraja I will perform devotional service as a follower of one of the sakhis.

I will string together a necklace of forest flowers, and tulasi buds shall be the jewels of that necklace.

With utmost care I will place the garland in the hands of that confidential devotee, and she will take it with affection.

Then she will place the garland around both Your necks, while I watch in wonder from afar.

The confidant will then say to me, “Listen, O beautiful one, you should remain in this grove as my attendant.

“Daily you shall string together beautiful flower garlands that will enchant Radha and Krsna.

“The responsibility for your maintenance shall be mine. My cottage in the grove is yours.

When I serve Radha and Madhava, you will attend behind me. After preparing tambula and bringing camphor, you will give them to me, knowing me to be yours.”

Bhaktivinoda, having heard all these instructions, bows down at the lotus feet of that confidential sakhi.

(Bhakti-anukula-matra Karyera Svikara, acceptance of activities favorable to pure devotion, 4 songs)

(1)

tuva-bhakti-anukula je-je karja joy
parama-jatane taha koribo niscoy

I will surely execute with utmost care those activities favorable to Your pure devotional service.

bhakti-anukula jato bisaya somsare
koribo tahate rati indriyera dware

I will feel fondness for those things in this world which are conductive to pure devotion, and with my senses I will engage them in Your service.

sunibo tomara katha jatana koriya
dekhibo tomara dhama nayana bhoriya

I will carefully listen to all discussions concerning You, and the satisfaction of my eyes will be to behold Your divine abode.

tomara prasade deho koribo posan
naibedya-tulasi-ghrana koribo grahan

I will nourish my body with the sacred remnants of Your food and smell the sweet scent of tulasi leaves adorning those offerings.

kara-dwara koribo tomara seba sada
tomara basoti-sthale boshibo sarbada

With my hands I will always execute Your service, and I will forever dwell at that place where You abide.

tomara sebaya kama niyoga koribo
tomara bidvesi-jane krodha dekhaibo

I will employ my desires in Your devotional service and show anger to those who are envious of You.

ei-rupe sarba-brtti ara sarba-bhav
tuwa anukula hoye labhuka prabhav

In this way may all of my propensities and emotions obtain dignity and glory by being favorable to You.

tuwa bhakta-anukula jaha jaha kori
tuwa bhakti-anukula boli’ taha dhori

I will consider as favorable to Your devotional service anything I do which is favorable to Your devotee.

bhakativinoda nahi jane dharmadharma
bhakti-anukula tara hau saba karma

Bhaktivinoda knows neither religion nor irreligion. He simply prays that all his activities be conductive for pure devotion to You.

(2)

godruma-dhame bhajana-anukule
mathura-sri-nandisvara-samatule

tahi maha surabhi-kunja-kutire
baithobun hama sura-tatini-tire

gaura-bhakata-priya-besa dadhana
tilaka-tulasi-mala-sobhamana

campaka, bakula, kadamba, tamal
ropato niramibo kunja bisal

madhabi malati uthabun tahe
chaya-mandapa korobun tahi mahe

ropobun tatra kusuma-bana-raji
juthi, jati, malli birajabo saji

mance boshaobun tulasi-maharani
kirtana-sajja tahi rakhabo ani

baisnaba-jana-saha gaobun nam
jaya godruma jaya gaura ki dham

bhakativinoda bhakti-anukul
jaya kunja munja, sura-nadi-kul

On the banks of the celestial Ganges River I will dwell in a cottage at Surabhi-kunj in Godruma-dhama. This land of Godruma is very conductive for performing devotional worship of the Supreme Lord and is nondifferent from the sacred place called Nandagram, located in the holy district of Mathura.

I will put on the garb that is dear to the devotees of Lord Gaurasundara and wear the twelve Vaisnava tilaka markings on my body and beautiful beads of tulasi wood around my neck. Then, by planting flowering trees like Campaka, Bakula, Kadamba, and Tamala, I will make an extensive grove by my cottage.

I will put madhavi and malati creepers on the trees and in this way make a shady bower.

I will sow a variety of flowering forests and different kinds of jasmine like yuthi, jati and malli. All these will be present there, arrayed in a charming fashion.

I will install the empress tulasi on an elevated throne on the terrace, then procure all necessary paraphernalia for having kirtana, such as mrdanga drums, karatalas (hand cymbals), and gongs, and place them there.

(3)

1.suddha-bhakata- carana-renu
bhajana-anukula
bhakata-seba, parama-siddhi,
prema-latikara mula

madhaba-tithi, bhakti-janani
jatane palana kori
krsna-basoti basoti boli
parama adare bori

gaur amara, je-saba sthane,
koralo bhramana range
se-saba sthana, heribo ami,
pranayi-bhakata-sange

mrdanga-badya, sunite mana,
abasara saba jace
gaura-bihita, kirtana suni,
anande hrdoya nace

jugala-murti, dekhiya mora,
parama-ananda hoya
prasada-seba korite hoya
sakala prapance jaya

je-dina grhe, bhajana dekhi,
grhete goloka bhaya
carana-sindu, dekhiya ganga,
sukha na sima paya

tulasi dekhi, juraya prana
madhaba-tosani jani
gaura-priya, saka-sebane,
jibana sarthaka mani

bhakativinoda, krsna-bhajane,
anukula paya jaha
proti-dibase, parama-sukhe,
swikara karaye taha

Dust from the lotus feet of pure devotees is conductive to devotional service, whilee service to the Vaisnavas is itself the supreme perfection and the root o the tender creeper of divine love.

I observe with great care the holy days like Ekadasi and Janmastami, for they are the mother of devotion. As my dwelling place I choose with the greatest of reverence and love the transcendental abode of Sri Krsna.

All those places where my Lord Gaurasundara traveled for pastimes I will visit in the company of loving devotees.

My mind always begs for the opportunity to hear the music of the mrdanga. Upon hearing the kind of kirtana ordained by Lord Gaurasundara, my heart dances in ecstasy.

Beholding the Deity forms of the Divine Couple, Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, I feel the greatest joy. By honoring the Lord’s prasada, I conquer over all worldly illusions.

Goloka Vrndavana appears in my home whenever I see the worship and servicee of Lord Hari taking place there. When I see the Ganges, that river of nectar emanating from the lotus feet of the Lord, my happiness knows no bounds.

The sight of the holy tulasi tree soothes my soul, for I know she gives pleasure to Lord Krsna. By honoring sak, a great favorite of Lord Caitanya’s, I consider life worthwhile.

Whatever Bhaktivinoda obrains that is conducive for the service of Sri Krsna he accepts every day with greatest joy.

(4)

radha-kunda-tata-kunja-kutir
gobardhana-parbata, jamuna-tir

kusuma-sarobara, manasa-ganga
kalinda-nandini bipula-taranga

bamsi-bata, gokula, dhira-samir
brndabana-taru-latika-banir

khaga-mrga-kula, malaya-batas
mayura, bhramara, murali-bilas

benu, srnga, pada-cihna, megha-mala
basanta, sasanka, sankha, karatala

jugala-bilase anukula jani
lila-bilase-uddipaka mani

e-saba chorato kanhi nahi jau
e-saba chorato parana harau

bhakativinoda kahe, suno kan!
tuwa uddipaka, hamara paran

The cottage in the grove on the banks of Radha-kunda, the great Govardhana Hill, the banks of the Yamuna, Kusuma-sarovara, Manasa-ganga, the daughter of Kalinda (the Yamuna) with her many waves, the Vamsi-vat, Gokula, Dhira-samira, the trees and creepers and reeds of Vrdavana, the different varieties of colorful birds, the deer, the cooling breeze from the Malaya Mountains, the peacocks, the bumblebees, the pastimes with the flute, the flute itself, the buffalo horn bugle, the footprints of cows in the dust of Vraja, the rows of blackish rainclouds, springtime, the moon, the conchsell, and the karatalas – all these I know to be very conductive for the pastimes of Radha and Krsna. I recognize in them a transcendental stimulus for making the Lord’s charming pastimes more intense.

I refuse to go anywhere if there stimuli to devotional service are not there, for to abandon them is to abandon life itself.

Bhaktivinoda says, “Please hear me, O Kana! Your entourage and paraphernalia stimulate remembrance of You and are the very sourcee of my life.”

Bhakti-pratikula-bhava Varjanangikara, renunciation of conduct averse to pure devotion, 4 songs

(1)

1.kesaba! tuwa jagata bicitra
karama-vipake, bhava-bana bhrama-i
pekhalun ranga bahu citra

2.tuwa pada-bismriti, a-mara jantrana,
klesa-dahane dohi’ jai
kapila, patanjali, gautama, kanabhoji,
jaimini, bauddha aowe dhai’

3.sab koi nija-mate, bhukti, mukti jacato,
pata-i nana-bidha fand
so-sabu — bancaka, tuwa bhakti bahir-mukha,
ghataowe bisama paramada

4.baimukha-bancane, bhata so-sabu,
niramilo vividha pasara
dandabata durato, bhakativinoda bhelo,
bhakata-carana kori sara

Translation

This material creation of Yours, O Kesava, is most strange. I have roamed throughout the forest of this universe in consequence of my selfish acts, and I have beheld many strange and curious sights.

Forgetfulness of Your lotus feet has brought on anguish and grief. As I burn in this fire of misery, my would-be saviors — Kapila, Gautama, Kanada, Jaimini, and Buddha — come running to my aid.

Each expounds his particular view, dangling various pleasures and liberation as bait in their philosophical traps. They are all cheaters, averse to Your devotional service and thus fatally dangerous.

They are magnates of karma, jnana, and yoga who specialize in opinions and proofs for cheating the materially inclined. Bhaktivinoda, considering refuge at the feet of the Vaisnavas as essential, pays his respects to these cheating philosophers from afar.

(2)

1.tuwa-bhakti-pratikula dharma ja’te roy
parama jatane taha tyaji o niscoy

2.tuwa-bhakti-bahir-mukha sanga na koribo
gauranga-birodhi-jana-mukha na heribo

3.bhakti-pratikula sthane na kori basati
bhaktir apriya karje nahi kori rati

4.bhaktira birodhi grantha patha na koribo
bhaktira birodhi byakhya kabhu na sunibo

5.gauranga-barjita sthana tirtha nahi mani
bhaktira badhaka jnana-karma tuccha jani

6.bhaktira badhaka kale na kori adar
bhakti bahir-mukha nija-jane jani para

7.bhaktira badhika spriha koribo barjan
abhakta-pradatta anna na kori grahan

8.jaha kichu bhakti-pratikula boli’jani
tyajibo jatane taha, e niscoya bani

9.bhakativinoda pori prabhura carane
magaye sakati pratikulyera barjane

Translation

I vow to abandon without compromise all actions contrary to Your devotional service.

I will keep company with no one opposed to devotional service, nor even look at the face of a person inimical toward Lord Gauranga.

I shall never reside at a place unfavorable for devotional practices, and may I never take pleasure in nondevotional works.

I will read no book opposed to pure devotion, nor listen to any explanation which disagrees with pure devotional principles.

I will never regard as sacred any place where Lord Gauranga is rejected. Any knowledge hindering pure devotional service I consider worthless.

Any season which poses obstacles to the execution of devotional service shall find no favor with me, and I will consider all relatives or family members averse to pure devotion as strangers.

I will abandon all desires that hinder devotion and never accept food offered to me by nondevotee atheists.

I vow to promptly shun whatever I know to contradict pure devotion. This I strongly promise.

Bhaktivinoda, falling at the feet of the Lord, begs for the strength to give up all obstacles to pure devotion.

(3)

1.bisaya-bimudha ar mayabadi jan
bhakti-sunya dunhe prana dhare akaran

2.ei dui-sanga natha! na hoy amar
prarthana koriye ami carane tomar

3.se duwera madhye bisayi tabu bhalo
mayabadi-sanga nahi magi kono kalo

4.bisayi-hrdoya jabe sadhu-sanga pay
abayase labhe bhakti bhaktera krpay

5.mayabada-dosa ja’ra hrdoye posilo
kutarke hrdoya ta’ra bajra-sama bhelo

6.bhaktira swarupa, ara ‘bisaya’, ‘asroy’
mayabadi ‘anitya’boliya saba koy

7.dhik ta’ra krsna-seba-srabana-kirtan
krsna-ange bajra hane tahara staban

8.mayabada sama bhakti-pratikula nai
ataeba mayabadi-sanga nahi cai

9.bhakativinoda mayabada dura kori’
baisnaba sangete boishe namasraya dhori’

Translation

Both the monist philosophers and those bewildered by worldly affairs live in vain, for both are devoid of devotion to You.

I pray at Your lotus feet, O Lord, that I may be spared the company of them both.

Yet of the two the worldly man is better. I ask never to have the company of mayavadi.

When the worldly man enters into the company of saintly persons within his heart he becomes inspiried by pure devotion through the mercy of those devotees.

But woe to him who has known the offensive presence of impersonalist philosophy. Such sophistry makes the heart hard as a thunderbold.

The mayavada philosopher declares that the true form of bhakti, its object (Sri Krishna), and its possessor (the devotee) are all transitory and thus illusory.

Fie on his pretense of service to Krishna, of hearing and chanting His glories! His so-called prayers strike the body of Krishna with blows more cruel that a thunderbolt.

There is no philosophy as antagonistic to devotional service as mayavada philosophy. Therefore I do not desire the association of the mayavadi.

Bhaktivinoda drives away the philosophy of illusionism and sits safely in the society of Vaisnavas under the shelter of the holy name.

(4)

1.ami to’ swananda-sukhada-basi
radhika-madhava-carana-dasi

2.dunhara milane ananda kori
dunhara biyoge duhkhete mari

3.sakhi-sthali nahi heri nayane
dekhile saibyeke paraye mane

4.je-je pratikula candrera sakhi
prane duhkha pai tahare dekhi

5.radhika-kunja andhara kori
loite cahe se radhara hari

6.sri-radha-govinda -milana-sukha
pratikula-jana na heri mukha

7.radha-pratikula jateka jan —
sambhasane kabhu na hoiye man

8.bhakativinoda sri-radha-carane
sanpeche parana ati ba jatane

Translation

I am a resident of Svananda-sukhada-kunja and a maidservant of the lotus feet of Radhika and Madhava.

At the union of the Divine Couple I rejoice, and in Their separation I die in anguish.

I never look at the place where Candravali and her friends stay. Whenever I see such a place it reminds me of Candravali’s gopi friend, Saibya.

I feel pain in my heart when I catch sight of Candravali’s girl-friends, for they are opposed to Radha.

Candravali wants to take away Radha’s Lord Hari, thus covering the grove of Radhika with the darkness of gloom.

I never look at the faces of those who are opposed to Sri Radha and Govindas joyous union.

Nor do I find any pleasure in conversing with those who are opposed to Radha.

Bhaktivinoda has enthusiastically entrusted his soul to the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani.

Bhajana-lalasa, hankering for divine service, 13 songs

(1)

1.Hari he!
prapance poriya, agati hoiya,
na dekhi upaya ara
agatira gati carane sarana
tomaya korinu sara

2.karama geyana, kichu nahi mora,
sadhana bhajana nai
tumi krpa-moya, ami to kangala,
ahaituki krpa cai

3.vakya-mano-vega, krodha-jihva-vega,
udara-upasta-vega
miliya e saba, somsare bhasa’ye
diteche paramodvega

4.aneka jatane, se saba damane,
chariyachi asa ami
anathera natha! daki taba nama
ekhona bharasa tumi

Translation

O Lord Hari, having fallen helplessly into the illusion of this world, I see no other means of deliverance but You. You are the only recourse for the helpless. I accept the shelter of Your lotus feet as essential.

I have no knowledge, no background of pious activities, nor any history of strict devotional practice. But You are full of compassion and kindness. Therefore, although I am certainly destitute, I solicit Your causeless mercy.

The powerful urges of speech, mind, anger, tongue, belly, and genital have banded together to cast me adrift on the sea of this material world, thus causing me great anxiety and trouble.

After great endeavor to subdue these material demands, I have completely given up all hope. O Lord of the destitute, I call upon Your holy name, for now You are my only shelter.

(2)

1-2.Hari he!
arthera sancaye, bisaya-prayase
ano-katha-prajalpane
ano-adhikara, niyama agrahe,
asat-sanga-samghatane

asthira siddhante, rohinu mojiya,
hari-bhakti roilo dure
e hrdoye matro, para-hamsa, mada,
pratistha, sathata sphure

3.e saba agraha, charite narinu,
apama dosate mori
janama bifala, hoilo amara
ekhona ki kori, hari!

4.ami to’ patita, patita-pabana,
tomara pabitra nama
se sambandha dhori, tomara carane,
sarana loinu hama

Translation

O Lord Hari, I have become absorbed in accumulating wealth and endeavoring for material possessions. I am addicted to speaking of topics apart from You and am always eager to accept practices apart from my own duties. I am in the habit of meeting with worldly men and am absorbed in speculative thinking. Therefore, devotion to You has remained distant from me. In this heart of mine dwells only envy and malice towards others false pride, hippocrisy, deceitfulness, and the desire for fame and honor.

I have not been able to give up any of these attachments. Thus my own faults have been my down fall. My birth as a human being has been wasted. O Lord Hari, what am I to do now?

I am indeed fallen; but Your holy name is the savior of the fallen. Clinging to that holy name, I have taken shelter at Your lotus feet.

(3)

1-2.hari he!
bhajane utsaha, bhaktite biswasa,
prema-labhe dhairja-dhana
bhakti-anukula, karma-prabartana,
asat-sanga-bisarjana

bhakti-sadacara, ei choya guna,
nahilo amara natha!
kemone bhojibo, tomara carana,
chariya mayara satha

3.garhita acare, rohilama moji’,
na korinu sadhu-sanga
lo’ye sadhu-besa, ane upadesi,
e boro mayara ranga

4.e heno dasaya, ahaituki krpa,
tomara paibo, hari!
sri-guru-asroye, dakibo tomaya,
kabe ba minati kori’

Translation

Enthusiasm in devotional service, faith in the process of devotional service, the treasure of patience in endeavoring to attain love of God, performing activities conducive to pure devotion, abandoning the company of worldly people, performing approved devotional practices — I have never possessed these six devotional qualities. How, then, shall I give up the association of maya and worship Your lotus feet, O Lord?

Absorbed in abominable activities, I never kept company with sadhus. Now I adopt the garb of the sadhus and instruct others. This is maya’s big joke.

O Lord Hari, in such a helpless condition surely I will obtain Your causeless mercy. O when, under the shelter of my spiritual master, will I call out to You with humble prayers?

(4)

1.hari he!
dana, pratigraha, mitho gupta-katha,
bhakata, bhojana-dana
sangera lakhana,ei choyahoya,
ihate bhaktira prana

2.tattwa na buhjiye, jnane ba ajnane,
asate e saba kori
bhakti harainu, somsari hoinu,
sudure rohile hari

3.krsna-bhakta-jane, ei sanga-lakhane,
adara koribo jabe
bhakti-maha-devi, amara hrdoya-
asane boshibe tabe

4.josit-sangi-jana, krsnabhakta ara,
dunhu-sanga-parihari’
taba bhakta-jana- sanga anukhana,
kabe ba hoibe hari!

Translation

O Lord Hari, to offer a gift and receive one in return, to give and receive spiritual food, to reveal one’s confidential thoughts and make confidential inquiries — these are the six characteristics of loving association, and in them is found the very soul of devotion.

I have failed to understand the Absolute Truth, and by practicing these six activities with nondevotees, either knowingly or unknowingly, I have lost all devotion. Thus I have become a materialist. For me, You, O Lord, remain afar.

The day I cherish these activities of intimate association with the devotees of Sri Krsna, that day the great goddess of devotion will ascend the throne of my heart.

When will I give up the company of those who are addicted to women and those who are not devoted to You? When will I get the constant association of Your devotees, O Lord?

(5)

1.Hari he!
sanga-dosa-sunya, diksitadiksita,
jadi taba nama ga’ya
manase adara, koribo tahare,
jani’ nija-jana taya

2.diksita hoiya, bhaje tuwa pada,
tahare pranati kori
ananya-bhajane, bijna jei jane,
tahare sebibo, hari!

3.Sarba-bhute sama, je bhaktera mati,
tahara darsane mani
apanake dhanya, se sanga paiya,
caritartha hoilun jani

4.niskapata-mati baisnabera proti,
ei dharma kabe pa’bo
kabe e somsara- sindhu-para hoiye
taba braja-pure ja’bo

Translation

O Lord, I will mentally honor and consider as my brother one who avoids bad company and sings Your holy name, be he formally initiated or not.

I offer obeisances to that person who is initiated and worships Your lotus feet, and I will serve, O Lord, anyone who is fixed in unalloyed devotion to You.

I consider myself greatly fortunate to even see that devotee who looks upon all living beings equally. By obtaining his association I know that I become successful in life.

When will my mind become simple and inoffensive toward the Vaisnavas, and when will I cross over the ocean of worldly existence to reach Your abode of Vraja?

(6)

1.hari he!
nira-dhama-gata, jahnavi-salile,
panka-fena drsta hoya
tathapi kakhona, brahma-draba-dharma,
se salila na charoya

2.baisnaba-sarira, aprakrta sada,
swabhava-bapurna dharme
kabhu nahe jada, tathapi je ninde,
pare se bisamadharme

3.sei aparadhe, jamera jatana,
paya jiba abirata
he nanda-nandana! sei aparadhe,
heno jeno nahi hata

4.tomara baisnaba, baibhava tomara,
amare koruna doya
tabe mora gati, tomarera prati
ha-i’be taba pada-chaya

Translation

Mud and foam are seen in the waters of the Ganges, for that is the inherent nature of river water. Yet Ganges water never loses its transcendental nature.

One may likewise find defects in the body of a Vaisnava, yet his body is always spiritual, never material. That person who criticizes the body of a Vaisnava falls into deadly irreligion.

For such an offense, the fallen soul continuously suffers the tortures of Yamaraja, lord of death. O youthful son of Nanda, I pray that I not be destroyed by committing such an offense.

The Vaisnava is Yours, and he is Your glory. May he be merciful to me. Then my life’s journey will lead to You, and I will obtain shelter in the shade of Your lotus feet.

(7)

- ohe!
vaisnaba thakura, doyara sagara,
e dase koruna kori'
diya pada-chaya, sodho he amaya,
tomara carana dhori

chaya bega domi, chaya dosa sodhi
chaya guna deho' dase
chaya sat-sanga, deho' he amare,
boshechi sangera ase

ekaki amara, nahi paya bala,
hari-nama-sankirtane
tumi krpa kori: sraddha-bindu diya,
deho' krsna-nama-dhane

krsna se tomara, krsna dite paro,
tomara sakati ache
ami to' kangala, 'krsna 'krsna 'boli',
dhai tava pache pache

Translation

O venerable Vaisnava. O ocean of mercy, be merciful unto your servant. Give me the shade of your lotus feet and purify me. I hold on to your lotus feet.

Teach me to control my six passions; rectify my six faults, bestow upon me the six qualities, and offer unto me the six kinds of holy association.*

I do not find the strength to carry on alone the sankirtana of the holy name of Hari. Please bless me by giving me just one drop of faith with which to obtain the great treasure of the holy name of Krsna.

Krsna is yours; you have the power to give Him to me. I am simply running behind you shouting, "Krsna! Krsna!"

(8)

1.Hare he
tomare bhuliya, abidya-piraya,
pirita rasana mora

krsna-nama-sudha, bhalo nahi lage,
bisaya-sukhate bhora

2.proti-dina jodi, adara koriya,
se nama kirtana kori
sitapala jeno, nasi roga-mula
krame swadu hoya, hari!

3.durdaiba amara, se name adara,
na loilo, doyamoya!
dasa aparadha, amara durdaiba,
kemone hoibe khoya

anudina jeno, taba nama gai,
kramete krpaya taba
aparadha ja’be name ruci ha’be
aswadibo namasaba

Translation

O Lord Hari, because I forgot You my tongue has become afflicted with the disease of ignorance. I cannot relish the nectar of Your holy name, for I have become addicted to the taste of worldly pleasures.

O Lord Hari, if I sing Your holy name aloud every day with great respect, then as sugar candy taken medicinally destroys the very disease which makes it taste bitter (jaundice), so Your holy name will cure my spiritual disease and allow me to gradually taste His sweetness.

O merciful Lord, how great is my misfortune that I feel no appreciation for Your holy name! In such a lamentable state, how will I be freed from committing the ten offenses to the holy name?

If I sing Your holy name every day, by Your mercy the ten offenses will gradually disappear. A taste for Your holy name will grow within me, and then I will taste the intoxicating spirit of the name.

(9)

1.hari he!
sri-rupa-gosai, sri-guru-rupete,
sikha dila mora kane
jano mora katha, namera kangala!
rati pa’be name-gane

2.krsna-nama-rupa guna -sucarita,
parama jatane kori’
rasana-manase, koraho niyoga,
krama-bidhi anusori

3.braje kori’basa, raganuga hoiya,
smarana kirtana koro
e nikhila kala, koraho japana,
upadesa-sara dharo’

4.ha rupa-gosai, doya kori’kabe,
dibe dine braja-basa
ragatmika tumi, taba padanuga,
hoite dasera asa

Translation

O Lord Hari, Sri Rupa Gosvami, in the form of the spiritual master, gave these instructions to my ears: “Try to understand my words, O you who begs for the gift of the holy name, for by these instructions you will develop attraction for chanting the holy name.

“Follow the scriptural rules and regulations and engage your tongue and mind in carefully chanting and remembering the holy names, divine forms, qualities, and wonderful pastimes of Lord Krishna.

“Dwell in the holy land of Vraja, cultivate spontaneous loving devotion (raganuga-bhakti), and spend your every moment chanting and remembering the glories of Sri Hari. Just accept these as the essence of all instructions”.

O Rupa Gosvami, when out of your causeless mercy, will you enable this poor wretched soul to reside in Vrndavana? You are a ragatmika devotee, an eternally liberated, intimate associate of Radha and Krsna. This humble servant of yours desires to become a follower at your lotus feet.

(10)

1.gurudev! boro krpa kori’,
gauda-bana majhe,
godrume diyacho sthana
ajna dila more, ei braje boshi’,
hari-nama koro gana

2. kintu kabe prabhu, jogyata arpibe,
e dasere doya kori’
citta sthira habe, sakala sohibo,
ekante bhojibo hari

3.saisaba-jaubane, jada-sukha-sange
abhyasa hoilo manda
nija-karma-dose, e deho hoilo
bhajanera pratibandha

4.bardhakye ekhona, panca-roge hata,
kemone bhojibo bolo;
kandiya kandiya, tomara carane,
poriyachi subhiwala

Translation

Gurudeva! Because you are so merciful, you gave me a place in Godruma amid the woodlands of Gauda, with this order to fulfill: “Dwell here in this Vrndavana and sing the holy name of Hari.”

But when, O master, out of your great mercy, will you bestow upon this servant of yours the spiritual competence to fulfill that order? When will my mind become tranquil and fixed? When will I endure all hardships and serve Lord Hari without distractions?

Due to attachment to worldly pleasures in childhood and youth, I have developed bad habits. Because of these sinful acts my body has become an impediment to the service of the Supreme Lord.

Now, in old age, afflicted by the five-fold illnesses, how will I serve the Lord? O master, please tell me. I have fallen at your feet weeping, overwhelmed by anxiety.

(11)

gurudev!
krpa-bindu diya, koro'ei dase,
trnapekha ati hina
sakala sahane, bala diya koro',
nija-mane sprha-hina

sakale sammana korite sakati
deho' natha! jathajatha
tabe to' gaibo, hari-nama-sukhe
aparadha ha'be hata

kabe heno krpa, labhiya e jana,
krtartha hoibe, natha!
sakti-buddhi-hina, ami ati dina,
koro' more atma-satha

jogyata-vicare, kichu nahi pai,
tomara karuna - sara
karuna na hoile, kandiya kandiya,
prana na rakhibo ara

Translation

Gurudeva, give to this servant just one drop of mercy. I am lower than a blade of grass. Give me all help. Give me strength. Let me be as you are, without desires or aspirations.

I offer you all respects, for thus I may have the energy to know you correctly. Then, by chanting the holy name in great ecstasy, all my offenses will cease.

When will such mercy fall to this one who is weak and devoid of intelligence? Allow me to be with you.

If you examine me, you will find no qualities. Your mercy is all that I am made of. If you are not merciful unto me, I can only weep, and I will not be able to maintain my life.

(12)

1.gurudev!
kabe mora sei din ha’be
mana sthira kori’, nirjana boshiya,
krsna-nama ga’bo jabe
somsara-fukara, kane na posibe,
deho-roga dure ro’be

2.hare krsna’ boli, gahite gahite,
nayane bohibe lora
dehite pulaka, udita hoibe,
premete koriba bhora

3.gada-gada bani, mukhe bahiribe,
kanpibe sarira mama
gharma muhur muhuh, birbarna hoibe,
stambhita pralaya sama

4.niskapate heno, dasa kabe ha’be,
nirantara nama ga’bo
abese rohiya, deha-jyatra kori,
tomara karuna pa’bo

Translation

Gurudeva! When, with a steady mind in a secluded place, will I sing the name of Sri Krsna? When will the pandemonioum of worldly existence no longer echo in my ears and the diseases of the body remain far away? When will that day be mine?

When I chant “Hare Krsna”, tears of love will flow from my eyes and ecstatic rapture will arise within my body, causing my hair to stand on end and my body to become overwhelmed with divine love.

Faltering words choked with emotion will issue from my mouth. My body will tremble, constantly perspire, turn pale and discolored, and become stunned. All of this will be like a devastation of ecstatic love and cause me to fall unconscious.

When will such a genuine ecstatic condition be mine? I will constantly sing the holy name and remain absorbed in profound devotion while maitaining the material body. In this way I will abtain your mercy.

(13)

1.gurudev!
kabe taba karuna-prakase
sri-gauranga-lila, hoya nitya-tattwa,
ei drdha biswase
hari hari boli, godruma kanane,
bhromito darsana-ase

2.nitai, gauranga adwaita, srivasa,
gadadhara — panca-jana
krsna-nama rase, bhasaibe jagat,
kori’ maha-sankirtana

3.nartana-bilasa, mrdanga-badana
sunibo apana-kane
dekhiya dekhiya, se lila-madhuri,
bhasibo premera bane

4.na dekhi’ abara, se lila-ratana,
kandi ha gauranga! boli’
amare bisayi pagala boliya,
angete dibeka dhuli

Translation

Gurudeva! Lord Gauranga’s transcendental pastimes are eternal realities. I await the day when, with this firm faith manifested by your mercy, I will wander through the groves of Godruma, chanting “Hari! Hari!” and hoping to behold those pastimes.

The Panca-tattva — Nitai, Gauranga, Advaita, sSrivasa and Gadadhara — will flood the entire universe with the intoxiacting nectar of the holy name of Sri Krsna by performing a maha-sankirtana.

In my ears I will hear the sounds of dancing and the playing of the mrdangas. By constantly beholding the sweetness and beauty of that pastime of Lord Gauranga’s, I will swim in the flood tide of divine love.

Materialists will throw dirt at my body and proclaim me thoroughly mad. For being again bereft of seeing the jewel of that pastime, I shall weep and cry out, “O my Lord Gauranga!”

+++
Siddhi-lalasa, hankering for spiritual perfection, 3 songs

(1)

kabe gaura-bane, suradhuni-tate
‘ha radhe ha krsna’ bole’
kandiya bera’bo, deho-sukhachari’,
nana lata-taru tale

sva-paca-grhete, magiya khaibo,
pibo saraswati-jala
puline puline, gara-gari dibo,
kori’ krsna-kolahala

dhama-basi jane, pranati koriya,
magibo krpara lesa
baisnaba-carana-renu gaya makhi’
dhori abadhuta-besa

gauda-braja-jane, bheda na dekhibo,
hoibo baraja-basi
dhamera swarupa, sphuribe nayane,
hoibo radhara dasi

Translation

When will I wander weeping under the shade of various trees and creepers on th banks of Ganges in the land of Navadvipa, crying, “O Radha! O Krsna!” and forgetting all physical comforts?

I will even take my meals by begging at the homes of the candalas and will drink the water of the Sarasvati. In ecstasy I will roll on the ground along the banks of the river, raising an uproar of “Krsna! Krsna!”

Bowing down to the inhabitants of the holy land of Navadvipa, I will beg a bit of their mercy. I will wear the dress of a mendicant and smear the dust of the Vaisnavas’s feet on my body.

I will see no difference between the inhabitants of Vraja Bhumi and those of Navadvipa, and I will be transformed into a resident of Vraja. The true nature of the Lord’s abode will manifest itself to my eyes, and I will become a maidservant of Srimati Radharani.

(2)

1.dekhite dekhite, bhulibo ba kabe,
nija-sthula-paricoya
nayane heribo, braja-pura-sobha,
nitya cid-ananda-moya

2.brsabhanu-pure, janama loibo,
jabate bibaha ha’be
braja-gopi-bhava, hoibe swabhava,
ano-bhava na rohibe

3.nija-siddha-deho, nija-siddha-nama
nija-rupa-sva-basana
radha-krpa-bale, lobhibo ba kabe
krsna-prema-prakarana

4.jamuna-salila aharane giya,
bujhibo jugala-rasa
prema-mugdha ho’ye, pagalini-praya
gaibo radhara jasa

Translation

When, in a flash, will I forget my false bodily indentity and be able to behold the exquisite beauty of the realm of Vraja, full of eternal spiritual bliss?

I shall take my birth in the town of King Vrsabhanu and be married in Yavatagram. My sole disposition and character shall be that of a cowherd girl, and I shall know no other.

When, by the power of Radha’s mercy, will I obtain my own eternal spiritual body, name, form and dress and when, by Her mercy, will I obtain initiation into divine love of Krsna?

As I go to draw water from the Yamuna, I shall cherish knowing the love that unites Radha with Krsna. I shall sing Sri Radha’s glories like a madwoman, enchanted by divine love.

(3)

1.brsabhanu-suta-carana-sebane
hoibo je palya-dasi
sri-radhara sukha, satata sadhane,
rohibo ami prayasi

2.sri-radhara sukhe, krsnera je sukha
janibo manete ami
radha-pada chari’, sri-krsna-sangame,
kabhu na hoibo kani

3.sakhi-gana mama, parama-suhrit,
jugala-premera guru
tad-anuga ho’ye, sevibo radhara,
carana-kalapa-taru

4.radha-pakha chari, je-jana se-jana,
je bhave se bhave thake
ami to’radhika- pakha-pati sadha,
kabhu nahi heri ta’ke

Translation

For serving the lotus feet of Sri Radha, the daughter of Vrsabhanu, I will become a maidservant of one of the gopis in Vraja. I will always strive to bring about the happiness of Sri Radha.

Within my heart I will know that Radha’s pleasure is Krsna’s source of Joy. Therefore I will never desire to abandon Her lotus feet for His solitary company.

The sakhis are my best friends and teachers concerning the love uniting Radha with Krsna. As one of their attendants, I will serve Radha’s lotus feet, which are like wish-fulfilling desire trees.

I myself am always partial to Radhika and therefore never look at those who have abandoned Radha’s entourage, whoever they may be and whatever their ways.

Vijnapti, spiritual request, 1 song

kabe ha'be bolo se-dina amar
(amar) aparadha ghuci', suddha name ruci,
krpa-bale ha'be hrdoye sancar

trnadhika hina, kabe nije mani',
sahisnuta-guna hrdoyete ani'
sakale manada, apani amani,
ho'ye aswadibo nama-rasa-sar

dhana jana ara, kobita-sundari,
bolibo na cahi deho-sukha-kari
janme-janme dao, ohe gaurahari!
ahaituki bhakti carane tomar

(kabe) korite sri-krsna- nama uccarana,
pulakita deho gadgada bacana
baibarnya-bepathu ha'be sanghatana,
nirantara netre ba'be asru-dhar

kabe navadwipe, suradhuni-tate,
gaura-nityananda boli' niskapate
naciya gaiya, beraibo chute,
batulera praya chariya bicar

kabe nityananda, more kori'doya,
charaibe mora visayera maya
diya more nija- caranera chaya,
namera hatete dibe adhikar

kinibo, lutibo, hari-nama-rasa,
nama-rase mati' hoibo bibasa
rasera rasika- carana parasa,
koriya mojibo rase anibar

Kabe jibe doya, hoibe udoya,
nija-sukha bhuli' sudina-hrdoya
bhakativinoda, koriya binoya,
sri-ajna-tahala koribe pracar

Translation

When, oh when will that day be mine? When my offenses ceasing, taste for the name increasing, when in my heart will your mercy shine, when, oh when will that day be mine

Lower than a blade of grass,more tolerant than a tree. When will my mind attain this quality? Respectful to all, not expecting their honor, then shall I taste the name's nectar sublime. When, oh when will that day be mine?

Great wealth or followers, feminine beauty, I won't care for them or the comforts of my body. Birth after birth give me, Oh Lord Caitanya, causeless devotion to Your feet divine, when, oh when will that day be mine?

When will I utter Krsna,Krsna, Krsna, with words choked up and shivering body? When will I be trembling all over, lose bodily color, tears pouring from my eyes, When, oh when will that day be mine?

When in Navadvipa along the Ganges bank, shouting 'Gaura-Nityananda' as a surrendered soul, dancing, chanting, running everywhere, when will I become half mad of mind? When, oh when will that day be mine?

When will Lord Nityananda show mercy upon me, when will I reject the world of Maya:' Bestow unto me the shade of Your lotus feet, let the right to preach the name be mine. When, oh when will that day be mine?

I will beg, borrow, or steal the nectar of the name. By the name's effect I will feel paralyzed. Oh! Enjoyer of the nectar of the name, When will I touch your lotus feet till the end of time? When, oh when will that day be mine?

When kindness to all beings will be appearing, with free heart forget myself comforting, Bhaktivinoda in all humility prays, "Now I will set out to preach Your order sublime." When, oh when will that day be mine?

Sri Nama-Mahatmya, the glories of the holy name, 1 song

1.krsna-nama dhare kato bal
bisaya-basananale, mora citta sada jwale,
rabi-tapta maru-bhumi-sam
karna-randhra-patha diya, hrdi majhe pravesiya,
barisoya sudha anupam

2.hrdoya hoite bale, jihvara agrete cale,
sabda-rupe nace anukhon
kanthe mora bhange swar, anga kape thara thar,
sthira hoite na pare caran

3.cakhe dhara, dehe gharma, pulakita saba carma,
bibar na hoilo kalebar
murchita hoilo man, pralayer agaman,
bhave sarba-deha jara jar

kori’ eto upadrab, citte barse sudha-drab
more dare premer sagare
kichu na bujhite dilo, more ta’batula koilo,
mora citta-bitta saba hare

loinu asroya ja’r, heno byabahara ta’r,
barnite na pari e sakal
krsna-nama iccha-moy, jahe jahe sukhi hoy,
sei mora sukhera sambal

premera kalika nam, adbhuta rasera dham,
heno bala karaye prakasa
isat bikasi’punah, dekhay nija-rupa-guna
citta hori’ loya krsna-pasa

purna bikasita hoiya, braje more jaya loiya,
cekhay more swarupa-bilash
more siddha-deha diya, krsna-pase rakhe giya,
e dehera kare sarbe-nas

krsna-nama-cintamani, akhila rasera khani
nitya-mukta suddha-rasa-moy
namera balai jato, saba loiye hoi hato,
taba more sukhera udoy

Translation

How much power does the name of Krsna possess? My heart constantly burns in the fire of worldly desires, like a desert scorched by the sun. The holy name, entering within my heart thorugh the holes of my ears, showers unparalleled nectar upon my soul.

The holy name speaks from within my heart, moves on the tip of my tongue, and constantly dances on it in the form of transcendental sound.

My throat becomes choked up, my body violently trembles, and my feet move uncontrollably.

Rivers of tears flow from my eyes. Perspiration pours from my body. My body thrills with rapture, causing my hair to stand on end and my skin to turn pale and discolored. My mind grows faint, and I begin to experience devastation. My entire body is shattered in a flood of ecstasies.

While causing such an ecstatic disturbance, the holy name showers liquid nectar on my heart and drowns me in the ocean of divine love of Godhead. He does not allow me to understand anything, For He has made me truly mad and has stolen away my heart and all my wealth.

Such is the behaviour of Him who is now my only shelter. I am not capable of describing all this. The holy name of Krsna is independent and thus acts at His own sweet will. In Whatever way He becomes happy, that is also my way of happiness.

The holy name is thebud of the flower of divine love, the abode of devotion’s wonderful mellows. Such is the power that He manifests, that although He displays His power only slightly, He reveals His own divine form and qualities, steals my heart and takes it to Krsna.

Being fully manifest, the holy name of takes me to Vraja and reveals to me His own love dalliance. He gives to me my own divine, eternal body, keeps me near Krsna and completely destroys this mortal frame of mine.

The name of Krsna is touchstone, a mine of all devotional mellows, eternally liberated, and the embodiment of pure rasa. When all impedimets to the pure chanting of the holy name are taken away and destroyed, then my happiness will know its true awakening

Thus ends the Saranagati of Thakura Bhaktivinoda

Gitavali

(Selected Songs)

Sri Namastaka, prayers glorifying the holy name, 8 songs

(1)

sri-rupa-badane sri -saci-kumar
swa-nam-mahima koralo pracar

jo nam, so hari -kachu nahi bheda
so nam satya-miti gayati beda

sabu upanisada, ratna-mala-dyuti,
jhakamaki ‘carana-samipe
mangal-arati, koro-i anukhan,
dvi-gunita-panca-pradipe

caudda bhuvana maha, deba-nara-danaba,
bhaga jakor balavan
nama-rasa-piyusa, pi-oi anukhana,
chorata karama-geyan

nitya-mukta punah, nama-upasana,
satata koro-i sama-gane
goloke baithata, gaowe nirantar,
nama-biraha nahi jane

sabu-rasa akara, ‘hari’ iti dvikhar,
sabu-bhave karolun asroy
nama carane pari bhaktivinoda kohe,
tuwa pade magohun niloy

Translation

Through the mouth of Srila Rupa Gosvami, Krsna, in the form of Lord Caitanya, the son of Mother Saci, preached the glories of His own holy name.

There is no difference between that holy name of Lord Hari and Lord Hari Himself. The Vedic scriptures sing of the true value and glory of the holy name.

All the Upanisads are like a necklace of beautifully effulgent jewels shining before the lotus feet of the holy name. They are perpetually perform mangala arati for the holy name with arati lamps of ten ghee wicks.

Within the fourteen worlds , those demigods, men and demons whose fortune is very great, perpetually drink the nectar of the sweet mellows of the holy name, casting aside all kinds of fruitive activities and speculative froms of knowledge.

The eternally liberated souls, however, always worship the holy name in beautifully composed hymns and songs and sit in Goloka Vrndavana constantly singing the name. Therefore they do not know any separation from the holy name.

The two syllables ha and ri are a mine of all devotionall mellows. All the ecstasies of devotion have taken shelter in them. Falling at the lotus feet of the holy name, Thakura Bhaktivinoda says, O Harinam, I pray for residence at Your lotus feet.”

(2)

jaya jaya harinam, cidanandamrta-dham,
para-tattva akhar-akar
nija-jane krpa kori, nama-rupe avatari,
jibe hoya korile apar

jaha ‘hari’, ‘krsna’, ‘ram’, jaga-jana subisram,
sarba-jan-manasa-ranjan
muni-brnda nirantar, je namer samadar,
kori’ gay bhoriya badan

ohe krsna-namakhar, tumi sarba-sakti-dhar,
jibera kalyana-bitarane
toma bina bhava-sindhu, uddharite nahi bandhu,
asiyacho jiba-uddarane

ache tapa jibe jata, tumi saba koro hata,
helaya tomare ek-bar
dake jadi kono jan, ho’ye dina-akincan,
nahi dekhi’ anya pratikara

taba svalpa-sphurti pay, ugra-tapa dure jay,
linga-ghanga hoy anayase
bhakativinoda koy, jaya harinama jay,
pare thaki tuwa pada-ase

Translation

All glories, all glories to the holy name, the abode of immortal transcendental bliss. The Supreme Absolute Truth, who possesses an eternal form, has descended in the form of the holy name. He shows mercy to His devotees and shows boundless compassion and kindness to all fallen souls.

All glories to the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is called by different names such as Hari, Krsna and Rama. He is the auspicious resting place of all living entities within the universe, and He delights the minds of all souls. Great sages, honoring His holy name, constantly sing that holy name, filling their mouths with the sound.

O eternal holy name of Krishna, You possess all powers and bestow auspiciousness upon the living beings. Without You there is no other friend to deliver us from the ocean of material existence. You have come for the deliverence of all fallen souls.

For all souls within this world there is much misery and sorrow. O Harinam, if someone calls upon You just one time, feeling himself very meek and lowly, possessing nothing and seeing no other remedy for his relief, You then easily destroy all his sorrows.

If one simply obtains a slight reflection or glimmer of You, then all sorts of terrible miseries disappear. Thakura Bhaktivinoda says, “All glories, all glories to the holy name of Lord Hari! O Harinam, I perpetually fall at Your lotus feet.”

(3)

1.visve udita, nama-tapan,
abidya binasa lagi’
chorata saba, maya-bibhava
sadhu tahe anuragi

2.harinama prabhakar, abidya timira-hara,
tomar mahima keba jane
ke heno pandita-gane tomara mahatmya gaya,
eccaih-sware sakala bakhane

3.tomar abhas pahilohi bhay
e bhava timira kabalita-pray

4.acire timira nasiya prajnan
tattvandha nayane korena bidhan

5.sei to’prajnan bisuddha bhakati
upajay hari-bisayini mati

6.e adbhuta-lila satata tomar
bhakativinoda janiyache sar

Translation

The sun of the holy name has appeared in the universe to destroy all forms of ignorance. Casting aside all worldly things, the saintly become devoted to Him alone.

The sun of the holy name is the remover of the darkness of ignorance. O Harinam, who actually knows Your greatness? What sort of learned man is capable of singing all Your glories?

O holy name, from the very moment You first appear on the horizon of the heart, the darkness of this material world is almost totally devoured.

Quickly destroying all remaining darkness, You bestow divine wisdom upon our spiritually blinded eyes.

That divine wisdom gives rise within the heart to pure devotion and an understanding of the transcendental characteristics of Lord Hari.

This wonderful pastime of Yours is eternal and Thakura Bhaktivinode has understood its essence.

(4)

1.jnani jnana-joge, koriya jatane,
brahmera saksat kore
brahma-saksatkar, aprarabdha karma,
sampurna jnanete hare

2.tabu to prarabdha, nahi hoy khay,
falbhoga bina kabhu
brahma-bhuta jiva fal-bhoga lagi’,
janama-marana labhu

3.kinto ohe nama taba sphurti ha’le,
ekanti janera aro
prarabdhaprarabdha, kichu nahi thake,
bede gaya baro baro

4.tomara udaye, jibera hrdoya,
sampurna sodhita hoy
karma-jnanabandha, saba dure jaya,
anayase bhava-khay

5.bhakativinoda, bahu tule’koy,
namera nisana dharo
nama-unka-dhvani, koriya jaibe
bhatibe muralidharo

Translation

The learned man, endeavoring in the practice of jnana-yoga, eventually sees the Supreme Brahman. That realization of Brahman, in full knowledge, removes all the potential sinful reactions lying in his heart.

By dint of Brahman realization all such potential sinful reactions are destroyed; but unless one undergoes the suffering of current sinful reactions, they will not be destroyed. Therefore, despite being a Brahman realized soul, even such a learned man must undergo the current reactions to his sins and thus be implicated in the cycle of birth and death.

But, O holy name, if You are vibrated on the tongue of Your unalloyed devotee, then all of his sinful reactions of both past and present lives are comnpletely destroyed. This truth is sung by the Vedas again and again.

O sun of the holy name, when You arise on the horizon of the living being’s heart, it becomes completely purified, the bondage to materialistic activities and speculatiove knowledge disappears and the soul’s worldly existence comes to an end without any difficulty.

Thakura Bhaktivinoda, raising his arms says, “Take up the banners of the holy name and walk along sounding the drum of the holy name. In this way you will surely obtain the direct audience of Krsna, the holder of the flute.”

(5)

1.harinam, tuwa aneka swarup
jasoda-nandana, ananda bardhana,
nanda-tanaya rasa-kupa

2.putana-ghatana, trnabarta-hana,
sakata bhanjana gopal
murali-badana, agha-baka-mardana
govardhana-dhari rakhala

3.kesi-mardana, brahma-bimohana
surapati-darpa-binasi
arista-patana, gopi-bimohana,
jamuna-pulina-bilasi

4.radhika-ranjana, rasa-rasayana,
radha-kunda-kunja-bihari
rama, krsna, hari, madhaba, narahari
matsyadi-gana-abatari

5.gobinda, bamana, sri-madhusudana,
jadava-candra, banamali
kaliya-satana, gokula-ranjana,
radha-bhajana-sukha-sali

6.ityadika nam, swarupe prakam,
baruk more rati rage
rupa-swarupa-pada, jani’nija sampada
bhaktivinoda dhori’ mage

Translation

O Harinam, You possess unlimited forms, such as the beloved son of Mother Yasoda, the increaser of the bliss of Gokula, the son of Nanda, and the reservoir of all transcendental mellows.

You are the slayer of the demons Putana and Trnavarta, the breaker of the cart, the protector of the cows, the player of the flute, the destroyer of the demons Agha and Baka, the holder of Govardhan Hill, and You are a cowherd boy.

You destroyed the Kesi demon, bewildered Lord Brahma, and broke the pride of Indra, king of Heaven. You are the destroyer of Aristasura, the enchanter of all the young girls of Gokula, and You sport along the sandy banks of the river Yamuna.

You delight Srimati Radhika and give life to the rasa dance. You sport in the groves near Radha Kunda, performing a variety of pastimes. You are the reservoir of pleasure, attractive to every living being. You remove all inauspiciousness and are the husband of the goddess of fortune. You are the source of all incarnations such as Lord Nrsimha, the half-man half-lion incarnation and Matsya, the fish avatara.

O Harinam, You are pleasing to the cows, land and senses. You are the dwarf brahmana incarnation Vamana and the slayer of the demon Madhu. You are the moon of the Yadu dynasty and always wear beautiful garlands of fresh forest flowers. You are the destroyer of the Kaliya serpent, the delighter of Gokula and You rejoice in the worship of Srimati Radharani.

Thakura Bhaktivinoda, understanding Your glories, clasps the lotus feet of Rupa Goswami and Swarup Damodar Goswami and prays, “O Harinam, according to Your sweet will You are manifest in all these forms and in many others also. Please let them increase my love and attachment for You.”

(6)

1.bacya o bacaka dui swarup tomara
bacya — taba sri-bigraha cid-anandakar

2.bacaka swarup taba ‘sri-krsnadi’ nama
barna-rupi sarba-jiva-ananda -bisrama

3.ei dui swarupe taba ananta prokasa
doya kori’ dey jibe tomara bilasa

4.kintu janiyachi natha bacaka-swarupa
bacyapekha doyamoy, ei aparupa

5.nama nami bheda nai, bedera bacana
tabu nama nami hoi’te adhika koruna

6.krsne — aparadhi jadi name sraddha kori’
prana bhori dake nam ‘rama, krsna, hari’

7.aparadha dure jay, ananda-sagare
bhase sei anayase rasera pathare

8.bigraha-swarupa bacye aparadha kori
suddha-namasraye sei aparadhe tori

9.bhakativinoda mage sri-rupa-carane
bacaka-swarupa name rati anukhane

Translation

O Lord, You possess two transcendental forms, properly called vacya and vacaka. The vacya is Your beautiful form full of transcendental knowledge and bliss.

The vacaka froms are Your holy names, such as Sri Krsna, etc. This transcendental sound form is the resting place of the bliss of all souls.

Your unlimited manifestations are found in these two forms. Taking pity and being very kind, they confer upon the fallen souls entrance to Your divine pastimes.

But I have understood Your vacaka form to be more merciful than Your vacya form, O Lord. Thus do I find Your holy name most wonderful.

It is the declaration of the Vedas that the holy name of the Lord and the Lord are nondifferent, yet still the holy name is more merciful than the Lord Himself.

If one is an offender to Lord Krsna but respects His holy name and calls out with all his heart and soul, “Rama!” “Krsna” “Hari” then all his offenses depart, and that person then swims without difficulty in the ocean of divine bliss and transcendental mellows.

A person may commit offenses to the vacya or the transcendental feature and personality of the Lord; but if he is under the shelter of the pure holy name, he crosses over all those offenses.

At the lotus feet of Srila Rupa Goswami, Thakura Bhaktivinoda begs for constant attachment and love for the vacaka or divine holy name of the Supreme Lord.

(7)

1.ohe harinam, taba mahima apar
taba pade nati ami kori bar bar

2.gokuler mahotsab ananda-sagar!
tomar carane pari hoiya katar

3.tumi krsna, purna-bapu, rasera nidan
taba pade pari taba guna kori gan

4.je kore tomar pade ekanta asroy
ta’r arti-rasi nasa koroha niscoy

5.sarba aparadha tumi nasa koro ta’r
nama-aparadha vadhi nasaho tahar

6.sarba-dosa dauta kori’ tahara hrdoy-
simhasane baiso tumi parama asroy

7.ati-ramya cid-ghana-ananda-murtiman
raso vai sah boli beda kore tuwa gan

8.bhakativinoda rupa-goswami-carane
magaye sarbada nam-sphurti sarba-khane

Translation

O holy name, Your glories are boundless! I therefore bow down at Your lotus feet again and again

O festival of Gokula! O ocean of bliss! I fall down at Your lotus feet, for I am feeling very distressed and troubled at heart.

You are Lord Krishna, Your divine form is perfect and You are the origin of all transcendental mellows. Falling down at Your lotus feet, I sing of Your divine qualities.

You destroy the multitude of afflictions of that person who takes exclusive shelter at Your holy feet.

O holy name, you destroy all his offenses, even those he might have committed to You directly.

Cleansing him of all impurities, You, who are the supreme shelter, sit upon a throne within his heart.

You are delightful and beautiful, the personification of complete cognizance and deep ecstasy. The Vedas sing of You, saying, “The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the personification of all transcendental mellows.”

At the lotus feet of Srila Rupa Goswami, Thakura Bhaktivinoda constantly begs that at every moment there be the transcendental vibration of the holy name.

(8)

narada muni bhajay bina,
radhika-ramana-name
nama amani udita hoya,
bhakata-gita-same

amiya-dhara, barise dhana,
srabana-jugale giya
bhakata-jana, saghane nace
bhoriya apana hiya

madhuri-pura, asabo pasi,
matay jagata-jane
keho ba kande, keho ba nace,
keho mate mane mane

panca-badana, narade dhori,
premera saghana rol
kamalasana, naciya bole
bolo bolo hari bolo

sahasranana, parama-sukhe,
hari hari boli gay
nama-prabhave, matilo visva,
nama-rasa sabe pay

sri-krsna-nama, rasane sphuri,
pura’lo amara asa
sri-rupa-pade, jacaye iha,
bhakativinoda-dasa

Translation

When the great soul Narada Muni plays his vina, the holy name , Radhika-raman, descends and immediately appears amidst the kirtan of the Lord’s devotees.

Like a monsoon cloud, the holy name showers nectar in their ears. All the devotees, due to great ecstasy, repeatedly dance to their hearts content.

All the people of the universe become maddened upon entering this intoxicating shower of nectar. Some people cry, some dance and others become fully intoxicated within their minds.

Lord Siva, embracing Narada Muni, repeatedly makes loud screams of ecstatic joy, and Lord Brahma, dancing very ecstatically, says, “All of you kindly chant, Haribol! Haribol!”

In great happiness the thousand-faced Ananta Sesa chants “Hari! Hari!” By the influence of the transcendental vibration of the holy name, the whole universe becomes ecstatically maddened and everyone tastes the mellows of the holy name.

Thakura Bhaktivinoda, the humble servant of the Lord, says, “The holy name of Krishna has fulfilled all my desires by vibrating on everyone’s tongue.” Bhaktivinoda therefore prays at the feet of Sri Rupa Goswami that the chanting of harinam may comtinue like this always.

Sri Godruma-candra-bhajanopadesa, instructions for the worship of Lord Caitanya, the Moon of Godruma

(1) yadi te hari-pada-saroja-sudha
rasa-pana-param hrdayam satatam
parihrtya grham kali-bhava-mayam
bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

(2) dhana-yauvana-jivana-rajya-sukham
na hi nityam anuksana-nasa-param
tyaja-gramya-katha-sakalam viphalam
bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

(3) ramani-jana-sanga-sukham ca sakhe
carame bhayadam purusartha-haram
harinama-sudha-rasa-matta-matir
bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

(4) jada-kavya-raso na hi kavya-rasah
kali-pavana-gaura-raso hi rasah
alam anya-katha anusilanaya
bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

(5) vrsabhanu-sutanvita-vama-tanum
yamuna-tata-nagara-nanda-sutam
murali-kala-gita-vinoda-param
bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

(6) hari-kirtana-madhya-gatam sva-janaih
parivestita-jamunay abda harim
nija-gauda-janaika-krpa-jaladhim
bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

(7) giriraja-suta-parivita-grham
nava-khanda-patim yati-citta-haram
sura-sanga-nutam priyaya sahitam
bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

(8) kali-kukkura mudgara-bhava-dharam
harinama-mahousadha-dana-param
patitarta-dayardra-su-murti-dharam
bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

(9) ripu-bandhava-bheda-vihina-daya
yad-abhiksa-mudeti mukhabja-tatau
tam akrsnam iha vraja-raja-sutam
bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

(10) iha caupanisata-parigita-vibhur
dvija-raja-sutah puratabha harih
nija-dhamani khelati bandhu-yuto
bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

(11) avatara-varam paripurna-kalam
para-tattvam ihatma-vilasa-mayam
vraja-dhama-rasamabudhi-gupta-rasam
bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

(12) sruti-varna-dhanadi na yasya krpa
janane balavad-bhajanena vina
tam ahaituka-bhava-patha hi sakhe
bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

(13) api nakra-gatau hrada-madhya-gatam
kama-mocayad-arta-janam tam ajam
avicintya-balam siva-kalpatarum
bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

(14) surabhindra-tapah-paritusta-mana
vara-varna-dharo harir avirabhut
tam ajasra-sukham muni-dhairya-haram
bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

(15) abhilasa-cayam tad-abheda-dhiyam
asubham ca subham tyaja sarvam idam
anukulataya priya-sevanaya
bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

(16) hari-sevaka-sevana-dharma-paro
hari-nama-rasamrita-pana-ratah
nati-dainya-daya-para-mana-yuto
bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

(17) vada yadava madhava krsna hare
vada rama janardana kesava he
vrisabhanu-suta-priya-natha sada
bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

(18) vada yamuna-tira-vanadri-pate
vada gokula-kanana-punja-rave
vada rasa-rasayana gaura-hare
bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

(19) cala gaura-vanam nava-khanda-mayam
patha gaura-hares caritani muda
lutha gaura-padankita-ganga-tatam
bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

(20) smara gaura-gadadhara-keli-kalam
bhava gaura-gadadhara-paksa-carah
srinu gaura-gadadgara-caru-katham
bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

Translation

(1) If you want you heart to be always absorbed in drinking the ambrosial mellows of the lotus feet of Lord Hari, then give up household life, which is full of quarrels and strife, and just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.

(2) Material riches, youth, long duration of life, and royal happiness — none of these are eternal. At any moment they may be destroyed. Give up all useless topics of mundane conversation and just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.

(3) O Friend, ultimately the pleasure to be had in the company of beautiful young women turns to fearfulness and distracts one from the real goal of life. Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers with your mind intoxicated by the nectarine mellows of the holy name.

(4) The taste of mundane poetry does not afford the sweet taste of actual poetry. The sweet mellows of true poetry are found in descriptions of Lord Caitanya, the savior of all souls in the Kali yuga. Enough with the study of any other topics! Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.

(5) Krishna, the transcendental paramour, stands on the banks of the Yamuna with Radha, the daughter of Vrsabhanu, on His left side. He is absorbed in the pastime of playing soft, melodious songs on His flute. Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers, Lord Caitanya, who is non-different from the son of Nanda.

(6) He is Lord Hari, shining like molten gold and surrounded by His loving devotees in the midst of hari-kirtana, He is the only ocean of mercy for the Gaudiya Vaisnavas. Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.

(7) Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers — Lord Caitanya, who along with His beloved wife Visnu-priya is glorified by all demigods and saintly persons. His home, Navadvipa, is surrounded by the river Ganga, the daughter of the Himalayas. He is the Lord of Navadvipa and the stealer of the hearts of all sannyasi’s.

(8) Lord Gauranga is like a powerful hammer which smashes the sin and oppression of the mad-dog of the Kali-yuga. and He is absorbed in distributing the holy name of Krishna, which is the greatest medicine to release one from the material existence. His transcendental form is beautiful , and His heart is full of compassion for the suffering, fallen souls of this world. Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.

(9) Compassion which is free from the duality of “Friend” and “enemy” is always manifest of his lotus face. He is the son of Maharaja Nanda — Krishna, who has appeared in a golden form in the land of Navadvipa. Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.

(10) In this world and in the Upanishads He is celebrated as the all-pervading Supreme Lord. He appeared as the son of a brahmana and is Lord Hari Himself, with a shining complexion of molten gold. In His own abode He sports with His cowherd boy friends. Just worship this Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.

(11) He is the most wonderful of all avataras because He is the source of all other expansions of God. He is the Supreme Truth, enjoying His pastimes here in this world. He is the embodiment of the most confidential flows that exist in the ocean of rasa.

(12) Without strong devotional worship and service, mere mundane scholarship, high family lineage , wealth and so on are not effective for invoking the causeless mercy of the Lord. O friend, just worship Lord Gaura, the beautiful moon of Godruma’s forest bowers, by the path of unmotivated devotion.

(13) In His appearance as Hari, the Lord liberated Gajendra, the king of elephants, from the grasp of the crocodile in the lake, and in His appearance as Sri Caitanya, He delivered King Gajapati Prataparudra from the jaws of the kali-yuga crocodile who was lying in the lake of politics. Lord Sri Caitanya is unborn, possesses inconceivable power ,and is likened to an auspicious desire tree. Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.

(14) Lord Krsna, who was pleased with the penances and austerities of Indra and the Surabhi cow, appeared in this world as Lord Caitanya, possessing a golden complexion. He is eternal happiness and the captivator of the intelligence of all learned sages. Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.

(15) Give up all worldly desires, monistic meditation and relative conceptions of inauspiciousness and auspiciousness. In a favorable mood, with loving devotion, just engage yourself in just worshipping Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.

(16) Remaining devoted to the service of the Vaishnava’s, being addicted to drinking the sweet nectar of the name of Hari, and with a mentality endowed with modesty, humility, and compassion, just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.

(17) Always worship Lord Gaura, the beautiful moon of Godruma’s forest bowers, and call out to the Lord,” O Yadava, ! O Madhava O Krishna, O Hari, O Rama O Janardana, O Keshava, O beloved Lord of Radha!”

(18) Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers and call out to the Lord “O Lord of the Vrindavana forest, which lies along the banks of the Yamuna! O Lord of Govardhana Hill! O sun of the forest of Gokula! O giver of life to the rasa dance.! O Gaurahari!

(19) Go to Navadvipa, the land of Lord Caitanya, Read and recite with great joy the wonderful pastimes of Lord Gaurahari. Roll about in ecstasy on the banks of the Ganges, which are marked with the footprints of Lord Caitanya, and just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.

20. Remember the wonderful pastimes of Gaura and Gadadhara.

Become a servant of Gaura and Gadadhara. Listen to the beautiful narration’s concerning Gaura and Gadadhara and just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.

RARE HUMAN BIRTH WASTED

(1) durlabha manaba-janma labhiya samsare
krsna na bhajinu --- duhkha kahibo kahare?

The human form of life is the rarest opportunity for attaining spiritual perfection. But now I am lamenting, because I've somehow or other been born with such an opportunity, and I wasted it by never worshiping Lord Krsna. Oh, to whom shall I tell the tale of this misery?

(2) 'samsar' 'samsar', ko're miche gelo kal
labha na koilo kichu, ghatilo janjal

Having married and entered into the entanglements of materialistic family life, I passed my time in vain. I never got any tangible gain or permanent benefit, only trouble and botheration.

(3) kiser samsar ei chayabaji pray
ihate mamata kori' brtha dina jay

What kind of world is this anyway? It seems to be just like a magic lantern show that I saw at a carnival, wherein so many shadows and optical illusions dance magically before my eyes. I feel great attachment and identification with such a world, and thus day after day passes by fruitlessly, without any purpose whatsoever.

(4) e deho patana ho'le ki ro'be amar?
keho sukha nahi dibe putra-paribar

When this body drops dead on the ground then what will remain mine? At that moment, all of my sons and dearest loved ones will not be able to give me any happiness.

(5) gardhaber mata ami kori parisram
ka'r lagi' eto kori, na ghucilo bhram

I work hard just like an ass every day, and now I am wondering for whom am I working so hard? I am still surrounded by so many illusions.

(6) dina jay micha kaje, nisa nidra-base
nahi bhavi --- marana nikate ache bo'se

I waste every day in useless, insignificant work, and I waste every night controlled by sleep. And in every 24 hours I never for one second consider that cruel death is sitting very close by my side.

(7) bhalo manda khai, heri, pari, cinta-hina
nahi bhavi, e deho chadibo kon dina

I live a very carefree life-style, sometimes eating a lot, or eating a little if I feel like it, sometimes I see nice things around the town, or sometimes I do not go out at all, sometimes I wear opulent clothing, or if I'm in the mood, I'll wear something simple. I live so carefree that I never consider that one day I will have to give up this body.

(8) deho-geho-kalatradi-cinta abirata
jagiche hrdoye mor buddhi kori' hata

My poor heart is plagued by constant anxieties about the maintenance and daily turmoils created by my body, my house, my wife, my family members and my social obligations. All these anxieties are pinching me and destroying all my intelligence.

(9) hay, hay! nahi bhavi --- anitya e saba
jibana bigate kotha rohibe baibhava?

Alas, alas! What a remorseful situation has arisen! I am absorbed in all this trouble, but I never consider that all these things are temporary and subject to perish very soon. After I'm dead and gone, where will all of my material opulences remain?

(10) smasane sarira mama poriya rohibe
bihanga-patanga tay bihar koribe

When my body will be thrown int the pit at the cremation grounds, it will simply lie there motionlessly. Then many crows, vultures, ants, and worms will come and playfully sport there.

(11) kukkur srgal sab anandita ho'ye
mahotsaba koribe amar deha lo'ye

All the stray dogs and jackals will then become very much delighted, and in great ecstasy they will make a festival ground out of my body and will have a huge celebration and feast.

(12) je deher ei gati, ta'r anugata
samsar-baibhava ar bandhu-jana jata

Just see, this is the ultimate destination of this material body. And the most amazing thing is that all of my material opulences, house, family and friends have exactly the same destination.

(13) ataeva maya-moha chadi' buddhiman
nitya-tattva krsna-bhakti korun sandhan

Therefore I ask of anyone who has any sharp intelligence: please give up all of these temporary illusions presented by maya, and kindly search after the means to get pure devotion to Lord Krsna, for this is the only really tangible eternal truth.

SONG FOUR --- WORSHIP NOW, NOT LATER

(1) jibana-samapti-kale koribo bhajana,
ebe kori grha-sukha'
kakhan e katha nahi bole bijna-jana,
e deha patanonmukha

A wise, experienced man will never say: 'At the end of my life I will woship God, but now I will enjoy happiness in family life'-- for he knows that this body is tottering and unstable, about to drop at any second.

(2) aji ba sateka barse abasya marana,
niscinta na thako bhai
jata sighra para, bhajo sri-krsna-carana
jibaner thik nai

Death certainly must come, either today or in about hundred years, so don't live so carefree, brothers! Immediately begin worshiping the lotus feet of Krsna, for ther is no fixed certainty of this life.

(3) samsar nirvana kori' ja'bo ami brndabana
rna-troy sodhibare koritechi sujatana

One thinks: 'After spending my worldly life I shall go to Vrndavana, but to purify myself of the three debts I am endeavoring very hard now'.

(4) e asay nahi prayojana
emon durasa base, ja'bo prana abasese,
na hoile dina-bandhu carana-sevana

This type of idea is not the ultimate goal of life. By the influence of such a nonsensical desire, your life will depart in the end without your ever having worshiped the lotus feet of -dina-bandhu-, sthe dearmost Friend of the fallen.

(5) jadi sumangala cao, sada krsna-nama gao,
grhe thako, bane thako, ithe tarka akarana

If you want the topmost auspiciousness, then just sing always the name of Krsna whether you live at home or in the forest. All these other arguments described here are simply aimless excuses.

Sri Vraja-vilasa-stava by Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami
Prayers Glorifying the Lord’s Pastimes in Vraja

1

The highwaymen lust, greed and anger have captured me and bound me with the ropes of the desire for fame. I pray that the heroic devotees of Lord Krishna, the enemy of the Agha demon, may defeat my captors and cut the ropes that bind me.

2

I am scorched by the blazing forest fire of old age, deeply bitten by the poisonous snake of blindness, pierced by the sharp arrows of forced dependence on others, and surrounded by the lions of anger, lust, and greed. O Lord Krishna, please give me the nectarean potion of pure love for You, which will make me strong and heroic enough to resist all the enemies and engage in Your devotional service without deviation.

3

By tasting a single drop of the memory of the transcendental nectar ocean of the sweetness of the divine couple my heart has become restless. I bow down before the land and people of Vraja. I yearn to see my two masters.

4

The disembodied demigod cupid, who attained a body by continually tasting the nectar of the sight of the divine couple, eternally illuminates this entire land of Vraja, with a jubilant festival of Lord Krsna’s transcendental amorous pastimes. When shall I lovingly gaze on Sri Sri Gandharva-Giridhari (Sri Sri Radha-Krsna), the crowning garlands of all charming couples.

5

The city of Dvaraka, where the brother and sons of the Lord reside, and where the lord enjoys transcendental pastimes with a great multitude of queens, each eclipsing many hundreds of goddesses of fortune, is dearer even than Vaikuntha. Because it is the place of Lord Krsna’s birth, Mathura, the abode of transcendental love, is even more dear than Dvaraka. Within the district of Mathura , the land of Sri Vraja is splendidly manifest. I eternally worship the land of Mathura.

6

Even today affectionate Lord Krsna enjoys the very sweet nectar of transcendental pastimes there, herding the cows with His brother and His many dear friends. A wonderful sweetness becomes manifest in the heart of they who understand the nectar of this place. Of Vraja, which is more dear even than the city of Mathura, I take shelter.

7

Surrounded by their witty gopi friends, the youthful divine couple enjoys many kinds of transcendental pastimes within the groves and mountain caves and among the blossoming vines of Vrndavana forest. I worship Vrndavana forest, which is delightful with the scent of their lotus feet.

8

In Vrndavana is the town of Nandisvara, where the goddess of fortune always walks, where the great mystic perfections are eternally present, where the cows are protected, where the people of Vraja live, and where Lord Krsna happily enjoys transcendental pastimes of under the loving protection of His parents. I worship this town of Nandisvara, the home of the king of Vraja and the most important of the land of Vraja.

9

To celebrate his son’s birth, the King of Gokula respectively gave in charity to the brahmanas palatable foods, nectar beverages, and transcendental cows decorated with many jewels. Day after day he satisfied the brahmanas with these valuable presentations, and he repeatedly begged for their blessings on his infant boy. I worship the king of Gokula, who is always absorbed in thoughts of his son.

10

May the queen of Vraja, whose breasts continually trickle milk out of maternal love for her son, who is prepared to give her life many millions of times to protect him from even a single drop of perspiration, and who is so attached to Him that if she cannot for a moment see Him she cries like a cow frightened for her new born calf, protect us.

11

Because of her own son Balarama’s intimate friendship with Him, Rohini-devi showers her love upon Lord Krsna. She is an expert cook and she delights the king and queen of Vraja with her sincere friendship and saintly qualities.

12

The splendour of Lord Balarama’s transcendental form eclipses many millions of glistening rising moons, and the slightest scent of His boundless strength is sufficient to destroy many armies of demons. Although He knows the supernatural power of his younger brother, Krsna, still, out of love for Him, He never leaves Him alone in the forest for even a moment. I offer my prayers to Lord Balarama, the enemy of Dhenukasura.

13

Speaking with a voice that seems to mock the roaring of hundreds of thousands of thunderclouds, Parjanya Maharaja expresses his pride in having such a wonderful grandson. I offer my respectful obeisances to Parjanya, Krsna’s grandfather, who is expert at delighting his grandson by speaking into His ear many joking words.

14

I offer my respectful obeisances to Variyasi-devi, Krsna’s grandmother. With merry joking words she worships Krsna, calling Him the moon of grandsons. Happy and proud of her grandson her feet no longer touch the ground when she walks.

15

His face handsome with a great white beard, and his complexion dark, pious Upananda is the respected prime minister in the council chambers of the King of Vraja. Considering Him millions of times more dear than his own life, Upananda delights his nephew Krsna. I pray that Upananda may always stay in the government council and protect the land of Vraja.

16

Nanda Maharaj’s younger brother Sannanda is very gentle, affectionate and generous. His complexion is fair and his beard black. He is very devoted to his elder brother and he is the father of Sunanda-gopi. He pleases Krsna by giving Him palatable dishes made with buffalo yoghurt. He worships Krsna with every breath. May Lord Krsna’s uncle Sannanda, the master of a great herd of buffalo, always protect us.

17

Upananda’s son Subhadra is dark complexioned, youthful, handsome, and intelligent. He is the best of astrologers. With his vast scholarship he has defeated even Brhaspati. He stays at the left hand of the king of Vraja. With good advice he protects Lord Krsna, who is millions of times more dear to him than his own life. With great pleasure let us glorify, offer our respectful obeisances to Subhadra.

18

Frightened that delicate Krsna may be hurt by the demons, Ambika performed severe austerities for many days to please the goddess Durga, who granted her a boon that her son Vijaya would become a powerful hero able to kill many demons. May Ambika, Lord Krsna’s nurse, protect us.

19

Saying “Where are the demons? With ease I shall shorten their lives,” Vijaya calls so loudly his words are heard in millions of spiritual universes. Out of maternal affection for Krsna, Ambika instructed her son Vijaya to always stay near child Krsna and protect Him from the demons. I worship Vijaya, the son of Krsna’s nurse.

20

Bhaguri Muni, the learned chief priest of Vraja-pura, is the personification of all the Vedas. Everyday He chants mantras for the protection of each of Krsna’s limbs. Everyday he smells Krsna’s head. Everyday he offers Krsna many benedictions. I bow down and offer my respectful obeisances to Bhaguri Muni, the best of the sages.

21

Sridama is the most expert and clever of the cowherd boys, and he is the abode of intense love for Lord Krsna. His complexion is dark, and he is proud that his qualities, age, clothing and handsome features closely resemble that of Lord Krsna. If for a single moment he cannot see Lord Krsna, he trembles with anxiety. I completely take shelter of Sridama, the constant companion of Lord Krsna.

22

Filled with deep love for him, and anxious that they may be separated, Subala never, even in dream, lets go of the hand of Sri Krsna, the moon of Gokula. Subala’s heart is sprinkled with the waters of the swiftly moving mountain stream of devotion to Srimati Radhika. I offer my respectful obeisances to Subala whose body trembles with love for Sri Sri Radha-Krsna.

23

Assembling the surabhi cows in one place, hand in hand, Krsna’s friends play and joke. For them the ocean of pure love has washed away the mud of awe and reverence in Krsna’s presence. Let us take shelter of these boys, whose hearts, lives, and property are all placed at Lord Krsna’s feet.

24

The personified mellows of comedy, pure-hearted, eternally hungry, jubilant, and splendid Madhumangala daily induces the laughter of his two friends (Sri Sri Radha-Krsna) with a host of comic speeches and gestures. With great devotion let us at once bow down to offer our respect to Madhumangala, the joking friend of Lord Krsna, the moon of Vrndavana.

25

Accompanied by an expert gopi friend, Paurnamasi daily arranges the secret rendezvous of expert Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. I worship noble and auspicious Paurnamasi, who at every moment tastes the nectar happiness of seeing the pastimes of the divine couple.

26

Noble, generous, learned, intelligent, fair complexion, fifty-year-old King Vrsabhanu wears a neatly clipped beard. He is the close friend of Nanda, the king of Vraja. To him, Sri Radha is even dearer than his eldest child Sridama. I constantly worship famous King Vrsabhanu.

27

Her mind overwhelmed with a flood of love, Kirtida-devi daily sends her two unmarried daughters to diligently gather all news of Srimati Radharani’s recent activities. May Kirtida-devi, the mother of Srimati Radharani protect us all.

28

Angrily placing many obstacles to stop Their amorous pastimes, Mukhara-devi only increases the transcendental happiness of her two young grandchildren, Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. I respectfully bow down before elderly Mukhara-devi, and I place her lotus feet upon my head.

29

Flooded with the nectar of intense love for her two friends (Sri Sri Radha-Krsna), who more dear to her than her own life, affectionately arrogant in their presence, and daily arranging their rendezvous, Lalita-devi expertly teaches her friend Radha the art of jealous anger. I pray Lalita-devi will one day accept me as one of her associates.

30

Visakha-devi is the place where youthful divine couple enjoys affectionate and playful joking pastimes. Her sweet transcendental singing eclipses the voices of the cuckoos. I pray that Vishaka-devi may become pleased with me and accept me as her student.

31

Filled with a great flood of love and decorating the ever-blossoming groves of Vrndavana with many fragrant flowers, Vrnda-devi creates a festive atmosphere for Sri Sri Radha-Krsna to enjoy transcendental pastimes with Their dear friends. Let me surrender to Vrnda-devi.

32

Bringing Srimati Radharani to cook by the order of the queen of Vraja, and, as they both walked together on the path pleasing her by affectionately and continually narrating the latest news of Lord Krsna charming Kundalata-devi, glowing with friendship and auspicious playfulness became filled with happiness. I worship Kundalata-devi.

33

Brought by the queen of Vraja to cook many palatable dishes of her own accord affectionate Dhanistha-devi, using many clever tricks, happily arranged for Srimati Radharani to meet her lover, Krsna, in the forest groves of Nandisvara Hill. I worship Dhanistha-devi, for whom her friend Radha is more dear than life.

34

Her heart enchanted by repeatedly hearing the glories of the divine couple and longing to meet Them, Nandimukhi-devi left Avantipura and went to the land of Vraja, where she eternally increases the happiness of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna’s splendid and nectarean pastimes. I eternally offer my respectful obeisances to Nandimukhi-devi.

35

Her waters filled with musk and saffron fallen from Sri Sri Radha-Krsna as they enjoy many nectar water-pastimes, the Jamuna river happily smiles at Them with her foam and splashes Them with the beautiful hands of her waves. I pray the Jamuna river may bring transcendental happiness to us.

36

Moved by the appeal of supremely blissful Lord Krsna, the gopis spontaneously and angrily rebuke Srimati Radharani, who is more dear to them than their own life’s breath and encourage her to again enjoy the pastimes with Krsna. Bowing my head I take shelter of these dear friends of Srimati Radharani, who daily arranged for her to enjoy transcendental pastimes with Lord Krsna.

37

With great love, enthusiasm, and respect, Krsna’s servants, who are much like his friends, serve Him in many ways and please Him by bringing the flute, vina, water, betel nuts, and other articles. I worship Krsna’s servants who have Patri as their leader.

38

By offering her betel nuts, by massaging her feet, by bringing her water, by arranging for her meetings with Lord Krsna, and by performing many other services, many gopi maidservants affectionately please Sri Radha, the great queen of Vrndavana forest. When the Divine Couple enjoy Their pastimes, these maidservants are not at all shy, even in the presence of the great gopis for whom Sri Radha is more dear than life. I take shelter of these gopi maidservants, who have Srimati Rupa-manjari as their leader.

39

Considering the expanded ocean of their own happiness to be as insignificant as a blade of grass and filled with pure love for Lord Krsna, the enemy of the Mura demon, the Lord’s personal associates strive to make him always happy. I worship these fortunate associates of Lord Krsna, the husband of the goddess of fortune.

40

Let me worship the personal associates of Srimati Radharani. When Radharani becomes happy, they are pleased. If for a moment they cannot see Radharani, they become so distraught that they appear almost dead. They must have performed some pious activities in their previous births in order to obtain this auspicious condition where they love Srimati Radharani more than their own lives.

41

In order to increase the splendid and nectarean jealous love of Srimati Radharani, who sometimes becomes proud of her own good fortune, Lord Krsna briefly enjoys pastimes with other gopis, who blossom with many amorous desires. Let us offer our respectful obeisances to these gopis, who must have performed many great pious activities in order to play this role in the Lord’s pastimes.

42

Affectionately protected by Krsna, and their hearts rapt in meditation on the particles of dust falling from the tip of his handsome lotus toenails, the gopas experience a happiness greater than the happiness of many millions of universes. I worship these exalted gopas.

43

Considering Him dearer than their own lives out of parental love, the elderly gopis worship even a drop of perspiration of Krsna’s lotus feet, and for a long time they kiss his head, decorated with handsome locks of hair. I worship the dust of these gopis’ feet.

44

The hooves of Sri Krsna’s surabhi cows are decorate with sapphires, their horns are studded with gold, and their white cheeks have crippled the pride of the snow-capped mountain peaks. I pray these surabhi cows may protect us.

45

In the company of Balarama and His other friends, and His own body splendidly covered with the dust raised by their hooves, the prince of Vraja daily enjoys a great festival of protecting and milking the cows. With great happiness He eagerly enjoys pastimes with them in the great forests and on the grand hills and river banks of Vraja. Let me worship these surabhi cows.

46

All glories to Lord Krsna’s pet bull Padmagandha, whose handsome horns are covered with gold and studded with jewels, whose hooves are splendidly decorated with sapphires, and whose splendid neck is decorated with a swinging garland of reddish flowers.

47

Sometimes Lord Krsna feeds the calves earnestly placing small bunches of tender fresh grass in their mouths, and sometimes He very carefully massages their limbs. I yearn to one day see these calves of Lord Krsna jumping and frolicking in Vrndavana.

48

The fortunate flute deeply drinks the nectar of Lord Krsna’s lips day and night. I offer my respectful obeisances to this flute, which, with it’s transcendental music, weakens the pride of Srimati Radhika.

49

Neither the flattering cajoling words spoken by Krsna’s gopi messengers nor the many hints, allegorises, and joking instructions spoken by Krsna’s cowherd friends nor Krsna’s personally falling at her feet and begging Hr to forgive Him nor even the harsh criticisms spoken by her intimate friends who are able to rout the proud jealous anger residing in Srimati Radha’s heart. Only Lord Krsna’s flute, disdaining all previous useless attempts, was able to very easily chase away that jealous anger. Let us glorify Lord Krsna’s exalted and powerful friend, His flute.

50

Pleased by the music of Lord Krsna’s flute, the best of the peacocks perform a great festival of dancing in the forest by the shore of a lake. Gracefully moving he delights enjoying transcendental pastimes in the forest. Meditating on this, we ardently yearn to see that dancing king of the peacocks.

51

Full of love for the residents of Vraja, and eager to protect Him, Lord Krsna respectfully lifted Govardhana Hill for seven days with His graceful hand. The caves of Govardhana Hill are splendidly decorated with kunkuma particles left when Sri Sri Radha-Krsna enjoyed transcendental pastimes. May Govardhana Hill, which is studded with many beautiful jewels, protect you all.

52

Filled with many champaka trees, beautiful young asoka trees, mango trees, kesanagara trees, bakula trees, lavanga creepers, and madhavi creepers, the area around Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda is very beautiful and pleasing to the heart, and it is the favourite pastime place of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna. Let me take shelter of these two lakes : Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda.

53

The delightful forest of Vrndavana, beautiful Govardhana Hill and the nectarean area of the rasa dance, what to speak of other places are not equal to even a single particle of Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda. Let me take shelter of these two lakes, which are more dear to Lord Krsna than His own life’s breath.

54

By the shore of Radha-kunda is a grand pavilion made of gold, pearls and precious gems. In that pavilion, Sri Sri Radha and Krsna, considering everything else unimportant, enjoy transcendental pastimes as the two prime ministers of the deity of transcendental love, and They happily anoint that kingdom of love with the sandal paste of Their pastimes. I eternally worship the splendid grove by the shore of Radha-kunda.

55

The divine couple is splendidly reflected on the shore of the lake of each other’s heart. They are necklaces lovingly worn by each other. The creator Brahma has blessed Them with all good fortune. They are the resting place of all good opulences in the three worlds. When will I be able to directly worship the fair and dark divine couple.

56

With restless sidelong glances, with movements of Their shoulders, with the nectar of gentle smiles, with kissing each other’s nectar lips, and with firm embraces, the youthful divine couple affectionately fulfils each other’s transcendental desires. Let us offer our respectful obeisances to Them, the two splendid monarchs of ujjvala-rasa.

57

In Their eyes is great length, in the corners of Their eyes crookedness, in Their chest and breasts largeness, in Their gentle word charming crookedness, in Their hips broadness, and in all Their limbs extraordinary sweetness. I eternally worship the eternal splendour of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna.

58

When the demon Arista was slain, a great lake named Arista-kunda, filled with nectar and surrounded with staircases, sprang from Lord Krsna’s lotus foot. Because it is the favourite of Sri Radha, this name embraces the name Radha-kunda. I eternally worship Radha-kunda.

59

On the pretext of going to fetch clear water the lotus-eyed gopis again and again meet Lord Krsna with great happiness and love at Pavana-sarovara lake, which is filled with many kadamba trees and the pleasant humming sounds of many bees. May Pavana-sarovara lake protect us.

60

Going to the shore of a certain lake, Parjanya Maharaja, who was to become Krsna’s grandfather, fasted, performed austerities, and worshipped Lord Narayana in order to attain a worthy grandson. Partly for this reason Sri Krsna, who is the reservoir of all transcendental virtues and the lifter of Govardhana Hill, appeared as the son of Nanda, the king of Vraja, and the grandson of Parjanya Maharaja. The place where Parjanya Maharaja fasted is famous in this world as Ksunnahara-sarovara (the lake of fasting). I pray that I may take shelter of this sacred place.

61

Ordered by Brahma, who spoke from the sky, Paurnamasi-devi crowned Srimati Radharani queen of the beautiful forest of Vrndavana, by jubilantly sprinkling the waters of the Manasa-ganga and other sacred rivers upon Her head in the company of Savitri-devi and other delighted demigoddesses. I pray that sacred place, known as Unmatta-radhasthali (the place where Srimati Radharani became overwhelmed with happiness) may sprinkle some transcendental happiness on me.

62

Joking and playing, Lord Krsna enjoyed many pastimes with His friends in a small stone pavilion built by expert architects on Nandisvara Hill. Let me take shelter of that pavilion, which is anointed with the transcendental fragrance of Lord Krsna’s feet.

63

As he was dancing with the intelligent, graceful, and splendidly beautiful gopis, Sri Krsna suddenly left their company and went with Srimati Radharani to a secluded place and lovingly decorated Her with many flower ornaments. The sweetness of this place astonishes the residents of all the three worlds. I pray that this sacred place, where Lord Krsna performed the rasa dance, may give me shelter.

64

The Manasa-ganga River flows so swiftly on the side of Govardhana Hill that it’s waves push the splendid rocks lining it’s shores. I pray the Manasa-ganga River, where Sri Sri Gandharvika-Muravimardana (Sri Sri Radha-Krsna) enjoy jubilant boating pastimes, may give me shelter.

65

All of Them decorated with the colourful mineral pigments found there, Lord Krsna and His affectionate friends enjoy pastimes in the hills of Vraja with a great festival of joking words. In the caves of those same hills, Lord Krsna also enjoys many pastimes with Srimati Radharani. Let me worship these, the best of all hills.

66

While tending the cows in the summer season, Sri Krsna, the transcendental son of the king of the gopas , jubilantly enjoys water sports. Both sides eager for victory, He affectionately sprinkles His charming friends in the broad lakes and streams of Vraja. I eternally worship these transcendental lakes and streams.

67

Hearing the sound of Srimati Radharani and Krsna brilliantly playing duets on the vina and flute, the leaders of the deer community become stunned with transcendental happiness and stand still the grass they were formerly chewing now half-falling from their mouths. I pray that those deer who are full of love for the divine couple, may grant transcendental happiness to me.

68

Their hearts pleased by the rising waves of madhura-rasa, the youthful divine couple enjoys transcendental pastimes in the beautiful groves of Vraja, aromatic with many pleasant flowers and filled with many humming bees. Let us sweep these forest groves with our long hair.

69

In the very cool and pleasant shade of the trees, on a throne glistening with fallen pollen and served by splendid bees carrying drops of honey, the youthful divine couple enjoy transcendental pastimes. I pray these trees may always protect me.

70

As They pick flowers, the gently smiling lovers, Sri Sri Gandharva-Muravairi (Sri Sri Radha-Krsna), playfully quarrel. Seeing these eternally new and fresh transcendental pastimes, Their gopi friends begin to smile, and the creepers of Vraja, on the pretext of pushing forth new blossoms, also smile and laugh. May I serve these transcendental creepers with great love and devotion.

71

Plunged into the nectar mellows of pure devotion, with very sweet singing the birds delight the nearby youthful couple in the land of Vraja. I pray that these birds, so dear to the divine couple, may delight me with their glance.

72

By softly buzzing and gracefully wandering among the mango, kadamba, bakula, and other trees, as well as through the madhavis and other flowering vines, the bumblebees of Vraja delight the divine couple. Let us offer our respectful obeisances to these bees.

73

Blossoming with happiness, the forest king Krsna became completely captivated by the sidelong glances of the forest-queen Srimati Radharani, who was also blossoming with happiness as He decorated Her with many blossoming flowers from the king of kadamba trees. I pray that supremely opulent king of kadamba trees may appear before me and grant transcendental happiness to my eyes.

74

Humbled by great fear, Indra, the king of the demigods, grasped Lord Krsna’s lotus feet and, accompanied by a surabhi cow, performed the coronation festival of bathing them with the water of the celestial Ganges. In this way Lord Krsna’s kingship over the cows became splendidly manifest. I pray that Govinda-kunda, the lake created by that ceremonial bath, may eternally appear before my eyes.

75

When Vraja’s king offered a great quantity of foodstuff to Govardhana Hill, Krsna, the enemy of Aghasura, assumed a gigantic form, proclaimed that He was actually Govardhana Hill, invited everyone to ask boons from Him, and, fooling even Srimati Radharani, ate all the offered food. Let me take shelter of the anna-kuta festival, when Lord Krsna enjoyed these pastimes.

76

Charming and handsome Lord Krsna enjoys transcendental pastimes on the summit of Govardhana Hill, the king of mountains. There He splendidly manifest, eternally enjoying the pleasures of a transcendental king. With great love and devotion I worship Govardhana Hill, where Lord Krsna enjoys transcendental pastimes.

77

One day Lord Krsna, the youthful king of amorous heroes, became eager at heart to enjoy the dana-keli pastime. Blocking the path, He forbade Srimati Radharani to pass, proclaimed Himself a toll collector appointed by the king of love, and demanded that she pay a toll of the milk products She was carrying. I sing the glories of Sri Krsna-vedi, the place where the Lord enjoyed these pastimes.

78

Because Sri Krsna enjoyed the dana-keli pastime in a secluded place by the shore of this lake, it has become known as Dana-sarovara. The truth of this hill remains hidden to persons averse to the mellows of pure devotional service. Only the devotees have the power to understand it. I pray that I may reside at Dana-sarovara, the place where Lord Krsna enjoyed the dana-keli pastime.

79

Sri-sarovara, Brahma-sarovara, Kadambakhanda-sarovara, Sumanah-sarovara, Rudra-sarovara, Apsarah-sarovara, Gaurika-sarovara, Jyotsnamoksana-sarovara, Malyahara-sarovara, Vibudhari-sarovara, Indradhvaja-sarovara, and many other beautiful lakes are splendidly manifested as so many beautiful jewels in a circle around divine Govardhana Hill. Let me glorify these transcendental lakes.

80

During the spring season the gopis move Sri Sri Gandharva-Giridhari (Sri Sri Radha-Krsna) on a swing. The faces of the divine couple blossom with happiness by tasting the nectar of these swing pastimes. I worship Govinda-sthala, the famous place where the divine couple enjoys these pastimes.

81

When the Kaliya serpent offended His friends for whom he is more dear than life, Lord Krsna punished him, dancing on him and kicking him with the soles of His feet. I worship Kaliya-hrada, the lake where Lord Krsna performed these pastimes.

82

Once, accompanied by the gopas, gopis, and lowing surabhi cows, the supremely opulent, noble, and magnanimous Lord Krsna felt very uncomfortable in the winter cold. Twelve suns then appeared at that place, and with great devotion warmed the Lord with their intense shining. I eternally take shelter of this sacred place, which bears the name Dvadasasurya-tirtha (the place of the twelve suns).

83

When the twelve sums shone from every direction, perspiration fell from Lord Krsna’s transcendental body, and from this perspiration came a charming, splendid, clear lake bearing the sweet fragrance of the Lord’s delicate, supremely handsome, and supremely opulent transcendental limbs. Bowing down, I worship this lake, known as Praskandahana-sarovara.

84

Entering the clear waters of the Yamuna to prepare for the incomparable worship of goddess Katyayani, the girls of Vraja left their garments on the shore. Smiling and clever Krsna stole those garments, climbed a kadamba tree, embarrassed the girls by speaking many splendid joking words, and eventually returned the garments. I take shelter of Ciraghatta, where the Lord enjoyed these pastimes.

85

With his mad neighing, Kesi made the three worlds tremble, and with the wild rolling of his eyes he set the entire universe on flames. Krsna killed this demon as easily as one splits a blade of grass and then washed the blood from His hands at a place now known as Kesi-tirtha. I worship that sacred place.

86

The beautiful, wealthy and learned wives of the yajnika-brahmanas voluntarily, happily and devoted fed Krsna, Balarama, and all their affectionate friends many varieties of the four kinds of foodstuff, each dish rebuking the taste of nectar. We bow down to offer our respects to the place where Lord Krsna enjoyed this pastime.

87

Desiring to quickly attain the treasure of the embraces of Lord Krsna, the splendid and affectionate gopis devotedly and happily worshipped Lord Siva on the bank of the Jamuna. I daily worship Gopisvara-tirtha, where the gopis performed their worship.

88

Seeing Her father worship Suryadeva out of far of the nearby Kamsa, Srimati Radharani, in the secluded place known as Santanupada, also earnestly worshipped Suryadeva to attain a certain youth, whose complexion is as dark as a host of monsoon clouds, as Her chosen husband. I pray that Suryadeva may protect us.

89

During the great festival of Lord Krsna’s birth, the king of Vraja respectfully gave to the brahmanas a mountain of glittering jewel ornaments, an even greater mountain of grains, and 200,000 young cows, all beautifully decorated with gold and necklaces of large pearls. I offer my respectful obeisances to Mahavana, the place where the king gave his charity.

90

In the city of Mukhyeravali the precious jewel known as Srimati Radharani took birth in the mine of Kirtida-devi’s womb, which is glorified by jubilant demigods, sages and human beings. I pray that when I enter King Vrshabhanu’s capitol city of Mukhyeravali-pura, populated with many gopas, gopis, and surabhi cows, I may become drowned in great flood of transcendental bliss and love.

91

Although for Her own happiness She yearns to place Lord Krsna’s handsome and delicate lotus feet on her breasts, Srimati Radharani is reluctant to do so, fearing that, even though Her body is very delicate, her breasts are very hard. I pray that Lord Krsna, who also places his lotus feet on the hood of Ananta Sesa, will permit me to reside in His land of Vraja.

92

Let me worship the forest of Kamyavana. It is very dear to Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, and it contains the Kama-sarovara lake, where the gopis enjoy many transcendental pastimes.

93

In the forest of Bandiravana, my beautiful queen, proud Sri Radha, started a wrestling competition among Her closest friends. When She eagerly wrestled with Lord Krsna, She brought great happiness to the god of love. Let me worship that forest of Bandiravana.

94

When the Yamuna river would not come according to His order, angry Lord Balarama began to drag it toward the ocean with the edge of His plough. I devotedly offer my respects to the wonderful Rama-ghatta, where even today all men may see the marks where Balarama began to drag the Yamuna.

95

Seeing His friends, for whom He is more dear than life, enter the sinful Aghasura’s belly, which burned with a great forest fire of the most violent poison, Lord Krsna also entered the demon, killed it, and rescued His friends. I pray that Sarpasthali, the place where the Lord enjoyed these pastimes, may protect me.

96

When, eager to see his master’s glory, the creator Brahma stole the cowherd boys and calves, Lord Krsna pleased the mothers of the boys and calves by assuming the forms of their sons. I worship Vatsaharasthali, where the Lord enjoyed this pastime.

97

Afraid that he had committed a grave offence by stealing the cowherd boys and calves, Brahma fell down on the ground, and, with tears in his eyes, spoke many wonderful and unprecedented prayers glorifying gently smiling Lord Krsna, who is both the giver of liberation and the wonderful cowherd son of the king of Vraja. Let us glorify this sacred place, Sesabhirucaturmukha, where frightened Brahma offered prayers to the Lord.

98

Filled with many large lakes, hills, and rivers, with many desire trees and desire creepers, and with many flowers invaded by a great army of bumblebees intoxicated by the sweet aroma, the twelve forests of Vrndavana are splendidly beautiful. I bow down to offer my respects at every moment to these twelve forests, which are very dear to Lord Krsna.

99

Leaving behind Lord Krsna’s lotus feet, which are millions of times more dear to him than his own life’s breath, Uddhava, eternally filled with the nectar of pure devotional love, happily stayed in Vraja for ten months. Moment by moment he brought the residents of Vraja back to life by describing Lord Krsna’s pastimes. He said to them, “Look! Krsna has returned!” I carry Uddhava’s feet upon my head.

100

With great humbleness let me offer my respectful obeisances to the supremely pious dear devotees of the Lord who reside in Vraja. Even though Brahma is a great demigod entrusted with many weighty duties, he sincerely yearns to take birth among the bushes and blades of grass in Vraja.

101

Because of having previously worshipped the beautiful lotus feet of Sri Sri Gandharva-Acyuta (Sri Sri Radha-Krsna) with the eternally fresh sweetness of pure transcendental love, some great souls are able to reside on the shore of Queen Radha’s favourite lake (Radha-kunda). These great devotees are my life and soul.

102

The grass, bushes, insects, and other creatures in Vraja are all very dear to Lord Krsna. They assist the Lord in His pastimes. They are full of transcendental bliss. Again and again the scriptures recount the earnest request of Brahma and others to reside in Vraja. For these reasons I bow to offer my respects to all the creatures who reside in Vraja.

103

When, aimlessly wandering around Govardhana Hill, madly calling out “O Radha! O Krsna!” again and again, and stumbling as I walk, will I sprinkle the places of the Lord’s pastimes with tears from my eyes?

104

Neither Brahma, Narada, Siva, or the great devotees with pure love of Krsna are able to properly or completely understand the sweetness of the land of Vraja. Only Lord Balarama and His mother Rohini, who are both filled with transcendental love, are able to understand the land of Vraja. How is it possible to describe the land of Vraja?

105

Even if I have the opportunity to bathe in the nectarean ocean of pure love of Krsna, and even if I have the pure devotees of the infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead as my associates, I will not consent to live, even for a single moment, in any sacred place other than Vrajabhumi. Even if the residents of Vraja appear to be ordinary, and even if they fill my ears with useless gossip, I pray that I may remain among them, eternally residing here in Vraja.

106

The two feet of Srimati Rupa-manjari, who is full of love for Lord Krsna, and who expertly worships Srimati Radharani, are the only goal of my life.

107

These verses, which bear the title Vraja-vilasa-stava, are very graceful and beautiful, filled with the splendid and charming sweetness of the residents of Vraja. They who regularly read these verses with great respect and greedy enthusiasm will be able to directly see the divine couple surrounded by Their associates in this land of Vraja.

Sri Vrndavana Mahimamrta by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura
Sataka One

1 Meditating on the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha-Muralimanohara, placing myself at the dust of Lord Caitanya’s feet, and respectfully offering obeisances to the great devotees of the Lord, who are so many oceans of transcendental virtue, I shall now happily begin to praise the transcendental opulences of Sri Vrndavana.

2 I am not strong enough to go to the far shore of the great nectar ocean of Vrndavana’s glories. Who can go there? However, because I love Vrndavana I will now dip into that ocean. I pray that this endeavor may become successful and bring an auspicious result.

3 O Sri Vrndavana, please reveal in my heart Your wonderful transcendental form full of the most confidential spiritual knowledge and bliss. Embarrassed to describe the highest nectar, the Upanisads only say “not this, not this”. Where are you described?

4 Day and night I glorify Vrndavana, which is filled with the wonder of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna’s pastimes, the wonder of the greatest sweetness, the ultimate nectar of Lord Hari, the sweetest, most beautiful auspiciousness and a flood of virtues Ananta-sesa, Siva, and a host of others cannot cross.

5 Think of Vrndavana with love. Roll in its dust. Love it ardently. Please its moving and non moving residents. Worship Sri Radha’s birthplace. With all your heart take shelter of Sri Vrndavana, the best of all holy places.

6 If the Vedanta does not directly describe Vrndavana, why should that matter to me? If the faulty logicians, who are like serpents living in the Vedic literatures, ignore Vrndavana, why should I care? If even the devotees of the Lord do not understand the glories of Vrndavana, how does that affect me? Even if my heart were pierced by thousands of thunderbolts, I would never leave Vrndavana.

7 I meditate on Vrndavana, where the cuckoos sing the fifth note, the flute plays splendid melodies, peacocks sing and dance, vines and trees bloom, splendid and charming forests are wonderful with many birds and deer, and there are many splendid lakes, streams and hills.

8-9 The transcendental, subtle, expansive Brahman effulgence, which is the secondary cause of material creation, is last. Before it is Vaikuntha, then Dvaraka, then Krsna’s birthplace, Mathura, then Krsna’s Vrndavana, the shelter of the surabhi cows, and first is the place in Vrndavana forest where the gopis enjoyed pastimes, where Radha’s grove, which fills us with wonder and which is the form of the highest purest love, which maddens everyone there, is splendidly manifest.

10 Wonderfully flooded with handsomeness, intelligence, and mutual love, Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, eternally enjoy passionate amorous pastimes in the company of Their friends there.

11 Srila Vrndavana is perfect in every way. Blind fools say there are genuine defects there. O! O! I pray that I may not see these fools at the moment of my death! Are they not the object of everyone’s laughter?

12 After attaining the platform of Brahman happiness by performing severe austerities, the personified Upanisads worshipped the Personality of Godhead without any reservation, and thus obtained His mercy. By the mercy of the Lord they were able to become surabhi cows in the land of Vraja and enjoy the direct association of Sri Krsna, and by constantly grazing on the grass of Vrndavana, they become filled with the nectarean taste of the topmost mellows of pure devotional love for the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna.

13 If someone relates to me the faults of one of the moving or non-moving residents of Vrndavana, then how is his action different from cutting me with hundreds of sharpened swords, arrows and other weapons? The residents of Vrndavana are all as dear to the Personality of Godhead as His own life. If one is a little bit inimical to even a blade of grass in Vrndavana, then who will be able to rescue him from the horrible hell that awaits him? When will that rescue occur?

14 May my eyes become overwhelmed with ecstasy by seeing the nectar waves of Vrndavana’s beauty. May my intelligence drown in the nectar ocean of Vrndavana’s glories. May my body become agitated by the swiftly moving currents of ecstatic bliss and thus roll about on the ground of Vrndavana. Falling down like a stick, may I offer my respectful obeisances to all the residents of Vrndavana.

15 May the land of Srila Vrndavana where Subala and the other wonderful cowherd boys, who are all dear friends of Sri Krsna, play, where Lalita and the other splendidly beautiful young gopis, who are all filled with love for Srimati Radharani, enjoy transcendental bliss, and where Sri Sri Radha-Krsna thirst to enjoy wonderful transcendental amorous pastimes day and night, become manifest in my heart.

16 To drink: the freely flowing streams are filled with clear sweet water as nectar. To eat: the dried leaves from the trees are foods as palatable as one could desire. The warm breezes are just as one would have them. To reside: there are clean mountain caves and other suitable residences. Alas! Alas! How unfortunate I would be if I wished to leave Vrndavana!

17 Vrndavana is like the incomparable essence of the ocean of pure love of Krsna, or it is like the sweetest xisland-bracelet decorating that ocean of love. I pray this land of Vrndavana, which the great sages experience sweet as nectar, give me shelter until the moment I leave this body.

18 I meditate on wonderful Vrndavana, where there are millions of lakes, ponds, and wells, all filled with water as sweet as transcendental nectar, where there are many gardens filled with blossoming transcendental flowers and fruits and unlimited wonderful trees and vines, where there are numberless transcendental deers and other animals who move here and there, and where there are many beautiful transcendental groves.

19 Whose heart would not be enchanted by Vrndavana where Sri Radhika-Madanamohana enjoy many pastimes, where there are many trees and flowering vines, where the ground is paved with jewels, and where the birds, deer and other animals are all maddened with transcendental bliss?

20 I have seen Vrndavana plunged into an ocean of sweetness by the amorous pastimes of two persons more splendid than gold and sapphires and more glorious than millions of Ratis and Kamadevas.

21 The materialists, who are strongly attached to the objects of sense gratification, the ascetics, who cannot tolerate even a glimpse of sense happiness, the earnestly endeavoring yogis, the impersonalists, whose minds are merged in Brahman happiness, and the devotees whose minds have entered the lotus flower of Lord Govinda’s feet, are all enchanted by the transcendental qualities of Sri Vrndavana.

22 If one studies the Upanisads for a long time he will not obtain even an atomic particle of transcendental sweetness as a result of his study. On the other hand, simply by residing in Vrndavana one will become quickly drowned in a great ocean of transcendental nectar. May that supreme abode of Sri Vrndavana become manifest within my heart.

23 When, patiently tolerating hundreds of kicks, millions of insults, and the constant onslaught of hunger, thirst, cold, heat and hundreds of other sufferings, penniless, agitated, shedding a great shower of tears, and calling out the names of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna in a piteous voice, will I wander in this land of Vrndavana?

24 Today or tomorrow this worthless material body will leave me and all the material happiness connected with it will also leave. Because material happiness is temporary, it should be understood to be only a mirage of the real happiness. O my mind, please abandon this false happiness and enjoy the real, eternal happiness of devotional service within the land of Vrndavana.

25 How important are the most powerful earthly kings for us? How important are all the demigods and sages? How important are countless material opulences, which come and go like the scenery in a dream? How important are even the liberated devotees in the spiritual realm of Vaikuntha, for those of us who have made residing in Vrndavana our only goal of life?

26 May Sri Vrndavana, which grants auspiciousness and bliss to all, and which is deeply loved by two or three great souls, become the mother and protectress of blind me.

27 May I love Vrndavana, where at the base of a kadamba tree on the cool shore of the Yamuna a dark complexioned, amorous, divine youth dressed in yellow garments plays a flute as He glances at Radha’s lotus face.

28 What is the use of the highest royal pleasures? What is the use of perfecting the yoga-system and travelling to the upper planets? What is the use of the great variety of material endeavors to attain useless ends? These things are insignificant in comparison to residence in Vrndavana. Simply by living in Vrndavana I will one day hear the sweet sound of Krsna’s flute, which brings the ultimate bliss.

29 My body may be decorated with beautiful garments and ornaments, or it may burn with terrible disease. I may be praised, or defamed with millions of words. I may become the master of all wealth, or I may be reduced to abject poverty. I may be free from all suffering, or I may be a living corpse. Whatever my condition is, I shall always take shelter of the transcendental land of Sri Vrndavana, the source of all bliss.

30 You may experience either happiness or distress. You may know fame or infamy. The lowest persons may insult you, or the saintly devotees may praise you. You may know poverty or great wealth. You may obtain all valuable things, or you may not obtain anything. Whatever position your past pious or impious deeds may place you in, just make Vrndavana your life and soul.

31 Flee from the witch of female companionship, uproot all desires for material enjoyment, accept whatever destiny provides for your bodily maintenance, and reside in Sri Vrndavana.

32 Don’t do anything! Don’t say anything! Forget everything you’ve seen! Remember the fair and dark divine couple that pains Kamadeva, flee the common people and go to transcendental Vrndavana!

33 He who gives up the company of ordinary people, keeps no servants or followers, agitated with a desire to serve Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, constantly sheds tears, his hands placed on his cheeks and lives in Vrndavana, is the most fortunate of all persons.

34 If you desire to easily get vast wealth, a beautiful wife, good children, a palatial home and the other opulences that don’t come in this world without a struggle, and if you desire krsna-bhakti, which carries liberation in the palm of her hand, then simply reside in the spiritual realm named Vrndavana.

35 O friend, please control your mind and senses and go and live in Vrndavana, which is a mine of nectar, and which is so glorious that even millions of books by the greatest poets and philosophers cannot describe a single ray of light from the host of the jewels of its virtues.

36 All glories to Sri Vrndavana which, with single particle of its glory, which cannot be understood even by Laksmi, Siva, Brahma, and all the leaders of the demigods, makes numberless kamadhenu cows, kalpa-vrksa trees, and cintamani gems appear insignificant.

37 If Vrndavana, whose great splendor eclipses the shining of millions of suns, moons, fires and lighting flashes, once shines in the heart, then the desire for wealth and a host of material benefits will not enter.

38 May blissful, spiritual, wonderful Vrndavana which with its charming groves where Sri Sri Radhika-Muralimohana enjoy pastimes, milks the ocean of nectar, destroy my sins.

39 May faultless Vrndavana, which transforms sinners into saints, protect me, who stands outside all religious duties, and dry up the multitude of my terrible sins.

40 With great devotion Brahma and the demigods glorify and the Supreme Personality of Godhead nullifies the karma of a glorious person who because of many past pious deeds has obtained Vrndavana as a guest residing in his eyes.

41 When, filled with eternal transcendental bliss, will I reside in Vrndavana, the most exalted of moving and non-moving creatures, and the nectar treasury of pure devotional service to Sri Radhika-Ramana?

42 Sri Krsna, whose heart is supremely splendid and magnanimous, eternally resides in the supremely purifying, glorious and limitless land of Vrndavana, capitol city of the most wonderful nectar.

43 They who somehow or other remain up to the moment of death here in Vrndavana, which with its splendor bathes all moving and non-moving creatures in an ocean of bliss, are at the head of all great Vaisnavas.

44 May Vrndavana, filled with a host of pure spiritual virtues, and glorified by the greatest sages and philosophers, with her wonderful power and mercy transform sinful animals like me into servants of her feet.

45 O, look at Vrndavana, so beautiful with many blissful, splendid groves of kalpa-vrksa trees, with many parrots and other birds intoxicated by singing Vedic hymns glorifying Krsna, with many deers so pleasing to Krsna, with splendid transcendental lakes, ponds and streams, all filled with water sweet as nectar, and with mountains of valuable jewels.

46 Is this the wonder of the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s opulence? Is this the wonderful sweetness of the shoreless nectar ocean of transcendental bliss? Is this the seed of many splendid kalpa-vrksa forests? Is this Vrndavana, the glorious and wonderful transformation of pure love for Krsna?

47 Where do all people automatically and effortlessly obtain pure ecstatic love for Krsna? Where does the Supreme Personality of Godhead manifest His supremely wonderful pastime form? Where is the empire of the bliss of devotional service to Krsna’s lotus feet manifest? O brother, listen I will tell you a secret. All this is present here in Vrndavana.

48 O brother, please reside under the trees of Vrndavana, and from time to time enter the villages to beg alms. Drink as much Yamuna water as you like. Dress in some rejected pieces of cloth. Consider others’ praise of you the most bitter poison, and their disrespect sweet as nectar. Serve Sri Sri Radha-Muralidhara, and never leave this land of Vrndavana.

49 The great Vedic scholars cannot obtain even a glimpse of the wonderful and splendid transcendental essence of the nectarean ocean o the bliss of pure Krsna consciousness. O brother, now that you have entered the difficult to attain land of Vrndavana which fulfills all desires, why have you allowed yourself to come the spell of petty materialism, and why do you allow yourself to constantly roam about with entering the realm of pure love of Krsna? They who have gone to the farther shore of the Vedas cannot glimpse the wonderful and splendid nectar of the ocean of the Krsna bliss. O, now that you have entered difficult to attain Vrndavana, which fulfills all desires, why do you wander about, charmed by the witch of petty desires?

50 Brother, do you know for certain when you will die? Do you think the maha-mantra will check the powerful death? Do you think that death will patiently wait and allow you to die at the time you prescribe? Is it for these reasons that again and again you fearlessly leave Vrndavana?

51 Unaware that Vrndavana bestows the gift of pure devotional service to Lord Govinda’s lotus feet, fools do not aspire to live there. The tormented fools will not dive into the nectar ocean of intense bliss there.

52 Don’t be afraid, thinking it disobedient to the Vedas! Don’t consider the arguments of your elders! Don’t enter the realm of ordinary duties! Don’t run about to maintain your poor family! Don’t become bound by love and compassion! O friend, run to Vrndavana!

53 They who are very unfortunate will not take shelter of Vrndavana, where the wonderfully handsome fair and dark divine couple eternally enjoy amorous pastimes and plunge Their friends into the great nectar of intense bliss.

54 All the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s happiness does not equal an atom of the gopis happiness when their eyes plunge in the ocean of Radha’s lover’s pastimes. If someone aspires to attain this incomparable good fortune, he should let his body perish in the spiritual realm named Vrndavana.

55 All glories to Vrndavana, the place of Krsna’s amorous pastimes which holds a Krsna-nectar-treasure the Vedas cannot attain, and which maddens with passion a dark youth that longs for the young gopis merciful glances and has become Radha’s pet deer.

56 I pray that as I reside in Vrndavana I may consider with equal vision severe poverty and great wealth, great happiness and intense suffering, great fame and infamy, a jewel and a clod of earth, and my greatest friend and bitterest enemy.

57 Vrndavana is wonderful. The two sweet fair and dark splendors named Radha and Krsna are wonderful. Pure love for Their lotus feet is wonderful. He who has faith in Them and rises to the spiritual world is wonderful. The rare soul who understands these truths is wonderful.

58 Friend, don’t try to be popular. Treat the senses roughly. Break the love of this world. Don’t be attached to wife, children, friends and relatives. Friend, desiring to stay until the body perishes, reside in Vrndavana.

59 Always hearing and chanting Sri Sri Radha-Madhava’s glories, describing them to others, reflecting on them with your equals, again and again decorating the forest groves, and great love making you ignore the material body. O friend, please reside in Vrndavana.

60 Although the opulences of liberation clutch his feet, he runs to hell. After obtaining a cintamani jewel, he throws it in the ocean. After making the Supreme Personality of Godhead his submissive servant, he becomes the lowest dog. Such is a person who, after attaining Vrndavana, again leaves.

61 I pray that I may engage in the service of the moving and non-moving residents of Vrndavana. What are Brahma and the other demigods in comparison to them? The residents of Vrndavana are more glorious. They are very dear to Vraja’s king. Their forms are eternal, spiritual and full of nectar. Their glories are limitless. They are the root that sprouts into the bliss of the Upanisads.

62 What is this wonderful thing? I don’t know. The crowns of the Vedas lovingly glorify it. Krsna eternally serves it. It is the source of the sweetest nectar of love. Is it a creation of the most wonderful nectar of intense bliss, or is it the purifying land of Vrndavana.

63 If people criticize me, what is that? If I become the poorest of the poor, barely able to eke out a living for my family, what is that? If all calamities befall me, what is that? If I do not serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead, what is that? I will patiently remain in Sri Vrndavana. My greatest desire will be fulfilled.

64 Dressed in a kaupina and kantha, living by eating fruit fallen from the trees, not speaking useless words, not passing the time in useless deeds, abandoning all pride, going to each house to beg a little alms, and following those for whom Sri Radhika is their entire life, I will live in Vrndavana.

65 Thinking of all women as mother, thinking all moving and non-moving living entities worshipable, thinking all material opulences valueless things that wither the face and the heart, not thinking myself the owner of my material body, wife, wealth, and sons and thinking my enemies are friends, may I, even in the greatest suffering, remain always cheerful at heart in the unlimitedly blissful land of Vrndavana.

66 Impersonal liberation is bitter, the objects of the senses shine like a fearful hell, sense pleasures are great flames of virulent poison, all great demigods are insects, and yogic powers are mirages, now that my heart is intoxicated by tasting the sweet nectar of Vrndavana.

67 If you leave Vrndavana, if you leave this forest of kalpa-vrksa trees and go to another forest, if you stop talking about the nectar of Vrndavana and take pleasure in other talks, then, knowingly throwing away the sweetest nectar, you desire to eat dog-stool.

68 Sinful or pious, infamous or famous, wealthy or so poor a morsel of food is hard to get, incomparably dull or a great treasury of knowledge, friend, don’t count these things. Somehow see Vrndavana, and with the help of the words of guru and sastra, cut, cut the ropes of material illusion.

69 To body, home, wife, and possessions don’t uselessly think “I” and “mine”. With help from the guru’s words cut the shackles of illusion. Go at once to Vrndavana, the beginning of the kingdom of bliss. Live there on fruit and other simple food, and always remember the pastimes of Vrndavana’s king.

70 Don’t, don’t harbor illusions about your body, home and everything else! Know that death will thwart all your plans! O friend, run, run to Sri Vrndavana! Don’t make your heart harder than a thunderbolt.

71 O fool, give up everything and run to Vrndavana, the kalpa-vrksa grove of pure love for Sri Sri Radhika-Suratanatha! Don’t stay to fulfil your obligations!

72 O sadhu, if you can’t suddenly renounce this dreamlike world, then day and night meditate on Vrndavana. Worship Vrndavana’s king and queen, always chant Their holy names, and always hear Their glories. With food, clothing, and other gifts, serve the residents of Vrndavana.

73 He who has his house, clothing and food in sacred Vrndavana is pious a million times over. He becomes liberated and he liberates others. He who resides in Vrndavana, the spiritual abode of the nectar bliss of pure love, easily attains wonderful love from the beloved of Maharaja Vrsabhanu’s daughter.

74 He who with food, clothing and other gifts, serves Vrndavana’s residents that are penniless, desireless, afraid of materialists company, and plunged into Krsna nectar makes Vrndavana’s king and queen his submissive servants.

75 He who yearns to attain the sweetness of pure love in Vrndavana, but by destiny is forced to live elsewhere, laments and always remembers Vrndavana, beautiful with splendid groves where Sri Sri Radhika-Krsna enjoy pastimes. He meditates on entering Vrndavana and thinks “Now I am serving the divine couple”.

76 To they who, rejecting a thornless kingdom and beautiful women, thinking all material happinesses most bitter and renouncing education, noble birth, wealth, and fame, go to Vrndavana, never to leave, we offer our respectful obeisances.

77 To the supremely fortunate, pious and affectionate persons who live in Vrndavana, which is more blissful than Lord Visnu’s abode, and who, worshipping Them with prayers and gifts, make Radha and Krsna deeply indebted to them, we offer our respectful obeisances.

78 Friend, when you will die? Do you know? Do not even infants sometimes die unexpectedly? With clear intelligence, without attachment to the body and sense, and without stopping to think, run to Vrndavana.

79 If you desire to attain the supremely sweet, blissful, exalted and opulent mellows of pure love of God, then, not touching the paths of bhakti mixed with piety, speculation and dry renunciation, break the hard shackles of material lie and accept the life of a sannyasi in Vrndavana.

80 O friend, by great good-fortune you have attained this body where you have heard Vrndavana’s wonderful glories and learned that everything in this world is like a dream. Don’t, don’t, don’t put any faith in the mind and body. Run to Vrndavana.

81 O brother, when you close your eyes in death, where will your loving wife, children, brothers, relatives and friend be? Where will your good qualities be? Where will your fame be? Where will your pride, wealth, education, control over others, and other powers and opulences be? O learned and intelligent friend, why do you not renounce these temporary things and run to Vrndavana?

82 Ignoring your crying father, mother, children and other relatives, and not hearing their splendid words, with a very hard heart, quickly see the groves where Krsna enjoyed transcendental pastimes.

83 I worship two splendors who are more handsome than millions of Rati-Kamadevas, who have stolen the glory of millions of Laksmi-Narayanas, whose forms are effulgent as gold and sapphires, and who enjoy pastimes in the forest of Vrndavana.

84 Let us worship the Person more splendid than a blue lotus and sweeter than the nectar handsomeness of all other forms of Godhead, who wanders in a forest filled with nectar from Radha’s feet.

85 Even glorious Laksmi-devi, who rests on Lord Narayana’s chest, cannot taste the supremely sweet nectar Radha’s maidservants always taste in many ways. O dear friend, please worship Radha in Vrndavana forest.

86 Rejecting the paths of the worms in the poison of sense-gratification and they who think that only they exist, paths that do not attract one to take loving shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead at the fearful time of death, we aspire for Vrndavana, which is flooded with flowing nectar streams of bliss.

87 Their intelligence stolen by the illusory potency maya, the materialists speak just like madmen. Temporary material benefits, which inevitably carry unwanted sufferings in their wake, they make the goal of their lives. Rejecting all spiritual instructions, they cannot distinguish real happiness from the mirage offered by maya. They are bound with by strong ropes of material affection, and they foolishly act against their own self-interest, as if they were all committing suicide. O abode of Vrndavana when will I flee from these inauspicious people and take shelter of you?

88 I have fallen into the blind well of household-life, and I am being devoured by the black snakes of lust and other faults. O abode of Vrndavana, when will you take me out of this well and acting as a mother, give me shelter on your lap?

89 When, accepting a vow of poverty, and always remaining in a solitary place in Vrndavana, which is worshipped even by the demigods, will I worship the splendid couple, Sri Sri Radhika-Madhava, with great ecstatic love?

90 When will I cheat the wife, children, friends, well-wishers, and other associates that have devastated my spiritual life, and with firm resolve flee to the forest where Lord Hari enjoyed pastimes?

91 I have uselessly spent countless lifetimes agitated with the cares of maintaining my material body, home, family and relatives. Even now that I am supposed to be intelligent, I am still bewildered by such things. O Vrndavana, your holy name is my shelter.

92 “I am a debtor, how can I go to Vrndavana? How can I abandon my aged, helpless parents, my wife, and my children? How can I leave my friends and relatives, who are as dear to me as my own life?” One who speaks these words, even though many respectable persons may praise him, is a fool.

93 I have rejected nectar and knowingly drunk poison. Although I can see well, I have voluntarily tightly bound my eyes and I suffer as a blind man. O Mother Vrndavana, you are my life and soul. Out of affection for me, please drag me from my friends and relatives and place me on your lap.

94 The real goal of my life is to attain the nectar of confidential devotional service to Sri Sri Radhika-Krsna. I shall some day renounce everything and live in Vrndavana. These are the words of feigned renunciation spoken by one addicted to the affairs of household life. The holy abode of Vrndavana will not give shelter to such a person.

95 As Srimati Radharani was reclining on a couch in the pastime-groves of Vrndavana, Her dearmost Sri Krsna noticed His own complexion reflected on her breasts. Thinking this a blue bodice worn by Her, He eagerly tried to remove it and became filled with wonder at His failure. I pray I may someday become one of Radha’s smiling friends staying outside and joking about these pastimes.

96 In Vrndavana I see the black bee of Krsna sometimes land at Radha’s lotus feet, sometimes drink the nectar of Her lotus mouth and sometimes becomes attached to Her lotus-bud breasts.

97 When renouncing all material duties, cutting all ties to the world and entering Vrndavana, without a companion, will I pass my days in talk of Vrndavana’s king?

98 When, having cut the chains of feigned affection and, not seeing the slightest trace in my heart of the arrow loved by the learned followers of the Vedic path, will I overcome with excitement, take shelter of Vrndavana?

99 Although I yearn for the feet of Vrndavana’s king, although I hear and chant His glories, and although I know how to stop all that might stop me, alas, I do not take shelter of Vrndavana. How pathetic I am!

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Sataka Two

1 I would rather reside in Vrndavana, even as an insect, than reside in any other place as a liberated soul with a blissful spiritual body. I would rather reside here in Vrndavana, even as a poverty stricken beggar, than reside in any other place as a person possessing wonderful, endless wealth. I would rather reside here in Vrndavana, even as a person completely devoid of the slightest trace of devotion to Lord Hari, than reside in any other place as a person overwhelmed with the desire to attain the happiness of serving the lotus feet of Lord Krsna, the lover of the gopis.

2 In Vrndavana the trees and vines filled with multitudes of wonderful, transcendental, splendid flowers and fruits, the blissful excited cooing of the multitudes of splendid transcendental peacocks, cuckoos, parrots and other birds, the many multitudes of splendid transcendental lakes, streams, hills and newly blossoming forest groves, as well as the golden ground studded with jewels, have all enchanted me.

3 In Vrndavana the effulgent ground is fashioned with many very wonderful colorful cintamani jewels, the trees and vines are full of blissful spiritual fruits and flowers, the birds make a great tumult by reciting the hymns of the Sama Veda, and the lakes and streams are filled with transcendental nectar. May my heart meditate on Vrndavana in this way.

4 In Vrndavana the leaves on the trees are made of emeralds, the flowers of diamonds, the new flower buds of beautiful pearls, the newly sprouting leaves of red kuruvinda jewels, the many fruits, all filled with various kinds of nectarean tastes, of rubies, the rain of an incessant shower of nectar, and the bumblebees of sapphires.

5 Vrndavana is filled with countless supremely beautiful golden trees as splendid as numberless millions of blazing suns. When these trees appear before the heart they shower a cooling rain of transcendental bliss that immediately extinguishes the burning sufferings of repeated birth and death and grants the rarest and most difficult to obtain spiritual treasure?

6 Vrndavana is illuminated by numberless moons of spiritual bliss. It is cooled by the sweet nectar of spiritual love and it is filled with desire trees and many hosts of madly cooing birds. Whose heart will not run to Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, who enjoy eternal transcendental pastimes in that Vrndavana!

7 Don’t even glance at the external things of this world, whether they belong to you or to others, whether they are as splendid as millions of suns and moons, or whether they possess a great flood of good qualities. Renounce them! Give up all conventional peaceful composure and without caring for anything else, always remember Sri Sri Radha-Krsna and reside in Vrndavana.

8 Give up false identification with this wretched material body, identification that is the cause of the horrible cycle of repeated birth and death. Meditate on your spiritual form in Vrndavana. Millions of calamities may fall. Don’t be disturbed. Until all past karma is destroyed, reside in Vrndavana and always meditate on the pastimes of your two Lords Sri Sri Radha and Krsna.

9 Please worship and serve this effulgent transcendental couple enjoying transcendental amorous pastimes together in this grove of Vrndavana, His complexion the color of sapphires and Hers the color of gold, He holding a splendid flute and She a long-stemmed toy lotus, He with a splendid peacock-feather crown and She with long splendid braids, He dressed in splendid yellow garments and She in splendid red garments.

10 Happily picking many kinds of flowers from the trees and vines, Radha and Krsna praise the forest of Vrndavana. They bathe and sport in the lakes of Vrndavana forest and They play with the birds and other creatures there. Who would not serve Vrndavana forest, the supreme transcendental abode?

11 With Their soft flower-petal hands Sri Radha-Krsna carefully watered the trees and vines from the time of their first sprouting. They nourished them and made them grow and, at the proper time, married each vine to an appropriate tree. When They saw new flowers beginning to blossom, They became delighted and spoke many playful joking words. Let us bow down and offer our respectful obeisances to these trees and vines of Vrndavana forest.

12 In Vrndavana forest the trees are called druma because they melt [dru] with love for Krsna and they are also called taru because they shield [tarana] Krsna from the blazing sunshine [tarana]. The vines are called vratati because they have taken a firm vow [vrata] to serve Krsna. The deer are called krsnasara because Krsna is their life and soul [sara], and they are also called mrga because they always search [mrg] for Krsna’s footprints.

13 I meditate on limitlessly beautiful Vrndavana forest filled with limitless trees and vines, limitless deer and birds, limitless splendid groves, limitless charming lakes and streams, limitless mountains, and the divine couple’s limitless nectar pastimes.

14 O brother, what kinds of enjoyment have you not already experienced in this world of birth and death? What kind of fame and worship have you not already attained in this world by scholarship, charity and sacrifice? For today, O friend, simply accept whatever food comes unsought, look to see the good qualities in others but not their faults, do not put yourself forward, but remain obscure and unbeknown, and continually wander, without any companion, in this beautiful forest of Vrndavana.

15 If someone tells me “You should leave Vrndavana”, I will cut out his tongue. If someone tries to drag me from Vrndavana by force, I will kill him. If a beautiful girl begs me leave Vrndavana and marry her, I will not go. If need be I will become a thief and steal the money of others, but I will not take a single step out of Vrndavana.

16 When becoming dumb to jokes mocking others, deaf and blind to others faults, and inactive like a stone in the matter of bringing others even the slightest pain, will I reside in this Vrndavana Forest that is so dear to Lord Krsna?

17 Bearing unbearable sufferings, leaving my old friends and relative behind, and eating what was rejected even by outcasts, I shall reside in Vrndavana.

18 I will not leave the company of the saintly devotees. I will not speak to my old friends and relatives. I will not even show my face to them. I am intent on residing in Vrndavana.

19 Within the boundless, all pervading effulgence of the brahmajyoti is the extremely blissful and effulgent realm of Lord Visnu. Within that realm of Lord Visnus is an other effulgent realm of immeasurable transcendental bliss. Within that place is this forest of Vrndavana.

20 Is this the personified form of transcendental pastimes? Is this the personified form of transcendental amorous love? Is this the personified form of transcendental pleasure? Is this the personified science of cupid’s archery. Is this the personified life-potency of Lord Syamasundara? I do not know who this is. This is Sri Radha eternally enjoying transcendental pastimes with Lord Hari day and night in Vrndavana forest.

21 May Lord Syama’s beloved Radha, who from each of her limbs floods Vrndavana forest with charming, effulgent, wonderful golden nectar oceans glistening with drops of intense sweetness flowing from the original source of the nectar of all love and filled with the happiness of wild amorous pastimes, play within my heart.

22 Sri Radha’s charming teenage maidservants in Vrndavana have braids that swing to and fro, beautiful broad hips, slender waists, splendid necklaces decorating the flower buds of their beautiful breasts, various splendid ornaments and garments, glistening golden complexions the color of saffron, and youthful beauty that is as sweet as nectar. Please meditate on Sri Radha’s maidservants in this way.

23 Is this a beautiful transformation of transcendental nectar? Is this the mercy, generosity and playfulness of the Supreme Personality of Godhead appearing before us in a wonderful form? What wonderful thing is this? This is not wonderful. This is the land of Vrndavana, which enchants Laksmi, Brahma, Siva, and all the demigods, and which has now appeared on this earth.

24 When, by continually wandering through the land of Vrndavana, by loudly calling out in ecstasy, by dancing and singing impelled by feelings of transcendental love, by rolling about on the ground, the hairs on my body standing up in bliss, and by cutting the knots of material attachment and becoming expert in the transcendental nectar mellows of devotional service, will I become the crest jewel of all fortunate men?

25 In Vrndavana the youthful divine couple, whose complexions are dark and fair, and who are two wonderful treasure-houses of beauty and other transcendental qualities, enjoy Their pastimes. In that Vrndavana all transcendental virtues are present to the highest degree. When, with sweet transcendental love, shall I properly worship that Vrndavana forest?

26 In this beginningless world of repeated birth and death how many times have you not suffered in hell and how many times have you not relished pleasures that eclipse the happiness of Brahma, Indra and the other demigods? My friend, in this one body do not consider happiness or distress, but simply worship the supreme transcendental abode, Sri Vrndavana.

27 Anointing your entire body with the dust from the feet of the residents of Sri Vrndavana, seeing Sri Vrndavana as the supreme effulgent transcendental realm, and meditating on the fact that Sri Sri Radha and Krsna are always charmed by the sweetness of Sri Vrndavana, please reside in this transcendental abode, Sridhama Vrndavana.

28 O Vrndavana, you possess the supreme transcendental beauty. O supremely blissful Vrndavana, your sweet transcendental qualities are eternally glorified in song. O Vrndavana, if I know that in comparison to you millions of lifetimes are extremely insignificant, then why for me does this entire material world not become as insignificant as a single blade of grass.

29 Please worship the land of Vrndavana, where a dark youth, who is the personified wonderful treasure of supreme transcendental bliss, plays in waves of eternal transcendental amorous love with a golden young queen who is the personified sweetness of love.

30 Please worship the youthful couple, whose splendor eclipses hosts of newly-blossomed golden campaka flowers and fully-blossomed blue lotuses, and who enjoy the sweetness of transcendental pastimes in the newly-blossomed grove of Vrndavana.

31 Please serve the lotus feet of the fair and dark charming divine couple overwhelmed with amorous passion in the newly-blossoming groves of Vrndavana.

32 Please meditate on the youthful couple who, Their love for each other eternally increasing, and the hairs on Their fair and dark forms erect in ecstasy, are now intoxicated by the sweet nectar of Their amorous pastimes in this forest grove.

33 In the spiritual moonlight ocean of perfect love and bliss is a wonderful island. In that island is the wonderful splendid forest of Vrndavana. In that forest of Vrndavana is a wonderful fair and dark young couple.

34 He who strives for liberation is fortunate in this world. He who is intent on devotional service to Lord Hari is more fortunate. He who has spontaneous attraction for Lord Krsna’s lotus feet is more fortunate still. He who is devoted to Lord Krsna as the husband of Rukmini is even more fortunate. He who is devoted to Lord Krsna as the son of Yasoda-devi is still more fortunate. He who is devoted to Lord Krsna as the friend of Subala is even more fortunate. He who is devoted to Lord Krsna as the lover of the gopis is still more fortunate. A devotee overwhelmed by the nectar of love for Srimati Radharani, the beautiful queen of Vrndavana, is the most fortunate of all.

35 In one pair of forms unseen by the gopis, Radha and Krsna tightly embrace. In another pair of forms They may be seen far away in the cottage of newly blossoming vines. In another pair of forms They enjoy playful joking words. In another pair of forms They enjoy amorous pastimes in the forest of Vrndavana. In one pair of forms They meet in Gokula and in another pair of forms They are separated again. In this way the transcendental forms of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna are manifested in many different places in a single moment.

36 Within the boundary of Vrndavana forest, O friend, please worship this dark ocean of transcendental nectar that has many playful, glistening waves of eternally expanding amorous pastimes, that is the home of the splendid transcendental fish of Srimati Radharani’s heart and mind, that rises with the rising of the moon that is Radharani’s face, that is churned by the wonderful Mandara Mountain of transcendental passion for Radharani, and that brings nectar to the eyes of all the gopis.

37 My queen, who is the forests where the deer of Krsna’s life-breath sports, who is the splendid transcendental lake where the fish of Krsna’s heart and mind plays, who is the community of beautiful lotus flowers that attracts the bumblebee of Krsna, and who is the brilliant moonlight that cools Krsna’s passionately burning heart, eternally enjoys transcendental pastimes with Her peerless lover, Krsna.

38 In beautiful Vrndavana, which is filled with jewelled trees and vines bearing wonderfully colorful blissful flowers, in the shade of a kadamba tree risen from the golden ground, a fair and dark couple is now before our eyes.

39 Obeisances to the gopis who, gazing and gazing at Sri Sri Radha and Krsna engaged in a wonderfully playful amorous battle on a throne of flowers under a lovely flower-awning in a palatial grove filled with very wonderful flowers and glistening vines in Vrndavana forest, become overcome with bliss and roll about on the ground.

40 I bow down before the young gopis decorated with the dearmost divine couple’s prasadam ornaments, garlands and garments, who by singing, dancing and playing musical instruments, and by offering Them garlands, musk, aguru, kunkuma, fragrant scents, betel nut and garments earnestly serve Sri Sri Radha-Krsna as They enjoy nectar transcendental pastimes in the grove of Vrndavana.

41-43 Some gopis are engaged in grinding sandalwood and kunkuma, some in threading garlands of flowers, some in decorating the pastime grove, some in fetching water, some in preparing splendid silk garments, some in assembling new ornaments, some inlaboriously preparing delicious food and drink, some in arranging excellent betel nuts and betel leaves, some in expertly singing, dancing, and playing musical instruments, some in bathing the divine couple and anointing them with oil, some in continually fanning Them, some are extremely delighted to see all these intimate services, some have become stunned to see these pastimes of the dear divine couple, and some have given up everything to assist the pastimes of the divine couple. In this way the gopis are overwhelmed with love for Sri Sri Radha-Krsna. In these forests of Vrndavana I will search for these wonderfully beautiful young gopis.

44-46 One wear a peacock feather crown, and the other has wonderfully beautiful braids. One has a chest wonderfully anointed with sandalwood paste and the other wears a splendid bodice. One wears colorfully jewelled yellow garments that reach down almost to the ankle, and the other wears beautiful colorfully jewelled garments of red. In this way the fair and dark young couple are wonderfully charming and handsome. They smile with love for each other. Their wonderful splendor pervades all directions. With the tinkling sounds of ankle-bells and belt, and also with the music of the jewelled flute, They enchant the moving and non-moving spiritual creatures of Vrndavana forest. They enter the beautiful jewelled arena, which is covered with flowers filled with the sounds of the gopis singing accompanied by the playing of mrdanga drums. They dance and clap Their hands with wonderful gracefulness, and the graceful motions of Their limbs and eyes creates a great festival of the nectarean mellows of transcendental amorous love. The divine couple is my life and soul. Among the saintly devotees, who will not worship this divine couple?

47 Tasting unbounded eternal transcendental pleasure, displaying the most endearing, enchanting splendid beauty, the young couple that is the hero and heroine of those expert at relishing the nectar of transcendental mellows trembles with great love as They enjoy wonderful amorous pastimes in the newly blossoming groves of Vrndavana forest. I meditate on that transcendental couple.

48 When will the divine teenage couple, whose bodily luster rebukes the splendor of blue lotus and golden campaka flowers, who are filled with deep love for each other, and who are overwhelmed with amorous desire, appear before me, my eyes glistening with love as I reside in this forest of Vrndavana.

49 I pray that wonderful Vrndavana Forest, which is manifest in the splendid ocean of transcendental bliss and love, may appear before me. I pray that my mind may become worthy to taste the nectar of the sight of the supremely enchanting fair and dark young couple that enjoys transcendental pastimes in the groves of Vrndavana forest.

50 A person absorbed in the most wicked sordid deeds who once bows down to offer respect to a blade of grass in Vrndavana at once becomes a very pious person. At the end of his body, by the mercy of the Supreme Lord, who has all power to unshackle him from the bonds of karma, he certainly attains the otherwise unattainable feet of Lord Krsna.

51 By displaying a great abundance of transcendental wealth, love for Vrndavana Forest laughs at millions of Kuveras. By displaying great power of intelligence, love for Vrndavana forest eclipses a great host of intelligent Brhaspatis. That love removes the lamentation of separation from wife, children and others. Because it is filled with the nectar of love for Lord Krsna, love for Vrndavana is the supreme object of worship for Sukadeva Gosvami, Prahlada Maharaja and the great devotees.

52 He who renounces all the opulences of his household life, who leaves his wife, children and other relatives and friends decorated with good qualities, who ignores the great respect everyone offers to him, who renounces the duties of ordinary piety, who does not become even slightly softened at heart by the repeated protests of mother, father, and other superiors, and who goes to Vrndavana, is proclaimed by all to be the most fortunate of all fortunate persons.

53 Neither hearing nor believing the account of the faults or virtues of all other living entities, considering all the residents of Vrndavana to be his superiors and bowing down like a stick to offer respect to them, free from all pride, completely penniless, and always shedding blissful tears of love for Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, a certain saintly devotee resides in the forest of Vrndavana.

54 Crying in a voice filled with pain, rolling about on the ground, bowing down to offer respect to the person who is his dearmost friend, placing blades of grass between his teeth, and with millions of plaintive words begging for the merciful glance of his two masters, staying all alone at the base of a tree in Vrndavana forest, resting his cheek on his left hand, and shedding many tears, a certain incomparably fortunate person spends his day and nights.

55 Constantly shedding a great stream of tears, pallid, eating only a single morsel, whether rejected, bound, or struck, remaining always motionless and unaffected as if he were a mountain, without any companions, situated in complete poverty, and, with great longing, meditating on the great transcendental beauty of the lotus petals of the feet of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna, a certain person stays in this forest of Vrndavana.

56 Please place flower garlands on Their necks. Anoint all their limbs with pleasant sandal paste. Give Them betel nuts to chew. Please Them by nicely fanning Them. When They lie down together enjoying the happiness of a tight embrace, massage Their feet. In this way please serve Sri Sri Radha-Krsna as They enjoy transcendental pastimes on a throne in a solitary place in the forest.

57-58 Filled with amorous desires, Sri Sri Radha and Krsna gracefully enter the palace of vines. Their glistening eyes, words, limbs, and motions are all filled with nectar, and Their eyes move with amorous playfulness. Seeing all this, Radha’s maidservants begin to discreetly go outside, but the smiling divine couple brings them back in. They are plunged in shyness and bliss at the same moment. These teenage maidservants of Srimati Radharani have complexions as splendid as gold. They are ravishingly beautiful, with beautiful slender waists and very large breasts and hips, and each wears in her nose a pearl studded with jewels and gold. Their braided hair, their garments, and their ornaments, are all very beautiful. Please meditate on Srimati Radharani’s maidservants in this way.

59 Srimati Radharani’s maidservants are very beautiful. The vines of their arms and wrists are charmingly decorated with bracelets and armlets. The bells on their sashes and anklets tinkle melodiously. Their jewelled earrings are lovely. Their glistening braided hair is charming and splendid and the flower buds of their breasts are nicely decorated with necklaces of jewels. They have given all their love to their mistress, Sri Radha. In this way please meditate on the golden-complexioned maidservants of Srimati Radharani.

60 Ah! In Vrndavana Forest all the animals, birds, trees, vines and countless other living entities, who are all very sweetly beautiful and as splendid as gold, have now become stunned by drinking the maddeningly sweet nectar of the bliss of great transcendental love. Ah! Induced by all of them, the most enchanting, priceless teenage treasure has now appeared before me.

61 Overwhelmed by a flood of transcendental love, speaking with a broken voice, shedding tears, and the hairs of Her body erect with excitement, She sent Her dearmost friends to Her beloved with a letter of humble apology. Later, in a certain part of Vrndavana Forest, She bound His feet with Her braided hair. All glories to this beautiful girl who is the light of my life.

62 They are both situated in rising new youthfulness. They are overwhelmed by ever-new feelings of intense love. They tremble in the agitation of newly aroused amorous passion. Their graceful playful charm is fresh and new. In new glances, motions and words, They create waves of sweetness. Please meditate on Them, the splendid fair and dark complexioned couple in this newly blossomed forest.

63 They have given Their lives to each other. During bathing, sleeping, eating, and all other activities, Their intense, ever-new love does not allow Them to remain separated. They eternally enjoy transcendental pastimes together in the newly blossoming groves of Vrndavana forest. Let me worship that supremely sweet, splendid divine couple.

64 Filled with the happiness of the great love They bear for each other, They gracefully sing and dance without interruption, creating great waves of the wonderful sweetness of youth. They are so attached to each other that the momentary separation They endure when Their eyes blink fills Them with pain. Please worship this charming fair and dark complexioned couple in the groves of Vrndavana forest.

65 Don’t endeavor for the sake of children, wealth, wife, and a host of other temporary objects that are simply various manifestations of Lord Krsna’s illusory potency maya. Instead, pick up the priceless crown jewel of the supreme goal of life. That jewel has now somehow or other fallen to this land of Vrndavana.

66 Under a tree by the Yamuna’s shore Radha and Krsna thirst to enjoy transcendental amorous pastimes. Please worship Them with pure, unalloyed love.

67 I pray that I may become an insignificant dog who lives at the doorstep of Lord Krsna in Vrndavana. I pray that I may never live in any other place, even as a dear friend of the goddess Laksmi, or even as a goddess myself.

68 I pray that the queen of Vrndavana, whose every limb shines with an ocean of wonderful golden moonlight, and whose beautiful form displays a wonder of ever fresh youthfulness, may appear before me.

69 Materialistic women completely destroy spiritual life. For this reason an intelligent man should live in Vrndavana, where there is no talking of such woman.

70 Crossing beyond Lord Visnu’s illusory potency maya, distrusting women and frightened of their company, an intelligent man will choose to live very humbly in the land of Vrndavana.

71 Even if the residents of Vrndavana are violent hoodlums in disguise, or thieves who plunder one’s money and wife, still, they who are learned and saintly do not see any fault in them.

72 O Vrndavana, how can there be any auspiciousness for one who does not always praise you with his voice? What kind of body will become available in the next life for a person who will not abandon attachment for his own home and live within your borders? What goals remain within the heart of a person who will not give up his sons stay within your boundary? What person who knows the truth will not take shelter of a blade of grass that grows within you?

73 Absorbed in the mellows of unalloyed love for Radha’s lover, Krsna, who is an ocean of the nectar of expert intelligence, who enjoys ever fresh and new transcendental amorous pastimes, who sometimes makes Radha extremely angry, and whose heart, senses, and limbs are all caught by the hook of the playful movements of Radha’s eyebrow, I will be unmoved by the greatest impediments, take shelter of Vrndavana Forest.

74 The nectar moon of Lord Krsna’s face rises in the newly blossoming groves of Vrndavana forest. That moon delights the lotus flowers that are the gopis. It is very sweetly kissed by affectionate Radharani. My mind places all its attention in that moon.

75 The motions of the beautiful gopis eyes hinted to Lord Krsna that Radha had gone to take rest in the forest cottage. Meeting Her there, Lord Krsna kissed and embraced her. Please meditate on Srimati Radharani enjoying pastimes in this way.

76 Disguised as a gopi friend, Lord Krsna, who is more handsome than millions of Kamadevas, entered the cottage of newly blossoming vines. In that disguise he greatly pleased Radha, who is more dear to Him than His own life. Let me meditate on Srimati Radharani in this way.

77 Disguised as a maidservant, Lord Krsna massaged His beloved Radha’s lotus feet. Radha was so pleased with this service that She rebuked Her regular gopi-masseuse for her relative incompetence. Let me meditate on Srimati Radharani in this way.

78 Within the boundary of Vrndavana forest a certain youthful form fills the ten directions with the splendor of its limbs, which shine like molten gold. This form rests on the chest of the splendid dark moon that is Lord Krsna. This form is overcome with the nectar of transcendental mellows and maddened with the bliss of transcendental love. The ornaments that decorate this form tinkle with the movements of transcendental pastimes. The garments that cover this form have fallen and the flower garlands decorating this form have become broken. Maddened with amorous passion, this form no longer feels any embarrassment.

79 In a grove of kadamba trees by the Yamuna’s shore, Radha became frightened by the dangerous bumblebees wandering among the lotus flowers. Calling out “O! It is a black bee! O Krsna, I take refuge in You” She tightly embraced Lord Krsna. In this way Lord Krsna felt great transcendental bliss.

80 In Vrndavana forest, in a grove of very fragrant blossoming jasmine flowers, Sri Sri Radha-Krsna sit down together. Overwhelmed with the nectar of transcendental mellows, They touch each other, repeatedly decorating each other’s body with many wonderful flower ornaments although in the course of Their amorous pastimes these decorations become broken. Let me worship Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, who enjoys pastimes in this way.

81 Vrndavana’s queen Radha is now drowning in the blissful nectar ocean that is dark complexioned Lord Krsna, and Krsna is also plunged in the shoreless blissful nectar ocean of Sri Radha. The gopis hearts and bodies swim in the blissful nectar ocean of gazing at the transcendental pastimes of the divine couple, who are billions of times more dear to each other than Their own life’s breath. I meditate on Radha, Krsna, and the gopis in this way.

82 I worship the fair and dark complexioned divine couple who moment after moment enjoy a very wonderful festival of passionate amorous pastimes in the forest groves.

83 Watering the young trees and vines, teaching the male and female parrots to recite, teaching the peacock couple to dance, and observing the flood of artistic skill displayed by a newly arrived gopi maidservant, may the wonderfully playful monarchs of Vrndavana enjoy transcendental pastimes in my heart.

84 Seeing a vine displaying new buds, lovely with smiling flowers, decorated with new sprouts, streaming honey, and embracing a tamala tree, my queen became overwhelmed with a desire to meet Her lover, Krsna, and She began to faint. Her gopi friend at once held Her up.

85 Eternally carried by great whirlpools in the nectar ocean of pure transcendental bliss, displaying a great sweetness of eternal and wonderful beauty, pastimes and youthfulness and the hairs of Their bodies standing up in ecstatic bliss as They dance in a circle of gopi friends, a splendid fair and dark couple enjoy transcendental pastimes within the borders of Sri Vrndavana. I worship Them.

86 The forms of Radha’s maidservants are wonderful bubbles from the particles of foam from the effulgent spiritual ocean of sweet transcendental love that flows from the beauty of Radha’s lotus feet. These young girls are filled with all artistic skill, and their wonderfully beautiful limbs are decorated with splendid garments and ornaments. O friend, please become the follower and servant of these maidservants of Sri Radha.

87 In the forest of Sri Vrndavana the divine couple playfully imitates the humming of the bees, the warbling of cuckoos, the cries and dancing of the peacocks, the graceful motions of the male and female swans, the embrace of the vines and the trees, and the frightened glances of the deer. Please serve this divine couple, for They are your only real friends.

88 Fallen into the expanding whirlpool of the powerful, splendid river of transcendental love, and absorbed in wonderful, unrestrained amorous pastimes, the youthful divine couple has filled with wonder the forest of Vrndavana.

89 “Where did They pass as They went? Where did They stop? What food did They bring? What garments did They wear? What did They say? What pastimes did They enjoy? Did They not take anything with Them?’ Speaking in this way, please go to the youthful divine couple, who are now overwhelmed by tasting the nectar of Their transcendental amorous pastimes. Please go and serve Them.

90 The gopis tie the hair of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. They decorate, clothe, and feed Them. They place the flute, lute, and other musical instruments in Their hand, and they respectfully play music for Their dancing. The gopis are able to very beautifully decorate Sri Sri Radha and Krsna, who yearn to enjoy transcendental amorous pastimes in the forest grove.

91 In the forest of Vrndavana, which is filled with splendid bliss emanating from the bija syllable of the Kama-gayatri mantra, a teenage boy stands with a teenage girl. The girl is the personified treasure of very wonderful and sweet ecstatic love. From each of Her limbs a nectar ocean of golden splendor emanates. The boy is the personified form of the most wonderful and sweet nectar.

92 Within the splendid ocean of light manifested from the bija syllable of the Kama-gayatri mantra, the sweet abode named Vrndavana is manifest. Within that Vrndavana resides an unlimitedly sweet fair and dark complexioned couple absorbed in enjoying amorous pastimes. Please worship and serve Them.

93 Because of Sri Radha’s passionate amorous desire the hairs on each of Her Limbs stands upright. From each of Her limbs flow great waves of golden splendor that inundate the entire universe. Her sweet amorous glances have completely conquered the dark moon of Lord Krsna. Let us meditate on these wonderful features of the divine couple’s eternal amorous pastimes in Vrndavana.

94 In a newly blossoming nectarean grove of Vrndavana forest, a wonderful charmingly fair and dark complexioned amorous couple plays. Please meditate on Them.

95 Please always remember what Lord Caitanya has taught about the nature of Sri Vrndavana, the nature of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, and the nature of us individual spirit souls.

96 Simply bow down to offer respects to the cottages in the groves of Vrndavana and you will find the wonderful treasure contained in the nectar oceans of pure love for Lord Krsna.

97 The blissful impersonal Brahman does not possess even the three most basic forms of variety. In Vrndavana however, the wonder of great variety has reached the topmost superlative of existence.

98 O drop of spiritual potency, O spirit soul, please meditate on the beautiful, blissful, wonderful, sweet ocean of spiritual potency where the elephant of Sri Krsna splashes as He enjoys His pastimes.

99 Please worship the fair and dark complexioned divine couple who are now plunged in the shoreless nectar of ever new and fresh transcendental amorous pastimes in Vrndavana forest.

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Sataka Three

1 Gradually, one by one, give up all activities that obstruct love for Sri Sri Radha-Krsna from growing in your heart. Always and everywhere meditate in your heart on the truth of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna. With eyes of love always see all moving and stationary living entities as parts and parcels of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna. Any other way of seeing should disappear into non-existence. Day and night celebrate a great festival of devotional service for Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, who enjoy transcendental pastimes in the forest of Vrndavana.

2 Cross the boundary of the material realm and enter the great brahman effulgence. See the variegated Vaikuntha worlds. Seek higher and higher spiritual abodes, and then, if somehow or other you come upon it, enter the effulgent forest of Vrndavana.

3 Bathing each limb in the ocean of amorous pastimes, He has become filled with bliss. Millions of oceans of sweetness arise at every moment. He becomes intoxicated by tasting from them. O inflamed with passionate desires for Radha, a handsome dark complexioned youth displays at every moment millions of millions of transformations of ecstatic love in this forest that is an ocean of the supreme sweetness of transcendental love.

4 With great devotion I bow down before the most fortunate living entity who has become an insect in Vrndavana. The demigods headed by Brahma who live in other places I do not consider as important as a blade of grass. What more need I say? My mind is made up. Outside of Vrndavana Lord Krsna does not appear in His full complete form.

5 In Vrndavana flows the most splendid nectar that completely eclipses all the glory present in the entire material and spiritual world. Vrndavana is filled with the fathomless bliss of pure spiritual love, which makes one completely forget all other kinds of happiness. Give up everything and just reside in Vrndavana, where Sri Sri Radha-Krsna enjoy endless transcendental pastimes.

6 In Vrndavana a charming, wonderful, handsome, fair-and-dark complexioned amorous playful couple eternally stay. In Vrndavana there are many splendidly lovely forest groves and many pathways nicely cleansed and sprinkled with scented water. When shall I take shelter of this Vrndavana and never leave?

7 As wonderfully splendid as glistening sapphires and gold, and dressed in fine blue and yellow silken garments, two eternally playful oceans of transcendental bliss happily enjoy pastimes of joking and laughter in Vrndavana. Please find your happiness here in Vrndavana.

8 In the land of Vrndavana I eternally worship a splendid fair and dark complexioned couple. They are eternally youthful, wonderfully charming, and eternally filled with the sweetness of transcendental handsomeness, with eternally increasing, ever new love. They remain in an eternal embrace.

9 Blinded by the fragrance of the honey of the feet of Radha’s lover, Krsna and overcome by its sweetness, the bumblebee of a great devotee’s eternally wanders in the beautiful land of Vrndavana. With great devotion I repeatedly place my head at the feet of such a devotee.

10 In the groves of Vrndavana under a great pastime awning of flowers, under newly blossoming tree, in cooling shade, with splendid cloth and beautiful flowers, and equipped with cups of nectar and other paraphernalia, is the place of the nap pastime of the divine couple. O! Look at the wonderful, splendid divine couple in Vrndavana!

11 Beyond the material world dominated by the three modes of nature is the splendid divine ocean of bliss that is the bija syllable of the Kama-gayatri mantra. In that ocean is a wonderfully beautiful island. In that island is the realm of Vrndavana, and in a secluded place of Vrndavana is an enchantingly beautiful forest garden. In that garden are Sri Sri Radhika-Krsnacandra, the two great treasures of intense transcendental bliss. Please worship Them with great devotion.

12 As I continually gaze at Sri Sri Radha-Krsna’s splendid transcendental forms and transcendental amorous pastimes, and as I continually hear Their conversation like cooling nectar, I wonder:

Am I diving into an ocean of nectar in this forest of Vrndavana.

13 Sri Sri Radha-Krsna are filled with transcendental splendor and intense bliss, and They are situated in the topmost limit of wonderful charm. They are the great treasure house of pure and pleasing transcendental love. A person who worships Them in the forest of Vrndavana is very fortunate.

14 Ah! The divine couple manifests newer and newer youthful splendor in Their transcendental forms! Ah! They taste newer and newer intense bliss in Their transcendental amorous pastimes! Ah! They bring a great ocean of transcendental happiness to the eyes of Their gopi friends! They are the splendid abode of all fearlessness! In this forest of Vrndavana will I someday be able to drink the nectar of Their splendor with my own eyes?

15 O Lord more charming than Kamadeva, O beloved, when in a cottage in a very beautiful grove in the forest of Vrndavana, as You, agitated with amorous desire, and smiling, passionately lay on the bed of flowers with Srimati Radharani, who is the queen of my life, will I serve You?

16 One moment it is autumn. Another moment it is monsoon. Another moment it is spring, and in another moment it is another season. Glistening with splendid nectar a every moment, the land of Vrndavana continually fills Sri Sri Radha and Krsna with great wonder. Please meditate on Vrndavana in this way.

17 All glories to Lord Krsna who, dressed in handsome yellow garments, and glancing at Radha, plays a flute under a glistening Kadamba tree in Vrndavana.

18 In a forest by the Yamuna’s shore, in a charming, newly blossoming grove, at the entrance to a palace, Lord Krsna, sits with Radha and is served by the charming gopis. I take shelter of Him.

19 We worship a splendidly decorated fair and dark complexioned couple, who laugh and joke in the happiness of Their amorous pastimes in these forest groves.

20 The passionate divine couple rocks to and fro in the waves of the nectar ocean of Their transcendental amorous pastimes in the land of Vrndavana. Unable, even with the greatest effort, to set aright the couple’s now disarrayed garments and ornaments, the jubilant gopis simply smile and laugh.

21 Meditate in your heart on Sri Vrndavana’s transcendental opulence, which Brahma, Siva and their followers cannot even slightly understand, which is a great jewel mine of glistening nectar, which is charming with the wonder of Sri Radha-Muralimanohara, and wonderful with the bliss of Their pastimes and the splendor of Their forms.

22 O Vrndavana, you possess the supreme transcendental beauty. O supremely blissful Vrndavana, your sweet transcendental qualities are eternally glorified in song, O Vrndavana, If I know that in comparison to you millions of lifetimes are extremely insignificant, then why for me does this entire material world not become as insignificant as a single blade of grass.

23 If in this land of Vrndavana I placed my head at the feet of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, whose hearts are filled with the nectar of transcendental love, then I shall stand in fearlessness. I shall fear neither the opinions of the common people, nor conventional ideas of duty, nor hundreds of devastating diseases that may strike my body or mind. What to speak of all this, I shall not even fear a king that rules the entire world.

24 By the touch of Sri Radha-Krsna’s charming lotus hands and feet plunged in a flooding ocean of perfect transcendental bliss, situated in a peerless good fortune even goddess Laksmi seeks, and standing at the head of all who are fortunate, the vines in Vrndavana rejoice.

25 Every day I bow before the trees that, wonderful with a wealth of blossoming flowers and fruits, flooded with sweetness, far from sins and sufferings, their splendor increasing, and glorified by the kings of the sages, stand in Vrndavana, which is a great moon-island risen from the nectar ocean of intense bliss.

26 Although embraced by their vine wives, whose smiles are blossoming flowers, whose large breasts are flower clusters, and whose hairs erect with joy are black bees, the trees of Vrndavana forest, shedding tears of madhvika honey, and the hairs of their bodies are erect, are, because of the nectar of meditation on Krsna, unaware either of themselves or others.

27 Taking splendid flowers and twigs, decorating each other, beginning with the braid and top knot, making a cottage and bed of flowers, eating fruit and drinking honey, two youthful fair and dark forms of love enjoy pastimes and the exalted trees of Vrndavana shine with great splendor.

28 Anyone who once smells a flower from Vrndavana, feels the breeze from Vrndavana, sees a person from Vrndavana, once somehow bows down in the direction of Vrndavana, or once utters the auspicious name of Vrndavana, even if he dies in Bihar or some other place far from Vrndavana, will at once attain the transcendental abode glorified by the greatest sages.

29 Cast everything else aside and go to Vrndavana, where the fair and dark complexioned youthful divine couple, who enchant even Narayana, the husband of Laksmi, who are absorbed in enjoying amorous pastimes, who are charming, who experience the most intense and wonderful transcendental bliss, who are very difficult to meet, and from whom flows a great stream of the nectar of pure love, stay.

30 The bodily luster of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the essence of the supremely pure and blissful brahman effulgence, and the incomparable wonderful sweetness of the Lord’s splendor is the wonderful forest of Vrndavana. There, O friend, please worship the two fair and dark splendors.

31 Gazing at the wonder of Her limbs splendor glorious as golden campaka flowers and filled with waves of the sweetness of deep love, in wonderful Vrndavana Lord Hari stumbles at every step. May the youthful splendor named Radha appear before me.

32 I meditate on the fair and dark youthful divine couple, who are two great floods of good fortune, incomparable youthful charm, expert intelligence, pure love, amorous pastimes, beauty and extremely wonderful, eternally manifest, very intense sweetness, and who tremble with beautiful, playful love in the groves of Vrndavana.

33-38 I eternally worship whomever with unalloyed love worships the fair and dark youthful divine couple, who are two treasures of wonderful, peerless beauty, who are two wave-filled nectar oceans of transcendental amorous pastimes, who are so overwhelmed with love They will not separate for even half a moment, whose bodily hairs always stand erect, who always speak with broken voices, who at every moment are so overcome with bliss They do not know anything else, who are fed, dressed and, served by Their gopi friends, who are intoxicated with bliss that increases without limit, who eternally embrace, who spend their days and nights enjoying transcendental amorous pastimes in the abode of Sri Vrndavana, which is always flooded with the nectar of love, and who give the nectar of all transcendental bliss to Their devotees.

39-40 In the groves of Vrndavana forest, which is a very charming island risen in the ocean of bliss and splendor of pure, splendid, great kamadeva beyond the three modes of nature, please meditate on Sri Radhika’s golden complexioned gopi maidservants, whose bodily hairs stand erect with the nectar of their deep love for Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, who are eager to serve the two Lords of their lives, who are beautifully adorned with sashes, anklets, armlets, bracelets and jewelled earrings, on whose noses swing ornaments of gold, jewels, and glistening pearls, who wear wonderfully colorful saris, who have exquisitely beautiful hips, waists and breasts, who wear splendid necklaces over their bodices and have bunches of flowers tied to the ends of their moving braids.

41 May Lord Hari, who places the flute to His mouth, who makes His form, which is splashed by great waves of nectar filled with ever new amorous passion, and splendid as a dark monsoon cloud, bend in three places, who wears a splendid peacock feather crown and jewel earrings, and who loosens the belts of Vraja’s respectable girls, appear before me.

42 Beautiful Vrndavana forest, which eternally expands the shoreless great ocean of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna’s thirst for amorous pastimes, and which is the ultimate limit of limitless, intense bliss, is our bliss.

43 In Vrndavana every direction is filled with the cries of the dancing peacocks, the cuckoos continually warble “kuhu” on the branches of the mango trees, the bumblebees everywhere sing of the sweetness of each vine and flower, and every direction is filled with a wonderful sweet fragrance from the splendid flowers.

44 Until the body’s end please take shelter of inconceivably glorious Vrndavana. With its name impersonal liberation, struck by a broom, goes outside, the frightened mystic perfections approach with humble prayers, offering to render service, and the illusory potency, maya, runs far away and dies.

45 Ah! Greed to taste the nectar ocean of wild love that at every step floods Vrndavana torments Laksmi, Brahma, Siva, and the Lord’s personal associates. O saintly devotees, sipping this ocean with cupped hands, please reside here in Vrndavana.

46 If you drink the sweetest nectar up to your neck, then what is that? If you embrace the breasts of Urvasi, then what is that? If you taste the nectar bliss of the impersonal Brahman, then what is that? The blades of grass in Vrndavana reject all these things. They spit on them.

47 A person absorbed in devotional service in the land of Vrndavana does not suffer from impious or pious deeds. He does not tremble in fear of his body’s death from the snake of time. He is not happy to get the opulences of Brahma and the demigods. He is not happy to taste the eternal bliss of impersonal Brahman.

48 What is the use? What is the use of these horrible, useless senses difficult, painful happiness? Somehow or other, even with difficulty, reside in Vrndavana with only one source of happiness.

49 Rolling on the ground in rasa-sthali, reciting Krsna pastimes without end, calling out “O Krsna”, at every step as he walks, and singing and dancing, a great devotee shining with love and the knots of materialism broken, muddies Vrndavana with a flood of tears.

50 May Vrndavana, where there is a single great desire that cannot even bear the slightest touch of even the smallest drop of any other desire, where there is an eternal, ever-increasing, flooding nectar ocean, and where all that moves and all that stands still is rich with wonderful, ever-increasing opulences, eternally appear before me.

51 When our mind spontaneously runs to the limitless nectar of Lord Krsna, then the supremely purifying realm of Vrndavana appears on this earth. However, if, with body, mind or words, we offend the moving and stationary residents of Vrndavana, we will not have the intelligence to see the truth.

52 May my heart become plunged in the great ocean of pure love for Sri Radha-Muralidhara. May my heart become plunged in the shoreless ocean of the splendor of Their fair and dark complexions. May my heart become maddened by the glory of the ocean of sweetness of Their beauty. May the forest of Sri Vrndavana appear within my heart. May my heart not fall into maya’s grip.

53 I wish to stay in Vrndavana, even in the body of an animal like a dog or a pig. I shall not stay in any other place, even if I have a body, made of eternity knowledge and bliss, that even the demigods cannot attain.

54 Even if I am oppressed with great suffering, let me pass this lifetime in Sri Vrndavana. Even if I have the opulence of extraordinary happiness in some other place, let me not stay there for even the blinking of an eye.

55 When, resting my cheeks in my hands, lamenting “O Krsna! O Krsna!”, and my eyes straming tears, will I become simultaneously poverty stricken and fabulously wealthy in Vrndavana?

56 When, happy, indifferent to everything, and my heart unshaken by millions of praises and rebukes, will I worship Radha’s lover in the land of Vrndavana?

57 When, taking shelter only of Sri Vrndavana, and quitting the paths of the Vedas and the common people, will I be overcome with love by serving Lord Hari’s feet.

58 There is no happiness here in this world! O, there is no happiness! Don’t senselessly fall into the net of illusions! Every day take shelter of supremely blissful Vrndavana.

59 Fool, don’t trust wife, children, body, home, wealth, or any other material thing. Don’t pause to think. Simply move your two feet in the direction of Sri Vrndavana.

60 Vrndavana, where there are splendid mountain caves, beautiful forest groves by the Yamuna’s shore, lakes full of lotus flowers, and cottages of flowering vines, all these places beautified by Sri Sri Radha-Krsna’s pastimes, and where there is a wonderful flooding stream of eternal auspiciousness and a great treasure of sublime, wonderful transcendental opulence that eternally increases without limit, is my life and soul.

61 Keep your body always in the land of Sri Vrndavana. Please yourself always in the service of the couple that drinks nectar in Vrndavana. Make your voice always sing Their pastimes. Please your ears with the nectar of words about Them.

62 O Sri Vrndavana, be kind. Please make me one of your blades of grass that experiences the great festival of the touch of the lotus feet of the fair and dark complexioned youthful divine couple as, yearning to enjoy newer and newer transcendental amorous pastimes, They tread a secluded forest path.

63 How can a person who has never seen Vrndavana’s Yamuna river, which is filled with eternally blooming indivara, kamala, kahlara, kumuda, and other lotus flowers, all filled with the sweet humming sounds of bumblebees, and which displays the places where Sri Sri Radha-Muralidhara and Their friends enjoyed transcendental pastimes, remain alive?

64 I bow before Vrndavana’s Yamuna river, which is eternally splendid with a lotus of many jewels, which flows from an ocean of bliss, which is delightful with many other colorful splendid flowers, which cannot be approached by the crowns of the three Vedas and which is filled with the sounds of maddened bees and birds.

65 Meditate on Vrndavana’s Yamuna river, which is dear to Lord Hari, which flows with a great flood of transcendental bliss, which has shores studded with jewels, waves chanting the Sama Veda, and swans, cranes, karandavas, datyuhas and other birds chanting the Rg veda.

66 During Their water pastimes, Radha hid in a forest of golden lotus flowers. Krsna kissed a lotus flower, mistaking it for Radha’s face. Laughing and laughing, Radha was no longer able to hide. Krsna laughed and embraced Her, and Her gopi friends also joined them in laughing.

67 Even though Her red sindura and other cosmetic ointments were washed away, Her pearls and flower garlands broken, and Her eyes red from pastimes in the Yamuna’s waters, still Sri Radha remained exquisitely beautiful as She rested on Lord Hari’s transcendental body in Vrndavana forest.

68 Lord Krsna, the prince of Vraja, violently splashed Radha and the gopis, and they also splashed Him in return. Considering their great splashing intolerable, Krsna slid under the Yamuna’s water, touched their broad hips, thighs, legs, and feet and then, laughing, and as splendid as millions of moons, rose in a distant place.

69 When, eager to enjoy transcendental amorous pastimes, Radha and Krsna entered the lotus filled spiritual waters of the Yamuna, and when They stayed there a long time, absorbed in amorous battle, the anxious gopis, considering Them more dear than their own lives, earnestly searched for Them.

70 Throwing a great burst of the laughter of kamala, kairava and other kinds of lotus flowers on each other’s body, closing Their eyes as They splash water on each other’s face, diving into the water, and lifting each other from it, and both claiming victory in battle, two fair and dark splendors play in the Yamuna water.

71-73 May the Yamuna, where waters sweet as grape-sugar milk nectar are filled with golden lotus buds and other flowers, where the shores are made of many jewels, where the water is wonderful with the splashing of playful, splendid jewel fish, where there is a wonder of glistening jewel staircases, where the shores are very beautiful with groves of many kinds of wonderful flower filled trees and vines and fragrant with camphor and splendid bakula trees, where along the shores are frightened does with wide open eyes, where there sweet fragrance of many splendid forests of kadamba and campaka trees are everywhere, where there is an abundance of pollen, flying birds, pleasant breezes, and a sweet splendor everywhere, where forests groves are reflected in the deep waters, and where Sri Sri Radha-Krsna’s bliss increases, also increase the happiness of you all.

74 The Yamuna is decorated with many swans, cranes and karandavas. All directions are pleasant with the fragrance of the new pundarikas and other lotus flowers. Bumblebees stay in the forest of kahlaras, utpalas, pankajas, and other lotus flowers. The soft singing of the maddened bees enchants the ears of the entire world.

75 How many splendid lakes, streams, wells and ponds in this beautiful land of Vrndavana do not have their sweet waters anointed with cosmetic ointments left by Sri Sri Radha-Krsna? How many young hills of jewels and gold have not been the places of Their wonderful pastimes? How much splendid beauty is not present in this very fragrant land of Vrndavana?

76 I meditate on all of Vrndavana which, with its beasts, birds, forest groves of trees and flowering vines, hills, pleasant caves, pools, wells, ponds, streams, lakes, and jewel courtyards, as well as the Yamuna’s shores and everything there is enchanted by Radha-Madhava’s beauty, and is blind with love for Them.

77 Please meditate on Her being anointed by a friend with scented oil, bathed, and offered tirtha-kriya, a sumptuous feast, a splendid garland of fragrant forest flowers, betel leaves, music, and a foot massage as She, the flower crown of Vraja’s girls, lies down with dark Krsna.

78 Mohini-murti is not wonderful to my heart. What is Parvati? What is Urvasi? What is any exquisitely beautiful girl to me as I glimpse Her maidservant’s splendor? May She, Vraja’s queen, who charms supremely charming Krsna’s heart, appear in my heart.

79 When will I seethe fulfillment of my desires, the ocean of the splendor of Sri Radha’s feet, the bodily hairs risen with ecstatic devotional love, the sweet music that was learned, and the wonderful flower garlands, jewel necklaces, ornaments and garments left by Her and Her beloved in Vrndavana?

80 When in Sri Vrndavana’s groves and paths will I see a splendor as fair as molten gold and like an ocean of beauty moving at every step with hundreds of currents of the gracefulness of ever-fresh youth and violently tossed by great waves of ever new love for the dark moon of Krsna?

81 Glimpsing Her braids, beautiful face, breasts, eyes, teeth,lips, and flower blossom luster, any other girl becomes embarrassed. May She, the fair splendor that in a forest grove, is now a wonderful ornament on Lord Syama’s chest, appear before me.

82 May Vrndavana’s splendid treasure, which has a youthful body, a golden complexion, is tossed by waves of ever-new amorous pastimes, flooded with currents of eternal, wonderful beauty, overwhelmed by great, transcendental love, decorated with splendid flower garlands, garments, and ornaments, and O! with its auspicious glory fills the gopis with wonder, appear before me.

83 May these two sapphire and golden splendors, ever expert at tasting nectar, two floods of ever new love, the enjoyers of ever new pastimes in nectarean Vrndavana, and filled with newer and newer sweetness of beauty, appear in my heart.

84 Please serve the lotus feet of Radha’s lover, a cloth elaborately wrapped around His hips, and the hairs of His body standing erect from repeated kisses and embraces, he lies on the bed with His beloved.

85 By offering aromatic scents, betel nuts, and flower garlands, by very gently anointing Them with oil, and by expertly massaging Them, please serve the fair and dark complexioned glorious young divine couple who, in this cottage of flowering vines, are now overwhelmed with transcendental amorous passion.

86 O heart, with great longings of love, please worship the beautiful land of Vrndavana, made a glorious place of amorous pastimes by graceful limbs of wonderful youthful beauty, made eternally wonderful by a charming flutist and its ten directions filled by waves of golden splendor.

87 He who is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is not counted among the incarnations of God, who in His transcendental form appears in Yadu-puri and Madhu-puri, and who in Vraja, the best of Madhura-puri’s forests, stays with His friends, gopis and cows, does not attract my heart, which has now gone to Radha’ s forest.

88 Vrndavana is filled with the splendor of transcendental amorous pastimes. It is the most pure of all that is pure, the most splendid of all splendors, sweeter than the shoreless ocean of sweetness, the most delightful of all delights, limitless, and it makes one forget the wonder of all kinds of material happiness. Please gaze at the charming youthful divine couple in the vine cottage in its midst.

89 Charming Vrndavana, the cream of the nectar ocean of the sweetest, sweetest love, shines with great splendor. Let us meditate on the playful, graceful, blissful, fair and dark young couple who, overcome with transcendental amorous passion, enjoy pastimes there.

90 Meditate on the Deity of transcendental amorous pastimes who knows His mistress’s most secret desires, is filled with longings of love and is expert at conversing with His beloved’s friends in Vrndavana.

91 I meditate on Vrndavana, beautiful with blossoming trees and vines, splendid forest groves, glistening jewel pavements, buzzing bees madly dancing peacocks, tumultuous warbling of a host of regal birds everywhere, and the wonderful bliss of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna’s pastimes.

92 This is the broad bank of the yamuna. This is the beauty of Vrndavana forest. This is the very thick shade of beautiful kadamba trees. This is the host of beautiful, young, intelligent gopi friends. These are the two fair and dark effulgent splendors that drink nectar. Who would not become enchanted by all this?

93 Obeisances to the fortunate souls that place in their hearts the feet of Vrndavana’s king and queen, whose limbs are sweetly fragrant, who shine with glorious splendor, who at every step are overcome with the ecstasies of love, who are flooding rives of sweetness, who are great oceans of beauty, and who yearn to enjoy the limitless bliss of ever expanding transcendental amorous pastimes.

94 Please worship Vrndavana, where the fair and dark youthful divine couple eternally enjoy newer and newer transcendental amorous pastimes.

95 I offer my respectful obeisances to Vrndavana, which is like very sweet Vrndavana and nothing else, and which is where Radha and Krsna, who are like Radha and Krsna and no one else, eternally enjoy transcendental pastimes.

96 Beyond maya’s modes of nature an effulgence shines. Beyond that effulgence the intensely blissful, limitless, pure, confidential, great, filled with the nectar of transcendental love, very wonderful, filled with a great flood of sweetness, supremely effulgent abode of Vrndavana arises.

97 In Vrndavana, which is decorated with many wonderful fruits and flowers, with the everywhere-present, tumultuous sound of many wonderful playful birds, which is like a flood of nectar for the ear, with the enchanting soft sounds of many bees intoxicated by drinking honey and with many trees and vines dear to Lord Krsna.....

98 which is splendid with numberless transcendental fragrant tulasi trees very dear to Lord Krsna, with santana trees, with haricandana trees, with countless forests of kalpadruma trees, with many forests of beautiful transcendental parijata trees, with many mandara trees, nipa trees, and kadamba trees, all very dear to Lord Krsna....

99 which is gloriously paved with gold, diamonds, emeralds, and vaiduryas, filled with the blissful dancing of maddened peacocks, enchanting with the frightened glances of wonderful does, filled with a limitless sweet fragrance...

100 which is charming with the wonderful beauty of many kahlaras, utpalas, pundarikas, kumudas, and other flowers, with the very blissful tumult created by many jubilant colorful birds with the many splendid transcendental lakes and streams, with Sri Radha-Krsna’s eternal, wonderful, sweet, loving pastimes....

101 with jati forests, yuthika forests, newly blossoming malli forests, vasanti forests, new ketaki forests, beautiful new malati forests, jivanti forests, jhintika forests, splendid new sephalika forests, newly blossoming malika forests, and beautiful svarnayuthi forests...

102 which is enchanting with many splendid, always newly fragrant and blossoming in all seasons punnagas, karavirakas, maurvakas, beautiful karnikaras, splendid kubjas, kunda forests, asokas, bakulas, bhucampakas, campakas, amlanas, sthala-pankajas, damanakas, and sirisa trees....

103 which is delightful with numberless kahlaras, utpalas, padmas, kairavas and other blossoming flowers, with the very blissful, excited playing and sweet warbling of the swans, pairs of cranes and cakravakas, karandavas and other birds, and with the hundreds of swarms of humming bees flying everywhere....

104 whose chest is embraced by the splendid, transcendental Yamuna, which has beautiful shores studded with jewels, delicious cool water sweeter than nectar, turbulent waves of swiftly flowing pure dark water, and Radha-Krsna’s wonderful and very passionate amorous pastimes....

105 which is beautified by wonderful jewel mountains, extremely beautiful transcendental caves, transcendental waterfalls filled with nectar moonlight, beautiful streams with water made of jewels and gold, beautiful pavilions of wonderful new vines, wonderful jewel trees, splendid birds and deer made of various jewels, and many other miraculous wonders...

106 which is a splendid forest decorated with many vine-cottages hidden in the foothills, which has many splendid and enchanting flower gardens, which is wonderful with beautiful scenery, which has many charming beautiful large forest groves, which is decorated with Lord Syama, His beloved, and Her friends....

107 which is very beautifully decorated by the circle of Radha’s friends, who display a wonderful variety of beautiful bodily complexions, who are wonderful with the beauty and charm of splendid youth, who are delightful with a splendid variety of artistic skills, who are blinded with love for their beloved...

108 who have beautiful broad hips, slender waists marked with three folds of skin, enchanting beautiful breasts decorated with bodices and strands of splendid pearls, mirror cheeks splendid with earrings, and beautiful noses decorated with pearls studded with jewels and gold, and who enchant the entire world with their beauty.....

109 who are splendid with maha-prasada garments, ornaments, garlands, and other things left by the dearmost divine couple, who flood the world with the splendor of their enchanting forms as fair as molten gold, whose pure love for Radha-Krsna’s lotus feet is their lie and soul, who with various splendid artistic skills please the dearmost divine couple...

Sataka Four

1 (In Vrndavana, which is very beautifully decorated by the circle of Radha’s friends), who are charming with tinkling anklebells and belts, beautiful toe-rings and glistening anklets, decorated with beautiful jewel armlets and hair ornaments, and whose beautiful broad hips are touched by the swinging vine of their braided hair, which is decorated with bunches of flowers, and the root of which is bound with a great cluster of jasmine flowers that attracts a great swarm of bees...

2 whose beautiful conch-shell necks are decorated with glistening lockets, whose beautiful reddish lotus flower hands are beautifully decorated with jewel rings, who are situated in eternal youth, who are supremely expert and intelligent, who are the most skilled singers and musicians, who are Sri Radha’s followers, who are far beyond the understanding of even the Upanisads, and the crest jewels of the Vedas...

3 (in Vrndavana, which is very beautifully decorated by Sri Radha), who is served by splendid servant-girls that are great treasures of all intelligence and all expertise and the shade of whose lotus feet is difficult for even the most beautiful of all young gopis to attain, who (Radha) is eternally overcome with the bliss of transcendental amorous passion, who is loved day and night by beautiful friends whose bodily hairs stand erect in ecstatic love for the divine couple.

4 who (Radha) is a wonderfully splendid and auspicious crescent moon shining in the midst of the many glistening stars that are the host of Her friends and dear maid servants, who floods the world with festive nectar waves from the ocean of wonderful golden splendor rising from each of Her transcendental limbs...

5 who (Radha) fills all directions with waves of pure love, of Her wonderful beautiful, golden complexion and of the graceful sweetness of Her delicate limbs sprouting from youth, who relishes perfect intoxicating bliss, who continually enchants the birds, beasts, trees, vines, and others....

6 whose wonderful beauty is millions and millions of oceans of beauty, where the beauty of Laksmi, Gauri, and the splendid demigodesses is not even a single drop, who stands at the topmost limit of splendid, wonderful skill in the arts of love, whose bodily hairs stand erect as She again and again tastes the nectar of pure love for Lord Syama....

7 who is decorated with a belt, ankle-bells, necklaces, bracelets, jewel earrings, hair ornaments, armlets, rings, and a beautiful glistening pearl set at the tip of Her nose, who wears Her hair in a large braid decorated with a bunch of beautiful flowers at its tip, which swings about Her beautiful broad hips, who wears splendid jewel ornaments in the part of Her hair, who wears a beautiful chaplet of flowers at the place where Her braid begins....

8 the golden moon of whose beautiful forehead is decorated with a glistening sindura dots, the waves of whose moving eyebrows again and again create limitless millions of passionate desires in Her lover, the gracefully playing Khanjana birds of whose eyes stun Her lover, the sharpened arrows of whose playful, restless, amorous sidelong glances again and again overwhelm Her lover......

9 who enchants the heart with both the wonderful moonlight of Her shy smile and Her conversation as sweet as a cool stream of nectar, whose limitlessly sweet lips are splendid as a glistening pomegranate flower, whose chin is a nectar ocean of beauty ornamented with a single beautiful black musk-dot....

10 whose splendid, delicate cheeks are glistening golden mirrors fashioned from the great ocean of transcendental beauty, whose incomparably beautiful teeth stained from chewing betel nuts are like beautiful pearls and beautiful, glistening, perfectly ripe pomegranate seeds....

11 whose beautiful nose, as lovely as a sesame flower, is decorated with a beautiful pearl studded with splendid jewels and gold, whose beautiful nostrils are lime Kamadeva’s two wonderful quivers, whose charming lips, more red than roses, are marked with both the stain of betel nuts, and a wound left by the teeth of the charming master of Her life.

12 whose very splendid conchshell neck is decorated with a wonderful graiveyaka necklace, beautiful kanthika necklaces, and padaka lockets glistening with various jewels, who is decorated with many splendid bodice that covers Her breasts, which are like two mountain peaks of nectarean beauty, or two fully blossomed flowers grown from the jewel mine of transcendental beauty....

13 whose charmingly beautiful slender abdomen is marked with three folds of skin that are three waves in the ocean of transcendental beauty, whose very beautiful hips are dressed in glistening red silk, whose splendid golden plantain tree thighs are filled wit the great wonder of a great flood of glistening waves of the nectar of pure transcendental sweetness...

14 whose splendid knees and ankles are like beautiful lotus stems, whose lotus feet display limitless beauty and sweetness, on each limb of whose transcendental form is a very wonderful monsoon shower of wonderful beauty, auspiciousness, great sweetness, splendor, and the transcendental symptoms of pure ecstatic love for dark complexioned Lord Krsna....

15 who, the hairs on all Her limbs standing erect in ecstasy, Her beautiful limbs now moving languidly because of having tasted the bliss of unrestrained, uninterrupted, passionate, transcendental amorous pastimes with dark complexioned Lord Krsna, Her words overwhelmed with emotion, and her every feature showering a great monsoon of transcendental sweetness, by presenting in this way a very unusual appearance has deeply worried and upset Her gopi friends...

16 and who, placing the blossoming vine of Her languid transcendental form on the dark complexioned transcendental form of Lord Krsna, and served by Her maidservants, who affectionately massage Her lotus feet, fan Her, give Her betelnuts, and render other services, and playfully taking the chewed betelnuts from the moon that is the mouth of the Lord of Her life, placing them in the moon of Her own mouth, laughs, gives them back to Her lover, and playfully repeats this game again and again....

17 with Her, Sri Radha, (in that Vrndavana forest) a certain dark young moon, wealthy with many skills in the arts of amorous pastimes, limitlessly wonderful with a great wealth of love for Sri Radha and a great flood of handsomeness and charm, and overcome with eternal amorous passion, enjoys transcendental pastimes.

18 I meditate on the wonderful divine couple, who are overwhelmed with newer and newer amorous bliss, whose fair and dark forms are splendid and charming, who stand in the prime of youth, who, bodily hairs erect because of Their intense passionate yearnings, have become like blossoming kadamba trees, and who eternally stay in the secluded forest groves of Sri Vrndavana.

19 May Sri Hari’s wonderful youthfulness, very wonderful and beautiful Radha, handsomeness that enchants the entire world, transcendental, amorous pastimes, submissiveness to Sri Radha, and very wonderful sattvika-bhava ecstatic symptoms, such as tears, standing up of the body’s hairs and becoming stunned, fill my heart with wonder.

20 May Vrndavana’s sweetness, the sweetness of the beautiful forest groves, the sweetness of the fair and dark youthful divine couple, who are blind with love, and the very wonderful sweetness of the host of waves of Their transcendental pastimes of conversing, glancing, tricking, touching, and joking, all appear before me.

21 May I always wonderfully love the dark complexioned youth that plunges Radhika’s maidservants in the shoreless ocean of supreme bliss, that has crossed to the farther shore of the arts of amorous pastimes, that is eternally overwhelmed with transcendental passion, and that eternally stays in Vrndavana.

22 This forest named Vrndavana, where the Radha-Krsna Deities shine as Radha-Krsna’s own sweet form shine, and where a person who has made the nectar of the divine couple his life and soul enjoys as the divine couple’s friends, who have dedicated their lives to Them, enjoy, shines as the beautiful Vrndavana in the spiritual world shines.

23 Vrndavana-dhama, the sweetest of nectars, has no equal or superior. Radha-Krsna, the two crowns and transcendental goals of our lives, have no equal or superior. The beautiful gopis, who nourish the pastimes of the divine couple more dear to them than life, have no equal or superior.

24 What nonsense! What nonsense! What misfortune! Even though he is a ‘great man’ he still does not like blissful Vrndavana!

25 If even the ‘greatest’ person refuses to take shelter of blissful Vrndavana, he should be called the lowest of men.

26 I do not love blissfully sweet Vrndavana. What is the good of my knowledge, devotion, or renunciation?

27 Pathetic! Pathetic are my scholarship, noble birth, good character, and splendid array of virtues! Because in this life I do not love Vrndavana, I am a living corpse.

28 Because I have not renounced everything and taken shelter of Vrndavana I am more pitiful than those pitied by the pitiful and I am more foolish than the greatest fool.

29 Lord Caitanya’s feet are far away. Powerful Kali has appeared. How will love for Krsna be attained without love for Vrndavana?

30 Ah, only a fool happy to be praised by pig-like men will not take shelter of Vrndavana, which is an ocean of bliss.

31 Alas! Alas! I have left Vrndavana to go to another place. I have spit out the sweetest nectar and knowingly drunk poison.

32 All directions are filled with glory! The world is full of bliss! O! O! I do not see anything except Vrndavana!

33 What can I do? I am a madman. I will just say this one thing: Knowledge, renunciation, and all other virtues are worthless without Vrndavana.

34 Calling out “He’s a thief! He’s wretched and degraded”, cursing, hitting and tying it up, let everyone trouble this faultless body. Let it suffer a host of unbearable tortures, but let my body stay in Vrndavana.

35 Vrndavana’s queen brings limitless pure bliss to He whose face is Vrndavana’s splendid moon risen from the nectar ocean of bliss and love. She fills Vrndavana with nectar and She makes Her beautiful friends again and again shed tears and their bodily hairs stand erect in wonderful ecstatic love like Her own.

36 When, filled with ecstatic love, will I serve the splendid, wonderfully playful, fair and dark youthful divine couple as, served by a host of beautiful young girls bringing many splendid offerings. They enjoy wonderful transcendental pastimes in a beautiful pavilion of flowering vines under s desire tree by the Yamuna’s shore in Vrndavana forest?

37 Wearing tinkling ornaments on Her ankles and a glistening sash on her broad hips, her waist slender, a necklace of glistening pearls on her flower-bud breasts, a cluster of flowers on the end of her swinging braids, a splendid pearl set in jewels and gold on the tip of her nose, and wearing a wonderfully colorful silken sari, may one of Radhika’s golden complexioned young maidservants appear before me.

38 When it sees the most beautiful young demigoddess, who continually celebrates a festival of passionate love, and who charms even the greatest sages with her beauty, playfulness, artistic skill, and enchanting sweetness, in its heart, the tip of the toenail of the girl who serves Radha’s feet spits in contempt.

39 I pray that I may see the maidservants splendid with playfulness, beauty, youthfulness, and other virtues gathered from the supremely blissful ocean of the splendor of the lotus feet of Vrndavana’s queen.

40-45 When in my heart will I properly worship Sri Radha, who is fair as molten gold, whose limbs are flowering vines, who is a shoreless flood of beauty, playfulness, and fresh youthfulness, whose swinging braids play about Her broad hips, whose beautiful breasts are two wonderful golden mountains, whose pleasantly smiling face is sweet with ever-new nectar, whose eyes are two khankana birds playing in the ever-new nectar of transcendental mellows, whose smooth vinelike arms are filled with beauty and luster and are splendid with glistening armlets and beautiful bracelets, whose ears are decorated with glistening transcendental jewel earrings, the tip of whose nose is decorated with a splendid pearl set in jewels and gold, whose conchshell neck glistens with various kinds of golden necklaces, whose hair is decorated with many jewel ornaments, whose fingers are decorated with beautiful, glistening jewel rings, who wears a bodice that holds the flood of splendor from Her breasts, whose exquisitely beautiful waist is so slender it can be encircled by a single hand, who wears a splendid jewel belt on Her hips, who wears beautiful anklets, who, furtively glancing at Her lover, trembles with very sweet feelings of love, shyly smiles, and playfully covers Her breast with the edge of Her sari, the rising moon of whose face creates waves of gentle smiles of ever-new bliss, the hairs of whose body stand erect with transcendental love, who smiles as She speaks some words with a gopi friend, whose restless eyes move here and there, and whose vinelike arms tremble with ecstatic love?

46 Let hundreds of arrows of harsh words pierce my heart. Let hundreds and hundreds of kicks fall on my head. Let hundreds of days pass where I am unable to get even the smallest meal. Remembering at every moment the fair and dark glories that are my life’s treasure, and whose forms are two oceans of sweet nectar, I shall happily live in Vrndavana.

47 Birth after birth you enjoyed the loving attentions of a dear wife who offered you flower garlands, sandalwood paste and a host of other gifts. In some births your pride knew no limit, and in some births you had no fame. In some births you were a great scholar learned in many books, and in some births folly would not leave you. Today you should be displeased with all these things. Give them all up and simply worship Vrndavana to attain transcendental bliss.

48 Thin and emaciated, my body undecorated and my hair unattended, wearing a kaupina, some ragged garments and a patchwork shawl, very mild and peaceful, silent, staying far away from others as if I were the lowest of the low, and my heart deeply entering into the pure devotional service of Sri Radha’s lotus feet, may I become a very fortunate resident of Vrndavana.

49 What is the wealth of Kuvera? What is the eloquence of Brhaspati? What is the great opulence of Indraloka? What is the use of having the handsomeness of Kamadeva? What is the use of the wonderful mystic perfections obtained by yoga, austerity and other means? All these become a pathetic mockery when placed in a person averse to the place named Vrndavana.

50 Who will not worship this earthly Vrndavana, where Radha and Krsna eternally enjoy transcendental amorous pastimes, which is situated above all other places, the residence of the enlightened and the ignorant, and which with its sweetness, splendor, and host of other virtues, has defeated all other places?

51 If fools see defects in this inconceivably glorious earthly Vrndavana, where everything is effulgent, pure, spiritual, and full of nectar, and where all living entities swim in a nectar ocean of pure love for Krsna, the farther shore of which even the three Vedas cannot see, then what can the wise, who have the eyes to see, say to enlighten them?

52 If one worships Vrndavana, which has endless beauty, endless sweetness, endless splendor, endless nectar, love for Krsna, endless kindness, and generosity and endless glory, then his good fortune is also endless.

53 O dearmost, supremely blissful Vrndavana, If I could see the splendor of your moving and non-moving residents with millions of transcendental eyes, if I could smell your sweet fragrance with millions of nostrils, if I could hear about your noble virtues with millions of ears, if I could wander through you with millions of feet, and if I could bow down to offer respects to you with many millions of heads and hands, I would still not be satisfied.

54 Vrndavana is the most exalted transcendental abode. If my ears hear about the faults of Vrndavana, I shall pierce my ears with a dagger. If my tongue speaks about these faults I shall happily cut out my tongue. If my eyes see them I shall put out my eyes. If my mind believes the account of Vrndavana’s faults I shall give up my life. If my ears and other senses thus become like untouchable outcastes, I shall stay far away from them.

55 O Vrndavana, I do not find this kind of happiness even on Candraloka. Your particles of dust dwarf the happiness of all the demigods.

56 Worshipped by the great demigods, the trees, bushes, vines in Vrndavana are full of bliss. O slow-witted people, of what use are millions of celestial mandara trees to us?

57 I pray that I may become an insect in Sri Sri Radha-Muralidhara’s supremely opulent Vrndavana. I am not eager to become even the most important personal associate of the Lord in any other place.

58 A person who continually, and with great love, describes and hears the transcendental virtues of Vrndavana, makes Lord Krsna heavily indebted to him.

59 I dearly love the transcendental forest named Sri Vrndavana, which is filled with all the most exalted transcendental virtues, and which contains many beautiful forest groves where Radha’s lover enjoyed transcendental pastimes.

60 O Vrndavana, If I can become even a blade of grass at the edge of one of your forests, then, if even the opulence of Vaikuntha were to suddenly fall into my hand, I would not see it as something very beautiful or desirable,

61 Let me experience all terrible sufferings in Vrndavana. I shall not live in any other place, even if there I enjoy all spiritual and material opulences.

62 One who harms the residents of Vrndavana will suffer for a long time in hell. Because I can see this truth, I pray that I may always be devoted to the residents of Vrndavana.

63 The thieves who live in Vrndavana are cintamani jewels granting all the most exalted goals in life. Laksmi, Siva, and all the demigods aspire to touch them.

64 I pray that I may be fortunate to become an animal, bird, blade of grass, or speck of dust in Vrndavana forest, which is flooded with the wonderful nectar of dark complexioned Lord Krsna.

65 I think the ultimate goal of life is to attain even a small amount of love for the land of Vrndavana, which is opulent with the splendid pastimes of Sri Radha-Muralimanohara’s feet.

66 Wandering, out of great curiosity, in Vrndavana forest, and Their soft, sweet words very wonderful nectar for the ear, Radha and Krsna see some wonderful and beautiful sight, and earnestly say to each other: “Look! Look! Listen! Listen!”

67 Let us take shelter of Vrndavana-dhama, where the greatest splendor, the highest love for Krsna, and the ultimate beauty of Sri Radhika are manifest.

68 May I yearn only to serve Sri Radha-Krsna’s lotus feet in Vrndavana’s charming groves by the Yamuna’s shore.

69 Who will not be filled with sweet yearnings to serve Sri Radha-Muralidhara, who are splendid with amorous playfulness in the lovely groves of Vrndavana forest?

70 Even Laksmi and the other demigoddesses cannot hope to worship Radha’s lotus feet. O Vrndavana, by you power I now yearn for that service.

71 Fool, once you leave Vrndavana, where even Laksmi and her friends cannot enter, and where the noble goddesses of devotional service meet the Lord’s nectar opulences, where will you go?

72 O! O! without manifesting his original spiritual form and qualities, who can enter Vrndavana’s groves, which are flooded with sweet waves of bliss and are the site of Radha-Krsna’s graceful amorous pastimes.

73 Let us glorify the supreme king of forests, the realm of spiritual love, where by entering one is filled with a great wonder of transcendental happiness, where the blisses of Radha-Krsna’s wonderful amorous pastimes fill everyone with wonder, and where the wonderful joy of the divine couple’s most wonderful awareness that They are each other’s property shines eternally.

74 By offering very beautiful service, the god of love pleases in Their hearts the divine couple, whose glory rebukes the golden campaka flower and the blue lotus, and who at every moment enjoy passionate amorous pastimes in the opulent cottage of flowering vines by the Yamuna’s shore.

75 Please meditate on the youthful divine couple, who are splendid as a golden campaka and blue lotus, who are overcome with passionate love, and the playful splendor of whose eyes, voices, and forms enchants the fortunate gopis in the sweet abode of Vrndavana.

76 Crossing the ocean of the three modes of nature, which is filled with great material suffering, and then crossing the ocean of spiritual light, see the Lord’s many spiritual planets. After again and again enjoying happiness there, leave and go to the supreme abode named Vrndavana. Once there, search for the Radhika’s nectar forest garden.

77 Wonderfully rich in the happiness of love, and your expert intelligence eternally devoted to the service of your two Lords, eternally reside in the charming groves where Radha-Krsna enjoy amorous pastimes in the beautiful Vrndavana in your heart.

78 Sent by one of the gopis’ leaders, and their hearts filled with intense love, some messengers now serve Radha-Krsna, who thirst to enjoy transcendental amorous pastimes in the beautiful groves of Vrndavana.

79 Of what use are scholarship, noble birth, good character, handsomeness and wealth? Of what use are charity, sacrifice, and other pious acts? Of what use are hundreds of fames? Of what use is severe austerity? Of what use is renunciation, yoga and other spiritual practices? Of what use is seeing the truth? Of what use is service to Visnu? Of what use are these wonderful things for a person who has not made very wonderful Vrndavana, whose sweetness enchants even the Lord, his life and soul?

80 O Sri Vrndavana, I am now very fortunate. I have become the object of your very, very great mercy. You have given me the right to reside within your boundaries, a right that is prayed for by Lord Brahma, Sukadeva Gosvami, Sanaka Kumara, and other great souls. This gift gives me hope that some day I will directly serve the splendid, charming, eternally youthful, eternally amorous fair and dark divine couple.

81 O Sri Vrndavana, O land more affectionate than millions of mothers. O place whose supremely wonderful transcendental glory is eternally remember by Laksmi, Siva, and a host of great souls, if you have now appeared before my eyes, and if you have granted me residence within your boundaries, which is sought by the greatest devotees, then why do you now hesitated to allow me to serve the great souls that live within you?

82 Please happily serve Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, who have no equal or superior, whose deep love for each other eternally grows with Their handsomeness, playfulness, expert intelligence, and host of virtues, who are wonderfully flooded by the nectar ocean of intense bliss, and who eternally stay in Vrndavana.

83 Flooding everything, including even Goloka, with a limitless nectar ocean of transcendental moonlight, my Vrndavana is like a very charming splendid moon shining above everything.

84 Now talk of the three modes of material nature is completely stopped. Now the spiritual planets of Lord Hari have become dim as fireflies. What more shall I day? Completely eclipsing the happiness found in any other place, Vrndavana shines with great transcendental splendor.

85 If we ignore Vrndavana, which is flooded with the nectar of Radha’s lotus feet and filled with the bliss of love for Lord Hari’s feet, then what are the other things we will talk about.

86 Even if I must pass millions of births before I again obtain a human body like this, I shall still reside in Vrndavana. My only wish is to reside in Vrndavana.

87 Alas! Alas! Fie on me! Because I am attached to the very insignificant and unbeneficial ideas of religion held by the common people, I have ruined my residence in Vrndavana.

88 Srimati Radhika’s forest is the perfect atonement of sins, the ultimate shelter from offenses to great souls, the crest jewel of all principles of religion, and the crest jewel of all goals of life.

89 O dear friend whose life is Vrndavana, give up contact with ordinary people, a contact that destroys the goal of life, and give up attachment for the pot of stool known as the material body, an attachment that fills the lowest people with joy.

90 The fortunate bow down before a person who, always seeing the eternal and sweet spiritual forms of Vrndavana’s grass, bushes, and other living entities, and bowing down before them with great devotion, resides here in Vrndavana.

91 The fortunate, shedding tears of love as they remember Sri Radha’s feet decorated with tinkling jewel anklets, reside in Her forest.

92 Vrndavana is completely filled with the sweet nectar of pure love for Lord Krsna. All moving and non-moving residents of Vrndavana have spiritual forms, and you also have a spiritual form, just as they. Give up all external ideas. Do not be attached to ordinary religion. Knowing the truth, always reside at Sri Radhika’s feet.

93 When, in this Vrndavana forest, diving into the great transcendental nectar ocean of pure devotional service to the lotus feet of Sri Radha and Her beloved, Lord Krsna, will I completely forget about the existence of my external material body?

94 To reside in Vrndavana I would perform millions of irreligious acts or millions of sins. I would tolerate anything. I shall attain my goal.

95 Eternally I bow down before Vrndavana’s residents, who have limitless splendor and bliss, and limitless splendid love for Sri Radha-Krsna, and who hold in their hands the limitless power of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

96 Let me praise Vrndavana’s birds and other creatures, who are plunged into the ocean of limitless moonlight, flooded with the wonder of limitless beauty and overcome with limitless love for Lord Hari.

97-99 In Vrndavana, which is beautiful with many vines charming with splendid leaves and flowers, wonderful with many splendid flower archways, decorated with many splendid flower couches, splendid with jewel lamps everywhere, beautiful with male and female parrots expert at reciting plays, poetry and other literatures, decorated with lovely forest palaces, enchanting with the humming of splendid bees and glorious songs of cuckoos and other birds, filled with a network of very gentle, pleasantly cool, splendidly fragrant breezes, and which fulfills all desires, the fair and dark divine couple are overwhelmed with amorous desire. Please meditate on Them.

100 Not far from Govardhana Hill, the king of mountains, is a charming ocean of transcendental glory. The splendid nectar of all eternity, knowledge, and bliss accumulated together hardly equals a drop in comparison. A single drop of the ocean of glory completely eclipses the sweetness of an ocean of nectar multiplied many millions of times. Within that ocean of glory is the decoration known as Vrndavana forest...

101 which is filled with the currents of an ocean of bliss that makes the nectar of all other blisses become like a single drop, which is filled with all wonders, which has beauty to attract the eyes and heart of the goddess of fortune, which is flooded with the wonder of the nectar of pure bliss, which is wonderful with fragrance, splendor, sweetness, and charm....

102-106 which is wonderful with splendid blossoming mallika, lavanga, jati, yuthika, kadamba, campaka, sthalaravinda, sirisa, kunda, ketaki, kusumbha, kimsuka, and other flowers with beautiful madhavi and other vines with limitless flowers, with blossoming priyangu, nagakesara, asoka, karnikara, atimukta, saptala, and suvarna-yuthika flowers, with many wonderful varieties of jhintika and fragrant bandhujiva flowers, and with hayari, kubjaka, and other flowers, which is filled with many wonderful varieties of buds of flowers, with many wonderful varieties of leaves, blossoms, and great networks of many clusters of flowers, with many wonderful varieties of sweet fragrances, with many wonderful showers of nectar, and with many splendid trees, which is filled with a great treasure of bliss created by the wonderfully sweet conversations of the male and female parrots who recount the confidential pastimes of Radha and Krsna, which is filled with the ear enchanting sounds of “kuhu kuhu” softly spoken by the cuckoos, which is filled with madly dancing peacocks and the blissful tumultuous warbling of many other kinds of birds, which has in its midst beautiful groves of newly blossoming flowers, which in the beauty of its blissful flowers and wonderful jewel vines has no equal or superior, which has a beautiful bed decorated wit a host of opulences, which has the remnants of what was enjoyed by Radha-Madhava, which is a kingdom of all bliss...

107 which has in its midst a grove with a very charming lake filled with intensely blissful, glistening, clear, nectar water, splendid with its four sides studded with jewels, jewel staircases leading to its waters, its jewel shores shaded by splendid kadamba trees...

108 its deep waters delighting the dearmost divine couple and manifesting a great variety of tastes for Their pleasure, its kamalas, utpalas, and other lotuses opening and closing, the surrounding forest groves reflected in its splendid jewel waters...

109 very beautiful with many jewel sarojas, kumudas and other lotuses, all filled with the wonder of limitless fragrance, with ever increasing sweetness, and with petals expanded in ecstasy at every moment, which has shores filled with flowers flowing honey...

110 which has for the divine couple, who enjoy pastimes in the midst of the waters, a sublime forest grove with a beautiful jewel cottage that fills the gopis with wonder, which is paved with jewels and crystal and filled with splendid flowers below, above and in all directions...

111 which has four shores splendid with great jewels, which has wonderful pavilions of splendid flowering vines with many splendid and wonderful ornaments, and which is wonderful with the opulent beauty of many wonderful blossoming kadambas and other wonderfully splendid nectarean trees.

112 Please show me this very wonderful forest that makes a great flood in the shoreless ocean of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna’s thirst to enjoy amorous pastimes, and that makes expert arrangements for the pastimes of the divine couple that finds pleasure in Vrndavana.

113 Radha hid in the forest of golden lotus flowers attended by swarms of very sweetly humming bumblebees. Krsna entered that forest, and mistaking one of the golden lotuses for Radha’s face, began to kiss it. Radha then emerged from hiding, reassured Her beloved, kissed Him, and laughed.

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Sataka Five

1 There is a place so fragrant it defeats the fragrance of sandalwood multiplied millions of times. There is a place so fragrant it defeats the fragrance of musk multiplied millions of times. There is a place more fragrant than a flood of camphor. There is a place more fragrant than an abundance of kunkuma. There is a place so wonderfully fragrant that it defeats aguru.

2 Day and night this place is filled with the sweet fragrance of various flowers. It has various kinds of nectar drinks, various kinds of delicious foods, and various kinds of very sweet splendid fruits. Because of Radha-Madhava’s pastimes, in this place are broken jewel necklaces, flower garlands, belts, and other objects.

3 By Radha-kunda’s shore in a beautiful jewel pavilion, accompanies by Her gopi friends and singing wonderful dusts with dark complexioned Krsna, may King Vrsabhanu’s daughter appear before me.

4 With their lotus hands Radha and Her friends repeatedly splash Lord Krsna, the jewel of lovers. Krsna then lowered His moonlike face and cried out: “ Enough! Enough! I accept defeat!” When Radha heard these syllables, which were like a great flood of nectar, She stopped splashing and burst into laughter. I wonder: Did pastimes like this happen here in this place?

5 In this small grove of graceful kalpa-vrksa bushes with beautiful flowers on their extended branches, did the two Deities of the nectar of transcendental mellows at some time enjoy wonderful pastimes of decorating each other with flowers?

6 All glories to the amorous happiness Radha and Krsna enjoy together by casting wonderful, smiling glances at each other from the corners of Their eyes, by, out of various pretexts, touching each other’s limbs where the hairs are standing up in ecstasy, and by conversing with sweet nectar streams of words.

7 Sri Radha, who with floods of splendor from Her beautiful, youthful limbs the color of molten gold, with eternally wonderful graceful waves of very sweet amorous pastimes, and with the faltering of Her voice, Her tears, Her trembling, and other symptoms of ecstatic love for dark complexioned Krsna, fills with wonder Her friends come to Her favorite forest grove and makes the hair on their bodies stand erect, is my queen.

8 May Sri Radha and Her beloved, who are flooded with waves of very, very wonderful sweetness, playful transcendental pastimes, splendid beauty and expert knowledge of the arts of love, who have come to Vrndavana from Vraja, and the wonder of whose beauty increases hundreds and hundreds of times at Radha-kunda, appear in my heart.

9 When, wonderful with splendid, graceful waves from the nectar ocean of sweetness, and filling Vrndavana with a very wonderful and splendid fragrance, will the lake where Sri Radha enjoys wonderful pastimes, the most wonderful of all places, decorate my mouth with its glories?

10 In the whorl of a giant gold lotus, surrounded by filaments and petals, the divine couple, expert at relishing transcendental mellows, and splendid as gold and sapphires, enjoy the pastime of repeatedly moving back and forth on Their swing.

11 In Vrndavana let us glorify the passionate queen’s favorite transcendental lake, which is eternally very wonderful with Radhika-Hari’s endless sweet pastimes, which is an ocean of the great wonders of the nectar of transcendental mellows, and which is very splendid and fragrant.

12 Let me take shelter of the lake that is Vrndavana’s greatest ornament, where two splendid fair and dark forms of bliss enjoy the ultimate dance of the nectar of pure amorous pastimes, and where the water’s touch makes a wonderful sweetness rise in the heart.

13 The hairs of His body erect in ecstasy, His crown and earrings moving, and His flute placed against the full moon of His lips, Madhava praises the delightful transcendental qualities of Radha-kunda, which is the greatest jewel decorating Sri Govardhana’s crown, and which is very dear to the queen who rules the life of the charming lotus-eyed Lord.

14 O friend, please meditate on Radha-kunda’s flowering-vine pavilion, which is praised by Vrndavana’s great splendor, which is respectfully worshipped by Lord Hari’s favorite regal mountain, Sri Govardhana, which bows down, placing its peak on the ground before it, and which is filled with the beauty and sweetness of Radha-Krsna’s extremely wonderful amorous pastimes.

15 Please meditate on the fair and dark youthful divine couple who, surrounded by Their friends, and overwhelmed with sweetness, have plunged into an ocean of nectar at Radha-kunda, which arouses transcendental amorous desires without equal or superior.

16 Who, after attaining immeasurably sweet Vrndavana, where transcendental, limitless, wonderful, opulent nectar enchants the king of Vaikuntha, where everyone is blinded by the madness of sweet love for the heart’s friend of Sri Radha, and which eternally shines in this world with a splendor greater than the nectar ocean of bliss and knowledge, will seek out any other place?

17 O supremely blissful Vrndavana, your beautiful forms are worshipped by the Lord’s dear liberated souls, even up to the timid girls of Vraja. Now that Your form, filled with the ultimate sweetness of Sri Radha-Muralimanohara, has entered the pathway of my memory, I have suddenly become very fortunate.

18 I meditate on Vrndavana, where after eagerly studying the singing of Radha-Krsna, the male cuckoos fly to the mango treetops and madly sing in many wonderful ways, where after gazing at Radha-Krsna’s dancing, the peacocks dance wonderfully, and where the male and female parrots imitate Radha-Krsna’s conversation.

19 May beautiful Vrndavana, which is filled with cuckoos celebrating a great festival of singing, peacocks happily dancing, the sweetness of the music of bumblebees humming, trees, vines, and flowering-vine pavilions, and which fulfills the desires of Radha-Krsna’s sweet maidservants, appear before me.

20 Friend, please meditate on fearlessly beautiful Vrndavana, which is filled with kadamba groves, beautiful with numberless trees and flowering vines, and the entire wealth of the divine couple expert at tasting nectar, and which stands on an island in the shoreless nectar of spiritual splendor.

21 I eternally bow down before Vrndavana’s trees and vines, which are far beyond the influence of matter, and which mercifully grant all the goals of life to one who even once sees, touches, hears about, or remembers them.

22 In Vrndavana the clear, splendid sky is fragrant with pollen and beautiful with many graceful branches trickling new honey, and the ground is sweet with Radha-Krsna’s nectar footprints.

23 All glories to the Lord’s most exalted abode, which is named Sri Vrndavana, which is the eternal nectar ocean of transcendental love for Sri Sri Radha and Her blissful lover overwhelmed by Her sweetness, which is the ultimate limit of the wonder of the nectar of transcendental mellows, which is the ultimate limit of all wonders, and which is the ultimate limit of transcendental good fortune.

24 The wise search in vain for the five values that culminate in prema-bhakti. They who take shelter of even a blade of grass growing in Vrndavana forest, easily attain all values.

25 I am a living corpse. When, giving up false ego and false proprietorship for this material body and other material things, will I find myself residing in Vrndavana, which is filled with nectar of pure love?

26 With all my heart I shall serve Vrndavana’s residents, the dust from whose feet purifies even Brahma, Siva, and all the demigods.

27 They who by the touch of Sri Radha’s forest have pure spiritual forms sweet as nectar, even though and others cannot see it, are worshipped by Sukadeva Gosvami and other great souls.

28 I meditate on the most fortunate person who, even though they commit offenses, place Sri Radha’s feet in their hearts, and live in Vrndavana.

29 I yearn to dance the dance of serving Vrndavana’s queen, whom Krsna, aroused by Her crooked eyebrows, and thirsting to enjoy amorous pastimes with Her, praises again and again.

30 Enjoying sweet, sweet pastimes, flooded by the rising nectar ocean of amorous desire, and at every step Their handsomeness drowning in the nectar ocean of handsomeness, may the two fair and dark splendors appear before us.

31 In Vrndavana a person whose heart knows how to taste nectar meditates on the youthful fair and dark divine couple, who are full of handsomeness, glory, playfulness, charm, sweetness, and expert knowledge of the arts of love, who at every moment flood Their gopi friends with a great stream of wonder, and whose bodily hairs stand erect as They enjoy great amorous pastimes.

32 May limitless Vrndavana, which is a limitless ocean of beauty, a limitless land of sweetness, a limitless treasure of the moonlight of thoughtfulness, a land of limitless good fortune, and the limitless secret root of the Supreme Lord’s nectar, fulfil my desire without limit.

33 When, on Sri Radha-Krsna trembling with passion as They meet under a great tree, from trees plunged in bliss splendid and sweet monsoon showers fall and splendid fruits and flowers are scattered on the earth, the birds suddenly stop their tumultuous cooing and stand still and silent.

34 Sweet Vrndavana has a ground very sweet with very sweet bushes, trees, and flowering vines, very sweet bees, birds, and deer, very sweet lakes, rivers, and mountains, and its very sweet gift of ecstatic divine love.

35 I shall become trees in Vrndavana and please Sri Sri Radhika-Krsna with my limitless, splendid, sweet fruits, my unlimitedly, splendid fragrant flowers filled with splendid pollen and splendid honey, my splendid hosts of birds, and my splendid twigs and buds.

36 I meditate on Vrndavana where, happily picking some branches from trees charming with very splendid fruits and flowers and filled with glistening branches sprouting even from their roots, two fair and dark splendors enjoy transcendental pastimes.

37-38 Radha will say, “O beautiful one, please dance,” and I will dance. She will say, “Please sing”, and the bees on my petals will sing a melodious song. She will say, “Please shed some tears,” and honey will flow from my flowers. She will say “Please laugh,” and my flowers will burst into full bloom. She will say, “Please embrace this tree,” and I will embrace the tree with my tendrils, pressing my flowers against his trunk. She will say, “Please bow down before the Lord of My life,” and I will fall down on the ground. In this way I will be a flowering vine completely obedient to Her every word. She will nourish me by sprinkling me with water from Her own hand. Lord Krsna will be very pleased, and He will bless me saying, “May you attain the blessings of My beloved Radha.”

39 Sri Radha-Madhava eternally sing the glories of Vrndavana, which shines with sweet beauty many millions of times greater than the beauty of liberation or the beauty of Nandanandana, Puspabhadra or other celestial gardens, which is filled with the wonderful, beautiful, limitless nectar of transcendental pastimes, and which even the Upanisads, the crest jewels of the Vedas cannot approach.

40 Let me glorify Vrndavana, where the numberless fortunate bees delighted by the fragrance of tulasi and other flowers, pleased by the fragrant parijata flowers in the Nandanandana garden, or happy in any other forest, all fly.

41 They who have fallen into the abyss of repeated birth and death, they who have renounced everything, they who are liberated, and they who are great kings, become immediately enchanted when they see Vrndavana, which is a very great ocean of sweetness and bliss, and which has come to this fortunate earth to give a great gift to the conditioned souls.

42 They who have deeply entered the realm of the senses and they who have taken shelter of Brahman become overwhelmed with bliss by once seeing the beauty of Vrndavana.

43 The glory of beautiful Vrndavana is so wonderful that even the slightest scent of it binds one and throws him in an ocean of nectar.

44 Vrndavana’s glory, which with the its own ropes binds even the supremely handsome and opulent Personality of Godhead, cannot be understood by a person like me.

45 Worship Vrndavana forest, which is filled with the sweet nectar of passionate divine love, as if it were your very life and soul.

46 Possessive attachment to wealth, children, wife, and everything else has simply brought suffering to me. Now I shall renounce everything. Now I choose to live in Vrndavana.

47 Neither completely unbearably torments, nor maddening happiness, have the power to make me give up my deep love for Vrndavana.

48 The very wonderful fair and dark youthful divine couple, who eternally enjoy transcendental pastimes in the beautiful groves of Vrndavana, are my life and soul.

49 They who are slow witted, and they who are very unfortunate do not take shelter of Vrndavana and worship Radha-Krsna.

50 This is my lament. This is my great astonishment. I am astonished that a person can live in Vrndavana and still not worship Radha-Krsna with the nectar of transcendental love.

51 In this beautiful forest of Vrndavana I am filled with love for Radha-Krsna. I do not care for the opinions of the common people. I do not care for the rules of the dharma-sastras. I do not care what is the fate of my material body.

52 I bow down before the trees of Vrndavana, which are eternal, changeless, very virtuous, free from the touch of matter, faultless, and eternally liberated, which are glorified by the Vedas, which have forms that are shoreless oceans of the very sweet nectar of transcendental knowledge and bliss, which are plunged in ecstatic love for Krsna, and which give to all the most precious of all gifts.

53 I bow down before the great trees of Vrndavana, which are filled with leaves and sprouts, maddened bees, the tumult of many birds, streams of nectar honey, and branches bowed with many splendid wonderful fruits and flowers.

54 Staying on the ground, enchanting Sri Radhika speaks sweet words and points with Her forefinger. Krsna, the best of lovers, glancing from above with charming eyes, makes the splendid fruits fall to the ground as His queen carefully collects them. Please worship these trees of Vrndavana.

55 Very glorious, filled at every moment with the sweetness of great transcendental bliss, very tall with many far extending branches, showering the great treasures of the supreme goal of life, and bearing great fruits and flowers, the supremely exalted trees of Vrndavana are splendidly manifest.

56 All glories to Vrndavana’s beautiful trees, which are eternal, full of knowledge and bliss, more splendid than the moon and all the stars, covered with numberless leaves and branches, respectfully served by all the splendid seasons, and opulent with a cooling shade that breaks all the burning sufferings of this world.

57 Intelligent persons who take shelter of beautiful Vrndavana’s opulent vines melting with motherly love, and throw far away the idea that they are material, become supremely successful, both in this life and also after death.

58 Let me glorify Vrndavana where, spitting on impersonal liberation and all material goals, certain very intelligent yogis rejoice, having become birds that stay on the branches there and coo a tumultuous barrage of eloquent logic that crushes the importance of material life and material work.

59 Renounce everything and take shelter of Sri Vrndavana, in this world the sweet transcendental place where Radha-Madhava eternally enjoy pastimes.

60 Directly seeing that it is filled with immeasurable glory and opulence, that it is the generous giver of ecstatic love of God, and that it is the realm where the fair and dark divine couple eternally enjoy transcendental pastimes, one should worship Vrndavana.

61 Even though I have lost control over my senses, and even though in all respects I am the most pathetic of men still, if the forest where Srimati Radharani enjoyed transcendental pastimes accepts me as one of its residents, my life will become a complete success.

62 Let me suffer millions of wicked thoughts! Let me suffer millions of wicked deeds! Let me suffer millions of unkind words! Let these calamities fall, O Vrndavana, but let me not be separated from you.

63 Chasing from your ear the hellish word “woman”, which is filled with stool, urine, phlegm, pus, and other horrors, reside in Sri Radhika’s garden.

64 Stay far away from Lord Hari’s illusory potency in the form of woman, which will throw far away all intelligence, renunciation, love for Lord Hari, and love for Vrndavana.

65 Just as a strong wine, a woman can intoxicate a man with a single glance. This intoxicant will make it impossible to reside in Vrndavana. O Vrndavana, what will become of me?

66 The undefeatable enemies who are my senses repeatedly crush me under their attack. Again and again they bind me, and now they have imprisoned me in a painful place. O Krsna, please rescue me!

67 I am again and again burned by the poisoned arrows of sex desire, even though I reside in Vrndavana. Alas! Alas! I can find no peace. What shall I do?

68 The heart of even a wise man can become intoxicated by the pot of stool that is the body of a young girl. Without hearing, seeing, or coming near any girls, remain always absorbed in meditation on Vrndavana.

69 With a single glance a young girl can completely bewilder me and make my body burn with the fire of lust. What will become of my desire to attain spiritual perfection?

70 I have no shame. Even though I am completely blinded by lust and anger, and even though I am controlled by greed, I continue to aspire to attain pure love of God, and I continue to reside in the forest where Srimati Radharani enjoyed transcendental pastimes.

71 Even though I am bewildered by lust and his accomplices, I still yearn to attain the pure love that is hidden even from the Veda, and I still reside in Vrndavana. Vrndavana’s mercy is my only shelter.

72 When resting my cheek in the palm of my hand, repeatedly washing my body with a flood of tears from my eyes, again and again pathetically calling out, “O Muralidhara!”, plunged in the nectar of love, and indifferent to the maintenance of my material body, will I reside under a tree in a solitary place in Vrndavana?

73 A person who thinks women to be like tigresses, palatable food to be like poison, wealth to be useless, association with materialists to be like the loss of the greatest treasure, material possessions to be like stolen property, and his own senses to be like his enemies, and who is full of love for Lord Hari, can properly reside here in Vrndavana.

74 What man will not find himself forced to give up all good qualities and all sense of shame merely by the casual glance of a beautiful amorous woman? What will a man attached to women not do in disobedience to the orders of guru and scripture? For this reason, if you are tormented by lust, or if you fear dying in the flames of lust, then simply drag your body to Vrndavana and develop pure love for Lord Krsna, who wears a crown of peacock feathers.

75 Even the word “woman” makes me blind with sex desire. For me, anger fills every direction with blinding darkness. Greed shakes my heart. Still, while I reside in Vrndavana, none of these has the power to destroy me. Let me always stay in Vrndavana. At the time of death let me give up this material body here in Vrndavana.

76 When, very kind to everyone, expert at breaking the shackles of material illusion, unagitated at heart, seeing all women as walking corpses, only to maintain my body collecting a small quantity of food from different places, and as tolerant as the earth, will I become a sincere devotee residing in Vrndavana?

77 When, singing of Radha-Muralidhara’s beautiful pastimes, finding in my heart bliss and eternal love for Them, condemning all kinds of sense gratification, and loudly calling out, “O Krsna! O my beloved!” will I become overwhelmed in Vrndavana?

78 Vrndavana, the great purifier of the fallen souls, the protector from the fearful serpent of repeated birth and death, the holy place that transforms its residents into great saints, the object of worship for the greatest sages, and the abode of Radhika’s charming lover, is my life and soul.

79 I say to myself: “Follow this dark youth, who always yearns to enjoy amorous pastimes, who is overwhelmed by the sweet nectar of love, whose bodily hairs stand erect with joy, who is loved by Lalita and her friends, who is Radha’s life, and who, taking His beloved by the hand, wanders in the secluded groves of beautiful Vrndavana forest.”

80 Please reside in Vrndavana and worship the two fair and dark splendors wandering the pathways followed by swarms of bees, trembling with passion, and repeatedly embracing, smiling and laughing in the forest.

81 The result of pious and impious deeds do not trouble, the illusory potency maya cannot touch, all the virtues of the great souls worship, a host of all opulences desires to serve, and the demigods headed by Brahma glorify a person who has taken shelter of Vrndavana. Sri Sri Radha and Krsna consider him one of Their personal associates.

82 I meditate on Vrndavana which is beautified by a host of cooling moons that sprinkle blissful nectar in the ten directions, by a host of trees and vines bearing fruits, flowers, buds and leaves, by flocks of birds filled with the nectar of pure love for Lord Krsna and making a great tumult of jubilant warbling, and by many splendid places studded with jewels.

83 My heart plunges into Sri Vrndavana, which shines for some time in the material world of three modes, which eternally shines with wonderfully sweet splendor above everything in the effulgent sky of transcendental knowledge, and which is beautiful with limitless sweetness and filled with Radha-Krsna’s wonderful pastimes.

84 Look at Vrndavana, served by very sweet, splendid, beginningless, endless vines, trees, bushes, and other plants eternally blooming in every season, filled with splendid transcendental nectar streams, jewel mountains, and beautiful jewel vine cottages, and wonderful with many birds and deers!

85 Sri Vrndavana is more purifying than all transcendental knowledge. Sri Vrndavana is the most efficient means to attain all that is valuable. Sri Vrndavana is the supreme abode of transcendental pastimes. Who will not serve Sri Vrndavana, considering it millions of times more dear than his own life?

86 All glories to charming Vrndavana, which breaks the material desires of many births, which shows a great sweetness to Laksmi, Siva, Brahma, and the other demigods, which, as a mother, takes no account of the offenses of its dependents, and which is blissful with the touch of Radha’s feet.

87 All glories to charming Vrndavana, which is supremely splendid and sublimely sweet, which is wonderful with a flood of bliss, which is filled with Lord Hari’s mercy, love, and other virtues, which is the crest jewel of all wonders, and which is the place where Sri Radhika-Madhava enjoy a nectar festival of amorous pastimes.

88 Cross the ocean of the illusory potency maya. Cross the ocean of spiritual light known as the Supreme Brahman. Again and again drink from the splendid ocean of the Supreme Person’s bliss, and then cross beyond it. Enter the splendid, pure, nectar ocean of pure love for Lord Krsna, and then enter the splendid island in the middle of that ocean. There devote your life to the service of charming Vrndavana.

89 Leave far behind the gross and subtle material realms, the causal ocean, the brahmajyoti effulgence, the Vaikuntha planets, the palaces in Lord Krsna’s city of Dvaraka, and all other useless places. Simply become absorbed in gazing on Vrndavana forest with eyes filled with love.

90 Checking the senses when they obstruct residence in Vrndavana, seeing that the charming abode of Vrndavana is pure and spiritual, always desiring the supreme auspiciousness of giving up the body here in Vrndavana, and throughout life renouncing all talk of sense gratification, reside in this forest of Sri Vrndavana.

91 I bow down before Vrndavana’s trees, which at every moment shower supremely blissful madhvika nectar, which spread charming reddish pollen in all directions, and which are filled with the buzzing of bees intoxicated by the fragrance of limitless, splendid blossoming flowers.

92 I meditate on Vrndavana’s splendid, limitless, most wonderful, charming trees and vines, which bear splendid fruits and flowers in every season, which are spiritual, which can assume any form they wish, which are great philanthropists that fulfil all desires, and which are filled with love for Radha and Krsna.

93 Vrndavana’s trees, which are made of various jewels, which are filled with various beautiful fruits and flowers, which have various beautiful twigs, leaves, new blossoms and buds, which expand various wonderful sweet fragrances, and which are filled with various wonderful birds happily playing and singing, have enchanted my heart.

94 Vrndavana eternally shines with the splendor of great trees made of various jewels, birds of various jewels, flowers made of various jewels, nectar fruits of various jewels, and trees with waves of sweet honey of various jewels in its places made of various jewels.

95 Friend, this is a young tamala tree embraced by a beautiful golden vine in this forest grove. Aha! Look! Is it not so? Why do these crooked friends not believe me?

96 Day and night your male friend stays with me. He braids my hair in various ways, draws artistic designs and pictures on my face with musk, kunkuma, and sandal paste, and decorates me with garments, flower garlands and ornaments.

97 He repeatedly places His moonlike face before my face. He repeatedly gazes at my face with unblinking eyes. He is always very eager to talk with me. He lies down and places me on His chest. He always keeps me by His side. O friend, how can I describe the love your male friend, the jewel of all handsome young men, bears for me?

98 Dear friend, ask me to tell my story. How have I become so fortunate? I shall tell you these pastimes. Who am I in comparison to dark complexioned Lord Krsna that He should have held my hand the way He did? What happened then? I cannot remember a thing.

99 He decorates my braided hair with many splendid flowers, He draws a line or red sindura in the part in the middle of my hair. He decorates my eyes with black mascara. He dresses me in silken garments. He repeatedly gives me betel nuts to chew. Your male friend shows me His love for me in these ways. Still He does not draw me to His side on the bed?

100 The lotus feet of Lord Caitanya are far away. The powerful age of Kali has now appeared. How will it be possible to attain pure love for Lord Krsna without becoming attached to Vrndavana?

Sataka Six

1 Offering prayers to everyone, trying to please everyone, wishing all happiness for everyone, worshipping everyone, humbly bowing my neck before everyone, and abandoning all pride, I reside in this purifying land of Vrndavana.

2 By presenting the great illusion of a beautiful golden-complexioned girl, the bewildering potency, maya, blinds even an intelligent man, plundering the great treasure of his life and destroying his good qualities and saintliness. For this reason, with great fear, one should flee far away from this maya and serve the land of Vrndavana.

3 Although I am very wretched and fallen I still yearn to attain the wonderful state that even Laksmi, Siva and all the demigods cannot attain. Because I have offended you I cannot attain even a single drop of your transcendental nectar. I do not make even the slightest attempt to renounce the objects of sense gratification, which make one forget the path of religion. I am filled with bewilderment, grief, fear, and shame. O Vrndavana please protect me.

4 Lust continually tortures my heart. Anger blinds me. Greed agitates me. I am filled with pride, envy, madness, harsh words, cruelty and a host of other vices. I have fallen from my real benefit. O Vrndavana, I take shelter of you.

5 O crest jewel of all fortunate men, if you desire to discover the supreme, unknowable secret of pure unalloyed devotional love for the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then reside in Vrndavana, which is supremely opulent with the sweetest nectar and filled with palaces where Sri Sri Radha-Krsna enjoy pastimes eternally.

6 If you desire sense gratification, then why not enjoy the greatest sense gratification, which is available in Vrndavana? If you desire liberation, then know that in Vrndavana you can easily attain liberation without having to suffer many harsh austerities. If you desire devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then know that the supreme secret of devotion is hidden in Vrndavana. Learn this from the great devotees, and serve Sri Vrndavana.

7 Beyond the world of the three modes is the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s splendid abode. There the very splendid, very wonderfully beautiful Sri Vrndavana shines. When will I serve the very beautiful and sweet, fair and dark, youthful divine couple, who day and night are intoxicated with the nectar of amorous pastimes there?

8 With floods of very sweet and wonderful fair and dark transcendental beauty flowing from each of Their limbs, the hairs on Their bodies standing erect, both of Them displaying millions of wonderful symptoms of the ecstasy of transcendental amorous love, and immersed in the nectar of transcendental mellows, the eternal and wonderful youthful divine couple enjoys transcendental pastimes in the groves of Vrndavana forest. O heart, please eternally meditate on Vrndavana forest.

9 Not knowing any greater opulence, or any sweeter nectar, not going to or coming from any other place, and not manifesting any age other than the full bloom of youth, the divine couple does not cease enjoying transcendental pastimes in Vrndavana for even a moment.

10 When shall I worship the youthful divine couple, who are intent on enjoying transcendental pastimes in the forest of Vrndavana, which is overcome with the nectar of the bliss of pure transcendental love, and which is wonderfully filled with many transcendental birds, deer, lakes streams, hills, trees, vines, bushes, and many wonderful courtyards paved with precious jewels.

11 I meditate on the trees of Vrndavana. Sri Sri Radha-Krsna happily enjoy transcendental pastimes under these trees, eat their fruits as sweet as nectar, and decorate Themselves with their flowers. The charming birds perched on the branches of these trees have become silent and their wide open eyes have stopped blinking as they drink the very sweet nectar of the conversation of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna.

12 I offer my respectful obeisances to the trees of Vrndavana forest. These trees bear various kinds of transcendental fruits, manifest various kinds of forms, and appear and disappear in different places, all to bring pleasure to Sri Sri Radha-Krsna.

13 May Vrndavana’s trees, who are Sri Radha-Krsna’s loving devotees, whose new bud hairs stand erect with joy, who shed tears in a flood of honey, who splendidly dance, moving newly sprouted twigs in the breeze, who smile and laugh with beautiful blooming flowers, who recite prayers with the cooing of birds, and who, bending under the weight of many fruits and flowers bow down to offer respects, bring me transcendental bliss.

14 Some very tall, some very short, some strong, some delicate, some granting cool shade, some without shade, some filled with hollows, some without hollows, some old, some young, some slender, and some stout, the regal trees of Vrndavana, continually expanding the waves of the nectar happiness of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, and fulfilling all Their desires, shine with great splendor.

15 One who in the solitary places of Vrndavana forest constantly meditates on Sri Sri Radha-Krsna’s wonderful form and wonderful sweet pastimes, who has attained splendid, eternal, ecstatic love for Them, and who has become happy by renouncing all material activities, is the most fortunate of men.

16 I pray that the purifying land of Vrndavana may become for me as delicious food is for one overcome by hunger, as cool water is for one tormented by thirst, as a cool lake is for one perspiring in the heat, as a great fortune is for a penniless beggar, as the immortal Supreme Brahman is for the yogis, and as the life-breath is for all living entities.

17 I bow down before Vrndavana’s trees, which are glorified by great sages beyond the duality’s of matter, which generously bear great fruits more than can be desired, which make numberless celestial trees seem insignificant, which are filled with the sweet nectar of eternal spiritual bliss, and which are plunged in pure love for Lord Krsna.

18 With unalloyed love please worship Vrndavana’s dear trees, which stand eternally beyond the shoreless ocean of the three modes of nature, which bring others across and then plunges them in the nectar ocean of passionate love for Lord Krsna, and which grant spiritual goals even the greatest yogis cannot attain.

19 Flooding all directions with a wonderful, supremely pure splendor, and intoxicating the universes with sweet and fragrant showers of nectar, the regal trees of Vrndavana bring great transcendental bliss with their wonderfully colorful flowers, new sprouts, nectar fruits, cluster of blossoms, and new buds.

20 Everyone should worship Sri Vrndavana’s fortunate trees, the divine couple’s personal friends who, seeing the arrival of the sweet lovers Radhika-Krsnacandra, the moonlight of Their faces so glorious even the most splendid flood of moonlight dare not touch it, at once dropped many buds and flower blossoms, making a couch of flowers.

21 Let me glorify Vrndavana’s trees. Seated on a couch of their flowers in their cooling shade, sprinkled by a shower of sweet nectar from them, relishing their very delicious fruits, praising each other, and giving each other sweet nectar, Sri Sri Radha-Krsnacandra enjoy.

22 O heart, please meditate on Vrndavana’s trees, which are rich with limitless sweet fragrances, limitless kinds of beautiful flowers, limitless floods of blissful honey, and limitless branches filled with limitless fruits, flowers, and budding twigs.

23 In some places the land of Vrndavana has the form of a svastika, in other places the form of a wheel, and in other places a circle. In other places it is narrow like a crescent moon, in other places it is like a splendid jewel catuska bracelet to accommodate the rasa-dance, and in other places it is like a small or large wonderfully beautiful ornament.

24 Charming with jewel staircases, glorious with millions of kinds of splendid jewels, splendid with gold and jewel trees and vines with great branches and clusters of blossoming flowers, and filled with beautiful pavilions, the land in Vrndavana shines with great splendor.

25 Placing His beloved Radha on His lap, flattering Her and again and again making Her laugh, trembling, and the hairs of His body erect with excitement, Lord Krsna enjoys transcendental amorous pastimes in the forest of Vrndavana. May Lord Krsna, the lover of Sri Radha, bring transcendental happiness to you all.

26 In the spiritual abode of Vrndavana the land is filled with spiritual splendor, the trees and vines are spiritual, the birds and deer are spiritual, the large nectar sweet lakes are spiritual, the mountains, rivers, ponds, jewels, minerals, and clouds are spiritual, and the many charming forest groves are all spiritual.

27 Let me glorify He who is Vrndavana’s moon, who even though He many times displays many transcendental potencies in many spiritual forms, and even though many times He displays limitless splendid handsomeness, and even though many times He showers many kinds of transcendental nectar, is still defeated by the sweetness of Radha’s love.

28 In a vine cottage in Vrndavana forest, continually keeping a beautiful lotus faced Radha on His lap, caressing Her, His heart melting with love and the hairs on His body standing erect with excitement, Lord Krsna speaks many wonderful words begging newer and newer transcendental amorous pastimes.

29 If one lives in the earthly land of Vrndavana, touches it, sees it, travels to it, meditates upon it, bows down to offer respects to it, sings or hears about its glorious qualities, carries its dust on his head, or has any relationship with it, then this purifying earthly Vrndavana will carry him to the supreme abode of Vrndavana in the spiritual world.

30 Displaying very wonderful glances, words, and gestures, and overwhelmed by the sweetness of Their unrestrained love, the fair and dark youthful divine couple enjoy transcendental bliss in the forest of Vrndavana.

31 Placing Her on His lap, running His handsome fingers through Her black hair, and repeatedly smelling the fragrance of the golden lotus flower of Her face, Lord Krsna raises Radha’s chin and repeatedly kisses Her bimba fruit lips. Please meditate on this Lord Krsna, the Deity of conjugal love reigning in Vrndavana.

32 With deep love please worship the two supremely sweet fair and dark youthful divine splendors who, all Their limbs overcome with passion, sport in the shoreless ocean of transcendental amorous pastimes in Sri Vrndavana’s newly blossoming groves.

33 In the forest place of rendezvous vehemently denouncing Her lover, eloquently rebuking those of Her friends sent by Him to make peace, overwhelmed by the nectar of transcendental mellows, and tormented by desire, Radha is about to depart. Please allow me to be the confidential maidservant who then, carrying a golden fan and other articles, follows Her.

34 Please meditate on the divine couple who, Their handsome silken garments slipping, Their flower garlands, great jewel necklaces, and belts all broken, Their hair loosened, Their tilaka, mascara, and other cosmetic ointments wiped away, and attended by maidservants attentive to Their every wish, is now overwhelmed by transcendental amorous passion.

35 I bow down to offer respects to any person who vows to reside until the moment of his death in the beautiful land of Vrndavana, the original kingdom of transcendental bliss. Noticing that such a person is becoming qualified to be one of Their personal associates, Sri Sri Radha-Krsna consider: “What arrangements shall We make for this person?”

36 In the abode of Vrndavana please worship Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, whose jokes and laughter are splendid as millions of rising moons, the movements of whose eyebrows create millions of wonderful transcendental Kamadevas, and whose words are like millions of flowing streams of the cooling sweetness of transcendental bliss.

37 I continually chant the holy name of supremely purifying Vrndavana, which is filled with limitless sweetness and with splendid, sweet, spiritual love, and which is beautiful with forest groves where Sri Sri Radha-Krsna enjoy transcendental pastimes.

38 Eternally serve Sri Radha, whose love for Lord Hari is fathomless. Don’t meditate on your material body, which is simply a great obstacle. Don’t commit offenses. Even if you are tormented by many sufferings, don’t leave the abode of Vrndavana, which is blind with the nectar of Sri Radha. O fool, don’t leave the difficult to attain abode of Vrndavana.

39 All glories to the fair and dark divine couple, who somewhere in Vrndavana forest play dice, somewhere playfully hide from each other, somewhere steal each other’s property, somewhere embrace, imitating the trees and vines, somewhere ride together on a swing, somewhere speak wonderful riddles, somewhere imitate the movements of the birds, deer, and other forest creatures, and somewhere amuse Themselves with jugglery and magic tricks.

40 How many are the blissful incarnations of the Personality of Godhead? Does the Lord not display countless splendid transcendental forms? Does He not directly appear in countless charming and handsome forms? For me it does not matter. For me only Sri Krsna, the lover of Sri Radha, is charming and handsome.

41 In the Puranas the transcendental words “Sri Radha resides in the forest named Vrndavana” shine with great splendor. From this we may understand that Sri Radha’s very wonderful complete form does not appear even in the village of Vraja. Her love has no equal or better. Lord Hari is the Supreme Person, perfect in all respects. Please gaze upon Him, Vrndavana’s moon, who is conquered by the sound of the name “Radha”.

42 O heart, with great love please meditate on very splendid Vrndavana, where the apex of transcendental sweetness is manifest, where the apex of wonderful glory is manifest in the crest jewel of transcendental love, and where the apex of transcendental beauty is manifest in Sri Radha.

43 May Vrndavana’s beauty once appear in my heart. May the bliss that enchants the demigods fill me with sweetness. May Lord Hari’s very wonderful handsomeness shine before me. May I find a shelter in the sweetness of the moonlight of Sri Varsabhanavi’s beautiful toenails.

44 Please deeply love the divine couple who, eternally and wonderfully youthful, eternally afflicted by transcendental amorous desire, and the fair and dark splendor of Their transcendental limbs filling the ten directions, spend Their days and nights eagerly enjoying endless ever new, very wonderful transcendental amorous pastimes in the groves of Sri Vrndavana.

45 To a person who resides in Vrndavana, whose mind is absorbed in thought of Lord Krsna, who is equal in gain or loss, victory or defeat, good fortune or calamity, and praise or blame, who always bows down to offer respects to those filled with devotion for the Lord and pleases them with gifts as far as he is able, and who, even though repeatedly troubled by others, in his heart never wishes them any ill, I offer my respectful obeisances.

46 To those persons who, peacefully tolerating thousands of harsh words and thousands of insults from the lowest of men, tolerating thousands of great sufferings imposed by the lack of adequate food, clothing, and shelter, and tolerating great suffering in the heart caused by lust and other troubles, continue to reside in Lord Krsna’s pastime forest of Vrndavana, I offer my respectful obeisances.

47 To a fortunate person who resides in Vrndavana, who finds no fault with any moving or non-moving living entity, who does not trouble anyone, who eats only a small quantity of food obtained without endeavor, whose mind does not think of women for even a moment, who hears, chants, and remembers the glories of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, and whose heart is filled with the transcendental sweetness of the divine couple, I offer my respectful obeisances.

48 O Vrndavana, please withdraw your maya. Although I do not fear the Supreme Lord’s maya, your maya always makes me tremble. They who, because of your maya, see otherwise the blissful and spiritual nature of you and yours, lose their intelligence, commit offenses and fall far away.

49 O Vrndavana, what shall I do? My wicked senses jump over the path of common sense. They drag me into a very terrible condition. I have no power to restrain them. I have thus committed an unpardonable offense to you. Still, I cannot be happy in any other place. I have not other shelter. O Vrndavana, please don’t cast me away! Please don’t cast me away!

50 Even though I proclaim, “I shall not reside in any other place for even a moment,” still I am such an incomparable fool that I continue to offend you. The desire for sense gratification has made me abandon both common sense and the path of religion. O Vrndavana, will I ever attain your mercy?

51 May Vrndavana’s trees, who are all very generous, whose softened hearts melt with compassion, who are wealthy with the glittering opulences of limitless transcendental nectar, and who manifest symptoms of ecstasy, shedding tears and their hairs standing up out of love for Lord Hari, accept me as one of their company.

52 Filled with the nectar of love for Radha-Krsna, Vrndavana’s trees place in Their hands many wonderful fruits and flowers for Their pleasure. They please Them with their birds’ cooing and bees’ songs.

53 I offer my respectful obeisances to Vrndavana’s fortunate, fortunate trees which sweetly decorate the divine couple with many flowers and other ornaments and which, overcome with bliss by the touch of Sri Sri Radha-Muralidhara’s beautiful lotus feet, shed flowing streams of tears and find the hairs on their bodies erect in ecstasy.

54 Anointing Themselves with the kharpara ointment made by rubbing the trees’ branches, dressing Themselves in garments made from the trees’ leaves, decorating Themselves with the trees’ flowers, drinking the trees’ flowing honey, embracing each other under the trees, and eloquently glorifying the trees, the fair and dark divine couple are, for me, an ocean of bliss in Vrndavana forest.

55 I take shelter of the divine couple who, Their hair loosened, Their bodily hairs erect in ecstasy, a stream of nectar words flowing from Their mouths, Their jewel necklaces, flower garlands, and cosmetic ointments broken, and Their forms beautifully clothed, are overwhelmed with amorous passion and enjoy sweet pastimes in Vrndavana.

56 Happily attended by many maidservants who provide Them with flower-garlands, garments and other things, and wondering through the forests of Vrndavana, the charming fair and dark youthful divine couple is now overwhelmed by the nectar of Their transcendental pastimes. I pray that I may someday be allowed to serve Them.

57 I worship the fair and dark divine couple, who, very wonderful, situated in very charming eternal youth, every limb of Their bodies manifesting limitless sweet handsomeness, and continually overcome with amorous desires, day and night enjoys eternal pastimes Vrndavana and drowns all moving and non-moving beings in a flooding ocean of nectar.

58 Please meditate on Vrndavana’s trees, every branch, leaf, fruit, flower, and blossom of which is filled with the splendid nectar of the sweetest fragrance.

59 Please worship the fair and dark divine couple, who enjoy pastimes in the beautiful groves of haricandana and other trees growing by the Yamuna’s shore.

60 When will I directly see the intensely sweet and blissful nectar ocean of the Vrndavana pastimes of the very sweet divine couple, whose limbs are splendid as gold and sapphires.

61 In the beautiful forest of Vrndavana some very fortunate souls are able to taste the flood of wonderful sweetness from the nectar ocean of pure love for the lotus feet of Sri Gandharva’s (Radha’s) intimate friend.

62 Showering the trees in Vrndavana with a great rain of pure love and a bliss that eclipses all other blisses, the Krsna monsoon cloud and the Radha lightning flash shine with great splendor.

63 May the pastimes in Vrndavana of the youthful divine gopa couple, who are fair and dark as the petals of a newly blossoming golden campaka flower and a blue lotus, appear before me.

64 Please serve the handsome and youthful divine couple, splendid as sapphires and molten gold and trembling with limitless transcendental passion in a lovely kadamba grove.

65 In a very wonderful flower garden in Vrndavana forest, which is the root of the sweetest nectar, the fair and dark youthful divine couple, who are my life, and who are now overwhelmed with passion, enjoy pastimes.

66 I meditate on Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, who are agitated by in the bees’ buzzing and the cuckoos cooing in the forest flower gardens.

67 Today in Vrndavana forest the bees are singing everywhere, the cuckoos make a constant great tumult of “kuhu kuhu”, the peacocks dance playfully, and the trees and creepers have blossomed with many beautiful flowers. O Radha, they do all this only to please you.

68 Inspired by the nectar of love, Krsna approached Radha from behind and playfully covered Her eyes. Radha said, “Let go! I know who You are. You are Lalita.” Krsna laughed. One gopi friend said, “The hairs on Your body are standing up with excitement. You know who it is”. Then Radha laughed. Moving a blossoming-twig fan, another gopi them made a cooling breeze fall upon Sri Sri Radha-Krsna.

69 Situated in wonderful, playful and charming eternal youthfulness, served by eternally joyful affectionate gopi friends whose bodily hairs stand up and who shed tears by seeing Their splendor, and the handsomeness of Their transcendental forms filling Rati and Kamadeva with wonder. Sri Radha and He who is the jewel of lovers enjoy limitless blissful pastimes day and night in Vrndavana forest.

70 I worship Sri Vrndavana, where there is a flooding ocean of the glory of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna’s fair and dark forms, where a flood of the nectar of pure love eclipses the fame of both spiritual and material worlds, where there is the most splendid splendor, where one lose all attachment for any other place, and where the divine couple enjoys beginningless, endless, glorious, exalted pastimes.

71 My queen, please sit still for a moment. My charming Lord, please stop for a moment. I shall clear away the signs of amorous pastimes from Your eyes, limbs, and clothing. Lalita and the other gopis have been searching for you. They will arrive at any moment. If they see You like this they will make all jokes. They will laugh and laugh. it will be very embarrassing for You.

72 The beautiful lotus flowers of Their faces fully blossomed in the splendid moonlight, Their charming conversation flowing like a stream of honey, Their bodily hairs erect, and Their limbs trembling in the excitement of Their transcendental amorous passion, the eternal fair and dark complexioned divine couple enjoy transcendental pastimes in Vrndavana.

73 Filled with the sweet nectar of love for each other, laughing and laughing, expertly embracing each other, and again and again struggling in the battle of transcendental amorous pastimes, the splendid divine couple quickly enters the courtyard in the forest grove of Vrndavana.

74 Arranging Their hair and tilaka markings, offering Them fragrant scents, betel nuts, and flower garlands, clothing Them in splendid, fine silk garments, giving Them very palatable transcendental food and drink, nicely fanning Them, massaging Their soft lotus feet, and doing many other things, the gopis serve Sri Sri Radha-Krsna in the groves of Vrndavana forest.

75 In Vrndavana some of Radha’s beautiful maidservants decorate the forest groves, some string splendid garlands and other ornaments with many flowers, some happily prepared many kinds of aromatic fragrances, and some make very fine garments.

76 O mind, please worship the girls in the land of Vrndavana, who with the splendor of a single beautiful limb and the flooding sweetness of youth turn all the young demigoddesses in heaven into blades of grass. Please meditate on the very sweet and glorious divine couple, who make the greatest sages become stunned with wonder.

77 May the beauty of Vrndavana forest, the peerless glory of the blissful, youthful, fair and dark divine couple in the bliss of Their ever-new, great, transcendental amorous pastimes, and the beautiful young girls who illuminate the ten directions and who are overwhelmed by the sweetness of worshipping the divine couple that is more dear to them than life, appear before me.

78 Far from the material energy, which is the root of numberless material universes, is the sweet nectar of the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s effulgence. Within that effulgence are the Vaikuntha planets, and in the most confidential portion of Vaikuntha is this blissful, glorious Vrndavana, splendid with the Kama-gayatri-bija.

79 I worship the splendid, sweet, soft, expansive land of Vrndavana, which is filled with cintamani jewels, which is the abode of transcendental bliss, which is scented with sweet transcendental fragrance, which is filled with the transcendental nectar of pure love of God, which is splendid with flower pollen and which is filled with wonderful and colorful transcendental glory.

80 Here in Vrndavana the wonderful young girls eternally worship Sri Radha-Muralidhara, who are filled with the sweetness of the beauty of youth, with sweet love for each other, and with the wonderful intoxicating nectar of the bliss of love.

81 I pray that Sri Radhika’s maidservant, whose bumblebee hearts are always intoxicated by tasting the honey of Radha-Krsna’s lotus flower feet, who shed tears and whose bodily hairs stand up because of a blissful flood of love for Them, and who bitterly lament when any obstacle stops their service to the master and mistress of their lives, may appear before me.

82 Please meditate on Radha’s young, slender, very sweet maidservants, who are graceful as golden vines, the splendor of whose limbs fills all directions, and whose golden earrings move to and from on the cheeks and whose bracelets, anklets, and the belts on their hips all tinkle as they busily serve the divine couple, who are more dear to them than life.

83 Please meditate on Sri Radhika’s maidservants, who are as fair as gold, whose broad hips are decorated with splendid saris and tinkling bells, whose lotus feet are splendid with melodiously tinkling anklets, whose budding breasts are covered with splendid bodices and beautiful necklaces moving to and fro...

84 whose noses are decorated with priceless pearls set in jewels and gold, whose large braids are decorated with jewels and flowers, whose smiling faces are brilliant as numberless golden moons, who shine with the playfulness of youth, whose limbs are enchantingly beautiful...

85 whose bodily hairs at every moment gracefully stand erect because of intense, sweet, spontaneous love for Radha-Krsna, and who, plunged into the fathomless ever-expanding ocean of transcendental bliss, smile and laugh, their bodies at every moment blossoming with transcendental bliss.

86 Flooding the ten directions with the splendor of their limbs, splendid and youthful, blinded with love for the very charming youthful divine couple, and decorated with a variety of garments and ornaments, Radha’s maidservants shine with great splendor.

87 May I, in a heart rapt in unmoving meditation on the goddess of fortune’s husband, yearn for the service of Sri Gandharva’s (Radha’s) lotus feet, which are a great treasure of fragrant nectar sought by a certain wonderful, wise black bee in beautiful Vrndavana forest’s new vine pavilions.

88 I meditate on the beautiful land of Vrndavana, which is paved with glistening cintamani jewels, marked with the nectar pollen of Radha-Krsna’s footprints, splendid with jewels of many colors, and illuminated with the limitless splendor of transcendental nectar.

89 The land of Vrndavana is very splendid, gentle, fragrant with the intense bliss of the pastimes of the two divine lovers more glorious than the greatest jewels filled with the camphor, incense and other things of leafy-branched trees, filled with the pastimes of the divine couple who enter it, and so splendid it has no need for a moon.

90 I offer my respectful obeisances to the wonderful effulgent, transcendental land of Vrndavana, which is splendid with glistening gold, sapphires, rubies, red-coral, lapis lazuli, and candrakanta jewels.

91 I eternally meditate on the land of Vrndavana, which is glorious above everything, an island of sweetness in the shoreless ocean of nectar, wonderful with the blisses of transcendental amorous pastimes, blinded by the nectar of love for Radha-Krsna, its limbs rolling about on the ground in ecstasy, and a wonderful treasure of transcendental beauty and good fortune.

92 I meditate on Vrndavana, where many affectionate gopi friends prepare a couch for Radha-Krsna’s pastimes, where the deer, birds, trees, and vines are intoxicated with the nectar of love, and which is very charming, beautiful with many splendid forest groves, delightful with jewel pavements, and filled with splendid lakes, streams, and jewel mountains.

93 Filling Sri Radha-Krsna with passion, intoxicating all moving and non moving entities, crushing passionate Kamadeva’s pride and disarraying his garments and ornaments, and making the stars, the moon, and affectionate young gopis mad with happiness, Vrndavana shines with great splendor.

94 Without ever becoming tired, please always meditate on beautiful Vrndavana, which is glorious with numberless charming forests of parijata and other splendid trees, worshipped by demigods full of love for Lord Hari’s lotus feet, plunged into an ocean of the light of millions of moons, and unapproachable even by the host of Upanisads.

95 Brother, are you trapped in the jungle of repeated birth and death? Can you find not even a moment’s relief from the three-fold sufferings? The words of the scriptures don’t tell you how to escape? Simply meditate in your heart on the trees of Vrndavana, which are so dear to Lord Krsna.

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Sataka Seven

1 Please worship Vrndavana’s trees, which grow in a splendid island of sweet nectar risen from the spiritual effulgence ocean of the Kama-gayatri-bija and are the wonderful object of love for the very charming fair and dark divine couple.

2 The goddess of devotion to Sri Krsna’s lotus feet, who never appears before the liberated souls, and whom even Sukadeva, Narada and other saints cannot approach with their pure deeds, continually wanders here and there, searching for someone who lives in beautiful Vrndavana.

3 Always give all honor to everyone. Always think of yourself as the lowest of the low. O intelligent one, reside in the charming abode named Vrndavana. Consider honor and dishonor to be the same. Consider millions of praises and millions of insults to be the same. Consider poverty so great it is difficult even to eat and limitless wealth to be both the same. Consider friends and enemies to be all the same.

4 A woman’s body is merely a grotesque lump of foul flesh covered by a thin layer of pretty skin. Spit at the thought of trying to enjoy that lump of flesh. Consider wealth to be worthless. Know that children, relatives, and friends are simply ropes to bind you. Consider palatable food and drink to be the beginning of your troubles. Fear handsome garments. Be humble, think of yourself as everyone’s servant or disciple, and reside in Vrndavana.

5 Seeing it to be a shoreless ocean of the sweetness of the lotus feet of Radha’s lover, a pure devotee worships Vrndavana.

6 My tongue constantly dances in the glory of Vrndavana’s virtues. They who know it is eternally the most exalted of all never leave it. 7 For the moment let us not consider Lord Krsna, the moon of Vrndavana. Let us not consider Srimati Radharani, the queen of Vrndavana, and let us not consider Her gopi friends either. Even one blossoming tree in Vrndavana forest has the power to enchant the entire world.

8 Fool, abandon, the many rituals of ordinary religion and in Vrndavana find the intense bliss even the demigods cannot attain.

9 Don’t perform pious acts. Don’t practice yoga. Don’t worship Lord Visnu. Don’t hear Lord Visnu’s glories. Reside in the earthly land of Vrndavana, and you will certainly attain the spiritual world.

10 To reside, up until the moment of death, in the earthly land of Vrndavana, is considered equal to performing countless pious deeds, worshipping Hari, and studying all the Upanisads.

11 Let me perform hundreds of impious acts. Let all my piety go away. If the land of Vrndavana will accept me, which should there be any worry?

12 I wish to reside in Vrndavana. I try to reside in Vrndavana, If, fool that I am, I try to leave, I pray that merciful Vrndavana will rescue me.

13 The supreme, indescribable, charming sweetness of Vrndavana forest enchants the heart of Radha’s dear friend.

14 In Vrndavana are the topmost limit of transcendental bliss, the topmost limit of the nectar of transcendental good fortune, the topmost limit of Lord Hari’s sweetness, and the topmost limit of worshipable transcendental qualities.

15 I have carefully studied the scriptures and I have served many spiritual masters. Still, I have personally seen that the best scripture and the best spiritual master is transcendental Vrndavana.

16 Fried, why are you morose? What is the need for this useless talking? Simply hear, describe, and glorify in song the transcendental qualities of Vrndavana.

17 Why are you suffocated by thousands of useless concerns for public opinion and the niceties of religious practice? Simply place your body in the beautiful land of Vrndavana and become happy.

18 What is the need to associate with saintly persons? What is the need to study the scripture? What is the need to perform pious deeds? I think the blades of grass in Vrndavana are supremely pious and fortunate, yet they do not endeavor to perform pious deeds.

19 If your eyes yearn to gaze at women, pluck them out. If your feet wish to leave Vrndavana, crush them to powder with a rock. If your life-breath tries to take you outside Vrndavana, abandon it. If your body decides to take you outside Vrndavana, tie it up and beat it ferociously.

20 Even if one of the residents of this material world has committed adultery millions of times with his guru’s wife, has killed hundreds of millions of brahmanas, has stolen gold, drunk wine, slaughtered cows and performed a great multitude of the most horrifying sins, if he stays in Vrndavana until the moment of his death, he becomes a pure hearted saint.

21 One who does not even know the word “religion”, who is always devoured by all kinds of sins, who because of his sins is scorned even by the mlecchas and candalas, but somehow by the boundless mercy and forgiveness of the holy dhama, resides in Vrndavana until the moment of his death, becomes the most fortunate of men. Who is as fortunate as he?

22 I cannot discriminate between religion and irreligion. I am eager to talk with impious men. At every moment I am crushed by lust, anger, madness and a host of other vices. Even for a single moment I cannot patiently tolerate the dualities of happiness and distress in this world. O Vrndavana, only if you are very kind, generous, and forgiving, and only if you protect me as a mother protects her child, will I ever become happy.

23 When, the hairs on my body erect in ecstasy, and my eyes flowing streams of tears, will I day and night wander in Vrndavana’s groves, where Sri Sri Radhika-Krsna eternally enjoy passionate amorous pastimes?

24 When in my heart will I worship the young, passionate golden splendor eternally and sweetly playing with a young, dark, peerless, charming monsoon cloud in the newly blossoming forest groves by Yamuna’s shore?

25 Above the effulgence of advaita-brahman the blissful effulgence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead shines. Within that effulgence is the effulgence of the sweetness of the Lord’s delightful pastimes. The most brilliant part of the effulgence is beautiful Vrndavana, where the eternally playful young girl Radha stays with dark-complexioned Lord Krsna. Please meditate on the supremely sweet splendor of Her feet.

26-30 Always and in all situations meditate on yourself as one of Srimati Radharani’s many maidservants, who are all expert in the arts of transcendental mellows, expert in making a great variety of colorful garlands, garments, and ornaments, wonderfully youthful, beautiful, graceful, and decorated with beautiful faces always blossoming with happiness as they serve Sri Sri Radha-Krsna. Meditate on yourself as Srimati Radharani’s maidservant, as a beautiful, charming young gopi delicate as a newly blossoming golden vine, as a girl whose moving, neatly braided black hair is decorated with jewels and clusters of flowers, whose beautiful nose is decorated with a single splendid pearl set in gold and jewels, whose face has the splendor of a golden full moon, who emits a great flood of the sweet fragrance of a host of lotus buds, whose beautiful breasts are like two wonderful golden lotus buds discreetly covered by a bodice, who has a very slender waist, who has very beautiful broad hips, who is beautifully decorated with a belt, anklets, necklaces, bracelets, and golden veil, whose hips are girded with a wonderfully colorful cloth, whose limbs emit a splendid luster that fills all directions, who wears glistening earrings and a splendid golden lotus flower over one ear, who displays the very wonderful gracefulness, joyfulness, sweetness, and beauty of rising youth, who is so overwhelmed with love for Sri Sri Radha-Krsna that her bodily hairs stand erect and tears fill her eyes, who is situated in the highest position of skill in all the transcendental arts, who is wonderfully expert at speaking joking words, who is plunged in a nectar ocean of transcendental bliss, and who considers the beautiful divine couple the sole great treasure of her life. I pray that I shall always meditate on my actual spiritual identity in this way and that even in the greatest calamity I shall not be illusioned into thinking that this material body is myself, or that this home and its various paraphernalia is my property.

31 Dear friend, if you desire to attain pure transcendental pastimes, which display the most exalted transcendental love, splendid beauty, and great bliss, then please take shelter of Sri Vrndavana with all your heart, for in Vrndavana the youthful divine couple, who are filled with the nectar of pure transcendental love, enjoy Their eternal pastimes.

32 Laughing at harsh rebukes, physical blows, or any other trouble, not unhappy to not find anything to eat, in the eyes of the common people appearing to act like a very bewildered child, wealthy in the great treasure of the penniless ascetics, and never flaunting your own virtues, bow down and serve all the living entities in Vrndavana.

33 In an island in the midst of the shoreless, pure, eternal, blissful, regal, intensely sweet, effulgent nectar ocean of the mellows of transcendental love, the beautiful, ever new and fresh, supremely sweet forest of Vrndavana eternally shines with great splendor. Please reside there and worship the two fair and dark splendors.

34 Never leaving to go to any other place, never arriving from any other place, eternally young, always plunged in the nectar of transcendental amorous pastimes, supremely sweet, decorated with peerless transcendental virtues, and splendid as gold and sapphires, the divine couple eternally stays in Vrndavana.

35 Somewhere in the apex of forests may my heart become placed in the two splendors that are the apex of the nectar of transcendental amorous pastimes, the apex of the sweetness of transcendental love, the apex of the splendid beauty of newly budding youth, and the apex of wonderful amorous skill.

36 A great treasury of Radha-Madhava’s charming amorous pastimes, a thief that robs the living entities of all material aims in life, a wonderful glory that dances on the crowned heads of the three Vedas, a saint that vows to always protect those who take shelter of it, and a nectar ocean of pure love, Vrndavana remains always awake.

37 The transcendental abode name Vrndavana, which is filled with all the glory and sweetness of the nectar of krsna-prema, and where a discussion of cause and effect merges into non-existence and the blissful Brahman effulgence does not shine, is eternally manifest above all.

38 Let us glorify Vrndavana, from the splendor of which everything is manifest, which delights the spiritual and material worlds with a drop from the nectar ocean of the wonderful bliss of pure love, from the existence of which all existence follows, and of the wonders of the glory and sweetness of which the entire world contains only a fragment.

39 May Vrndavana, where the fair and dark youthful divine couple, flooding the world with a limitless ocean of love by manifesting the shade of Their wonderful and limitlessly powerful lotus feet and the flood of the sweetness of Their wonderful pastimes, passes beginningless and endless time with a festival of very sweet amorous pastimes, give me shelter.

40 With only the power and glory of the Lord’s holy name, conquer, conquer lust, hatred, and all other vices. Make me forget the dualities of material existence that spring from the material body. Reveal the splendor of the spiritual world. Forgetting the material world, show me the sweet splendor of the spiritual world. Seeing the two wonders in a secluded place, and revealing Vrndavana forest, bring me before the fair and dark hero and heroine.

41 Accompanied by all his senses, this person runs wildly into the gruesome world of hedonism. He does not find even the slightest scent of happiness anywhere. He is now mad. He has become completely blind. His deaf ears are struck with wonder to hear the advice of his friends, guru and scripture. When will slow-witted I take shelter of Vrndavana?

42 Again and again I see the pigs here. They constantly pass stool, urine and other filth. Their life is very short and its beginning, middle and end are filled with horrible sufferings. Still, I have a strong desire to enjoy material sense gratification as they do. O forest of Vrndavana, please rescue me from this desire.

43 If, out of love for Vrndavana, a person like me abandons all the rules of ordinary religion, and if overcome by the uncontrollable material senses, he offends the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and if, in spite of all obstacles, he continues to reside in Vrndavana, he will certainly attain the most exalted state of pure spiritual love for Lord Krsna. Will this beautiful land of Vrndavana then not be merciful and rescue me?

44 Some worship Lord Visnu, some daily perform meditation or yoga, some perform the karma-kanda rituals of the Vedas, and some are simply attached to wife, children, money, and other things. Who among them lives with pure love in Vrndavana forest, which is beautified by Sri Radha-Krsna’s eternal, passionate amorous pastimes. I do not know?

45 Beyond the touch of the three modes of material nature is the splendor of intense transcendental bliss. Within that the splendor of intense love for Lord Krsna shines. Within that is the very sweet splendor of Vrndavana forest. There please worship the two fair and dark youthful mines of the jewels of sweet nectar.

46 I am not unhappy if degraded men criticizes me. I do not protest if thugs assault me. If others insult me, I remain peaceful. Fully away aware of my own impious nature, as an outcast I stay far away from others. To everyone I always pray for mercy. I am very fallen. I am like a dog or jackal. I only ask that somehow or other I may stay in the blissful land of Vrndavana.

47 In my heart taking terrible calamity to be like good fortune, insults to be like honor, criticism like praise, enemies like friends, poverty like great wealth, and envy like friendship, I shall stay in this land of Vrndavana, which charitably gives to its residents the nectar of the lotus feet of the Sri Sri Radha-Krsna.

48 May my head always very respectfully bow down to salute Vrndavana. May my tongue always be enthusiastic to glorify its transcendental qualities. May my hands clean its newly blossoming groves. May my feet wander within it. May my ears hear its glories. May my eyes gaze upon it. May my mind always meditate on it.

49 With very sweet devotional love, please worship Vrndavana, which is the most wonderful of all good fortunes, the most wonderful of all auspiciousnesses, the most wonderful of all spiritual splendors, the most wonderful of all beauties, the most wonderful of all generous philanthropists, the most wonderful of all Lord Krsna’s abodes and the most wonderful of all.

50 All glories to Vrndavana-dhama, which is filled with trees and vines blossoming in the ocean of blissful moonlight, which is decorated with many pigeons, parrots, cuckoos, and peacocks, which is filled with the buzzing of restless bees, and which has as its companion the Yamuna flooded with the sweetness of divine love.

51 Please meditate on Vrndavana forest, beautiful with the splendid moonlight of transcendental bliss, the essence of intense sweetness, the ecstasies of transcendental love, and groves of regal trees bearing wonderful new flowers.

52 A self-realized soul always tastes the nectar of pure love for Lord Krsna. In his heart he sees the spiritual forms of all the moving and non-moving residents of Vrndavana, and he also sees his own original spiritual form. If you cannot see in this way, then hear the truth from the mouth of a bona-fide spiritual master, and always reflect on what he has taught you. Reside in Vrndavana, and one day the reactions to your past deeds will come to an end, and you will also taste the nectar of pure transcendental love.

53 He who takes shelter of Vrndavana, which is beyond the three modes of nature, which by its own mercy shines on the earth, which generously gives the nectar of pure love for Lord Hari, and which is filled with splendid bliss and flooded with unequalled sweetness, is honored by the three worlds.

54 In the middle of the ocean of intense bliss a nectar island of cintamani jewels shine. There the very wonderful and colorful abode of Vrndavana is manifest. Friend, don’t lament. With unalloyed devotion please reside there, where one may easily attain what is very far from the students of Vedanta, and what even the great devotees of the Lord cannot attain.

55 Please meditate on the young hero and heroine of transcendental amorous pastimes, who are two flooding oceans of passion, and who, sighing, and in the intensity of Their passion repeatedly breaking the flower garlands, jewel necklaces, garments and ornaments carefully placed on Their transcendental bodies by jubilant and loving friends, make Their friends smile and laugh again and again.

56-57 Beyond the world of the three modes of nature, which is decorated with numberless universes and filled with suffering, is the shoreless ocean of bliss that is the self manifested, brilliant effulgence of the spiritual world.

58 The wise know this spiritual effulgence free from the waves of material change and without suffering, ignorance, or the activities of ignorance, as the Supreme Brahman.

59 Please meditate on the ocean of very sweet bliss that is the very pure, glorious and wonderful splendor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead there.

60 That wonderful realm is very large and splendid. It is glorified by the loving devotees.

61 Within that splendor is the very wonderful, very great, limitless splendor of Lord Krsna. Please meditate in this way.

62 That splendor is very effulgent, delightful, charming, wonderful, and beautiful. It is filled with great transcendental love and it is a great festival of the nectar of great transcendental bliss.

63 Deep within that splendid world is the most wonderful, splendid, and exalted realm.

64 In that splendid realm is the ultimate limit of purity, the ultimate limit of transcendental bliss, and the ultimate limit of the transcendental opulences that are the nectarean mellows of spiritual love for Lord Krsna.

65 That realm is eternally free from the slightest touch of any material desire. It is manifested from the bija-syllable of the kama gayatri mantra. It is filled with the nectar of ecstatic love.

66 Within that is the more splendid realm that is the beautiful forest of Vrndavana. That forest is the great empire of complete transcendental sweetness. It is the great wonder of complete transcendental bliss.

67 In that realm are the most perfect sweetness, the most perfect nectar, and a host of all fortunate trees, vines, birds, deer, and other creatures.

68 That realm is decorated with many splendid pastime cintamani mountains and with many lakes, ponds, and wells, all filled with the nectar waters of transcendental bliss and love.

69 That place is splendid with courtyards of glistening gold and cintamani jewels and with splendid trees and vines of eternally blossoming flowers.

70 They are blissful trees bearing countless fruits, and playful, agitated birds that make a great festival of tumultuous warbling.

71 Honey flows from every blooming flower and there are the sweet buzzing sounds of a great host of bumblebees blinded with joy.

72 There are many very wonderful nectar-filled forest groves and every direction there is filled with the pollen of flowers.

73 In various places passionate peacocks wildly dance, and cuckoos intoxicated by tasting new mango buds, sing the fifth note.

74 This place is filled with splendid blossoming kahlara, kamala, utpala, and jati flowers, and with swans, cranes, cakravakas, and karandavas.

75 There are many lakes and streams, their very clear waters filled with the nectar of transcendental bliss, and their splendid shores studded with a mosaic of jewels and beautified with many splendid jewel staircases.

76 In this place the Yamuna, opulent with many padma and utpala lotuses, flows with a great stream of the sweet nectar of great transcendental bliss.

77 The sweet sounds of the birds and bees by the Yamuna delight the ears. The entire area bears the splendid and delicate scent of camphor pollen.

78 The Yamuna is beautified by splendid shores that shower the nectar of transcendental bliss. Nearby is a very charming forest-garden.

79 Vrndavana is filled with very wonderful and splendid variety. Everything there is effulgent with the sweetest nectar.

80 This place is the form of the Kama-gayatri bija and the bliss of transcendental pastimes, in this place supremely handsome Sri Sri Radhika-Krsna stay.

81 Their naturally wonderful youthful handsomeness enchants the entire world. They are eternally intoxicated by the nectar of supremely pure amorous pastimes.

82 The splendor of Their fair and dark transcendental forms floods all directions.

83 Their charming transcendental forms are filled with all beauty. The graceful movements of Their transcendental limbs contain the great treasure of transcendental beauty.

84 They are two shoreless oceans of very wonderful handsomeness that has neither equal nor superior. They are two oceans of ever-increasing, boundless, pure mutual love.

85 Their limbs are eternally agitated with transcendental amorous passion. Because They are overcome with passion the hairs on Their bodies stand erect with excitement.

86 Their hearts untouched by the desire to enjoy with anyone else, They enjoy eternal and passionate transcendental amorous pastimes together.

87 By expertly playing very wonderful musical duets, Their appetite for amorous pastimes becomes awakened. They now swim in the great ocean of pure transcendental amorous love.

88 Affectionately served by a splendid circle of gopi friends, They eternally enjoy transcendental pastimes. They are the charming life and soul of the gopis plunged in the nectar ocean of love.

89 Now, with great devotion, let us meditate on our queen Sri Radha, whose transcendental form is filled with the nectar of supremely pure love.

90 She is the crest jewel of all beautiful young gopis. All Her beautiful limbs are filled with all transcendental virtues.

91-92 With Her wonderful beauty She enchants all the universes and makes Mohini, Parvati, Rati, and all other beautiful girls hand down their heads in shame. Her complexion is the color of molten gold. Her glistening beauty is limitless.

93 The rising luster of Her fair complexion fills the ten directions. The rising sweetness of Her transcendental beauty drowns the spiritual and material worlds.

94 She is a splendid, wonderful nectar ocean of pure transcendental love. She performs the arati ritual, offering millions of Her own lives to Lord Krsna.

95 She is filled with the great splendor of unalloyed, pure, transcendental love. Her splendid transcendental form displays the most wonderful ever fresh youthfulness.

96 She manifests millions of oceans of the nectar of ever fresh transcendental beauty. At every step Her very wonderful transcendental beauty completely enchants the entire world.

97 Her charming transcendental form is a great flood of transcendental sweetness. She wears a garland of malli and campaka flowers that greatly agitate swarms of bumblebees.

98-99 She is decorated with a vine of Her beautiful braided which enchants the entire universe. It begins with exquisite beauty at the top of Her head, is seen encircling the area of Her eyes, and finally hangs down to Her broad hips. In its beginning it is decorated with many colorful flowers, in its middle flowers are entwined within it, and at its end it is decorated with clusters of flowers and jewels.

100 Her very dark, long, glistening, very broad, splendidly beautiful braids are like a great snake lurking behind a vine of campaka flowers.

101 Her face is as splendid as an unlimited golden full moon, or the whorl of a golden lotus glistening in the unlimited moonlight.

Sataka Eight

1 Her face is like the whorl of a charming, blossoming golden lotus flower. Her splendid teeth are like a row of ripe pomegranate seeds.

2 Her splendidly beautiful bimba fruit lips are an ocean of transcendental sweetness. Her very beautiful chin is enchantingly decorated with a black dot of musk.

3 Her shyly smiling eyes are two restless khanjana birds. The playful movements of Her eyebrows have completely defeated the powerful bow of the demigod cupid.

4 Her beautiful nose is decorated with a splendid pearl set in gold and jewels. Her ears are charmingly decorated with flowers and beautiful jewel earrings.

5 The splendor of a jewel locket beautifies her new golden conchshell neck. Her beautiful new breasts are two golden flower buds.

6 Her breasts are wonderfully beautiful. They are very charming and they are very full, firm, large and high.

7 Her bodice is always covered by the edge of Her sari. She is decorated with splendid jewel bracelets and armlets.

8 Her arms are two splendid, graceful vines. Her abdomen marked with three graceful folds of skin is like a glistening, smooth golden flower petal.

9 Her slender waist is very charming and beautiful. Her large, young hips expand the nectar of the great beauty.

10 The beautiful and wonderfully colorful flower of Her silken sari reaches down to Her graceful ankles. Her lovely thighs are two glistening and smooth plantain tree trunks.

11 Her knees are very beautiful. Her splendid legs are lotus stems. All moving and non moving living entities are enchanted by the beauty of Her lotus feet.

12 Her graceful, playful steps enchant the most charming Lord Krsna. She wears a splendid sash and tinkling golden ankle bells.

13 Her toes are adorned with splendid rings and Her feet with golden anklets studded with rubies. Her legs and thighs are very beautiful.

14 Her fingers are splendidly decorated with jewel rings. At every step she is more beautiful. She is a shoreless ocean of expert skill in the performance of very wonderful, endless transcendental pastimes.

15 With Her delicate fair limbs and the nectar waves of very wonderful amorous pastimes, She completely enchants both Lord Krsna and Her gopi friends.

16 Now please meditate on the many millions of maidservants filled with love for the sweet, jewel-anklet-decorated splendor of the beautiful lotus feet of Vrndavana’s queen.

17 They are loved, honored, and carefully taught by the leaders of the gopis. They are charming, displaying many kinds of youthful beauty.

18 They are decorated with a very wonderful variety of garments and ornaments, and their bodily complexions also display a very wonderful variety.

19 They are skilled in a great variety of arts. With their musical talents they please the dear divine couple.

20-21 All their actions reveal the sweetness of youth. With their naturally graceful motions, shy smiles, and crooked sidelong glances, they charm both the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the entire world. Among them is one especially beautiful girl who is the special object of Sri Radha’s kindness.

22 Unable to bear a moment’s separation from Her, she always stays by Sri Radha’s lotus feet.

23 What more can I say to describe her? Sometimes, as Sri Radha enjoys transcendental pastimes with Her lover, Krsna, this girl places them both on the bed in the cottage of vines, and other times she dresses Them both in various garments.

24 Her sweet bodily luster is as splendid and charming as gold. Her beauty is without limit. Her sweetness is without limit.

25 She is wonderfully youthful. Her beautiful breasts are like flower buds. Her colorful bodice is covered by many pearl necklaces.

26 The smooth and splendid plantain trees of her arms are decorated with bracelets and armlets. The splendid vine of her braided hair plays on the surface of Her beautiful thighs.

27 Her very slender waist is enchantingly beautiful. Her splendid silk sari reaches down to her ankles.

28 She wears a very fine bodice beautifully decorated with bunches of flowers. Her charming eyes are surrounded by curling locks of hair.

29 She casts shy, sweet, smiling, playful sidelong glances. She is expert in various transcendental arts. The curving features of her transcendental form are very beautiful.

30 The hairs of her body stand erect in her ecstasy of love for Sri Sri Radha-Krsna. She is expert in all the arts, having been personally taught by her mistress, Radha.

31 She is charmingly decorated with flower garlands, garments, ornaments, and many other things given to her by the most dear divine couple. She possesses great humbleness, good character, and a host of other transcendental virtues.

32 She is expert at understanding the hints concealed in the glances, words ad expressions of her mistress Radha. She chews the betelnuts offered by Lord Krsna. She worships Sri Sri Radha-Krsna with great respect.

33 She brings golden vessels and other paraphernalia to the secret meeting with Lord Krsna. Radha’s great love and various kindnesses make her overwhelmed with love.

34 In all three phases of time (past, present and future) she had no desire other than to serve Sri Radha’s lotus feet. She is always plunged in the shoreless ocean of the happiness of pure love for Sri Radha.

35 Even in her dreams she does not know anything but the lotus feet of Sri Radha. She is always plunged in an ocean of pure love for Sri Radha.

36 Her youthful beauty fills the entire world with wonder. As she repeatedly tastes the nectar of transcendental mellows, the hairs on her body stand erect in ecstasy.

37 With the limitless splendid beauty of her transcendental form she enchants the entire world. Eager to perform her duties in Radha’s service, she quickly goes here and there.

38 She is like a walking golden vine with cluster of newly-blossoming flowers. She floods the ten directions with waves of splendid beauty.

39-40 With the wonderful beauty of her transcendental form she fills all directions with wonder. With playful steps, the tinkling of ankle-bells and the sweet jingling of bracelets and belt, she enchants the entire world. She always drinks the sweet, cooling nectar of the narrations of the confidential pastimes of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna.

41 She is delighted by the very sweet and cool nectar of conversation flowing from the moon of Sri Radha’s mouth.

42 Eagerly and happily hearing these descriptions again and again and, even though you have never directly seen but know of this only by words, meditating on this always and in all conditions, please reside in the beautiful forest of Vrndavana.

43 Don’t recklessly look at the host of follies in this very impure, horrible material body.

44 Escaping the bewildering trap that uproots the real goal of life, defeats even Brahma and the demigods, is filled with stool, urine, phlegm, pus, muscle, flesh, bones, marrow, blood, and a host of other horrors, is covered by some skin, and goes by the name of a beautiful young woman, run far away and take shelter of Vrndavana, home of the supreme goal of life.

45 If you see that your heart has become a slave to women and that slavery is a great obstacle blocking all your desires, then violently beat your wicked senses with the raised whips of your anger, throw your ornaments and material possessions far away, consider all so-called obstacles insignificant as so many blades of grass, and reside in Vrndavana.

46 Without the mercy of Lord Hari, the Deity worshipped by self-realized saints, no one can cross the influence of the illusory potency of maya, which appears as the smiles, sidelong glances, and seductive movements of a beautiful woman. Although it may shine as flood of nectar, the very sound of the word “beautiful woman” is more deadly than the bitterest kalakuta poison. For this reason chant the holy names Radha-Krsna and peacefully stay here in Vrndavana.

47 The very wonderful flood of nectar that fills the heart in Vrndavana makes the bliss of prema into a single drop. A man cheated by senses that show him the painful illusions of this world and blinded by the Supreme Lord’s maya in the form of a woman, is not able to taste that nectar.

48 Please meditate on the transcendental potency who bears the name Radha, who with a very sweet flood of limitless beauty has washed away all material dualities, who with the graceful motions of Her transcendental limbs enchants all moving and non moving living entities, and with arrows of shyly smiling sweet sidelong glances wounds dark complexioned Lord Krsna and overwhelms Him with the transformations of ecstatic love.

49 Please protect me from the cruel witch of woman’s company. Please protect me from anger, envy, madness, cruelty, pride, greed, falsehood, and all other vices. Please protect me from the fear of becoming separated from Sri Vrndavana. O Radha-Krsna, because I am very fallen and weak, please kindly protect me from all dangers.

50 I would rather die of starvation than associate with materialistic householders. Even to get the best thing I shall not for a moment approach young women. Even if everything collapses I shall not, even within my mind, leave Sri Vrndavana. O, what fruit will the endeavor of this weak and fallen person bear?

51 Not with millions of scriptures and gurus, not with hundreds of rebukes from the world, not with the repeated vision of hellish life, and not even a host of calamities am I able to restrain, for even a moment, this mind infatuated by young women. O Vrndavana, will you protect me?

52 Alas! Alas! The forms of young women and other objects of sense gratification repeatedly steal away my heart. The illusory potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead attacks me and repeatedly dances on my head. I continually aspire to remain always here in Vrndavana forest. Will Srimati Radharani be always merciful to me? I do not know.

53 Day and night may my tongue be filled with the sweet nectar of Sri Radha’s glories. May I pray for the position of the maidservant of Her lotus feet in Vrndavana forest. May my peaceful composure be stolen away by the youthful beauty of the golden-complexioned goddess Sri Radha. By the power of my tears, hairs standing erect, and the other symptoms of my love for Sri Radha, may I cross beyond this world of repeated birth and death.

54 In a cottage in a grove of glorious Vrndavana forest a youthful couple, as brilliant as sapphires and molten gold, and overwhelmed by the very sweet mellows of transcendental pastimes, is splendidly manifest.

55 Please eternally worship the fair and dark, sweet youthful divine couple overcome by the newer and newer happiness as They gracefully play in the ever-new and sweet forest garden.

56 May Sri Radhika, the enchanting splendor of whose limbs makes the faces of the beautiful vraja-gopis turn pale, and the beauty of whose toenails makes Kamadeva, Rati, Narayana, Laksmi, and their followers faint, appear in my heart.

57 Vrndavana is brilliant with the wonderful virtues of all seasons more splendid than all splendor, sweeter than all sweetness, more beneficial and auspicious than all auspiciousness, more pleasantly cool and fragrant than all pleasant coolness and fragrance, and a wonderful ocean of bliss greater than all happiness.

58 I worship the beautiful land of Vrndavana, which from eternal bliss creates ever-increasing transcendental glory, which eternally emits splendid and enchanting fragrances, which is eternally filled with auspicious transcendental abodes, and which can only be attained by pure love.

59 Please always reside in the land of Vrndavana where, with the beautiful lotus flowers of Their feet, from which flows a sweetness that eclipses the greatest nectar, Sri Sri Radha-Muralidhara, who are two treasure houses of transcendental virtues, and who are wonderfully and incomparably youthful and delicate, eagerly walk.

60 Cross the ocean of repeated birth and death and go to the beautiful land of Vrndavana, which is paved with great cintamani gems and filled with fragrant flower pollen and camphor dust, and where the slightest touch uproots the six waves of material suffering.

61 Let us meditate on the beautiful land of Vrndavana, splendid, full of limitless wonderful virtues, wonderful with the effulgence of many glistening jewels, granting eternal bliss, and everywhere very sweet with Sri Sri Radha-Madhupati’s footprints.

62 The supremely blissful land of Vrndavana, the limitless, supremely wonderful splendor of which is beyond the understanding of the most intelligent, which at once awakens unalloyed love for the Supreme Lord, which shines with great splendor, which is full of nectar, and which is the most exalted of all transcendental abodes, with a flood of sweetness delights my heart.

63 I’ve given up my desire for fame. I don’t care if I become infamous. I don’t follow the path of material piety. I’ve renounced the game of scholarship. I don’t practice austerity, astanga-yoga, or jnana-yoga. I don’t hear the words of my elders. I don’t even notice my own body. O Vrndavana, now that I have taken shelter of you I shall never divert my attention from you.

64 In Their own forest of Vrndavana, will Radha and Her only ornament, whose forms are filled with the nectar of love, glance upon us who have no devotion and are so many oceans of the mud of material desires?

65 Let us meditate on the very wonderful, sweet, melodious tinkling of the anklebells on Sri Radha’s lotus feet in Vrndavana.

66 May my queen, Sri Radha, who is decorated by a circle of smiling and laughing friends playing vinas, mrdangas, talas and other musical instruments....

67 who is served by beautiful maidservants bearing jewelled golden cups, betel nut boxes, fans and other paraphernalia....

68 whose splendor pervades all spiritual and material worlds, who is filled with limitless sweetness, whose form is like a golden vine....

69-70 who with splendidly beautiful limbs soft and delicate as sirisa flowers, with wonderful youthful sweetness, beauty, gracefulness and other virtues, and with flowing waves of a flooding nectar ocean of amorous pastimes, enchants all moving and non moving living entities in Vrndavana forest....

71 who is decorated with many splendid garlands and ornaments, who is anointed with splendid cosmetics, whose splendid silken bodice is decorated with flowers...

72 whose bodily hairs stand erect in ecstasy as she places the vine of Her beautiful left arm around Lord Krsna’s shoulders whose beautiful left lotus hand plays with a lotus flower...

73 whose maidservants repeatedly and affectionately fan Her with their saris edges, who chews betel, who gives betelnuts to Her beloved.

74 whose maidservants offer Her golden jewelled goblet filled with delicious, cool nectar scented with camphor and spices....

75 who, gazing again and again at Vrndavana’s wonderful beauty, and intently listening again and again to Vrndavana’s wonderful sounds, becomes struck with wonder and asks Her lover, “What is this?”...

76-77 who with very sweet, wonderful, graceful, playful steps, with tinkling ankle bells, with the flooding moonlight of Her toes, and with a heart overwhelmed with beautiful happiness, walks in the very opulent and sweet forest of Vrndavana...

78 who walking here and there in the very wonderful and beautiful forest, sings and makes Her beloved sing...

79 and who eternally enjoys transcendental pastimes, be served day and night by me, whose only home is Vrndavana.

80 A person who even once tastes in his heart Vrndavana’s sweetness, which is wonderful with the splendor of Radha-Madhava’s pure amorous pastimes, at once abandons all Vedic and conventional duties and, his body filled with symptoms of ecstatic love, looks like a madman.

81 He who considers Radha-Muralidhara’s lotus feet the sole object of his love, who considers others’ wives his mothers, all plants and animals his good children, those who rebuke him his own kin, those who hate him his dear friends, and his own body the same as the bodies of others, is qualified to reside in Sri Vrndavana.

82 When, always plunged in the nectar ocean of pure love for Lord Krsna, always yearning in my heart for service to Sri Radhika’s lotus feet, tasting the sweetness of renunciation, and continually shedding tears, will I reside in Vrndavana forest?

83 I meditate on beautiful, handsome, kind, youthful, playful, charming Sri Radha-Muralidhara, whom witty, dear gopi friends eternally serve with flower-garlands, betelnuts, sandal paste, and many other offerings, in a jewel pavilion in the shade of a kadamba tree by the Yamuna’s shore in Vrndavana.

84 Please meditate on the splendidly decorated divine couple, who sit on a colorful cushion in a great jewel vine pavilion under a kalpa-vrksa tree by the very sweet and blissful Yamuna shore, and who with sweetness, youthfulness, handsomeness, charm, playfulness, and brilliant intelligence, enchant all Their gopi friends in Vrndavana.

85 Please meditate on sweet Vrndavana, beautiful with nectar trees and vines blossoming in the brilliant moonlight, with the wonderful singing and dancing of parrots, cuckoos, and peacocks, with the humming of restless bees intoxicated by drinking madhvika honey, and with many clear lakes and streams.

86 Meditating in this way, an intelligent devotee should happily reside in the blissful and effulgent forest of Vrndavana.

87 Why should a person who is a slave to lust and other vices, who hankers after fame, and who has abandoned the right path, not attain perfection in Vrndavana if he has somehow attained Vrndavana’s mercy?

88 Why not meditate on the pure love manifest in Vrndavana, which is more cooling than a full moon risen from the shoreless ocean of kindness?

89 O beautiful Vrndavana, O abode of pure goodness, even though I have committed limitless offenses, I now take shelter of you.

90 O Vrndavana, even though I am very fallen, and even though I boldly lie when I say “O Vrndavana, I am yours,” I beg you: please be merciful and accept me anyway.

91 Will I, the lowest of men, be able to reside without impediment in the eternally, boundlessly merciful forest of Vrndavana? Will I taste the nectar of Lord Hari?

92 Filled with flower pollen fragrant as perfumed powder, flooded with currents from the ocean of unprecedented nectar, covered with waves of transcendental moonlight, and overcome with blissful sounds of madly playing birds, Vrndavana forest is splendidly manifest.

93 I gaze at the forest of Vrndavana, which is filled with blissful, eternal, spiritual grasses, bushes, trees and vines, with forest groves meant for Sri Radha’s transcendental amorous pastimes, with many divine lakes, streams, and hills, with divine birds and beasts, and with charming gunja berries and black bumblebees.

94 I meditate on Vrndavana, which is encircled by the nectar stream of the Yamuna, and which is wonderful with limitlessly fragrant jewel courtyards, beautiful blossoming trees and vines glistening with the sweetest nectar, and the tumultuous sounds of many wildly blissful birds.

95 Without taking shelter of Lord Hari, the Deity worshipped by the great self-satisfied sages, what great sage or demigod can remain unbewildered by the desire to enjoy beautiful young girls in this world? frightened, stay far away from these girls, conquer your tongue and genitals, and always reside in Vrndavana forest.

96 O Vrndavana, please be merciful to me, who am boundlessly sinful, filled with hundreds of wicked thoughts, completely controlled by powerful lust, anger, and a host of other vices, the personification of proud hypocrisy, averse to the company of saintly devotees, averse to pious deeds, and without any shelter but you.

97 Even though my sense wildly run on the pathways of impious deeds, even though I do not for a single moment remember Lord Krsna, who is a great ocean of transcendental bliss and the dear lover of Srimati Radharani, even though I have neither piety nor devotional service, even though all good qualities have abandoned me, and even though alas, alas, I am very bewildered, I shall now take shelter of Sri Vrndavana.

98 Austerely considering the touch of sense-objects to be like flames of the most powerful poison, not finding any pleasure in the material senses, placing my cheek in my hands, washing it with my tears, and praying for the limitless transcendental mercy of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, I shall reside in Vrndavana.

99 When, ignoring the paths of ordinary customs and Vedic injunction, not considering those whose hearts have not entered the sweet nectar of love for my beloved divine couple to be at all fortunate, overwhelmed with the nectar of love for Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, the hairs of my body standing erect, continually shedding a great flood of tears, and filled with symptoms of wonderful ecstatic devotional love, will I become filled with bliss in the forest of Vrndavana?

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Sataka Nine

1 When, laughing, dancing, singing, the hairs of my body erect, my eyes filled with tears, my body stunned, covered with perspiration, and displaying the various symptoms of very sweet devotional ecstasy, will I, continually remembering my beloved Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, and mad with ecstatic love, continually reside in Vrndavana?

2 When will my heart plunge in the blissful ocean of the beauty, sweetness, and playfulness a Radha’s two lotus feet? When, renouncing impersonal liberation and all great material opulences as if they were a clump of grass, will I reside in Vrndavana?

3 My heart is enchanted by Sri Radha, who walks in Her transcendental forest, Her feet beautiful as lotus flowers, Her anklebells sweetly tinkling, Her feet flooding the surface of the ground with a golden and reddish sweetness, and Her jewelled anklets and splendid toe rings brightly glistening.

4 Will I, unmoved by the touch of the Vedic or public opinion, my heart rapt in meditation on th greatest sweetness, and the bumblebee of my heart intoxicated by tasting the great sweetness of the nectar of the lotus flower of Sri Radha’s feet, stay here in Vrndavana?

5 Who would not become enchanted by meditating on Sri Radha’s youthfulness, beauty, cooling nectar eloquent words, the graceful motions of Her golden limbs, or Her tears, erect bodily hairs, and other symptoms of ecstatic love?

6 Please meditate on Sri Radha’s face, which is like the whorl of blossoming golden lotus illumined by a limitless shower of moonlight and filled with very sweet nectar that Lord Hari, whose complexion is like a blue lotus, yearns to taste.

7 Please meditate on the moon of Radha’s face, which showers a great monsoon of splendid golden moonlight on the material and spiritual worlds, and which is the life and soul of the cakora bird that is Lord Krsna.

8 I offer my respectful obeisances to the eternally youthful queen of Vrndavana, whose beautiful transcendental form is filled with the sweetest nectar of pure transcendental love.

9 Please meditate on the flooding golden oceans of the sweet nectar of Sri Radha’s love, which have now covered the spiritual and material worlds.

10 Many charming girls who make even the most beautiful transcendental young girls seem as insignificant as so many blades of grass, place their heads on the forest ground before the feet of my queen, Radha.

11 Please meditate on Sri Radha, who is the most splendidly beautiful of all beautiful girls, and who is worshipped by the most intelligent and beautiful girls in the three worlds.

12 Let me glorify the gopi maidservants who attend Sri Radha’s lotus feet, from which flows a nectar ocean of the bliss of unrestrained, sweet pure love.

13 Even though I have not performed a single pious deed, and even though I have committed every sin, shall I not attain spiritual perfection simply by chanting the two syllable mantra “Radha”.

14 O Vrndavana, even though I am reckless, even though my actions are opposed by the most learned gurus and theologians, and even though I am a slave to my senses, please allow me to reside within your boundaries. Please do not abandon me.

15 Alas! I have committed millions of sins. I am more fallen than the outcastes. I have not taken shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. O Vrndavana, will you give me shelter?

16 Even though you are very difficult to attain, I still hope that I may reside within your boundaries. Now my senses have become enemies. O Vrndavana, what will become of me?

17 May I live in hell millions of times. May I never attain my desires. May the Supreme Personality of Godhead decline to grant me His mercy, but may my yearning to attain the sweetness of Sri Radha’s lotus feet never become slackened.

18 Even the eyes and heart of Lord Hari are filled with boundless yearnings to see the beauty of charming Radha’s feet, which are decorated with melodiously tinkling ankle bells as She wanders with graceful steps in the forest of Vrndavana, I pray that beauty may appear in my loving heart.

19 May Sri Radhika, who is plunged in the waves of the ocean of the sweetness of youthful beauty, who is the great Deity of krsna-prema, whose dancing knitted eyebrows contain millions of playful amorous desires, and who is as sweet as nectar, appear in my heart.

20 May my heart, overcome with the sweetness of ecstatic love, become plunged in the eternally increasing ocean of sweetness that moves over Srimati Radharani’s beautiful youthful, transcendental form, the very sweet moonlight of Her face with its shy smiles and crooked sidelong glances, Her wonderful words, graceful motions, and all Her very sweet transcendental pastimes.

21 I pray that Srimati Radharani’s youthful, charming, sweet, and wonderful transcendental limbs, wonderful crooked sidelong glances, sweet shyness, enchanting gentle smile, beauty, luster, graceful motions, and the first symptoms of Her blossoming love for dark complexioned Lord Krsna may all appear before me.

22 May my queen, Radha, Her unlimitedly beautiful fair limbs anointed with kunkuma, decorated with jewels and gold, and showering unlimited oceans of very sweet transcendental splendor, and Her transcendental form bearing the wonderful symptoms of the sweet nectar of Her passionate transcendental love for dark complexioned Lord Krsna, appear in my heart, which is now astonished by the wonderful sweetness of Her every act.

23 Above the highest transcendental abode is the blissful kingdom of Vrndavana, where the wonderful youthful divine couple are splendidly manifest. I offer my respectful obeisances to that person who, situated in his own desired spiritual form, sweetly carries out the orders of Lalita and the other gopis, who love the divine couple more than their own life’s breath.

24 May I pass the moments of my life in the land of Vrndavana, always meditating on the beauty of Sri Radha’s lotus feet, which are decorated with sweetly tinkling jewelled ankle bells.

25 I pray that Sri Radha’s lotus feet, which are decorated wit sweetly tinkling ankle bells, and are filled with limitless beauty, delicate softness, sweet fragrance, a flood of transcendental splendor, and a host of other transcendental virtues, may appear before me.

26 May my heart chant the glories if Sri Radha’s very beautiful lotus feet, which are golden above their reddish soles, and which steal away the heart of Lord Hari with their sweet transcendental splendor.

27 On Sri Radha’s lotus feet I gaze at the waves of jewel splendor flowing from Her anklets and toe-rings and shining in the splendid jewel moonlight of Her toenails.

28 I meditate on the very fragrant lotus flower of Sri Radha’s feet, which is filled with the thick, sweet honey of transcendental bliss, which the black bee of Lord Krsna yearns to attain, and which even the goddess of fortune cannot attain.

29 I pray that Sri Radha’s charming feet, which are beautifully decorated with jewel ankle-bells, and which shine with a series of toenail moons set on a line of newly sprouted very delicate flower toes, may appear before me.

30 Everyone please mediate on Lord Krsna’s flute, which is now completely silenced by the tinkling jewel ankle-bells on Radha’s feet. All its hissing is now useless. Now it is simply an object of laughter for all of Radha’s friends.

31 Because Lord Krsna again and again smells them and presses them to His face, eyes, and heart, Sri Radha’s fragrant and pleasantly cooling lotus feet now shine with a dark splendor.

32 When, in this forest of Vrndavana, will the flooding ocean of the great sweetness of Sri Radha’s unrestrained devotional love.

33 I mediate in Radha’s lotus feet, their jewel toenails shining with great splendor, and their charming ankle-bells tinkling during the very sweet and wonderful pastimes in Vrndavana forest.

34 I worship the fair and dark youthful divine couple, who enjoy unrestrained, very passionate transcendental amorous pastimes in the groves of Vrndavana forest. With their wonderful skill in the art of love They have filled each other with wonder, enchantment, smiles, and completely unrestrained amorous passion.

35 “What is the use of this dark-complexioned liar Krsna?”

“Why do You always speak in this way?”
“What is the use of the Krsna, who is simply blossoming with happiness in the company of Candravali?”
“Why do You place these words on my ear?”
“What is this use of this fickle rake Krsna?”
“Please stop thinking of this Krsna!”

When She heard these words, Radha suddenly and with great anger struck her friend with the bouquet of blue lotus flowers.

36 Neither Brahma, the primary demigods, the secondary demigods, the demons, the human beings, or the great yogis, have the power to cross beyond the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s illusory potency in the form of a beautiful young woman. I am now agitated by this illusion, and now I have become like the most degraded outcaste. O Vrndavana, if you accept me I shall become so exalted that even the great souls who are like tilaka marking decorating the community of saintly devotees will worship me and bow down to offer respect to me.

37 May my heart become fixed on dark-complexioned Lord Krsna, who in the charming transcendental abode of Vrndavana forest places to His lips a glistening golden flute studded with pearls and many colorful jewels and decorated with bunches of a flowers, and eternally plays songs describing the splendid glories of Srimati Radhika.

38 A certain teen-age girl, whose transcendental form is situated in the topmost limit of beauty, and the splendor of whose golden limbs fills the forest of Vrndavana, has stolen the heart of dark-complexioned Lord Krsna.

39 In a grove of Vrndavana forest a golden vine, filled with buds like golden lotus flowers, its face like a golden full moon, its waist very slender, and its limitless transcendental beauty filling all directions is now embracing a passionate, dark, transcendental tamala tree.

40 O heart, please mediate on Sri Radha’s handsome lover, whose ear is decorated with a karnikara flower, whose bimba-fruit lips are kissed by the gopis, who plays the flute, whose charming dark form is anointed with fragrant powder, who wears yellow garments splendid as lightning, and who is crowned with a peacock feather.

41 All glories to the beautiful young girl whose complexion is splendid as gold, who is the great sweetness of the nectar ocean of love, who is served by many beautiful girls expert in many arts and skills, and who is the thief that has stolen the heart of dark-complexioned Lord Krsna.

42 Gaze on the sublimely sweet limbs, pastimes, words, and glances of Sri Sri Gandharva-Muralidhara (Radha-Krsna), who are splendid with good fortune, and who are overwhelmed by the nectar of eternally-increasing passion aroused by each other’s eternal, wonderful, and very sweet youthful splendor.

43 I jubilantly worship the charming, splendid, wonderfully youthful, fair and dark divine couple, whose bodies, hearts, senses, and everything have become one in Their intense love, and who tremble with passion deep in Vrndavana’s kadamba grove.

44 May She who splashes all directions with great waves from the flooding ocean of golden luster, who is enchanting with beauty, new youth, and skill in the arts of passionate love, who is the personification of the blissful nectar of pure love, who is the life of Lord Syama, who is the Deity of transcendental knowledge, and who is the ornament of Vrndavana, eternally shine in my heart.

45 Glory, glory to Radha, a fathomless ocean of pure love! Glory, glory to Krsna, who eternally thirsts to drink nectar with Her! Glory, glory to the friends that bring Them together! Glory, glory to Vrndavana, Their splendid abode!

46 My heart yearns to attain the very handsome and charming fair and dark divine couple, who are eternally anguished, eternally in each other’s company, and eternally celebrating a great festival of the most wonderful nectar.

47 The wonderfully glorious divine couple, who with wonderful creative art manifest a wonderful festival of transcendental amorous pastimes, who with Their wonderful bodily luster make the forest grove very wonderful, who wear very wonderful garments, and who are wonderfully youthful, fill my heart with wonder.

48 First mediate on the very pure and clear nectar ocean of transcendental moonlight that is beyond the dualities of material existence and filled with the limitless nectar of transcendental bliss. Then within that moonlight see the personal splendor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then, within that splendor see the effulgence of the kama-bija mantra. Then within that splendor see the very sweet abode of Vrndavana.

49 Vrndavana, which is a great ocean splendid with many colorful jewels, which is beautified by many wonderful trees and vines filled with many fruits, flowers, buds, clusters of blossoms, leaves, twigs, and branches, which is wonderful with jewel birds, deer, parrots, peacocks, cuckoos, humming bees, lakes, streams, and mountains,...

50 which is wonderful with limitlessly fragrant, charming, jeweled pastime-courtyards, which is limitless with enchanting forest groves, which is beautiful with an eternal flood of nectar and flower pollen, which with the nectar of intense bliss overwhelms the universe and all the demigods,...

51 and which is surrounded by the Yamuna shining with beautiful glistening jewel shores, beautiful beaches, the tumultuous warbling of wonderful swans, cranes, splendid karandavas and other birds, the buzzing of intoxicated bees, splendid, eternally blooming kahlara, kamala, and wonderful utpala lotuses,...

52 filled with blissful currents of splendid, pure, wonderful nectar, and lined with splendid jewel shores and kadamba groves, charming with cooling, fragrant, gentle breezes, eternally shines with great splendor.

53 Please mediate on the charming, handsome, passionate, and wonderfully youthful hero and heroine named Radha and Madhava, who are crowned with jewels decorated with peacock feathers and braids, and whose sweet fair and dark forms are wonderfully splendid.

54 Please mediate on the flood of nectar flowing through the divine couple’s delightful, splendid limbs, Their wonderful graceful motions, the rising flood of Their beauty, Their expert sidelong glances, smiles, and Their sweet, joking, secret conversations.

55-56 In the circle of Sri Radhika’s maidservants, whose faces are beautiful as millions of moons, whose forms are splendid with the limitless, glistening nectar of Radha’s lotus feet, who are sweet with a wonderful variety of forms, who are wonderfully expert in many arts, and who shine with the wonders of youth, is a certain gentle, noble, very beautiful girl, whose complexion is splendid as molten gold, whose limbs shine with a limitless fair splendor, who is charming with youthfulness, whose breasts are two golden lotus whorls, who wears a cloth bodice and many jewel necklaces,...

57 whose waist is as splendor as a lioness waist, whose hips are broad, whose garments are decorated with waves of wonderful color, the vines of whose arms are decorated with very wonderful glistening jeweled armlets and bracelets, whose ears are decorated with glistening earrings, whose beautiful sesame-flower nose is decorated with a splendid pearl studded with gold and jewels,...

58 whose teeth are a row of glistening pomegranate seeds, whose bimba-fruit lips are plunged in a great flood of transcendental sweetness, whose eyes are maddened khanjana birds, whose eyebrows are bows of Kama, whose face is the whorl of a glistening lotus flower or the limitless shining of millions of moons, the very charming and young golden vine of whose transcendental form is flooded with millions of waves of graceful movements,...

59 whose ankle-bells tinkle very sweetly, whose blue garments covering her beautiful slender form flutter as she eagerly goes here and there to lovingly serve the divine couple, whose shyness, gracefulness, gentle smile, crooked glance, and other virtues are all very wonderful,...

60 whose bodily hairs stand erect out of great love for the dearmost divine couple, who, understanding the divine couple’s hints, expertly acts to please Them, who is expert at joking in the company of Radha’s friends and maidservants, who is eternally devoted to the feet of her mistress, Sri Radha,...

61 who, being asked, gives advice, speaking gentle words sweet and cooling as nectar, who, being order to facilitate the divine couple’s pastimes, who, being sent as messenger, affectionately repeats Radha’s love-letter to Krsna, whose bodily hairs stand up, who becomes plunged in the fathomless sweet ocean of transcendental bliss,...

62 who massages Radha with scented oil, who bathes Her with scented water, who serves Her by dressing Her in garments, decorating her with flower garlands and ornaments, and anointing betelnuts mixed with camphor to chew, who, as Radha is falling asleep, massages Her feet and gently fans Her with a cloth,...

63 who arranges a great festival of transcendental pastimes with dark-complexioned Lord Krsna, who, carrying golden vessels, a fan, or other articles, follows the glorious Radha, who, whether Radha speaks orders or remains silent, always serves Her wishes, and who continually plunges Radha’s lover into great transcendental bliss. Please mediate on this gopi in this way.

64 Again and again hearing each other’s words in a secluded place, gazing at the wonderful signs of love on each other’s bodies, and each other’s wonderful, splendid, sweet skill in amorous pastimes, the divine couple cannot stop the nectar waves of bliss from flooding Their limbs.

65 Eternally meditating on Sri Radha, taking shelter of the shade of Her lotus feet, always filling his tongue with the nectar of Her holy name, staying far away from women and men attached to women, considering their company poison, and performing austerities, a saintly devotee resides here in Vrndavana.

66 His great devotion and renunciation increasing day by day, fortunate person will take shelter of Sri Radha’s feet and reside in Vrndavana.

67 Thinking all scriptures that ignore Sri Sri Radha-Krsna a useless waste of time, glowing with love for Sri Radha’s lotus feet, performing severe austerities, unconcerned about his material body, and friendly to everyone, a saintly devotee resides in the transcendental abode of Sri Vrndavana.

68 Let us glorify Vrndavana where, neither coming nor going, eternally tossed about in the shoreless and impassable ocean of transcendental amorous pastimes, and embracing each other Their whole lives, the handsome, wonderfully youthful, fair and dark divine couple eternally stays.

69 In Vrndavana, the divine couple, whose transcendental forms are filled with pure and blissful love, whose forms are wonderfully with signs of passionate love, who are charming with wonderful bodily luster, glances, words, graceful motions, and other virtues, and are the resting place of beauties that have no equal or superior, are splendidly manifest.

70 The youthful divine couple, who are a great wonder flood of beauty, the ultimate limit of sweetness, the wonderful flood of the nectar moonlight ocean of beauty, the splendor of wonderful love, the final limit of transcendental amorous pastimes, and my very life and soul, are splendidly manifested in Vrndavana.

71 I worship the youthful fair and dark divine couple, who stay in Sri Vrndavana, who have become one in the unrestrained, unbroken passion of Their love, who are the sole resting place of wonderful youthfulness, beauty, and splendor, and who are the life that fills my heart.

72 I mediate on Radha-Hari’s gopi friends, whose ears are plunged in the very sweet nectar of the divine couple’s conversation, whose eyes are fixed on their playful glances, and whose hearts are intoxicated by drinking the nectar festival of Their rendezvous.

73 I reside in Vrndavana, and within my heart filled with love I meditate on how Lord Krsna, intoxicated with the nectar of transcendental amorous desire, boldly approached Sri Radha, how embarrassed Radha playfully pretended to spurn His advances, and how they both enjoyed very sweet pastimes in each other’s embrace.

74 He who carries in his heart Lord Visnu’s splendor named Brahman is always worshiped in this world. He who worships the Lord’s form is dear to the Lord. He who directly worships the Lord’s form is dear to the Lord. He who directly worships Sri Krsnacandra has no equal in his love. He who, expert at tasting transcendental nectar, never leaves Vrndavana, is a thief who has stolen my heart.

75 The ground here is only ground. The water is only water. The trees and vines are only trees and vines. The moonlight is only moonlight. The birds, beasts and humans are only birds, beasts, and humans. The deity of Sri Krsna is only a deity of Sri Krsna, the enemy of all the demons. The deity of Sri Radhika is only a deity of Sri Radhika. Enough with this nonsense! I pray that I may be able to directly see the reality that everything in Vrndavana is spiritual and transcendental.

76 May the enchanting forest of Vrndavana, which is a flood of great transcendental sweetness, and which inflames the divine couple’s pure amorous desires, eternally appear in my heart. May Sri Vrndavana-candra and perfect, playful, pure Sri Radha enjoy the nectar of transcendental amorous pastimes in my presence.

77 Their new youthfulness filled with limitless sweetness, and Their fair and dark complexions two oceans of limitless, glistening splendor, with limitless artistic skill a certain couple enjoys eternal, limitless transcendental amorous pastimes in Vrndavana.

78 I pray that in a pastimes cottage I may attain direct service to the youthful divine couple, who make the entire forest of Vrndavana intoxicated with waves of sweet pastimes and the splendor of Their fair and dark limbs.

79 When ignoring this horrible material body and all its degraded activities, and meditating in my heart on my original nectarean spiritual form, and strictly observing a vow of poverty, and without even a fixed home, will I day and night worship Sri Radha’s lotus feet in this forest of Vrndavana?

80 I, who am the personification of all sinful deeds, may never be delivered from hell. I only pray that I may never forget the holy names of Sri Vrndavana, Sri Radha, and Sri Radha’s lover.

81 In this world there has never been, there is not now, nor will there ever be anyone as sinful as I. For this reason the unlimitedly merciful land of Vrndavana is my only shelter.

82 I shall now approach the nectar of the wonderful mercy, tolerance, and other transcendental virtues of the king and queen of Vrndavana. I have no other shelter. Even though I am very low and fallen, I pray that I may not be neglected.

83 O Vrndavana, even though I proclaim, “I take shelter of you,” alas, I still remain a very wicked person at heart. I am the lowest of the low. Shall I attain your mercy?

84 By my own karma I am destined to enter an eternal hell. How many days have I lived in Vrndavana and chanted the holy name Radha? These days are my only protection.

85 O mother Vrndavana, O Sri Sri Radha-Muralidhara, O king and queen of Vrndavana, will you neglect me because I have committed so many offenses?

86 Alas! I am a great fool and all my actions are abominable. Still, I shall never leave the land of Vrndavana and I shall never cease chanting the holy name of Sri Radha.

87 Chanting the glories of the very sweet transcendental form and pastimes of Sri Radha, I happily live in Vrndavana without the slightest care or anxiety.

88 The divine couple, who are as splendid as a golden campaka flower and a blue lotus, who are the resting place of all beauty, youthfulness, and charming playful pastimes, and who are the two Deities of the nectar of transcendental amorous pastimes in the forest of Vrndavana, are my only shelter.

89 In Vrndavana forest, which is filled with the sweetness of charming transcendental amorous pastimes, I pray that the youthful fair and dark complexioned divine couple may eternally appear before me.

90 I do not know the difference between right and wrong. I have not studied the scriptures. I do not associate with learned theologians. Still, the restless black bee of my heart is greedy to taste the sweetness of the lotus flower of the feet of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna.

91 I worship the fair and dark divine couple, who enjoy transcendental pastimes, plunged in a nectar oceans of unrestrained passion in the forest groves of Vrndavana.

92 When this residence in Vrndavana comes to an end I may enter millions of hells, or then again I may not. Whatever happens, even though I am very low and fallen I cannot renounce my hope to one day attain the service of Sri Radha’s lotus feet.

93 Even if I must bear thousands of insults, even if my body is torn apart by a trukaca, and even if I must suffer millions of calamities, I still shall not leave this forest, which is so dear to Sri Radha.

94 Even if the outcasts spit on me, if somehow by the mercy of the holy dhama I am able to reside here in Vrndavana until the moment of my death, I shall consider everything else to be as important as a blade of grass.

95 Except for the land of Vrndavana nothing can save me from being flooded with sufferings from beginning to middle to end by becoming plunged into the very foul-smelling, very impure, very grotesque body of woman.

96 Alas! I am very unfortunate. My intelligence has deviated from the path of righteousness. I am a fallen outcaste. Nevertheless, because I know the power of the land of Vrndavana, I still continue to hope that I shall one day attain my desire.

97 I pray that the boundlessly merciful, fair and dark, youthful divine couple, who eternally enjoy transcendental pastimes in Their forest of Vrndavana, may some day glance upon me.

98 When, as They passionately enjoy transcendental amorous pastimes in the flower garden of Vrndavana forest, will I jubilantly serve the fair and dark youthful divine couple?

99 Look at Sri Sri Radha-Krsna! Now that Their enthralling chess game at the entrance to the newly blossoming grove in Vrndavana forest is broken by a sweetly playful dispute, They are like tow flooding oceans of transcendental nectar.

100 I pray that the ever new and fresh Vrndavana pastimes of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, and the mischievous and amorous children of Nanda and Vrsabhanu, may become like a series of jewel necklaces resting on my throat.

101 Turn your eyes from the labyrinthine network of the material world of duality where the bodies and everything else is fashioned from the three modes of nature, and make your mind enter the endless, limitless, intensely blissful spiritual effulgence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then make your mind enter the splendid ocean of nectar manifested from the very sweet kama-bija syllable. In that ocean find the transcendental land of Vrndavana, and there worship the fair and dark divine couple.

102 Beautiful without equal or superior, filled with the sweetness of playful youth, enjoying transcendental pastimes and splendid in agitation although Their transcendental powers are boundless, the divine couple are so blinded by eternal amorous passion that They are now unaware of anything beyond each other.

103 Meditate on Sri Radha’s beautiful and playful gopi friends, whose forms are spiritual and eternally youthful, and who are very intelligent and full of all transcendental virtues. Meditate on Sri Radha’s beautiful young maidservants, who present a great variety of wonderful transcendental forms, who are expert in many wonderful and charming transcendental arts, who are dressed in splendid garments and ornaments, and who are filled with pure love for their dearmost divine couple.

Sataka Ten

1 Please meditate on a certain beautiful girl in Vrndavana whose complexion is splendid as molten gold, whose face shines as millions of moons, whose newly tied braids are decorated with very splendid blue flowers and a great bunch of flowers at the end, whose beautiful nostril is decorated with a single splendid pearl set in glistening gold and jewels, whose beautiful lips are like bimba fruits, whose beautiful teeth are like a row of splendid pearls...

2 who covers the two beautiful flower buds of her young girl’s breasts with the edge of her garment, whose waist is very slender, whose very beautiful soft hips are covered with a glistening silk sari, who is beautifully decorated with a belt, ankle bells, many necklaces, bracelets, and glistening armlets, the graceful vine of whose limbs fills all directions with its splendor....

3 the hairs of whose body stand erect because of her great love for Sri Radha, who has studied the graceful arts under the tutelage of her mistress, Sri Radha, who is the object of Sri Radha’s great mercy, love, and trust, who worships the splendor of her friend Sri Radha’s jewel toenails, which are millions of times more dear to her than her own life, and who wears a splendid, fine, colorful bodice decorated with leaves and bunches of flowers.

4 I meditate on the pathways of Vrndavana forest. I meditate on the fair and dark divine couple who, drowning in the shoreless ocean of transcendental amorous pastimes, are unaware whether it is day or night.

5 Please worship the fair and dark divine couple in the groves of Vrndavana who are the two Deities of the nectar of eternal transcendental amorous passion, who are eternally filled with playful pastimes of youth, and who are eternally and very wonderfully handsome.

6 In Vrndavana forest I eternally meditate on the divine couple, whose charming transcendental forms are filled with the most intense nectar of love for each other, and who are surrounded by a host of gopi friends blinded by the nectar of love.

7 With eternal love in my heart I worship Radha’s beloved, who is eternally youthful, who is eternally overwhelmed by the nectar of transcendental bliss, whose dark limbs are an eternally expanding shoreless ocean of splendor, who is eternally agitated with transcendental amorous passion, and who is millions of times more dear to me than my own life.

8 Here in this forest of Vrndavana my heart has become enchanted by the youthfulness, expert skill in the art of transcendental amorous pastimes, ever new and splendid beauty, shyness, playful smiles, playful crooked sidelong glances, playful graceful motions, very beautiful and splendid fair complexion that makes the beholder become overwhelmed with transcendental bliss, and charming transcendental sweetness of Sri Radha.

9 When, because of seeing the forest of Vrndavana with perfect clearness, will my heart, jubilant with the sweet nectar of transcendental bliss and overwhelmed with ecstatic pure love, become plunged in the golden shoreless ocean of the sweetness and beauty of Sri Radhika’s transcendental form and pastimes, which is filled with gracefulness, youthfulness, and charm, and which is the thief that has stolen the heart of Sri Krsna.

10 I pray that, without considering my faults or virtues, the very powerful land of Vrndavana, which is filled with eternal, unbounded compassion and al other good qualities, will accept me.

11 O Sri Vrndavana, I have renounced everything and taken shelter of you, but I have also made you very impatient by committing millions of offenses. If you do not give me shelter in your groves, which are filled with the great transcendental bliss that is Sri Radha’s lotus footprints, then I have no other place to turn. There is no other place I can go.

12 One who resides in Sri Vrndavana and offends Sri Sri Radha-Krsna enters the darkest of hells. He will never be delivered.

13 O Vrndavana, O forest that contains the great treasure that is Sri Sri Radha-Krsna. I am sinful. I tremble in fear. You are my only shelter.

14 He who meditates on the groves of Vrndavana forest, which are flooded by the charming waves of he sweetness of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna’s pastimes, is the most fortune of persons.

15 I am fallen, shelterless, bewildered, poor, addicted to wicked deeds, and wicked deeds and very far from the lotus feet of Sri Radha. How can I attain the land of Vrndavana? I do not know.

16 I pray that Sri Vrndavana will accept me, even though I am pathetic, wicked-hearted, and ill behaved.

17 I pray that Vrndavana’s fair and dark, very wonderful youthful divine couple, who are eternally plunged in the nectar of transcendental amorous pastimes, may always stay in my heart.

18 When, maddened with love, will I directly see the youthful divine couple, who are as splendid as gold and sapphires, and who enjoy eternally transcendental amorous pastimes in the groves of Vrndavana?

19 When, walking, talking, standing, sleeping, or breathing in Vrndavana forest will I directly see the two fair and dark splendors trembling with transcendental amorous passion?

20 May all the worlds meditate on the nectarean fair and dark divine couple, who are more charming that millions of Ratis and Kamadevas. May all the worlds fall at Their feet.

21 I pray that in the charming land of Vrndavana the very charming beauty, splendor, and pastimes of charming Sri Radha and the charming prince of Vraja may eternally appear in my heart.

22 I pray that the wonderful, youthful, handsome, playful, very sweet, fair and dark divine couple may appear before me in the groves of Vrndavana forest.

23 I worship Lalita and her friends, who in the forest of Vrndavana have become intoxicated by continually drinking the pleasantly cool, sweet, and smiling nectar words flowing from the blossoming golden and sapphire lotus mouths of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, which are more beautiful than millions of moons.

24 In Vrndavana I meditate on the splendid fair and dark youthful divine couple, who wear splendid red and yellow garments and are decorated with splendid flower-decorated braids, a splendid peacock feather crown, and splendid jewel tatanka and shark shaped earrings.

25 I meditate on Vrndavana, which somewhere is decorated with calves mooing, somewhere with playing boys, somewhere with a festival of blissful gopi girls, and somewhere with the charm of Radha-Krsna’s pastimes.

26 Let me take shelter of the splendid transcendental forest of Vrndavana, which is eternal, full of knowledge and bliss, more beautiful than the Nandana forest or any other celestial forest, and which is entered only by the devotees filled with unalloyed pure love for Sri Sri Radha-Krsna.

27 When, completely avoiding the association of women and men attached to women, sitting alone under a tree and shedding tears as I chant the holy names of the dearmost divine couple, silent when people come, as tolerant as the earth, and thinking myself lower than a blade of grass, will I live in Radha’s pastime forest of Vrndavana?

28 All glories to Sri Radha’s pastime-forest, which is filled with millions of kamadhenu cows, millions of gardens and grassy lawns, many splendid and transcendental kalpa-vrksa, sandal, parijata, kudra, and other trees, many cintamani jewels, many very charming forest cottages, and many beautiful, moon faced gopis.

29 Placing white jasmine garlands in the sky with His repeated smiles and laughter,making all directions full of blue lotus flowers with His moving glances, and planting blossoming sthala lotus flowers on the ground with His footsteps, Lord Madhava walks with Sri Radha in Vrndavana forest. I meditate on Him in this way.

30 When, again and again shedding tears as I enter the forest grove where the couple that is my life and soul enjoyed pastimes, singing about Their pastimes, in fear fleeing materialists as if they were serpents, eating a little fruit and some dried leaves when I am hungry, when I am thirsty drinking water to my heart’s content, and living under a tree in Vrndavana forest, will I finally become happy?

31 O enjoyer of the nectar that is Sri Gandharva (Radha), O Lord whose handsome moon mouth is decorated with a flute, O Lord who wears a great gunja-necklace fashioned by Your gopi beloved and placed on You by Her own hand, O Lord who wears a peacock feather crown lovingly made by Your beloved. O Lord whose bodily hairs stand erect in ecstasy, today in this forest of Vrndavana, please enjoy your pastimes in my heart.

32 Let me glorify Vrndavana where, the hairs of Their bodies erect with excitement, Their eyes red, Their words confused, Their steps faltering, Their conversation filled with lover’s quarrels, Their hair and garments in disarray, and Their flower garlands and other ornaments broken, the fair and dark divine couple laughed again and again, intoxicated by the nectar of Their pastimes.

33 Ignoring everything else, considering all material opulences very insignificant, and struck with wonder at its sweet beauty, I worship Sri Vrndavana, supreme above all, the moonlight of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna’s beautiful faces making it shine as if with limitless moons, and its moving and stationary spiritual living entities all blinded with pure love for the divine couple.

34 Though everyone pities me, saintly persons beat me to teach me a lesson, and my ignorant relatives affectionately decorate me and with kindness try to stop me as I depart, will I, aware that they are acting as foolish children, and not abandoning my resolve, take up residence in Sri Vrndavana, which is filled with boundless transcendental bliss?

35 When, following a vow of poverty, and again and again singing the glories of the transcendental qualities of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, will I muddy the ground of Vrndavana with my tears?

36 When will I become completely charmed by Sri Radha’s transcendental form and qualities? When will the graceful dancer of devotional service to Sri Radha’s lotus feet enter my heart?

37 Sometimes his hairs standing erect, sometimes shedding streams of tears, sometimes chanting the holy name of Radha in a broken voice, sometimes rolling about on the ground, and sometimes fainting, a devotee overwhelmed with ecstatic love wanders in the forest of Vrndavana.

38 Their handsomeness destroying the pride of countless Ratis and Kamadevas, and Themselves bound with love for each other and plunged into the shoreless ocean of limitless nectar, the fair and dark youthful divine couple is eternally manifest in Vrndavana.

39 Let millions of thunderbolts fall on me. Let everything burn in a great fire. Let the millions of blazing suns that appear at the time of universal devastation rise in the sky. I will never leave Vrndavana.

40 Tigers may tear me to pieces and devour me. Terrible poisonous black snakes may bite me. I may be afflicted by a host of incurable diseases. Everyone may give me trouble. Because I have no house I may be tormented by severe cold, rain and great winds. I may be afflicted by unbearable hunger and thirst. Still, I shall not take even a single step out of Vrndavana.

41 Without even seeing the face of a woman, without conversing with materialistic men, without flaunting one’s humbleness and fixed vow of poverty, even if directly asked, without finding fault with anyone, without desiring anything, and satisfied with whatever comes without endeavor, please stay here in Vrndavana and find the nectar flowing from Sri Radha’s lotus feet.

42 Let me take shelter of Sri Vrndavana, which has many splendid transcendental forest groves, which is filled with wonderful, eternal, limitless sweetness, and which contains the beauty and opulence of the eternal transcendental amorous pastimes of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna.

43 On an island in the shoreless ocean of the spiritual effulgence of intense transcendental bliss, the forest of Vrndavana shines with great splendor. Let me now take shelter of the fair and dark, handsome, youthful divine couple who enjoy transcendental amorous pastimes without beginning or end there.

44 All glories to a certain young goddess, who is filled with the ultimate sweetness of krsna-prema, and the waves of the glistening ocean of the splendor of whose transcendental limbs has broken the differences of the directions in Vrndavana.

45 Please place your glance on the passionate youthful, fair and dark divine couple. They are the supremely sweet nectar churned from the shoreless, endless, pure, blissful, eternal, splendid ocean of transcendental amorous pastimes.

46 Filling all spiritual and material worlds with the splendor of Her transcendental limbs, and flooding every place with the sweetness of Her transcendental pastimes, a very beautiful teen-age girl, whose form is like a golden vine agitated with pure love for Lord Syama, is splendidly manifest in Vrndavana forest.

47 Saintly theologians teach the graceful dance known as pure devotional service to the lotus feet of Sri Radha. By dancing, whether a materialist like me, sinful or pious, blamed or praised, one may take shelter of Vrndavana, where Sri Radha is splendidly manifest.

48 May I perform millions of wicked deeds. May I be filled with millions of wicked thoughts and millions of horrible, senseless material desires in the forest of Vrndavana, but may I never forget the holy name of Sri Radha.

49 His heart fatally pierced by volleys of terrible poisoned Cupid’s arrows shot by the sweetness of Sri Radha’s shy smiles and the pastimes of Her dancing sidelong glances and the sweetly graceful movements of Her transcendental body, a certain dark-complexioned youth now staggers about in the forest of Vrndavana.

50 May Sri Radhika’s youthfulness, charm, virtues, talents, gracefully moving limbs, and beauty that floods all directions, appear in our hearts.

51 May the youthful fair and dark divine couple, who are two oceans of love, who are filled with wonderful youthful beauty, and who enjoy wildly passionate transcendental amorous pastimes, eternally appear in a heart filled with the sweet nectar of ecstatic love.

52 If you will not worship Vrndavana, where in grove after grove Sri Sri Radha-Vrajendu happily enjoy transcendental pastimes, where in tree after tree splendid fragrant flowers bloom, and where in flower after flower a flood of nectar flows and a swarm of bees becomes blinded with happiness, then your birth in this world and everything you possess is meaningless.

53 In effulgent, sweet, spiritual, purifying Vrndavana, where is not the slightest trace of material goodness, passion and ignorance, no power of time, and no demigods and other powerful conditioned souls, patiently live always, O fool, not seeing it with bewildered eyes.

54 Aware that work done for the external material body is degrading, aware that extravagant praise is a series of empty words only, aware that material wealth is a great calamity, aware that woman’s body is a demoness, aware that the material body is a useless burden, aware that the company of materialistic men is a poisonous snake, and aware that even though everyone may consider you a great personality you are actually the most lowly and fallen, become free from material possessiveness, and please stay in this land of Vrndavana.

55 Not associating with women or men attached to women, taking shelter of this holy place, remaining indifferent to all the dualities of material existence, or whatever simple food is easily available, please place Sri Radha’s lotus feet in your heart sweetened with splendid ecstatic love, and please pass your days and nights always chanting Her holy names in the forest of Vrndavana.

56 Give up all attachment to your wretched material body, which is simply a pot of stool. Take pleasure in the association of great saints who have accepted a vow of poverty. Even from afar do not glance at beautiful golden-complexioned girls. Remain indifferent to honor, poison, nectar, and all the sufferings of this world. Impelled by great devotional love, always stay in Vrndavana.

57 Please meditate on the splendid crown jewel of all forests, which breaks the chain of cause and effect, wipes away the fear of time, destroys both sins and material virtues, removes the threefold miseries, remains very far away from the three Vedas, and is filled with the very wonderful nectar waves of pure transcendental love.

58 I worship the splendid fair and dark divine couple, who are wonderfully youthful, who eternally enjoy transcendental pastimes in transcendental Vrndavana, who are each other’s life and soul, who are the life-breath of Lalita-gopi, and who are eternally tossed about by great waves of transcendental amorous passion.

59 I worship the wonderful and youthful divine couple, who are fair and dark as gold and sapphires, who enjoy splendid transcendental pastimes, and who are overwhelmed by newer and newer feelings of very passionate love for each other.

60 Please meditate on the playful, ever-new transcendental pastimes of a certain divine couple, who are splendid as sapphires and new gold, and who stay in the land of Vrndavana, source of the nectar of transcendental mellows.

61 I pray that in the land of Vrndavana I may eternally serve the wonderfully fair and dark, eternally youthful divine couple, who are two abodes of the sweet nectar of transcendental mellows, and who are blinded by eternally new, very passionate love for each other.

62 I pray that I may serve the very glorious and eternally youthful divine couple who are now overwhelmed by the sweet nectar of Vrndavana forest. They are as splendid as gold sapphires, and the flood of Their transcendental handsomeness has inundated the ten directions.

63 Enchanting Vrndavana contains the secret of all bliss, the secret of all love, the secret of sweet fragrances, the secret of transcendental amorous pastimes, and the secret of intelligence.

64 I meditate on the brilliant golden and sapphire lotus splendors of a certain handsome, youthful, passionate couple, who are like a single life, and who with ever increasing thirst eternally enjoy transcendental pastimes in Vrndavana forest.

65 Sri Vrndavana forest, the fair and dark divine couple who live as if with a single self, and Their dear gopi friends are all filled with the wonderfully sweet nectar of transcendental love. Even though I am a great offender, if I once have a slightly scent of a relationship with Them, They will not neglect me.

66 Let me glorify the completely independent Supreme Personality of Godhead, by whose arrangement the conditioned living entities encased in material bodies are allowed to engage in either exalted or degraded activities, by whose arrangements some living entities yearn to live in Vrndavana forest, by whose arrangement some living entities are able to live in Vrndavana forest, by whose arrangement some living entities are able to completely renounce all material sense-gratification, and by whose arrangement some living entities are able to associate with great souls and attain transcendental knowledge and devotional service.

67 Let me take shelter of the blissful, wonderful, independent Supreme personality of Godhead, who is everything, who is the master of wonderful potencies, who by taking shelter of His own perfect potencies enjoys blissful pastimes in His many divine forms, and who lives and does as He likes.

68 The ultimate limit of Lord Visnu’s bliss, Lord Hari’s exalted potencies, and Lord Bhagavan’s perfect transcendental qualities are all eternally manifest in the supremely exalted land of Sri Vrndavana.

69 I am ever averse to pious acts, I am a great reservoir of all kinds of sinful deeds. I have no good qualities. All the saintly devotees avoid me and even the fools and outcastes stay far away form me. Will the naturally kind and affectionate land of Vrndavana also reject me?

70 All glories to Vrndavana-dhama, which purifies those who have no shelter, chases away all sins, purifies the most fallen, makes the hearts of all living entities melt with the nectar of intense bliss, is constantly remembered by the great demigods, and is the life and soul of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna.

71 O Sri Vrndavana, O bliss of Sri Sri Radhika-Rasikamauli, please always be like my eternal mother, like my father, good friend, brother, dear relative, lover, worshipable deity, spiritual master, guide, life, priceless treasure, sweet nectar, good son, and my own heart.

72 All glories to the youthful splendor named Radha, which rests on the lap of a dark youth in Vrndavana forest, which has a glistening golden form plunged in the flooding ocean of transcendental beauty, and which with the nectar of ever-new transcendental love eclipses the glory of spiritual and material worlds.

73 Because within it are splendidly manifest the ultimate wonder of opulence, the ultimate wonder of the Supreme Lord’s transcendental qualities, the ultimate sweetness of transcendental pastimes, the ultimate intoxication of the nectar of transcendental love, the ultimate wonder of transcendental beauty, and the ultimate wonder of playful youth, I take shelter of Sri Vrndavana.

74 The perfectly spiritual land of Vrndavana, which has splendidly, auspicious, sweet, spiritual potencies, and by the touch of which all the living and dead become eternally free from the grip of the three modes and, manifesting spiritual forms plunged in the nectar of love for Lord Hari, shine with great splendor, is splendidly manifest.

75 I offer my respectful obeisances to the land of Vrndavana, which is the place of Sri Sri Radha-Muralidhara’s wonderful pastimes, which is eagerly sought by the pure-hearted devotees in this world, which shines with the splendor of many glistening transcendental jewels, which is charming with very wonderful and colorful places, and which completely crushes the six waves of material misery.

76 All glories to the land of Vrndavana, which is made in some places of splendid transcendental sapphires, in other places of gold, in other places of lapis lazuli, in other places of candrakanta jewels, in other places of diamonds as white as snow, in other places of pearls, in other places of coral, and in other places of jewels no one on earth has ever seen.

77 For the pleasure of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna the regal trees in Vrndavana forest assume many different forms. Some assume forms of the sweetest nectar, others take the forms of splendid transcendental milk and cream, others forms of intoxicating liquors, others forms of crystal, and others forms of very cooling camphor.

78 May Vrndavana where, following Sri Sri Radha-Krsna’s joking orders, the fortunate, regal trees bow down to offer respects, resting their branches on the ground, then become charming, flower filled, many branched pavilions, and then, from where the hand can grasp up to their very tops, bloom with many flowers, show auspiciousness to me.

79-82 May Vrndavana forest, where some of the trees are more splendid than millions of blazing midday suns, some more brilliant than millions of kalpagni fires burning at the time of cosmic dissolution, some more charming than a great flood of splendid, cooling moonlight, some more splendid than red gunja berries, some more clear and splendid than millions of brilliant crystals, some charmingly decorated with splendid new shoots, some splendid as a limitless flood of molten gold, some splendid as diamond necklaces, some splendid as flocks of parrots, some splendid as black mascara, and some splendid as roses, and where in this way the eternal, blissful, nectarean spiritual forms of the many regal, wonderful, flower filled trees display a great array of many different splendid and indescribable transcendental colors, be eternally manifest before me.

83 In Krsna’s forest I meditate on the wonderful trees bearing a great multitude of nectarean fruits, glistening with a shoreless ocean of transcendental nectar, covered with a great network of wonderful colorful flowers, buds and leaves, and bearing a great host of nectarean fruits.

84 I meditate on splendidly charming Vrndavana forest filled with trees and vines blossoming with limitless love for Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, ornamented with birds and beasts overwhelmed with the nectarean mellows of love for Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, and filled with newly blossoming forest groves where Sri Sri Radha-Krsna enjoy transcendental pastimes.

85 I gaze at the very splendid and sweetly charming forest of Vrndavana, which is situated in the supremely splendid and sweet realm of Vaikunthaloka, which crushes impersonal liberation and material sense gratification to a powder, and within which the youthful divine couple, who shine like gold and sapphires, enjoy limitless transcendental pastimes.

86 Please cross beyond the lifeless material realm where conditioned souls experience a host of illusory miseries and then enter the all pervading Brahman effulgence. Deep within that effulgence please see the splendid forest of Vrndavana, which shines with the wonderful sweetness of the nectar mellows of supremely pure transcendental amorous pastimes.

87 In that place a fair and dark youthful couple, filled with a great flood of handsomeness, shining with limitless splendor, expert at enjoying transcendental pastimes, filled with ever new and fresh wonder and sweetness, and blinded with transcendental amorous passion, enjoys pastimes in the forest groves.

88-89 In that place I continually meditate on the divine couple, who are filled with the pure essence of transcendental bliss, who possess the ultimate limit of handsomeness and all transcendental virtues, and who possess the great wonder of very sweet and completely unrestrained passionate transcendental amorous pastimes. I continually meditate on the very brilliant and sweet incomparable splendor of Sri Radha’s lotus feet. I continually meditate on a certain young girl whose complexion is as splendid as a new lightning flash, whose transcendental beauty and delicate soft features have defeated the virtues of beautiful golden vines...

90 who fills all directions with her bodily luster, who is splashed by the great waves of incomparable transcendental beauty, who is a great treasure of transcendental intelligence, whose form is unlimitedly graceful, who is completely surrendered maidservant of Radha, who is overwhelmed with great love for Radha, who by Radha’s mercy is able to cross from one shore to the ocean of transcendental skill to the other...

91 whose braided hair is decorated with jewels and flowers, who covers her head and her flower bud breasts with a silken cloth, who is very shy and affectionate, who smiles gently, whose movement are graceful, whose naturally crooked sidelong glances fill the entire world with wonder...

92 whose waist is very slender, who wears a lovely glistening sari over the beautiful splendor of her very broad hips, who wears a tinkling sash of bells and tinkling jewel anklebells, whose graceful and delicate vine arms are decorated with jewel armlets and glistening bracelets...

93 whose very beautiful neck is splendidly decorated with a host of glistening necklaces, whose beautiful ears are decorated with large jewel earrings, whose beautiful nose is decorated with a lovely pearl studded with gold and jewels, whose lips are beautiful as two bimba fruits, whose beautiful chin is decorated with a splendid dot of black musk...

94 who with the great flood of the splendor of her teeth shining as glistening pearls seems to fill all directions with white jasmine and lotus flowers, the hairs of whose body stand erect out of intense love for Sri Radha, who is dressed in a beautiful sari and decorated with many lovely flowers.

95 who, eager to serve Radha’s lotus feet, continually runs from here to there, her anklebells loudly tinkling, and who by the playful movements of the waves of the wonderful and splendid handsomeness of the divine couple more dear to her than life is plunged into the flooding nectar ocean of transcendental bliss.

96 I am filled with great faults. I do not possess even the slightest trace of virtue. Alas! It is not proper for the merciful devotees to even glance upon me. Again and again I have committed inexcusable offenses to you. Still, O Vrndavana, you are like my mother and I am like your son. Please do not abandon me.

97 I am a great fool who has committed every grievous sin. Even the lowest of men pity me. Even in dream I never worship the feet of Lord Hari or His devotees. I do not act for my own welfare. I have no shelter. O Vrndavana, you are very glorious because you are so tolerant, affectionate, and virtuous. Please protect me.

98 Eternally enjoying limitless transcendental pastimes in your groves, you beloved divine couple do not see any rules or prohibitions to restrict Them. You bring the sweet nectar of meditation on Them. O boundlessly wise Vrndavana, please do not abandon me.

99 If the moving and stationary living entities here in the land of Vrndavana understand the sweet spiritual nectar of the amorous pastimes of Radha’s lover, then where is religion for them? Where is irreligion? Where is the slightest word of the various rules of social etiquette? Where is auspiciousness? Where is inauspiciousness? Where is even the faintest glimpse of pain and trouble?

100-101 See all the dualities of material nature, see the transcendental Brahman effulgence, see the splendid bliss of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, very far from that see the splendid dark effulgence of the nectar mellows of transcendental love, within that splendor see the land of Sri Vrndavana, and within that land please worship, with very sweet loving service, the very fair and dark divine couple, who are very wonderful, graceful, youthful, handsome, and generous, and who thirst to enjoy the mellows of passionate transcendental amorous pastimes.

102 Very affectionate, very delicate, very handsome, overflowing with transcendental bliss, very intelligent, very splendid, endowed with pleasantly cool shade, filled with beautiful flowers, delicious fruits, fragrant sweet honey and beautiful leaves and buds, and glistening with ecstatic love for Lord Krsna, the trees in Vrndavana forest shine with great splendor.

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Sataka Eleven

1 O mother Vrndavana, O mother overflowing with love, please place on your lap this mischievous child who has been playing in the dirt, mercifully forgive his offenses, wipe the dust from him, feed him the breast-milk of transcendental love for your master and mistress, and give him all protection.

2 I do not possess even the slightest dim reflection of piety. I have no fear of sin, no love for Krsna, and no friendship with the devotees. Still, somehow I am able to spend my little lifetime within your boundaries. Please know that I have no other shelter. Please, if you think it is right, accept me forever.

3 O Sri Vrndavana, I have committed many unpardonable sins. I have given up the path of religion. Even with words I respect neither the Vedas, the community of spiritual masters, nor anything else. The lotus feet of Lord Krsna are far from me. Alas! Alas! I commit offenses at every moment! Because I know the great devotees take shelter of you I have now also taken shelter of you. Now that I have offended you, what shall I do? Where shall I go now?

4 Alas! Alas! I have abandoned all the principles of religion! Alas! I have not given up a single sin! My offenses to Lord Krsna, His holy names, and His devotees, have no end. O Sri-Vrndavana, you are the shelter of the shelterless. I have taken shelter of you. Now that I have offended you, what shall I do? Where shall I go now? Now you may do with me whatever you wish.

5 You are the shelter of the shelterless. Your great glory is sung by all the Vedas. O Vrndavana you are my shelter. I have no other shelter than you.

6 Even though I am incomparably wretched and fallen, I still aspire to attain a priceless spiritual treasure. O Vrndavana, everyone may laugh at me, but if you give me a little portion of your mercy, why should I feel any embarrassment?

7 O Vrndavana, if Lord Krsna, who is the prince of Vraja and the very generous savior of the fallen souls, enjoys transcendental pastimes here with Sri Radha, why should I worry about the supreme spiritual benediction?

8 Displaying all His wonderful and limitless potencies, within your boundaries Lord Krsna enjoyed transcendental pastimes with Sri Radha. O Vrndavana, why do you neglect me?

9 O Vrndavana, if I am not able to attain the nectar in you, whose glories have no limit, and who are flooded with splendid transcendental nectar, then shall millions of lifetimes performing austerities to attain it.

10 If my body, which is fit to be eaten by dogs and jackals were to fall down of its own accord and die within your boundaries, that would be very auspicious. O Vrndavana, in order to maintain my material body I shall never leave you and go to some other place.

11 I have heard that Radha’s beloved Krsna never wishes to leave you.O Vrnda, either in dream or wakefulness I have no desire to leave your forest and go to some other place.

12 My body may become broken by a trukaca, or my exalted social position and religious principles may become destroyed, still, I shall never for a moment consider leaving the forest of Vrndavana, which is so difficult to enter.

13 I do not wish to serve Lord Hari and my personal liberation is as valuable to me as tiny sea-shell now that I can drink with my eyes the beauty of the forest grove where Sri Radhika enjoys pastimes.

14 Satisfying your hunger by eating dried fruit, satisfying your thirst by drinking the water of the swiftly moving mountain streams, and resting in the caves of Govardhana Hill, the king of the mountains, please happily reside, O friend, in this forest of Vrndavana.

15 Be silent. Do nothing. Remain under a tree in Vrndavana forest. Shedding tears, your cheeks resting in your hands, and the hairs of your body erect with ecstatic love, gaze in trance on the beautiful transcendental pastimes of Sri Radhika.

16 Lord Krsna said: “The beautiful hair of My beloved resides in the splendor of your peacock feathers. I see Her curling locks of hair in your swarms of black bumble-bees. The moon of Her smiling face rises in the whorls of your golden lotus flowers. The eyes of your frightened does are the resting place of the sweetness found in the corners of Her eyes.

17 “Her beautiful nose shines in your beautiful sesame flowers. The beauty of Her lips shines in your bandhujiva flowers. Her beautiful teeth shine in your jasmine flowers. Her charming smile shines in your white lotus flowers. Her peerless form shines in your blossoming vines. The beauty of Her breasts shines in your splendid flower-buds. Her arms shine in your lotus stems.

18 “Her broad hips shine in your wide river banks. Her delicate thighs shine in your plantain trees. The beauty of Her hands and feet shines in your red lotuses. O Vrndavana forest, the beautiful form of My beloved resides within you. That beautiful form also shines in my fortunate heart.

19 “O forest of Vrndavana, when the beloved mistress of My life playfully hid nearby, one of your vines pointed Her out by waving one of its budding hands. I now owe a very heavy debt to that vine.

20 “O forest of Vrndavana, when the pollen of your endless blossoming flowers disturbed the two eyes of My beloved enjoyed a great festival of kissing awa all her troubles. O Vrndavana, you are the sustainer of My life.

21 “One time, aware that I was hiding in a grove of tamala trees, My beloved said, ‘The rascal has not come!’ She then approached Me, and prayed to Me, saying ‘O handsome tamala tree, You are very dear to Me’. Then She earnestly embraced Me. O forest of Vrndavana, by arranging this pastime you have purchased Me.

22 “O forest of Vrndavana, one time, as She was enjoying many pleasant pastimes with Her gopi friends, My beloved entered your abode of flowering vines. Disguised as an actress-dancer, I met Her there. When She angrily rebuked Me, saying “You are acting the part of Krsna!” My heart became filled with happiness.

23 “O Sri Vrndavana, one day My beloved desired a beautiful flower from the top branch of one of your very tall trees, and she said to it, “O faultless tree, please bend down and make Me happy,” I laughed and predicted that the tree will never bow down. But then, to the great pleasure of My beloved, the tree did exactly as She had asked.

24 “O wonderful Sri Vrndavana, when I gave My beloved a wonderful and splendid garment made of your colorful flowers I prayed for Her mercy. She replied by laughing and giving Me a single kiss. O Vrndavana, by giving Me those flowers you have made Me your submissive servant.

25 “O forest of Vrndavana, you are very fortunate and glorious. When Sri Radha, eager to see your great beauty, walks within you, you cover each pathway with showers of flowers, and you glorify Her with many prayers spoken through the mouths of many parrots, cuckoos, and other birds.

26 “O gopi friends, why do you smile in this way? Why are your hearts filled with doubt? Why should there not be many golden vines in this wonderfully glorious forest of Vrndavana? Why should there not be many sapphire trees? Why should these trees and vines not embrace in this beautiful and charming way?

27 “Even though I had won the dice-game where four kisses and My flute were wagered, My beloved still falsely claimed that She had won. O Vrndavana forest, O psychologist who knows what is in My beloved’s heart, by arranging these pastimes you have brought Me great transcendental bliss.

28 “O forest of Vrndavana, having left Her gopi friend far behind, and My own heart filled with love and joy, I personally massaged Sri Radha’s delicate reddish lotus feet, which eagerly wander within your boundaries.

29 “At every moment you are flooded with the blissful and wonderful stream of the transcendental handsomeness, pastimes, expert intelligence, and host of other virtues that belong to Sri Radha and Myself. O Vrndavana, this is your great good fortune. This is your transcendental opulence.

30 “You are flooded with the great streams of pastimes I enjoy with Sri Radha. Without limit you eternally increase My thirst to enjoy with Her. You greatly deepen the bond of love between Us. You are filled with oceans of nectar. O Vrndavana, you shine with pure devotional service.

31 “O Vrndavana, O ocean of transcendental virtue, spontaneous love for Queen Radha eternally arises within you. I am now purchased by you. If you desire something impossible to attain, no bar will prevent you from attaining it.” Vrndavana forest, which was this glorified by Lord Hari, shines with great splendor.

32-33 In Vrndavana, where the restless black bees are like Radha’s curling hair, the clusters of flowers on the blossoming vines are like Her very full breasts, the golden budding twigs are like the fingers of Her hands, everything is like the beauty of Her transcendental form, and Radha and Krsna enjoy pastimes day and night, Vaikuntha’s king, Narayana, His goddess, and all Their associates become enchanted by the flood of sweetness that flows from Radha-Krsna’s wonderfully handsome forms and reaches even to Vaikuntha.

34 All glories to Sri Vrndavana, which is ultimate liberation, the great treasure of nectar,the good fortune of the world, and the place sought by all the Vedas.

35 Leave all other worthless places and take shelter of Sri Radhika’s garden, which is like the sweetest nectar churned from the nectar ocean of pure devotion to Lord Hari.

36 We may attain what we seek, or we may not attain it. We simply pray that we may leave this external material body within the boundaries of Sri Vrndavana.

37 I am very foolish and unintelligent. I know only what one should never know. You are all very learned and intelligent. I simply pray that my body may become decorated with the dust of Sri Vrndavana.

38 O great logicians, please do not bring many books onto the pathway of your ears. O great gurus, I bow down before you. Why, by declining to become blinded with the intoxication of pure love for Sri Vrndavana, you have made yourself the objects of everyone’s laughter?

39 Even though the entire world considers me a madman possessed by a ghost, and even though I am like a worm or an insect within her boundaries, the forest of Vrndavana still accepts me.

40 Shall I accept whatever comes to me by destiny and not strive for material things? Shall I become overwhelmed by tasting the sweet nectar of Lord Krsnacandra? Shall I renounce everything and give my heart to the holy land of Vrndavana?

41 I do not know what is real religion or what is not real religion. I do not know what should be done or what should not be done. All I know is now that having tasted the sacred water of this holy place, I am determined never to leave this forest of Vrndavana.

42 Now that I am overwhelmed with spiritual love I vow I shall never leave Vrndavana. I shall see all expected and unexpected events as meant for my protection and if some obstacle blocks my path I shall simply take shelter of the place named Radha’s Garden.

43 In the land of Vrndavana the splendid, supremely sweet king of transcendental mellows, who is named Srngara, and who has now become a great sapphire, eternally embraces Sri Radha’s glistening neck.

44 “Beloved, look! Disguised as a cluster of flowers, the glistening fire of amorous passion has climbed this campaka tree here in Vrndavana forest and now it stares at Us as if it desires to burn Us alive. I wonder when We will be separated?”

45 O beautiful queen of Vrndavana, if You are decorated with karnikara earrings, a garland of mandara flowers, bandhujiva flowers in Your hair, a red lotus at the end of Your braids, a white toy-lotus in Your hand, and Your body decorated with kunkuma and covered with exquisite garments flowing like waves, You are dressed according to Your own desire.

46 Sri Radha is the supreme goddess of love. She is supreme in all spiritual and material worlds. Her lotus eyes fill Laksmi and all the goddesses with wonder. They pray for Her merciful glance. Lord Krsna’s is the supreme god of love. His amorous passion has no limit. He is supreme over all. A single ray of His splendor floods Lord Narayana in an ocean of happiness.

47 If Sri Vrndavana reveals its queen, then that revelation makes the sight of the most beautiful celestial jewel-like goddess become bitter as poison. That revelation reviles liberation, pleases the heart, makes the transcendental glory of Vaikunthaloka appear dull and stunted, and, what to speak of these things, makes one taste the nectarean and eternally unfading transcendental happiness tasted by the gopis of Vraja.

48 O devotee expert at relishing transcendental mellows, please meditate on the forest of Vrndavana, which reveals the beautiful face and forehead of Sri Radha and Her friends and delights supremely blissful Lord Krsna.

49 O gentle friend, please find your happiness in Vrndavana forest, which is filled with many gopi, priyaka, and punnaga flowers, and which is the eternal abode of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is very dear to the gopis.

50 Please meditate on Vrndavana as the place filled with wonderful transcendental opulences that bring great happiness to Lord Krsna, and as the place where Sri Radha, who feels Her lover’s quarrel with Lord Krsna to be as sweet as nectar, rests on a couch in the middle of a forest grove.

51 Filled with wonderful bliss by seeing the transcendental pastimes of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, the forest of Vrndavana has now decked itself in beautiful blue and yellow garments of indivara and campaka flowers and a garland of excited bumblebees.

52 Let me glorify the forest of Vrndavana, where the wonderful, splendid, limitless, jewel-branched kalpa-vrksa trees earnestly compete among themselves to provide the dear divine couple with many ornaments, fragrances, garlands, garments, foodstuffs, and many other things.

53 Vrndavana is filled with kalpa-lata vines that fulfill all desires. It is filled with showers of nectar that cools the living entities trapped in the fires of material distress. It is a nectarean resting place for one whose heart eagerly traverses the pathway of pure love of Krsna. It shines with great splendor.

54 In the land of Vrndavana all glories to Sri Radha’s wonderful lotus-friends, whose flowers are their faces, whose bumblebee visitors are there moving locks of curling black hair, whose stems are their delicate and graceful vine-arms, whose filaments are their teeth, and whose splendid soft leaves as their garments.

55 In the sky of Vrndavana’s lake the splendid pure waters are the moonlight, the handsome swan is the moon, and the many blossoming white lotuses are the host of stars.

56-57 “I have just seen something very wonderful and now I am bewildered. In this forest grove a beautiful-eyed golden lotus flower is now kissing the splendid and playful dark moon.” To the clever friend who spoke these words Radha said, “You are mistaken.” Making a gesture with Her lips, She joked, “Actually it is something else.”

58 With a wealth of pure love, Sri Radha’s transcendental form is eternally decorated. With Sri Radha, Lord Syamalacandra’s transcendental form is eternally decorated. With Lord Krsna, the forests of Vrndavana are splendid. With Vrndavana, the district of Mathura is splendid. With Mathura, Vaikuntha is auspicious. Therefore Vrndavana is the king of all transcendental abodes.

59 Lord Hari, whose form is made of bliss, who in His own abode, enjoys blissful pastimes in limitless spiritual forms, and who makes all material goals worthless, as the Supersoul in everyone’s heart now decorates this world of moving and stationary beings.

60 As palatable food is to men tortured by hunger, as cool water is to men perspiring in the heat, as a beautiful girl is to lusty men, as wealth is to the poverty-stricken, as a cool shade-tree is to those distressed by the hot summer sun, as parents are to children, as impersonal Brahman is to the yogis and as Lord Hari is to the devotees, so is Vrndavana to me.

61 Sri Vrndavana is my greatest attainment, my greatest deity, my greatest friend, my greatest teacher, my greatest religious duty, my greatest wealth, my greatest glory, my greatest austerity, and my greatest knowledge. What more need I say? Sri Vrndavana is eternally everything to me. Sri Vrndavana is everything I have searched for in this world.

62 Only fragments of this verse are extant.

63-65 I meditate on Vrndavana, where there is a great ocean of transcendental loveliness, where there is a great treasure store of the jewels of many transcendental virtues, where there is a very wonderful weapon, where the Supreme Personality of Godhead enjoys transcendental amorous pastimes, where there is a great palace of the sweet nectars of transcendental bliss and love, where there is the transcendental residence of Sri Radha, Lord Krsna, and many individual spirit souls, where Sri Radha is the most beautiful goddess, where Sri Radha is the splendid crescent moon risen from the ocean of Lord Hari’s intense transcendental handsomeness, where Sri Radha is the splendid lake filled with the blossoming lotuses of sublime transcendental pastimes, where the deer of the hearts of the beautiful eyed girls are charmed by the music of the flute, where Sri Radha is the moon risen from the ocean of transcendental amorous pastimes, where Sri Radha is the red sindhura marking the nectar of selfless love, where a certain dark complexioned divine person resides, where there is a dancing arena filled with all transcendental virtues, where there is an auspicious cottage, and where there are ever new festivals of transcendental amorous pastimes.

66 O Vrndavana, Sri Radha, decorated with splendid flowers and eclipsing the three worlds, is Your beauty, the golden flowering vines are Your delicate and splendid limbs, the beautiful lotus is your face, the jasmine flowers are your teeth, the banhuka flowers are your lips, the white lotuses are your eyes, and the sprouting twigs are your hands and fingers.

67 “This is a wonderful vine of lightning flashes. It is not Radha.

And this is a monsoon cloud. It is not the prince of the cowherds.” Happily speaking these contrary words in the presence of the two Deities of transcendental pastimes in the cottage of flowering vines, a certain gopi friend pleased Srimati Radhika.

68 “This is a walking golden flower vine resting on a tamala tree in Vrndavana forest. This vine holds up these two great golden mountains. Here on this vine you can see a row of half moons.”

69 “O friend, meditating day and night on a certain charming and playful walking lotus flower and thinking how He may enjoy with Her, a certain dark moon filled with the treasures of the 64 arts is now pining away in the darkness deep in the splendid forest of Sri Vrndavana.

70 O friend, please lovingly worship Sri Vrndavana, which is the beginning of the treasure of the nectar of intense transcendental bliss, which is filled with the limitless opulence of transcendental love, and which is made very charming by the passionate pastimes of Sri Radha and the flutist Sri Krsna.

71 Dear gopi friend, when you enter the lake, express this playful doubt to your friends: “Is this a beautiful lotus flower decorated with a swarm of black bees, or is it a face decorated with curling locks of hair?”

72 “Is this the splendid moon?”

“Why does it not have spots?”

“Is this the face of one of the playful girls of Vrndavana?”

“How did Her lips become so beautiful?”

In this way Sri Radha’s friends spoke among themselves.

73 Friend, when you are in the water up to Your neck and Lord Hari sees only your face, He will wonder, “What is this astonishing thing?”

74 “Why does this moon not shine? How is it that this blossoming lotus flower walks about on the land and enjoys pastimes as it pleases? “ By speaking these charming joking words in the beautiful forest cottage, Lord Hari delighted Radha’s friends.

75 “Has a swan swimming in Vrndavana’s lakes taught Radha to walk in this way or has She taught them? Has this sweet girl taught the does these shy glances, or has She learned from them?”

76 Because it can only be understood by love, neither the mind or words can understand a certain full moon that delights the flower blossoms with its sweet nectar moonlight and brings a pleasant coolness, a flood of intense sweetness, and a handsome luster to Vrndavana forest.

77 In the assembly of learned devotees I hear the descriptions of the Lord’s transcendental forms and incarnations, of the various stages of devotional service, and of the many sweet and charming transcendental pastimes playful Sri Sri Radha-Krsna enjoy in the forest of Vrndavana. Should I ever do anything else?

78 Thirsting to enjoy amorous pastimes, handsomely decorated Sri Sri Radha-Krsna enjoy pastimes in a cottage of newly blossoming vines in the beautiful forest of Vrndavana. Either directly, or in other ways, the Vedic literatures describe the many varieties of their moonlight splendor.

79 Call out, “O Radha-Krsna,” and meet Them as They happily enjoy transcendental pastimes in the newly blossoming groves of Vrndavana. I myself have personally seen one person as splendid as gold and another wonderfully blissful dark-complexioned person more dear to me than life.

80 Many people say of intensely blissful transcendental Vrndavana, “O, Vrndavana, is just a forest.” In my heart I have a different opinion. Vrndavana is the external manifestation of the sweet ecstatic love Sri Sri Radha-Krsna bear for each other.

81 A splendid great darkness now kisses the charming and wonderful golden moon that eternally bathes the ten directions of Vrndavana forest with limitless moonlight and places sweet nectar everywhere.

82 In Vrndavana Radha’s friends draw tilaka on Her face and say, “This is Sri Radha’s face. “I think this face is actually a beautiful moon risen from the churning of the great nectar ocean of the splendor of love for Lord Madana Gopala.

83 Intoxicated by the sweet nectar of transcendental passion, and displaying unique handsomeness, youthfulness, opulence, sweet charm, and expert intelligence, the very wonderful fair and dark youthful divine couple enjoys pastimes in the forest of Vrndavana. A glimpse of the shade of Their toenails makes Lord Narayana faint in ecstasy.

84 One who is very fortunate worships Sri Radha’s lotus feet, which are plunged in the great ocean of transcendental beauty, plunged in the great ocean of golden splendor, and filled with the wonderful tinkling of colorful anklets and the great auspiciousness of the chest of the dark moon of Lord Krsna.

85 Go ahead and attain material or spiritual happiness! Attain all the kinds of liberation! Attain devotion to Lord Visnu! What is the value of these things? What are they in comparison to a tiny fragment of the happiness of serving Sri Radha’s feet?

86 Don’t place your glance on this temporary body and its fleeting happiness! Don’t plunge into the distresses born from the gruesome sense-happiness that start with a young woman! Give up all attraction to hearing this body glorified! Give these up and quickly go to the abode where Sri Radha places Her lotus feet!

87 My brother, what is death? Death is the desire to enjoy the ball of stool and urine known as a woman. What is disease? The greatest disease is the envy and hatred that churns one inside and out. What is heaven? The greatest heaven is the association of person who continually celebrate a jubilant festival of pure love for Lord Krsna, the son of Maharaja Nanda. What is the ultimate secret knowledge hidden in the Upanisads? The ultimate secret of the Upanisads is the divine couple who enjoy transcendental pastimes in Sri Vrndavana.

88 The crest jewels of the swans very happily stay at this splendid lake filled with blooming sweet lotus flowers. If you leave this lake, flying away with the crows, and if you develop a desire to taste mud, then you are not a swan.

89 O merciful Lord, You are splendid with a great host of wonderful virtues. You are equal to all. You are the best of all. For how long have You existed? Have you not existed eternally? O Lord whose form glitters with transcendental nectar, You have not even begun to reveal the pastimes You enjoy here in the land of Vrndavana.

90 Because the offense of not being perfectly satisfied to live here has sprouted, many persons, even though they live for a long time in Vrndavana, which is the most charming, sweet, lovely,and auspicious place for a devotee, remain unable to directly see the sweet nectar of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna’s transcendental loving pastimes.

91 O beautiful gopi, you are uselessly proud of your two beautiful eyes. In Vrndavana are there not many lotus flowers growing in different lakes that are just like your eyes?

92 A vine of pearls splendidly decorates the waterpot breasts of Sri Radha. It is Her touch that gives these pearls their beauty.

93 O beautiful faced girl, your crooked dark eyes are now plunged into the crooked dark form of Lord Hari. The friendship of similar things is natural in this world.

94 The demigod Brahma prayed to be born in Vrndavana in a new body filled with the nectar of love for splendid and charming Lord Hari. Whoever resides in Vrndavana is worshipable and filled with transcendental good qualities.

95 The presence of the nectar form of Sri Krsna has transformed the forest of Vrndavana into a place of nectar. Everything that falls into the salt-water ocean also becomes salty.96 In Vrndavana who will not receive Sri Radha’s glance? When the Svati star shines, water falling into an oyster’s throat will inevitably become a pearl.

97 All happiness and distress is manifested according to one’s consciousness. Sri Sri Radha and Krsna are perfectly happy and content to lie down on the ground of Vrndavana.

98 From one whose heart yearns to taste the sweet nectar of the most charming and splendid land of Vrndavana, does not everything remind him of the charming Lord?

99 In Vrndavana Lord Hari presses Sri Radha’s very large, elegantly rounded, extremely firm and sublimely beautiful breasts as He ties Her glistening curly, black hair.

100 Does not Lord Hari bring happiness to an unhappy heart? With His embrace He brings the splendid nectar of transcendental happiness to His beloved in Vrndavana?

101 Some few rare saints become Lord Krsna’s gopi beloveds in Vrndavana. They are trees that bear fragrant, delicious, and beautiful fruit in this world.

102 Seeing Radha and Krsna wandering in Vrndavana forest and thinking Them to be a dark monsoon cloud and a lightning flash, the best of the peacocks spread their tails and jubilantly began to dance.

103 Fools are not attracted to the beautiful land of Vrndavana. This is not surprising. A man afflicted with the disease pitta-rasana cannot bear the taste of sugar-water. He immediately spits it out.

104 Although Vrndavana is filled with the sweetest transcendental nectar, some fools see it to be otherwise. Is this surprising? A white conchshell appears yellow to a man with jaundice.

105 For saying, “Now I shall describe the nectar virtues of Sri Vrndavana”. I am very wretched and pathetic. Who has the power to understand Vrndavana? Who can measure with a small bucket the water of the great ocean? One who tries becomes the object of laughter in this world.

106 The blissful eyes of the people of Vrndavana see the five goals of life present everywhere, but those people in Vrndavana who, receiving great mercy, have become the servants of Sri Radha’s feet, which are a flood of the sweetest intoxicating nectar, cannot see the five goals anywhere.

107 In the kingdom of Vrndavana the royal subjects, all lovers of Krsna, are all wealthy aristocrats. They who are devoted to the king of Vrndavana become wealthy with the priceless opulences of the nectar of transcendental bliss.

108 My mind does not go to any place other than the glories of Vrndavana. O learned scholars, your commentaries on the scriptures are all in vain. I am deaf to your every word.

109 Vrndavana is the home of boundlessly wonderful and powerful transcendental pastimes. Vrndavana is filled with limitless mercy. No happiness is superior to happiness in Vrndavana. Without the merciful sidelong glance of Sri Radha no one has the power to do anything. I am the perfect example. I know that I suffer so grievously because I have not attained Her mercy.

110 Although Vrndavana is the source of all transcendental bliss, my heart cannot find any happiness within it. O beautiful girl, I cannot for a moment look at your beautiful smiling face. How can a kumuda flower find happiness without the moon?

111 Are there not many very beautiful intelligent gopis here in Vrndavana? O Radha, I see only You. Where can a cakora bird go if he turns from the moon?

112 O Sri Radhika, if you are not merciful, then my mind and body will become racked with pain and I will quickly die of grief. For this reason please always cast Your glance of mercy on this person in Vrndavana.

113 The girl named Sri Radha is the most exalted form of the goddess of fortune. Her lover is the most exalted form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

114 May the charming youthful divine couple, which enjoys the nectar of transcendental amorous pastimes in Vrndavana without beginning or end, be the object of my worship.

115 With charming devotional service please eternally worship charming Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, who eternally enjoy charming transcendental pastimes in the charming groves of charming Vrndavana forest.

116 In a splendid transcendental body suitable for Radha’s service, acting as a servant of Radha’s feet, and pleasing the heart of Radha’s lover, eternally reside in Radha’s forest.

117 O beautiful faced Radha, gazing into Your face makes my eyes blossom with happiness. The moon, which is the friend of the kumuda flowers, brings only happiness to the kumudas.

Sataka Twelve

1 I have a firm faith in the worship of Sri Radha. My heart burns with pain and can find no peace. Except for the land of Vrndavana, what medicine is there to cure me?

2 As Sri Sri Radha-Madhava can never be separated, so the two nectar Vrndavana’s are never apart.

3 Enough with books! Enough with garrulous philosophers that cannot understand Vrndavana! Enough with the tangled nets of logic! Give up all doubts and reside in Vrndavana.

4 What book will count the numberless glories of Vrndavana? What philosophy will explain the sweet pastimes of the divine couple in Vrndavana?

5 In Vrndavana the sky is covered with a network of clouds and lighted by lightning flashes. The lotus eyes of the devotees mad with the nectar of love for Krsna are now flooded with monsoon rains of constantly flowing tears.

6 Considering this life as brief as a lightning flash and seeing wife, children, wealth, home and other things to be temporary and unreal, some fortunate souls, seeking the supremely independent Personality of Godhead, whose lap is ornamented by Sri Radha, enter the forest of Vrndavana.

7 He who, although he lives in the realm of the illusory potency and is not qualified to enter the spiritual world of Vaikuntha, bows his head once to the distant land of Vrndavana, enters Vrndavana. With his eyes he drinks the splendid lotus flower of Lord Madana Gopala’s face. Sri Radha is merciful to him.

8 Without attachment to the meaningless dualities of this world, without aversion to the greatest torments, a friend to every living entity and with my heart’s eye gazing on the sweetness of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, I shall reside in Vrndavana.

9 Like a small child to all women, like a momentary guest to my own house, like an enemy to my own body, with words and heart like a dear friend to all performers of action, like a mother to all creatures, and like a cakora bird on the trees and vines illumined by the moonlight of Sri Radha’s toenails, may I live in Vrndavana.

10 Now that I am a servant of Vrndavana my heart feels as if it were filled with great monsoons of nectar, floods of nectar, waves of moonlight, the currents of the celestial Ganges, the sweetest honey, and an abundance of splendid camphor.

11 Seeing the eternal and blissful spiritual forms of Vrndavana’s moving and stationary creatures untouched by this world of three modes and swimming in the nectar ocean of pure love for Lord Hari, many great yogis take shelter of the shade of Sri Radha’s red lotus-petal feet with all their hearts and now shine with transcendental glory.

12 Eager to claim this body and house as my own, I am very pathetic. Pleased by worship from the people, I am pathetic. Blossoming with happiness to hear a few words of faint praise, I am pathetic. Even though in my hand rests the eternally splendid fruit named Vrndavana, which even goddess Laksmi and the great demigod Siva cannot attain, I still refuse to taste it.

13 O people, I will mercifully teach you something. Please listen. If you wish to attain all the very wonderful goals of spiritual life, then please go to Vrndavana where there are independent pastimes with limitless and wonderful potencies, and where Queen Radha removes all fear.

14 O people, why should you leave the splendid moon of the face of Lord Madana Gopala, which shines in the forest of Vrndavana? Please know that moon is the supreme perfection. It is the best of the five goals of life.

15 O people, pleas sprinkle your eyes with the great flood of nectar flowing from the splendor of the moon of the smiling face of Lord Madanamohana. In Vrndavana, which is a temple of the sweetest nectar, and which repeatedly frustrated the earnest attempts of the goddess of fortune to enter it, please at once exchange all your material troubles for the most intense transcendental bliss.

16 I think this asoka tree before me must at one time have been struck by Your foot decorated with tinkling anklets. O daughter of King Vrsabhanu, O surging current of the nectar of transcendental amorous pastimes, if out of your happiness or anger I could become like this tree, then what could be more wonderful or sublime?

17 Vrndavana contains both the bliss of Sri Radha’s lotus feet and the heart of Lord Hari. Because She has given the first gift and Lord Hari has given the second, I find that the peacefulness of my heart has been suddenly stolen away.

18 Just as in a pond fishes are trapped by fishermen in a net, deer are cornered by the hunters in the forest, men averse to Lord Hari are caught by Maya with the terrible ropes of illusion in the wheel of birth and death, and thieves are shackled and placed in prison by the powerful king’s police, in the same way we are tightly bound by the flood of the wonderful nectar of the transcendental glories of the forest of Vrndavana.

19 I have come to Vrndavana to cut the pathetic ropes of repeated birth and death. Alas! Alas! The Supreme Personality of Godhead has now bound me with ropes from which I have no power to escape.

20 Like a lusty man who meets a beautiful girl, like a drunkard who has just drunk some wine, and like a pauper who has suddenly attained a great fortune, so I am in this forest of Vrndavana.

21 A certain young, golden and sweet lotus flower girl is splendid with charming and wonderful playfulness in the forest of Vrndavana. Wandering above that lotus the black bee Krsna has now become intoxicated by drinking its nectar. I have now also become a bee and I have now landed on that flower’s red lotus feet.

22 O lotus eyed Radha, why do You anxiously gaze to the east? Go to Your lover and remove His anxiety. O charming girl, is Your face not as splendid as millions of moons?

23 O Radha, now that You have rejected Him with harsh words, Your charming lover, dressed in a disguise, has come outside Your place and with the voice of a cuckoo, sings Your glories.

24 In your heart please see the splendor of Vrndavana’s god of love, which Sri Sri Radhika-Madhava drink with the cupped hands of Their restless eyes.

25-26 I take shelter of the very charming forest of Vrndavana, which is delightful with the humming of very charming bees made greedy by the sweet fragrances of various very charming flowers, which is filled with very charming poems sung by very charming parrots and cuckoos, where Radha’s maidservants make a very charming couch, where the charming groves are places where Sri Sri Radha-Krsna enjoy transcendental pastimes, and where Radha’s very charming friends are blinded by the intoxication of pure transcendental love.

27 The forest of Vrndavana is eternal, spiritual, effulgent, filled with intense bliss, and beyond the reach of the three material modes. Fool, turn your gaze from this sinful world. O saintly devotee, gaze at this wonderful form of Vrndavana.

28-29 “Radha, why do You not show Me Your beautiful golden lotus face so charming with its knitted eyebrows? Why do You not show Me Your breasts, which are the abode of the most wonderful beauty?” May Lord Hari who, in the forest of Vrndavana placed Radha on His lap, held Her chin, and gazed at Her face smiling with these jokes of love, appear before me.

30 Sri Krsna said: “O Radha, I think of Your breasts and Your angry face with its knitted eyebrows as two golden lotus flowers above which hovers a swarm of black bees”.

31 Please meditate on the black stag Sri Radha has caught in the trap of love, and with whom She plays day and night in the forest of Vrndavana.

32 Sri Radha is intoxicated by the sweetness of Vrndavana. She is intoxicated with extraordinary love. The sound of the name “Krsna” makes Her wild with thirst to enjoy transcendental amorous pastimes. She is expert in the battlefield of love.

33 I offer my respectful obeisances to the splendid dark parrot that stays on the unreachable top branches of the tall mango tree of the Upanisads, that pleases the gopis, and that with the wonderful ropes of intense love Sri Radha binds, forces to bow down, and pushes into the cage of Her feet.

34 Please meditate on the wonderful handsome, restless, dark parrot who, thinking them to be bimba fruits, bit the very sweet lips of Sri Radha.

35 Let me take shelter of the walking tamala tree embraced by an amorous golden vine in the land of Vrndavana.

36 O Radha, deep in the Vrndavana forest You have stolen the jewel of my heart. Please give me the sweetness of Your smile. I am your servant.

37-38 She with face, eyes, breasts, hips, navel, feet, hands and other limbs very wonderful, it filled with new blossoms, splendid lotuses, playing deer, mountains and riverbank beaches all very beautiful, She with a transcendental form restless with passion, it filled with flowering golden vines, She decorated with tinkling ornaments, it charming with the sweet warbling of many birds, She with a splendid face framed by beautifully glistening black braids, it the place where the beautiful Yamuna flows, She with lips very beautiful and words filled with currents of transcendental bliss, and it filled with swift and cooling streams, may Sri Radha and the forest of Vrndavana simultaneously and affectionately appear in my heart.

39 Lord Govinda plays clear high notes on the flute. Srimati Radhika claps Her hands. The peacocks madly dance in Vrndavana forest. If the wonderful, ecstatic hearts of the goddesses of fortune are irresistibly attracted to their lover, Krsna, then who under these circumstances has the power to remain peaceful in Vrndavana.

40-41 A great wonder has appeared in the forest of Vrndavana. Revealing Their handsome transcendental forms, Sri Sri Radha-Krsna have entered the arena of the rasa dance with Their gopi friends. Now everyone has become detached from materialism. Now the demigods headed by Brahma revile impersonal liberation. Now the great sages have broken their meditations. Now Lord Narayana and goddess Laksmi roll about on the ground, overcome with ecstasy. Now the opulence of the sweetest nectar is manifested in Vrndavana in this world. Now the kings of all the planets headed by Indra, have come to the surface of the earth. Now pure love for Lord Krsna agitates everyone’s heart. Now no one has the power to see anything else. Now Lord Narayana, remaining in His own abode, has forgotten that He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Now goddess Laksmi is plunged into love for Lord Krsna.

42 What person in the three worlds would not engage his senses in the worship of the forest of Vrndavana, where the flooding streams of liberation everywhere make one indifferent to liberation, where great multitudes of cintamani jewels fulfil all desires, where demons are at once destroyed, where the grass is very beautiful, and where there are many smiling, tall kalpa-vrksa trees?

43 It is the happiness of all happinesses. It is the sweetest of all sweetnesses. It is the most wonderful of wonders. It is the best of all that is good. It is the most beautiful of all that is beautiful. It is the most splendid of all spiritual and material splendors. In this way the forest of Vrndavana, the nectarean abode of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, is splendidly manifest.

44 O learned men taking great trouble for uncertain results, in the forest of Vrndavana the five goals of life always roll at one’s feet, and one can easily grasp them all without any work.

45 Although here in Vrndavana forest unprecedented wisdom, wealth, and every other benefit easily fall into one’s hand, still the fools will not worship Vrndavana, which is worshipped by the great demigods and sages.

46 Its kindness, generosity, and unequalled superiority are all limitless. Its splendor is the splendor of the smiling Supreme Person. Why do you not take shelter of Vrndavana?

47 Fool, cut the tight knot of “I” and “mine” in the heart. Close your eyes to it and quickly go to Vrndavana, which is hidden even from the Upanisads, the crest jewels of the Vedas. Don’t stop to think.

48 O fools, why have you stopped playing in the nectar ocean of intense transcendental bliss? Why have you instead plunged into an ocean of troubles? Why have you left the difficult to attain realm of Vrndavana to practice spiritual life in some other place?

49 Exalted persons like yourself take great trouble to attain your goals. You do not see that all your goals will approach you of their own accord in Vrndavana.

50 Abandon all petty thirsts and worship Vrndavana, which showers the fulfillment of all desires and even makes Sri Laksmi-Narayana’s bodily hairs stand erect with ecstasy.

51 “O friend, when you pick flowers in Vrndavana forest, Krsna, who wears a crown of peacock feathers, will see You. You will then burn with an unquenchable thirst to taste the nectar of His association and in His heart great flames of amorous passion will rise.”

52 “From the beginning there were poison flames of passionate love. The cooling nectar moon shone in vain. My heart was completely burned. Your charming anklets tinkled and You entered the pathway of My eyes in auspicious Vrndavana.”

53 “This bumble bee will not fly to the beautiful blossoming malli flowers. He will not fly to the charming kelivalli flowers. He will not fly to the blossoming lotus flowers. He is not eager to taste the sweet fragrance of the malati flowers. He will not look at the smiling vasanti flowers. O Radha, in this forest of Vrndavana He only flies to the lotus flower of Your feet.”

54 How will it be possible for us ever to reach the end of our debt to the great spiritual masters who have now returned to Your supreme spiritual realm, and from the moon of whose mouths has descended a torrential stream of the nectar glories of Vrndavana that now fills the world with bliss?

55 Take me to Vrndavana. I will pass my entire life there placing myself at the feet of the great souls who are the crest jewels of all saints, and from whose mouths flows the nectar stream of the sweet transcendental pastimes of the dear lover of Sri Radha.

56 “Sri Radha, whose feet are the supreme nectar treasure of Vrndavana forest, is splendidly manifest in the heart, words, and eyes of Lord Hari. O Candravali, we have no time to linger. The lingering of your feet is simply making a fool of you.”

57 “O Padma, Candravali always stays in the abode of my heart, which remains always subject to her order.” These clever words carefully concealed Lord Krsna’s deep love for Sri Radha’s feet.

58 Vrndavana is the wonderful path that leads to intense transcendental bliss. It is the wonderful and blissful path that leads to deep transcendental love. It is the highest point of opulence and generosity. It is the secret treasure hidden in the Upanisads.

59 Have the great souls whose ears drank the nectar flowing in Vrndavana, who were immersed in pure love, whose bodily hairs stood up, who would sometimes faint in ecstasy, and who were plunged in the boundless ocean of intense transcendental bliss, left us? Now we are dead and can associate only with their names.

60-61 The great souls who, when they saw the splendid and charming gunja berries growing in Vrndavana, or when they saw wonderful kirira fruits, became overwhelmed with ecstatic love, who moment after moment called out “O Krsna.” in a voice choked with emotion, who muddied the ground with the flooding streams of their tears, and who took shelter of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna’s lotus feet, which rest in the nectarean land of Vrndavana, have now abandoned this world bitten by the poisonous snake of Kali-yuga, and have now attained Sri Sri Radha-Krsna’s lotus feet. Now we are left only with persons like ourselves. Now our hearts have become withered dry and we are no longer able to maintain our lives.

62 Fool, cut your bonds and go to Vrndavana, which is the great secret hidden in the Upanisads, which is deeply plunged into pure transcendental love, which is the crown of all goals of life, which is the ocean of transcendental bliss, and which is the friend of the poor and shelterless.

63 If by good fortune you attain Vrndavana, whose glory purifies the three worlds, and which is difficult for even the greatest saints to attain then in Vrndavana you should, with the nectar of transcendental love, worship Srimati Radharani and Lord Govinda, whose lotus face eclipses a host of handsome moons.

64 With a completely peaceful heart one should always reside in Vrndavana, which is attained by the most fortunate souls, which is pleasant with fragrant breezes, and which Lord Narayana and goddess Laksmi yearn to enter.

65 If you wish to attain the supreme goal of life and you do not wish to suffer the slightest paid, the, dear friend, go, go at once to Vrndavana. Do not go to Brahma, Siva and the other frightened demigods.

66 Whatever transcendental potencies may understand the material or spiritual realms, none has the power to understand the two monarchs of Vrndavana and Their transcendental pastimes. In this best of forests please worship these two monarchs, who are plunged in the splendid and blissful nectar of pure transcendental love.

67-68 I, who am a great palatial mansion where the most painful sufferings of hell reside, who am arrogant, deceptive, and shameless, who am bitten by the serpent named woman, who am not peaceful, who deep in my heart have love neither for Lord Madhava of His devotees, who am dull and stunted, who have no power to understand the land of Vrndavana, which is flooded with nectar, who cannot control either mind, or senses, who is not situated on the path of piety, whose intelligence is very slow to understand the two lotus feet of Lord Hari, who is not firmly situated in celibacy, whose host of sins make it difficult for him to obtain the mercy of saintly persons, and who has no other shelter, shall now take shelter of Sri Vrndavana.

69 Alas! Alas! The witch of woman tugs at my heart. Palatable foods coming near my tongue never return. I flatter countless people to achieve my ends. How is it that I, a degraded and completely unqualified person, reside in Vrndavana?

70 Senses, act as you wish. We are not your enemies. What power do persons like myself have to restrain you? However, please listen to one statement of ours and act according to it: “This fool will never leave Vrndavana”.

71 Although living, acting like a man dead to the world, his material body and senses absorbed in spiritual activities, intoxicated and blinded by tasting the sweet nectar of Sri Radha’s lotus feet, enjoying the blissful festival of joking words spoken by Sri Radha’s very clever lover, Lord Krsna, and by Lalita-devi and the other gopis, a very fortunate person may reside in the forest where Sri Radha enjoys blissful transcendental pastimes.

72 I meditate on Vrndavana as being identical with Srimati Radharani, who is intoxicated by tasting the mellows of the ocean of transcendental sweetness, who enjoys very wonderful dancing pastimes with Her lover, the best of dancers, whose lover gazes at Her splendid transcendental beauty, the hairs of His body erect in ecstasy, and who is surrounded by Her wonderfully graceful friends.

73 I meditate on Vrndavana as being identical with Srimati Radharani, whose cheeks are decorated with very wonderful designs drawn in musk, who is the most eloquent poetess, who is the crest jewel of all beautiful demigoddesses, who loses all modesty and peaceful decorum in the presence of Her very dear lover, and whose walking unleashes a flood of sweet gracefulness.

74 I pray that Vrndavana forest, which is an ocean of transcendental nectar even Lord Narayana and Srimati Laksmi-devi cannot hope to attain, which the reverential Vedas cannot understand, and the transcendental splendor of which eclipses all spiritual and material suns, and fires, may become merciful and permit me to live within its boundaries.

75 O forest of Vrndavana, the monsoon rains of the nectar of transcendental love rising from your effulgence has washed my heart. Your moonlight of Srimati Radharani’s toes anoints my heart.

76 I, who aspire to live in Sri Vrndavana, pray that my ears become deaf to hearing the faults of the residents of Vrndavana, my tongue dumb to speaking about them, and my intelligence blunt in thinking of them.

77 May Lord Krsna who, laughing as Sri Radha, thinking them to be flowers, tried to collect the stars reflected in the sapphire pavement of Vrndavana, playfully tried to fine her for unauthorized flower picking, protect you.

78 O Sri Vrndavana, you are my purifier. O Sri Vrndavana, you are my life, O Sri Vrndavana, you are my ornament. O Sri Vrndavana, you are my good reputation.

79 O Sri Vrndavana, may your splendid handsomeness, which is increased by the two rivalling handsomeness of the youthful transcendental forms of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna, who are like two mad persons enjoying a festival of passionate amorous pastimes, arouse spiritual desires within me.

80 The forest of Vrndavana, where the Supreme Personality of Godhead enjoys all His blissful transcendental pastimes, where the supreme goddesses of fortune manifest their beautiful transcendental forms, and where my only charming hero of Srimati Radharani’s heart resides, is the goal of my life.

81 All wonderful and extraordinary good qualities of the most exalted and qualified women are present in the beautiful girls of Vraja, and they all completely take shelter of my queen, Srimati Radharani. With charming grace Srimati Radharani eternally enjoys transcendental pastimes, making everyone’s heart attached to the sweet nectar of transcendental mellows, and completely eclipsing the most exalted rival, the forest of Vrndavana is splendidly manifest.

82 Plunging the entire world into the nectar ocean of perfect transcendental love, removing from the wives of Vraja the shyness to enjoy transcendental amorous pastimes, making everyone’s heart attached to the sweet nectar of transcendental mellows, and completely eclipsing the most exalted rival, the forest of Vrndavana is splendidly manifest.

83 Intent on enjoying limitless and wonderful transcendental pastimes, and displaying the splendid graces of all transcendental heroines, the queen of my life enjoys pastimes in Vrndavana with Her playful, charming and devoted lover. My heart does not consider anything, save for this Vrndavana, to be real or important.

84 The forest of Vrndavana fills with wonder the hearts of the wisest men. It is the personified flood of the waves of sweetness of the nectar of transcendental love. It attracts the bumblebees of the hearts of the most fortunate souls. It is the boat with which I shall be able to cross the ocean of my great desire.

85 May the charming forest of Vrndavana, which is filled with waves of moonlight that bring great tidal waves to the limitless ocean of the nectar of transcendental love, which sprinkles the earth with the sweetest nectar, and which makes all other endeavors of the most intelligent men a useless waste of time, always protect my body.

86 May the ground of Vrndavana, which agitates and arouses the hearts of perfectly liberated souls, which is a limitless ocean of mercy, which is a great jewel mine of transcendental beauty and opulence, and which is the charming place where Srimati Radharani gracefully places Her feet, fulfil my very-difficult-to fulfil desire.

87 Spreading open my eyes and ears, and living in the very wonderful forest of Vrndavana, which is the very dear friend of the ocean of nectar that flows from the charming divine couple maddened with love, will I, my thirst never satiated, see the nectar beauty of Vrndavana and hear its transcendental qualities described by the great devotees?

88 O forest of Vrndavana, I shall now sell you my body, mind, and senses. The price shall be the pure devotion to the lotus feet of Lord Krsna, the lover of Srimati Radharani that is described in the Vedas. Will you pay that price.

89 O Sri Vrndavana, may my ears be flooded with your transcendental qualities, may my eyes become plunged into the ocean of nectar by seeing your beauty, may my tongue jubilantly dance in the description of your glories, and may my body always be filled with ecstatic love for you.

90 O Sri Vrndavana, will you purchase my body if I do not ask any specific price? What better offer can I make? I throw my body at your feet. I am no longer able to maintain myself with any pious or impious deeds. Saintly persons should be kind to the weak who carry very heavy burdens.

91 O forest of Vrndavana, it is not proper for you to ignore me, who has fallen into the blind well of hellish life and who has now taken shelter of you. In the three worlds no one else is willing to protect me, whose intelligence has been destroyed by a host of sins, who disobeys all the orders of the Supreme Lord, and who, although he thinks himself very intelligent, is in reality the greatest of fools.

92 You are the shoreless ocean of transcendental bliss and I am the most unhappy person in the world. You are the great protector and I am the great sinner. You have taken a vow to protect the shelterless and I have no other shelter. O Vrndavana, I think you are my only shelter.

93 I pray that the names of the very unfortunate persons averse to the beautiful forest of Vrndavana shall never enter my ear. What shall they who have no splendid pure love for Lord Krsna, the charming lover of Srimati Radharani, be able to see in the world beyond the touch of matter?

94 One may continually meditate up to the moment of his death, but he will not understand anything of the truth of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna. That truth is found in the supreme spiritual abode manifested above even the Vaikuntha worlds. For this reason, without ever wavering, let us always place our love in Sri Vrndavana.

95 In the transcendental, shoreless, splendid pure nectar ocean, which is more beautiful than the goddess Laksmi, more beautiful than the moon, which contains the transcendental effulgence of the great bija syllable, and which is intoxicated with unrestrained pure love, the district of Mathura is splendidly manifest as a transcendental island. Within that island are the pastures of Maharaja Nanda, and within those pastures the forest of Vrndavana astonishes the entire world with a great flood of nectar.

96 The Vedas spread a great net of words that lead to many paths that all lead to suffering. The saintly sages are not able to pacify me, who burns in the fire of the hope to taste nectar of love for Lord Krsna. The followers of Sruti and the followers of Smrti oppose everything I hold dear. O Vrndavana, O abode of love for Srimati Radharani, you are my only shelter.

97 What is attachment? What is detachment? What is fame in this world? What is infamy? What is religion? What is irreligion? What are pious and impious deeds? What are desire and desirelessness? What are faults? What are virtues? What are the varieties of suffering in this world? What is happiness? For one determined to never leave Vrndavana until his death what is the effect of millions of thunderbolts?

98 As a shower of flowers fell from the sky, as the demigods played dundubhi drums, as the splendidly charming Malayan breeze blew, as the wonderful moon shone, and as the broad beaches of Vrndavana became filled with a sweet fragrance, Sri Sri Radha-Krsna wonderfully danced in the circle of Their gopi friends. Please meditate on Sri Sri Radha-Krsna in this way.

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Sataka Thirteen

1 Wherever in the nectar filled forest of Vrndavana, Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, thirsting to enjoy passionate amorous pastimes, go, the bees, parrots, cuckoos and other creatures gracefully sing, the peacocks enthusiastically dance, and the trees shower garlands of flowers.

2 As long as the moonlight of Sri Radha’s jewel toenails does not shine, the cakori bird of my heart cannot be happy in this land of Vrndavana. As long as there is no deep faith in the land of Vrndavana the mercy of Sri Radha’s feet does not appear.

3 O great soul, if you roll about in the ground in Vrndavana, then you will attain an exalted position like the beautiful pearl necklace strung by Lord Krsna and worn by Sri Radha. This exalted fate will not be very difficult for you to obtain.

4 Splendid, charming, and expert in the 64 arts, a dark moon shining in the groves of Vrndavana now kisses a wonderful golden lotus flower. One who gazes again and again at this moon and lotus will become struck with wonder. He will then become plunged in the ocean of transcendental bliss.

5 On Sri Radha, whose lips are beautiful even when not decorated with cosmetics, whose hands are like lotus flowers even when not anointed with kunkuma, whose glistening dark lotus eyes are very beautiful even when not anointed with mascara, whose long, smooth, glossy hair is very beautiful even when not combed or tied, and who, even without wearing any ornaments, is ornamented in the most beautiful way, please always meditate on this land of Vrndavana.

6 When the fortunate devotees consider that Vrndavana is more dear to them than life itself, then Vrndavana is not difficult for them to attain. If, by the mercy of the great devotees in Vrndavana, they attain pure love, then the queen of Vrndavana will at once be easily attained by them.

7 This is not the full moon night. This is not the moon that rules over that night. This is not a blossoming lotus flower growing in a lake. This is not a beautiful riverside beach. This is not a splendid river. This is not a wonderful lightning flash. This is not a monsoon cloud. All glories to wonderful Sri Radha, who seemed to be these things in Vrndavana forest.

8 “Beloved make this couch oerfect.”

“No.”
“O My beautiful love, what offense have I committed?”
“Your actions are not good.”
“What can I say?”
“How much must I forgive?”
“Everything.”
“No! Leave my feet! When you have gone I shall sleep on this bed alone.”
“I shall massage Your feet.”
“You are not very good at that.”
“I am Your servant. You shall teach me.”
9 “You have lost Your mind!”

“You have stolen My mind from Me. Tell Me where on Your body You are hiding it. I shall push My hand into Your bodice and reclaim it.”

Hearing these words from the young parrots, Sri Radha and Her friends smiled and chased them away with loud calls and a barrage of flowers. I pray that Sri Radha may protect me in this land of Vrndavana.

10 The yearning to completely offer oneself to the land of Vrndavana is the attainment of millions of cintamani jewels. It is a satisfaction greater than drinking millions of nectars. It is liberation and pure devotional service multiplied millions of times.

11 The sight of the beauty of Sri Vrndavana is initiation in the most exalted spiritual vows. It is instruction in the transcendental worship of Sri Radha. It is the innermost chamber in the palace of the deity of transcendental love.

12 Please worship the forest of Vrndavana, where, crowned with the feather of a passionate peacock, His delicate form as splendidly dark as a host of blue lotus flowers, decorated with garlands of flowers and other ornaments, His form colorfully decorated with splendid mineral colors, and wearing a gunja necklace, Lord Hari revealed His transcendental handsomeness.

13 If one travels to Vrndavana, then what is the use of him going to millions of other pilgrimage places? If one hears the singing of the birds of Vrndavana, then what is the use to him of all the Vedas? If one recites the names of the trees and other living entities in Vrndavana, then what is the use to him of a host of prayers and mantras? If one sees Vrndavana, then what is the use to him of millions of opulences?

14 Wherever the breeze, passing over the splendid trees, vines, and other living entities in the pure, eternal, spiritual and blissful forest of Vrndavana, goes, opulent spiritual airplanes arrive to carry all the tiny insects and worms to the transcendental abode of Lord Visnu.

15 Let us glorify Vrndavana, where the purifying breeze that carries its dust, the fragrance of its flowers and the water droplets of its Yamuna, brings both liberation and pure devotional service to Kikata-desa and even to hell.

16 Who has the power to glorify the most exalted and fortunate souls that have tasted Vrndavana’s delicious fruits, spoken its supremely auspicious and charming name, seen its enchanting beauty, and touched its ground?

17 O place where the sounds, touch, beautiful form and other features irresistibly attract the ears, skin, eyes and other senses of even Lord Hari, O shelter of the shelterless, O place, whose power reveals the great jewel of pure devotional service which makes even liberation seem bitter by comparison, O Vrndavana, when you travel along the path of someone’s senses, you make him the crest jewel of all fortunate souls.

18 Continually gazing at the intense sweetness of Vrndavana, Sri Sri Radha-Krsna smile and laugh with unrestrained happiness. The hairs of Their bodies stand erect in ecstasy, and They melodiously sing the names of Vrndavana, saying: “beautiful Vrndavana,” “All glories to Vrndavana,” and “O Vrndavana.” What cannot be obtained by they whose tongues speak in this way?

19 Please meditate on the two splendid fair and dark transcendental swans who, eloquently describing its glories, stay in a nectar lake here in Vrndavana, the splendid, secret spiritual world that eternally shines above all as a nectar full moon of bliss in this world.

20 O fools, now that your senses are strong why do you not worship the land of Vrndavana, which is hidden even from the Vedas? Make your feet quickly walk to it. Make your voice chant its name. Plunge your ears in the nectar ocean of words about it. Fix your mind in thinking it.

21 This is not the time to be attached to wife, children, wealth, and all the rest. Death is now chasing your body. Quickly, quickly run to the forest of Vrndavana, the most rare and difficult-to-attain of all rare things, which by its own mercy is now manifested in this world.

22 Fools think the moving and non-moving creatures in blissful, spiritual Vrndavana are conditioned souls bound by the modes of nature. We say they are worshipable for everyone and they are the two sources of the nectar treasure of pure devotional service to Sri Radha-Muralidhara.

23 Exhausted by enjoying many pastimes in Vrndavana forest, covered with drops of perspiration, and like a full moon if the moon could be decorated with beautiful strands of pearls, may Sri Radhika’s lotus face protect you all.

24 If a blossoming golden lotus flower illumined by the light of numberless host of splendid moons were to kiss a black bumble bee, then I would compare that sight to the face of Sri Radha in Vrndavana.

25 Lord Hari takes in His fingers the red cosmetics touching Sri Radha’s colorful jewel anklets and with awe and reverence places it over His heart. Please worship Vrndavana, where Sri Radha gracefully walks with Her soft and delicate feet.

26 A great wonder shines in Vrndavana. It is two blossoming lotus flowers. It is two moons. It is two persons thirsting to taste sweet nectar in the other. One is the splendor of gold, and the other is the glory of sapphire.

27 “Is this the crest-jewel of honey-drinking black bees staring at a golden lotus bud? At that moment Sri Radha smiled and shyly covered Her breasts. Please meditate on Her in Vrndavana in this way.

28 When Sri Sri Radhika-Krsna quarrelled over the names of the trees, vines, birds, and other creatures, Vrndavana forest became at once filled with the news, and the gopis all laughed very heartily. Please meditate on the very sweet quarrel.

29 Meditate on Sri Radha’s beautiful face, which would be like the whorl of a golden lotus if the lotus had a row of pomegranate seeds, were splendid as millions of full moons, were eternally in bloom, and were enjoyed by a glistening black bee.

30 “Who made these two eyes? Friend, You know. I violently scratch the surface of the earth. Gazing at Vrndavana forest and this other splendidly handsome person, I am not satisfied even with an unlimited number of eyes! Queen Radhika, our eyes are very greedy to see this other person.”

31 Filled with limitless sweet fragrance and plunged in the sweetness of nectar moonlight, Sri Radhika’s golden pastime-lotus face is enjoyed by a black bee in Vrndavana.

32 May the very sweet, cooling, wonderful, flooding nectar stream of conversation flowing from the moon of the mouths of Sri Radha-Muralidhara and flooding the beautiful forest of Vrndavana, day and night intoxicate the bumble bees of my ears and heart.

33 In your heart always meditate on a blissful spiritual body splendid with pure love for Sri Sri Radha-Krsna. In your heart assist the dear divine couple’s pastimes in Vrndavana’s newly-blossoming vine palaces, where Laksmi and other goddesses pray to enter.

34 O brother, give up the happiness and distress of worldly affairs. Become like one asleep to the external world, and within your heart plunge your body, eyes, words, and mind into the remembrance of the very splendid and charming fair and dark divine couple, who day and night gracefully and blissfully enjoy transcendental amorous pastimes together in the groves of Vrndavana forest.

35 Please meditate on the Sri Sri Radha-Madhava’s pastime forest splendid as millions of full moons, free from the six waves of material suffering, flooded with the waves of the nectar ocean of transcendental love, and charming with many wonderful lakes, streams, hills, vines, bushes, trees, and blissful, playful birds and deer.

36 Again and again cry out: “O queen of Vrndavana’s newly-blossoming groves, I am lost. Please have mercy on me!” Pushed by love, three times a day bow down in the direction of Sri Vrndavana.

37 He who, pushed by the torment of separation from Sri Vrndavana, cries out as one whose precious treasure is stolen, and who rolls about on the ground, streams of tears flowing from his eyes, becomes the most famous person in this world.

38 Her hand waving away the bees greedy after the very wonderful sweet fragrance of Her beautiful transcendental form, and Her eyes blossoming with eagerness and bliss, Sri Radha walks along the paths in Vrndavana forest and enjoys transcendental pastimes with Her beloved.

39 When my queen Radha becomes filled with jealous anger, and Her friends tell Her to refuse to talk with Him, stunned Lord Hari pleases Her by offering Her many flowers, fruits, and other gifts from Vrndavana forest. Let me glorify Vrndavana forest.

40 When Sri Radha, the hairs of Her transcendental body erect in transcendental bliss, describes the many glories of Vrndavana forest, then the bumble bees stop singing, the female cuckoos no longer sound the fifth note, the parrot stops tracing his melody, the peacock dance no longer calls out “keka”, the embarrassed lute makes no sound, and the flute does not sing.

41 Every day the parrots and then the gopi-maidservants happily recite Sri Radha’s virut poem splendidly glorifying Sri Vrndavana. When my queen made Her lover hear it, He become overwhelmed with bliss and love. I pray that my mind be always rapt in meditation on Sri Vrndavana.

42 If scholars who have crossed to the farther shore of the ocean of all Vedic scriptures do not recognize the supreme exalted position of Vrndavana, then I consider wise. They are glorified by all the sages who know everything.

43 Know that the end has come. Say something. “Don’t let your eyes madly fall like moths into the blazing fire of a woman’s beauty. Today or tomorrow this body will drop. Why struggle so hard to maintain it? Give up the company of worldly men and always stay in Vrndavana.”

44 An ear that follows the holy name of Sri Vrndavana become flooded by an ocean of nectar. So does a tongue that tastes the holy names of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna. Still, I think that he who ignores the great souls who always hear and glorify the divine couple and are full of love for Their lotus feet cannot taste the sweetest nectar.

45 The most sacred of all sacred places. The most auspicious of all auspicious things. The most splendid and transcendental of all that is splendid and transcendental. The greatest desire-fulfilling philanthropist of all desire fulfilling philanthropists. Greater than the greatest. Of they who give transcendental love for the greatest giver of transcendental love. What place other than Vrndavana can be thought of in this way?

46 O intelligent men, please at once take shelter of Sri Vrndavana, which gives a body better than the always valueless material body, a home better than the home populated by wife and family, a happiness greater than any other happiness, and a liberation better than any other kind of liberation.

47 Let this wretched body, made of bones, flesh, stool, urine, and pus, which is ultimately destined to be destroyed, which is continually pressed by the senses, which is overcome by hundreds of physical and mental troubles, and which continually burns in the flames of lust, either stay or go. You please simply enjoy the nectar of Lord Hari in Vrndavana.

48 Today or tomorrow the great burden of this pot of stool will fall down and perish. O, O fool, attachment to women will lead you to destruction. How many hellish tortures, which cannot be borne for even a moment, are you forced to bear? Why are you so slow to taste the transcendental bliss of living in Vrndavana?

49 In the three worlds what men are not controlled by women? They who are not controlled are mostly men who hanker for fame, but some may be seen who are great saints untouched by material desires, and whose company makes the material desires of others fall away. O intelligent reader, if you have no desire to awaken the material benefits that sleep in your hand, then with a peaceful heart reside day and night in Vrndavana.

50 O fool, give up the worship of the demigods, and worship Sri Radha’s lover, Lord Krsna, the supreme and most confidential form of the Personality of Godhead. Stay in Vrndavana forest and make your home under the numberless kalpa-vrksa trees there. Go from time to time to the village to beg alms, and spend your time wandering in Vrndavana.

51 In your hearts meditate on Vrndavana forest as a place filled with numberless beautiful flowers. Run to Vrndavana. O fools, if your footsteps take you away from the cintamani jewel of Vrndavana, you will eventually find yourself begging alms at the houses of degraded dogeaters.

52 Sri Sri Radha-Krsna have made all moving and non-moving creatures blind with the nectar of pure transcendental love and made them roll about on the ground by tasting that nectar. The peerless current of wild bliss flowing in Vrndavana has quickly carried away the jewel of my heart.

53 O impersonal liberation, you lead to complete annihilation those who seek you. A pure devotee of Lord Hari has only contempt for you. O forest of Vrndavana, they who in this world take shelter of you will not even utter the name of that terrible liberation.

54 Have you not heard yourself glorified again and again in many lifetimes? What varieties of sensual pleasure, beginning with the enjoyment of beautiful women anointed with sandal and decorated with splendid garlands, have you not already enjoyed in many lifetimes? Now please become averse to all sense pleasures. Now become like a bumblebee enjoying the ultimate transcendental pleasure in the charming forest that is the place where Sri Radha enjoys pastimes.

55 The sight of the horrible ball of flesh covered by a thin layer of pretty skin and known as a beautiful young woman leads the moral instructions of the wise to complete destruction. What is devotional service for one whose intelligence is robbed in this way? Friend, do not stay for even a moment to hear the names of these fallen men. Simply run to Srimati Radhika’s forest groves.

56 May charming Sri Sri Radhika-Krsnacandra, whose forms are overcome with wild bliss, who are intoxicated, and who are blissful with wild transcendental amorous passion, fill me with bliss here in Vrndavana.

57 The forest of Vrndavana is like a wooden irrigation canal that carries the river of the wonderful bliss of pure devotion to its residents, makes streams of tears flow from their eyes, and decorates them with many symptoms of devotional ecstasy, such as standing erect of the body’s hairs, perspiration, trembling, rolling about on the ground, sighing and fainting.

58 Only fragments of this verse are extant.

59 May Lord Krsna, who is like a new dark cloud in Vrndavana, who is wild with love for Sri Radha, and who is like a black bee thirsting to taste the nectar of Her lotus face, protect you all.

60 If, in the forest of Vrndavana, which is the root of all transcendental bliss and the home of multitudes of eternally blissful gopis, I find pure transcendental love, then what business have I worshipping or blaming the hosts of demigods.

61 They whose ears remain untouched by the supremely worshipable land of Vrndavana, which is an overwhelming monsoon shower of the transcendental opulence of pure love, must go on their pilgrimage to the land of the crows.

62 They who consider Vrndavana their only treasure and who tremble with the bliss of intense love for the splendid fair and dark divine couple are, because of their great transcendental piety, always protected in this world.

63 Where is pure devotional service? Where is detachment from the world? Where is spiritual knowledge? Where is religion? The forest of Vrndavana, which cannot be touched by the black snake of time, is the only home of all these opulences.

64 In this long and frightened night we shall not take a single step into the blinding dark pathway of repeated birth and death, which is the home of lust, pride, cruelty, anger, greed, and many other jungle beasts. O Vrndavana, we shall simply stay here and remember your great mercy.

65 Don’t be foolish! Don’t become bold with this doe-eyed girl! O friend, don’t play with this the all devouring black snake before you! Don’t hanker either for the well being of this material body, or for the wealth that brings with it all that is unwanted! Consider the miseries of material life! Resolve to happily stay here in Vrndavana.

66 What person would, even for a moment, turn his ear from the great multitude of Vrndavana’s glories, which contain the extraordinary boundless treasure of pure love for Sri Radha’s feet, and place it in anything else?

67 The acaryas say it is the dark and the light. The learned Vedic scholars say it is Maya and spiritual splendor. It is a wonderful sun as splendid as millions of lightning flashes accompanied by a splendid darkness in the forest of Vrndavana.

68 To the prince of the gopis, who is expert at enjoying the pastimes of the rasa dance, who is decorated by Sri Radha’s passionate friends, who charms the cows, whose transcendental body is covered with dust, who plays the flute, and who is the ultimate object of yogic meditation, I offer my respectful obeisances.

69 To the prince of the cowherds, whose budding-twig fingers restlessly move over the seven holes in the flute as He plays transcendental melodies, and who is the amorous hero who rests upon the splendid pearls decorating Radha’s neck, I offer my respectful obeisances.

70 I meditate on handsome Sri Sri Radhika-Vrajendranandana, who sit on a wonderful and splendid silken throne in the midst of many beautiful-eyebrowed jasmine-garland-decorated, dancing gopis in charming forest gardens.

71 O gently smiling Lord, O Lord dressed in splendid yellow garments, O Lord glorious as a dark monsoon cloud, O Lord who enjoys the wonderful rasa dance with the gopis, O abode of the transcendental treasure of pure love, O Lord who eternally enjoys transcendental pastimes with Sri Radhika in the forest, O Lord whose face is charming as millions of moons, please protect me.

72 May playful Sri Radha, whose kind and gentle smile reveals beautiful jasmine-bud teeth, who wears an exquisite blue silk garment decorated with splendidly colorful spots, and who is glorious in the charming forest groves filled with gunja and bumblebees, eternally reside in my heart.

73 May Sri Radha, who wears a string of splendid black gunja that once rested on Lord Krsna’s neck, who has stolen the great treasure that is the heart of Lord Krsna who continually thirsts to enjoy transcendental pastimes with Her, who enjoys many loving transcendental pastimes in the charming forest groves, and who removes the host of sufferings sprung from the lack of devotion to Her, become manifest in my heart.

74 May Sri Radha, whose face is moonlight drunk by the cakora birds of Lord Krsnacandra’s eyes, who is the personified Deity of transcendental love, who is maddened with amorous passion, who wears a garland of splendid golden campaka flowers that attract swarms of restless bees, and who shines with transcendental splendor, bring peace to my suffering heart.

75 Let me glorify Lord Krsna, whose handsome face is like the moon, who is splendid as a host of sapphires, who enjoys many transcendental pastimes in the caves of the king of mountains, who is glorified by the supremely worshipable goddess of fortune and who stays in a forest cottage with Sri Radha.

76 “O king and queen of my life, if You wish to enjoy pastimes, here is a grove of kadamba trees in Vrndavana forest. When will You be kind to us?” With these words spoken by a gopi friend, and with words of “Come quickly! Come!” and with smiles and laughter, the curtain concealing Sri Sri Radha-Krsna is opened. May that curtain protect us.

77 Let me glorify Vrndavana forest where, when Sri Radha and the transcendental flutist Sri Krsna sing and dance, wildly tossed to and fro by the waves of the overflowing ocean of nectar, Their gopi friends also dance, and many splendid demigods and demigoddesses also dance to the sounds of dundubhi drums.

78 Your hearts filled with ecstasy, please take shelter of Vrndavana forest, which is filled with an intense sweetness that makes the heart blind with ecstatic love, and which is the place where the perfect, eternal, and sublimely passionate god of love, Sri Krsna enjoys many transcendental pastimes day and night with the supreme goddess of love, Sri Radha.

79 Don’t leave! Cross over the ocean of repeated birth and death! Cross over the ocean of impersonal liberation! Remain fortunate and stay in the forest where Sri Radha, the ocean of the sweetest nectar, enjoys transcendental amorous pastimes!

80 May thousands of ropes tie me to the eternal servants of Vrndavana. Neither the great liberated souls nor the devoted servants of Lord Narayana are better than they.

81 Renouncing sense gratification as if it were poison, not taking a single step into that world of repeated birth and death, and concentrating your heart on the supreme goal of life, stay in Sri Radhika’s forest.

82 Happy over others’ good fortune, crying over others’ distress, shining with happiness only to attain pure devotional love and unaware of anything else, worship Sri Radhika’s forest.

83 Let me glorify the eternal land of Sri Vrndavana, where Sri Sri Radha-Krsna express Their unlimitedly increasing mutual love, where They enjoy transcendental pastimes in each other’s company, where all moving and non-moving creatures are intoxicated with the nectar of pure love for Them, and where even a newcomer is at once granted a charming spiritual form.

84 Ah, what is Vrndavana’s wonderful power, that grants liberation, the mellows of Visnu-bhakti, and other rare gifts to all, even the most unqualified?

85 “Friend, why do You walk so slowly now in the forest? Why, even though You have not drunk madhu wine, do Your eyes glisten? Why, even though there is nothing to fear, do You tremble?” In my heart I worship Sri Radha, who bowed Her head in embarrassment to hear Her friend’s words in Vrndavana forest.

86 Unconscious even though you are not asleep, blind even though your eyes are healthy, intoxicated even though you have not drunk any wine, leave your wealth far behind, become like a poor man, and, blissfully swim in the nectar ocean of love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, always stay in Vrndavana.

87 Friends and relatives will always try to bind you with ropes of misplaced affection. Maya will bewilder you with the sexual advances of a woman and the sweet talking of children. Know that money is both the cause of a host of troubles and a diversion from your real self-interest. Give up everything and go to Vrndavana.

88 Fool today or tomorrow you will die! What will your wife, children and money do to save you? Brother, now that death hems you in on all sides, you should run to Vrndavana.

89 O you who are not blind, why do you not see that the woman before you is simply a gruesome ball of flesh with a few oozing holes? Brother, only because this pretty skin has filled you with wonder do you now neglect the forest of Vrndavana. How pathetic you are!

90 With a great struggle fleeing the all-devouring, lying “I” and “mine” of material life, and crossing the ocean of repeated birth and death, find the blissful land of Vrndavana.

91 I shall never leave Vrndavana forest, where the youthful divine couple, who are as splendid as gold and sapphires, whose eyes are cakora birds gazing at the moons of each other’s face, and who are the two thieves who have taken my heart, enjoy transcendental pastimes together, and go to any other place in this horrible world.

92 Ah, if in Vrndavana even Lord Hari, charmed by the sound of Radha’s anklets, cannot see His own divinity and supremacy over all, then how is it possible that the great souls illusion of false-ego shall not also perish here?

93 In this forest of Vrndavana, where a shoreless ocean of nectar always flows, please gaze on the charming and passionate Divine Couple, who are filled with intense transcendental bliss, and who are splendid as a blue lotus and a golden campaka flower.

94 Knowing in your heart that the form of woman is an ocean of cruel hells, seeing that wealth is a great misfortune, aware that popularity breaks the sweet nectar of devotion for Lord Hari, and decorated with the ornament of renunciation, please worship the supreme transcendental abode of Vrndavana.

95 Please meditate on Vrndavana forest, where, Her entire form covered by a black cape and hidden by the blinding darkness from the closely growing trees that eclipse even the sun, Srimati Radhika happily goes to meet Her lover in broad day.

96 In my heart I meditate on Sri Radhika, who as the autumn moon shines brilliantly, Her form camouflaged with sandal paste, a necklace of pearls, and newly washed white garments, is very eager to meet Her lover in Her own forest garden of jasmine flowers.

97 May Srimati Radhika, who, passionately yearning to meet Lord Madanamohana in the newly blossoming forest of Vrndavana, saw the wonderfully colorful forest, became at once stunned, Her feet unable to walk on the path, and had to be carried along by Her dear companion, appear in my heart.

98 What is the relationship with father, mother, relatives, and friends? What is the bewildering illusion of love for them? What is attachment to a beautiful wife one considers more dear than his own life? What is the sense of ownership for home, wealth, and everything else? What is concern for the well-being of one’s own body? Forcibly cut all these knots and take shelter of Vrndavana forest.

99 Vehemently renouncing wife, children, wealth, home, and all the rest, which present an illusion of momentary happiness although they are ultimately sources of pain, crying and crying, and his body displaying the symptoms of ecstasy, a fortunate person, finding the dust of the feet of the playful queen of Vrndavana forest, becomes filled with transcendental bliss.

100 Bearing the name Vrndavana, a certain mine of the jewels of transcendental love shines with great splendor. The desire to attain Sri Radha’s lotus feet finds a saintly devotee who resides in that place.

Sataka Fourteen

1 Worship the forest far from the ocean of ignorance, flooded with the wonderful ocean of knowledge, and splendid with Sri Sri Radha-Krsna’s pastimes.

2 What is the use of this network of illogical ideas? Cut the network of illusion and fly, O bird, to the beautiful forest of Vrndavana.

3 Cut the great ropes of misplaced hope, leave the poison forest of sense gratification, and fly, O bird of my heart, to the nectar forest of Vrndavana.

4 O! O, when will this fool cross the lofty Vindhya Mountains of pride in his wealth, learning, and noble birth, and find the sweetness of Vrndavana?

5 I am pathetic! I am a pathetic fool! Even though from Vrndavana I have obtained my original spiritual form, because I am proud of this jar of stool, I still blossom with happiness when the sinful non devotees respect me!

6 Why do you wander this way and that? Take shelter of Vrndavana’s dark moon, which is flooded with flowing streams of nectar, and which is the dear friend of Sri Radha.

7 Please gaze at Vrndavana’s handsome dark moon, which brings great tidal waves to the ocean of nectar, and which is the dear friend of the two lotus flowers of Sri Radha’s eyes.

8 In Vrndavana a certain very passionate lover is now intoxicated by tasting the splendid nectar of Sri Radha’s lips.

9 May Lord Krsna, whose threefold bending form stands under the branches of the kadamba trees in Vrndavana forest, and whose lips trickle drops of nectar, appear with Sri Radha in my heart.

10 All of you in Vrndavana please worship the fair and dark youthful divine couple, on the cloth of whose hearts each other’s wonderful transcendental form is painted with the nectar colors of love.

11 Please meditate on the beautiful land of Vrndavana, which is flooded with splendid transcendental nectar moonlight and filled with many forests of sanatana, kalpadruma, parijata, mandaraka, and haricandana trees.

12 I meditate on the splendor of Vrndavana forest, which is filled with wonderful golden vines embracing splendid trees and bearing wonderful jewel flowers.

13 O foolish people, please leave this ocean of burning sufferings. Go to Vrndavana forest, which is cooled by the effulgent nectar bliss of a host of moons, and there serve Lord Krsna.

14 I pray that my mind may become a singing bumblebee in the dust of Sri Radhika’s feet in the land of Vrndavana, where Lord Krsna eternally enjoys transcendental amorous pastimes.

15 What is the good of our worshipping many saintly spiritual masters? What is the shame of this world to us? For me there is no infamy, no fear, no object of sense gratification, and no material pious activity. Like a madman I do not even listen to the discourses of scholars learned in thousands of books. My mind is simply overwhelmed by the nectar of Vrndavana.

16 Let there be millions of violations of the rules of piety! Let there be millions of calamities one after another! Let there be millions of criticisms from the people of this world!...Why should I leave Sri Vrndavana, which is millions of times more dear to me than my own life?

17 He who offers respectful obeisances to Vrndavana is worshipped by the three worlds. He who has no respect for Vrndavana is reviled by the three worlds. He who takes Vrndavana very seriously is taken seriously by all the demigods. He who takes Vrndavana lightly becomes as insignificant as a blade of grass.

18 He who bows his head in the direction of Vrndavana becomes the greatest of men. He who has a little love for the land of Vrndavana becomes loved by all. He who gives something as a gift to Vrndavana becomes the most wealthy person in all the worlds. He becomes the master of all the wealth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

19 Why, even after learning that even up to liberation itself no situation is happy or pleasing, do the unfortunate people not always stay in Vrndavana, where the youthful Divine Couple, whose transcendental forms are the sweetest nectar from the ocean of bliss, and who have stolen each other’s hearts, have staying by each other’s side, created a great flood of transcendental nectar?

20 O my desire, if you are determined to stay in Vrndavana, then do it. I shall remain here with no other concern. I do not care for happiness, distress, mental anguish, pious deeds, freedom from sin, or the splendor of pure devotional service to Lord Hari’s lotus feet.

21 O Sri Vrndavana, I think a body covered with your dust is mot fortunate. In any other place I shall not accept the opulence of Lord Brahma, who has four mouths reciting the Vedas, or the opulences offered by the arms of the goddess of fortune. I think an insignificant dog who lives in your realm to be fortunate. I do not think anyone, even if he has a very beautiful and affectionate wife, even if the hand of the goddess of fortune rests upon him, or even if he is enlightened with spiritual knowledge, to be fortunate if he lives in any other place.

22 When moon faced Lord Krsnacandra places the flute to His splendid smiling lips and plays very sweetly, Sri Radha fixes Her eyes upon Him, and the residents of Vaikuntha feel ecstasy and the hairs on their bodies stand erect with joy. However, when His senses in meditation on this scene, He faints in the ecstasy of love. At that time the goddess of fortune becomes unhappy, and the residents of Vaikuntha cannot find the slightest happiness anywhere.

23 If Radha lifts Her head and gently smiles, then of what use are the rising of the full moon or the forests of blossoming lotus flowers? If, pretending to wish to see the forest, She goes there, taking the hand of a gopi friend, then the night in beautiful Vrndavana forest becomes filled with nectar.

24 “This bumblebee is now drinking the honey of that blossoming golden lotus moving to and from in the waves of the Yamuna. Radha, why do You smile? Should a great bumblebee not boldly take this honey in Vrndavana forest?”

25 “O Radha, seeing this khanjana bird on the broad banks of the Yamuna, the khanjana bird of My eyes now wished to go to the shore of Your thighs. Now that the handsome black bees are drinking the honey of the lotus flowers in Vrndavana, I have become filled with the desire to drink the honey of Your beautiful lotus face.”

26 Wonderfully decorated with colorful flowers, Sri Radha enjoys passionate amorous pastimes with a great bumblebee in the beautiful newly-blossoming groves of Vrndavana, which are filled with swarms of buzzing bees.

27 O foolish people, why do you not live in Vrndavana? In Vrndavana even the aborigines have become filled with the nectar of love for Lord Hari. Their virtues are praised by the demigods, and their glories are worshipped by the sages.

28 Text 28 is almost completely obscured in the manuscript.

29 They who are proud of their exalted status but do not take shelter of Vrndavana, the very wonderful and purifying place where Lord Hari enjoys His very charming transcendental pastimes, are very unfortunate and lowly.

30 Greedy to taste the nectar of Lord Hari, I have abandoned all material responsibilities. Why have you not given me even a small drop of that nectar? O Vrndavana, why do you cheat me in this way?

31 As splendid as sapphires and molten gold, a youthful couple is blinded with the nectar of love in the land of Vrndavana. I yearn to serve Their feet.

32 Let me surrender to the saintly devotees who reside in Vrndavana, the very secret and wonderfully sweet transcendental abode mercifully appearing in this world although in reality it is very far from both this material world and the spiritual realm of Vaikuntha.

33 O unfortunate fool, please dive into the splendid ocean of spiritual nectar that is the land of Vrndavana. Why, impelled by the thirst to taste the poison of sense gratification, do you waste your time swimming in the ocean of sufferings?

34 There is a gopi full of love for Sri Radha’s lotus feet. Her young, charming, fair form is filled with spiritual splendor. Her waist and limbs are slender. Her breasts are very beautiful. She wears a splendid new cloth on Her broad, youthful hips.

35 She wears a graceful splendid string of jewels over her navel, a locket and many necklaces over the graceful bodice covering her youthful breasts, jewel anklets on her feet, and a sash on her hips. She is splendid as a golden vine with two new clusters of flowers.

36 She wears a splendid jewelled graiveya on her neck, golden rings with pearls and colorful jewels on her ears, a gold-and-jewel-studded pearl in her nose, and a splendid lotus at the tip of her flower-entwined braids.

37-38 Devotional service to Srimati Varsabhanavi’s lover in my heart, at every moment intoxicated with intense love for Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, laughing and laughing with every action, the hairs of my body standing up as my Lord eternally smiles, in the company of sadhus hearing and talking of my king and queen’s sweetness, residing in Vrndavana, with all my heart worshipping the Lord who is the eternal friend of the devotees, and His feet become my greatest treasure, with great respect I fall down as a stick before His feet.

39 I throw away all my pride and place upon my head the dust of the feet of anyone who, with unwavering love for the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, is determined to always stay in Vrndavana.

40 As Srimati Radha, fatigued from the battle of conjugal pastimes, rests on the chest of Her lover, a certain gopi plunged in pure love serves Her. Even though he is destroyed by his senses, and even though he cannot directly see any of these pastimes, a person who in his heart meditates on this gopi becomes supremely fortunate.

41 “When you simply wish for Sri Radhika’s protection, illusion at once flees in fear.” O wretched heart, from where have you gotten these hundred feigned symptoms of ecstatic love, as real as a host of flowers imagined to float in the sky?

42 “Beloved, I will serve the beauty of Your charming breasts, which have stolen My heart. If You are kind to Me, then My happiness will become very great. Without You I have no power to remain alive in this forest grove for even a moment.” Please meditate on these amorous words Sri Sri Radha-Krsna speak in the forest of Vrndavana.

43 “In this forest of Vrndavana, the ocean of my amorous desires is now flooding far beyond its shores and will not tolerate even a joking, pretended impediment to its pastimes.” Lord Hari grasps Her feet and begs, “Your friends are all far away. Without being crooked, with straightforward amorous pastimes give Me pleasure in this secluded place.”

44 At certain times, in the maddeningly sweet forest of Vrndavana, two limitless transcendental forms passionately enjoy unlimitedly sweet amorous pastimes in a limitless cottage of newly flowering vines.

45 When Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, thirsting after the sweetness of transcendental pastimes, are not satisfied by being a single couple, They become limitless couples and enjoy wildly passionate pastimes in the circle of the rasa dance.

46 The forest of Vrndavana charms the hearts of the entire world and makes it thirst after the sweetness of the ocean of bliss. How is it that by the cooing of Vrndavana’s cuckoos, parrots, and other birds, even Lord Krsna’s flute, which maddens the entire world, has become bewildered and silenced?

47 The transcendental amorous passion of Sri Sri Radha-Muralidhara increases moment by moment without limit and all Their Gopi friends become plunged into the ocean of transcendental bliss. O Vrndavana, this is your great transcendental glory.

48 Alas, alas, if one does not worship Sri Radha’s lotus feet, then when She is displeased, Lord Hari, who is submissive to Her, becomes very difficult to attain. Without taking shelter of Vrndavana, how is it possible to attain Her feet, which never travel to any other place?

49 As the girls of Vraja blissfully sing, play musical instruments, and wonderfully dance, and as the sky of Vrndavana resounds with the beating of drums and is filled with a shower of flowers, Sri Sri Radha-Krsna sweetly sing and dance.

50 The vina makes no sound, the flute does not call, the cuckoos do not warble the fifth note, the gopis become silent, and Lord Hari gives up His love-talk, when Sri Radha sings the glories of Vrndavana.

51 In Vrndavana forest Radha and Madhava become glorious with ever-increasing transcendental virtues that seem to be always competing with each other. The wild ocean of Their friends’ transcendental bliss also eternally increases. I meditate on this.

52 All opulent Sri Sri Radhika-Krsnacandra playfully steal the heart of the entire world. Still, beautiful Vrndavana forest steal Their hearts. This is certainly very wonderful.

53 Radha and Krsna worship Vrndavana, saying, “Beloved, let us multiply our lives by millions of times with those millions of lives offer arati to Vrndavana.” Let me glorify Vrndavana.

54 A fortunate person will abandon material piety, economic development, sense gratification, impersonal liberation, devotion to Lord Narayana, and the means by which any of these goals may be attained and instead, to attain the direct service of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, stay in Vrndavana until the time of his death.

55 Sri Sri Radha-Krsna are the ultimate form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Their very wonderful and secret realm bears the name Vrndavana. The account of Their pastimes is the most exalted of all narrations. I pray that my heart may become filled with wonder by tasting the sweet nectar of the transcendental festival of pure love for Them.

56 I shall voluntarily choose to live in hell if there my ears may be filled with the supremely blissful glories of Sri Vrndavana, or if I may sing those glories, or if those glories will enter the pathway of my memory. If I cannot do any of these things then even the loving service of Lord Narayana in Vaikuntha will give no happiness to me.

57 In order to attain the bliss of pure love let us bow down and offer our respectful obeisances to Vrndavana forest where, avoiding those whose honey has already been taken by the bees, and paying no attention to those with no beauty or sweet scent, by lovingly, slowly, and carefully picking flowers, Radhika teaches Her maidservants.

58 In the shade of a parijata tree in Vrndavana forest, in a jewelled pavilion, with a splendid floor of jewels and a roof of beautiful flowers, I see Lord Hari, seated with Radha on silk cushions and flowers, and asking questions of Their glorious gopi maidservants.

59 If the forest of Vrndavana, which is filled with the very sweet nectar of transcendental love, is not manifested outside or within the heart, then Sri Radha will not appear with Her lover, Lord Krsna. If the two splendid and sweet transcendental forms of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna are not present, then how, even with many millions of the most strenuous efforts, will the sweetest part of the ocean of the bliss of pure love appear?

60 Beautiful with splendid garlands, fragrances, and ornaments, and enjoying betelnuts with Their friends as They are entertained by singing and music, Radha-Krsna are eager to see the new forest. At that moment the moons of Their faces are reflected in the still clear pond. I meditate on the beauty of Vrndavana at that moment.

61 O lust, anger, greed, and other vices, you are my friends. Till the moment this body falls I shall never leave you. You will embrace me and please me with your actions. If you make me a prisoner in Vrndavana, the He who is the most rare and fortunate person will protect me.

62 Meditate on two new splendors wearing wonderful new garments and ornaments of new flower blossoms and buds, newly meeting, splendid as new sapphires and gold, and flooded with the nectar of new amorous passion in Vrndavana where the glories of all seasons shine at the same moment.

63 Happily tasting wonderful nectar, worship Lord Hari, who is charmed by the wonder of Vrndavana’s wonderful deer and birds and wonderful festival of transcendental amorous pastimes. Happily tasting wonderful nectar, worship wonderfully handsome Lord Hari, who is charmed by the wonderful love of wonderful-hearted Sri Radha.

64 Vrndavana is wonderful. Its grove of forest-vines is wonderful. Its beautiful flower-couch is wonderful. Sri Sri Radha-Muralidharana, who are expert at tasting nectar, are wonderful, Their pastimes are wonderful. Their sweetness is very wonderful.

65 He dark as a new monsoon cloud, She splendid as a playful lightning flash, He a treasure-house of skill in new amorous pastimes, She filled with new amorous playfulness, He a stream flooded with currents of new bliss, She languid with a great weight of new sweetness, He, Krsna, and She, Radha, fill Vrndavana with new splendor.

66 In Vrndavana forest, by the Yamuna’s shore, in a splendid sandal grove, in a splendid jasmine-vine cottage, on a couch of parijata and many other flowers, Radha-Madhava, decorated with flower garlands, flower crowns, and other flower ornaments, enjoy charming amorous pastimes in our hearts.

67 Wherever passionate Radha-Madhava go in Vrndavana forest, the peacocks, intoxicated by the nectar of Lord Hari, dance again and again, the jasmine vines suddenly bloom, there is a flood of the buzzing of maddened bees, and cuckoos passionately sing in each mango tree.

68 Sri Sri Radha-Madhava’s wonderful handsomeness... is splendidly reflected in the crystal pavements and the great mirror trees and vines everywhere in Vrndavana.

69 “This way! This way!” Led by eager gopi-friends from one path to another in an excursion to see the forest’s beauty, Radha-Madhava laughed, Their eager hearts giddy with happiness.

70 “O my king and queen, please come to my dear friend’s place in the east.” When the maidservant grasped Their feet and begged with sweet words, Radha-Madhava happily went there. Please meditate on Them in this way.

71 With Their lotus footsteps decorating the forests, with Their shy smiles and laughter filling the sky with splendid white jasmine flowers, and with the dancing of Their eyebrow-vines breaking Kama’s bow, Radha-Madhava together wander in Vrndavana.

72 I worship Radha who, hastily dressed, garments and ornaments in the wrong places, earrings swinging on Hr cheeks, eyes moving restlessly, and flower ornaments falling from Her braided her, not doubting Her friends, runs to drink the nectar of seeing Her beloved in glorious Vrndavana.

73 When a gopi praises Vrndavana forest, Radha becomes overwhelmed. Dropping Her vina, not tying Her hair and belt, and not telling Her friends, She eagerly begins to run there, happily followed by the other gopis.

74 To see Lord Madanamohana in Vrndavana is the fruit of offering pious deeds to the Lord, the fruit of associating with saints devoted to the Lord’s lotus feet, and the fruit of happily hearing nectar talks about the Lord.

75 Meditate on the gold and sapphire splendors who, taught the arts of amorous yearning by Lalita and other experts, and silently observed by charming deer and birds, are now initiated to perform the Kamadeva-mahotsava in Their own forest.

76 Meditate on the pastimes of Radhika-Krsna who, intoxicated with the nectar of amorous desire, Their eyes, limbs, and voices trembling, Their words stuttering, and Their peaceful composure completely devoured, enjoy eternally in the nectar groves of Vrndavana.

77 The ears yearn with limitless thirst to taste the nectar of narrations about You. The eyes are tormented with thirst to see the moon of Your face. Not recognizing big or small, or even a little of injunctions and prohibitions, limitless Vrndavana eternally shines with Sri Radha.

78 I worship Sri Radha who, to give wonderful pleasure to Her beloved, with Her own hand made a wonderful flower-garden and devotedly decorated the wonderful new forest-groves where She and a maidservant-follower happily wait for Him.

79 Let us praise a beautiful fair young girl and Her handsome dark lover who, wearing wonderful delightful garments, decorated with new garlands and ointments, happily led by Their expert girl teachers to a cottage in a new forest-grove, and passionately enjoying new amorous pastimes together, delight the friends gazing at Them through the lattice-window.

80 Let us praise two wonderful fair and dark splendors that with wonderful melodies sing Vrndavana’s glories, that make Their friends filled with Vrndavana’s nectar dance, and that become intoxicated as they gaze again and again at Vrndavana’s beauty.

81 Each of Their limbs a glistening shoreless ocean of fair and dark nectar, Their transcendental pastimes a treasure millions of Kamadevas cannot count, and Their names Radha and Krsna, may the youthful couple eternally playing in the groves of Vrndavana penetrate my heart.

82 O heart, please worship Sri Vrndavana’s eternally splendid hero and heroine, who in wakefulness, dream, and dreamless sleep remain together eternally, who are eternally full of love, who are eternally situated in wonderful splendid youth, who are eternally maddened with amorous passion, who eternally enjoy wonderful pastimes together, and who are eternally surrounded by gopi friends.

83 I meditate on Radha and Her lover who, the handsome sprouts of Their arms placed on each other’s shoulders, laughing and laughing, and saying “O queen of My life! O My beloved! Look! Look! Listen! Listen”, with many playful, languid, splendid steps, sweetly walk in Vrndavana forest.

84 When Vrndavana’s eternally blissful dark moon, which is the only friend of Sri Radha’s lotus eyes, rises, then the cakora birds of our eyes do not become blinded by the dark.

85 May the splendor of Vrndavana’s pastimes, which are eternally filled with nectar of deep Radha’s love and eternally worshipped by all other forests, delight my heart.

86 I meditate on Lord Hari’s splendid flute, which with its flowing current of intense bliss, traps and binds the deer of the worlds heart, cuts all bonds, and makes mad with nectar all who find happiness in Vrndavana.

87 When, overcome by Vrndavana’s nectar beauty, and happily covering Her limbs with its dust, will dead Radha, Her large reaching-to-Her-ear eyes rolling in ecstasy, shine with great wonder?

88 When, meditating on the transcendental beauty of the places where Sri Sri Radha-Krsna enjoyed pastimes, will I gloriously and permanently reside in wonderful, blissful Vrndavana?

89 When, seeing millions of enchantingly beautiful girls to be a great mistake, knowing millions of great mystic powers to have a foul odor, and the beauty of Sri Radha’s lotus feet manifest in my heart, will I yearn to stay in Vrndavana?

90 How can he in whose heart or words Radha, Radha’s lover, Vrndavana, or the devotees who love Them, do not stay, see Their nectar beauty?

91 I glorify Vrndavana, where the trees, vines, birds, deer, and bees are splendid and blissful, where the many different places are all very sweet and splendid, and where Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, whose forms are two oceans of the sweet splendor of passionate transcendental lover, enjoy pastimes eternally.

92 Filled with limitless blissful moonlight, filled with the limitless splendor of beautiful lapis lazuli, splendid with candrakantas, sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds, and unlimitedly splendid with crystal and gold, the trees in the land of Vrndavana are very wonderful.

93 May Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, whose forms are filled with the splendid nectar of pure love, who are two oceans of wonderful skill in transcendental amorous pastimes, and who make Vrndavana blissful with the sweet flood of fair and dark splendor from Their limbs and blind with the nectar of Their love, eternally appear in my heart.

94 I pray that Sri Sri Radhika-Krsna, who sing very sweetly in a kadamba’s shade in Vrndavana forest, may grant the service I desire in my heart.

95 I meditate on Sri Radha’s splendid reddish lotus feet, which with melodiously tinkling ankle bells walk on the golden pavements of Vrndavana.

96 I pray that my heart may never, even in the moment of death, forget the feet of Radha’s lover. I pray that my body may never, even in millions of calamities, for even a moment leave Vrndavana, which is my life and soul.

97 O heart, forget the sense pleasures you have briefly glimpsed! Don’t meditate on the self-manifest Brahman effulgence! Don’t be bewildered by great wealth! Search for the wonderful nectar in Vrndavana forest!

98 Defects in Vrndavana are not defects. To see them is ignorance. To see suffering, decay, or other defects in Vrndavana is an illusion. A great illusion.

99 The moonlight of Vrndavana’s glory delights the lotus flower of the heart, crushes the great darkness of ignorance, and fills the ocean of nectar with waves.

100 Because of ceaseless offenses to Sri Radha one falls into the ocean of suffering without hope of rescue. Only Vrndavana’s merciful glance can rescue him.

101 What is this great illusion that afflicts even great men? In Vrndavana forest the supreme splendor of Lord Madana Gopala shines above all. In Vrndavana is a monsoon of the sweetest nectar.

102 The handsomeness of the splendid Vrndavana moon of Lord Madana Gopala’s face completely enchants the most reserved and saintly. I will pass this lifetime placing my body at His feet by engaging in His unalloyed and sweet devotional service. I will abandon all other actions.

103 I gaze on Lord Mukunda, who is dressed in handsome golden garments, who has golden decorations and a golden flute, and who wears as a sacred thread a glittering golden campaka-garland gloriously golden as Sri Radha.

104 Although I yearn to drink the nectar moonlight of Lord Madanamohana’s face, I cannot because the beautiful beaks of Radha’s restless cakora-bird eyes constantly drink it.

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Sataka Fifteen

1 May Vrndavana’s hero, who always stays in Vrndavana, who is splendidly decorated with a garland of Vrndavana’s wonderful flowers and who, on a couch of flowers in Vrndavana eternally enjoys sweet transcendental amorous pastimes with Vrndavana’s queen, grant to me transcendental love for Him.

2 May Lord Krsna, who meets Radha on the beautiful path where you spread many soft lotus petals, and who enjoys transcendental pastimes with Her in a pavilion wonderfully made of many flowers in the wonderful Vrndavana flower garden you made with your own hand, protect you.

3 Not even noticing the limitless spiritual opulences of Vaikuntha, and not taking a single step, even in name, into the realm known as Brahman, the fair and dark splendid divine couple remain plunged in the sweet ocean of transcendental pastimes in Vrndavana forest. The path to that forest is very difficult to reach.

4 The major portion of this text is lost in the original.

5 Please worship Sri Radha who, at first filled with jealous anger by the cruel words of Her friends, and then worshipped with sweet words Her lover sent through a messenger, now runs to Her lover’s place in Vrndavana forest.

6 The girl named Radha, who is the goddess of amorous weapons able to wound the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the goddess of beautiful, sweet, ecstatic transcendental love, who is the goddess of sweet transcendental pastimes, and who is the goddess that rules the life-breath of the prince of Vraja, awakens in Vrndavana forest.

7 With the movements of Her eyebrows She creates millions of millions of Kamadevas. With Her playful words She creates millions of nectars. With the splendor of Her smiling face She creates millions of moons. With the splendor of Her transcendental limbs She creates millions of great oceans of the nectar of love. This is Sri Radhika, who enjoys transcendental pastimes with Her lover. She is the controller of my life.

8 O dark-complexioned Lord Krsna, O nectar ocean of transcendental bliss, O Lord Hari, O hero of Vrndavana, O bumblebee attracted to the lotus flower of Sri Radha’s face, O eternal festival of transcendental amorous pastimes, O life-friend of the flute, O Lord always praising Sri Radha’s transcendental virtues, O Lord filled with transcendental amorous passion, O Lord whose pastimes are charming, please appear for a moment in my heart.

9 Making a crown of jewels and wonderful flowers, placing it and garlands, earrings, and other ornaments, and a new peacock feather on the newly arriving glistening monsoon cloud Krsna, some of Her friends told to stay far away and some initiated into a vow of silence, She runs, embraces Vrndavana’s moon Krsna, and cries. May Sri Radha shine in my heart.

10 May the most beautiful gopi, Sri Radha, who when the Lord of Her life arrived decorated with flowers from Candravali’s garden, would not walk to embrace Him or move a finger or eye to recognize Him, protect us.

11 I meditate on Sri Radha who, when Krsna said: “All of Vrndavana has attained the kindness of Your feet. Only with Your permission will I ever go to Candravali’s house,” wept, and when He forcibly embraced Her, called out “No! No!” in a flood of distressed words.

12 Even as the moon faded, the sun shone brightly, the tumultuous sounds of the birds filled all directions, and Her friends gathered in the doorway, trembling, shy Radhika did not retreat from the Lord Krsna’s passionate embrace in the cottage of vines in Vrndavana forest.

13 O ornament of Sri Vrndavana forest, O Lord whose heart always stays in Vrndavana, O hero of Sri Vrndavana, O Lord blinded with passionate love, O Lord who embraces Sri Radha, O charming Kamadeva of Sri Vrndavana, O eternal life of Vrndavana, O moon of Sri Vrndavana, please eternally enjoy transcendental pastimes in the forest of my heart.

14 Dressed in wonderful garments and ornaments, dancing with wonderful grace, Her small golden bells jingling, Her bracelets and anklets tinkling, and Her graceful gestures full of charm, Srimati Radhika fills her friends, Lord Hari and the entire forest of Vrndavana with wonder.

15 I meditate on Sri Radhika who, wonderfully dressed, wonderfully decorated with wonderful jewels and wonderful rings and necklaces, and Her braided hair set with wonderful and splendid lotus garlands, with wonderful grace and charm dances with Her partner, who is wonderfully decorated with a peacock feather crown, in the circle of the rasa dance.

16 I meditate on Lord Madhava who, eclipsing the handsomeness of Kamadeva, and decorated by the hairs of His body erect in ecstasy, with splendid skill even the great kings of dancing cannot attain, dances with love-blinded Radha on the Yamuna’s shore.

17 Please meditate on wonderfully handsome Lord Madhava, who sits with wonderfully beautiful Radha in the cool shade of a great kadamba tree with branches extending for unlimited yojanas.

18 In front of a cottage of charming new golden vines by the shore of the Yamuna splendid with golden lotuses, wearing garments the color of molten gold, golden ornaments studded with many great jewels, and a garland of beautiful golden flowers, Lord Madhava gazes again and again at beautiful golden-campaka-complexioned Sri Radha as He happily plays a golden flute.

19 My heart is fixed on the blissful moon of Sri Krsna, which was born from the ocean of bliss, and which shines as millions of full moons pouring their cooling light through the branches of Vrndavana’s trees.

20 Please remember my fair and dark young king and queen, who are bound with ropes of love and agitated with amorous passion.

21 The jungle of repeated birth and death is filled with the ferocious beasts of lust, greed and host of other vices. A forest fire of torments floods the ten directions. What shall we do? Where shall we go? Alas! Alas! I do not see any shelter. O auspicious and glorious Sri Vrndavana, I take shelter of you. Please protect me.

22 A splendid teenage boy dark as monsoon clouds, His ears decorated with splendid kadamba bud earrings, and on His lap a sweet teenage girl with blossoming lotus-petal eyes and a complexion bright as millions of lightning flashes, enjoys transcendental pastimes in Vrndavana forest.

23 Let me praise the forest of Vrndavana, where the divine couple, dark as glistening monsoon clouds and bright with a splendor that mocks millions of lightning flashes, shines with great glory, and where a constant monsoon of nectar turns the river of pure devotional service into a flood that destroys all the paths of demigod-worship.

24 The four goals of life (religion, economic development, sense gratification and liberation) and the fervent worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot carry one to Sri Radha’s forest of Vrndavana without splendid pure devotional service.

25 Sri Radha’s forest, which cannot be attained by thousands of births of great austerities, mantra-chanting, yoga, and meditation, is attained at once by a head bowed down with respect.

26 Again and again please worship the youthful hero and heroine who stay, splendid as gold and sapphires, in a glorious nectar forest far above the jungle of matter and spirit.

27 If someone takes shelter of the blissful, wonderfully sweet nectar forest of Vrndavana, then his deeds become as good as the deeds of the demigods.

28 Of secrets the supreme secret, of the festivals of Lord Hari’s pastimes, the festival of the most wonderful, wild, and sweet pastimes, and of eternal splendors the supreme eternal splendor, Sri Vrndavana delights our eyes.

29 Throw far away material vision bound by the modes of nature! Don’t meditate with eyes fixed on the Brahman effulgence! Don’t make your eyes worship the glory of the Supreme Personality of Godhead! Only place your eyes on the splendid nectar of the Lord’s pastimes in Vrndavana forest.

30 Friend, look at the splendor of this wonderful punnaga tree on the path in Vrndavana forest! Overwhelmed with the taste of its nectar, my eyes greedily play in this tree and in no other place. Place thread in my hand and with love I will string many garlands and place them on the neck and other places of this tree. In this way I will become overwhelmed with bliss.

31 “Radha! Give up this fickleness! Put deep love for Him in Your heart! Be ashamed before Your friends! The Supreme Personality of Godhead is touching Your lotus feet.”

“Cruel girl! She speaks of the flower of the punnaga tree! You think She means something else! Radha does not speak as You think!”I meditate on the garland of these words.

32 O Radha, leaving the cottage, You restlessly wander on the flower paths of Vrndavana forest. With Your friends You pick many beautiful priyaka, tilaka, and bandhujiva flowers. Clutching the flowers, and followed by many bees, you restlessly wander in this secluded place.

Note: Some ambiguous words in this verse allow the following hidden meaning:

O Radha, leaving the cottage, You restlessly wander on the flower paths of Vrndavana forest. In the presence of Your friends You hold Your dear life-friend decorated with beautiful tilaka. Passionately embracing Your lover, You restlessly wander in this secluded place.

33 “O liar, why do You speak these lies? What is before our eyes? Friends, what do you see? Is what She says true or not? Ask Her?”

“If You have spoken the truth, why are You suddenly so angry?”

Hearing these words of Her friends, Radha placed Her forefinger on the tip of Her nose, shook Her head and laughed.

34 Please worship Vrndavana forest, which is filled with newer and newer wonderful transcendental vines and trees, filled with many wonderful transcendental blossoming flowers, filled with festivals of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna’s wonderful transcendental amorous pastimes, and filled with a host of other transcendental wonders.

35 I meditate on the transcendental land of Vrndavana, where Sri Sri Radha-Krsna are blinded by the nectar of Their love, where the trees and vines blossom with flowers of nectar, where there is a flood of the nectar singing of playful birds, where there is the rising nectar of the amorous pastimes of many gopis splendid with nectar and where there is an overwhelming flood of nectar.

36 I meditate on wonderful Vrndavana forest, which is flooded by the transcendental nectar of very, very wonderful and fragrant pollen going very far in every direction and the wonderful and glorious splendor of many great trees.

37 Please meditate on the two splendors named Radha-Krsna, who are overcome by the nectar of transcendental amorous passion, who are flooded with love for each other, who, Their garments and hair loosened, strike each other in amorous bliss, and whose pastimes delight Their gopi friends in Vrndavana forest.

Note: Texts 38 and 39 are obscured in the original manuscript

40 I meditate on the wonderfully sweet fair and dark divine couple in Vrndavana, who breathe as one, who have a single love in Their hearts, who enjoy transcendental pastimes as one, who are eternally united, who have become one in transcendental amorous passion, and whose senses are united in the beauty of Their blissful love.

41 Text is obscured in the original manuscript.

42 Let me glorify Vrndavana’s king and queen, who, worshipped with ecstatic love, splendidly appear in a pleasure grove in affectionate Vrnda’s forest. Eager to gaze upon each other, and approaching each other on Vrnda’s order, Their eyes and limbs marked with pastimes of love.

43 My heart follows the fair and dark divine couple as, wearing ornaments Their young maidservants fashioned from new flowers in the bower of vines, and walking in Vrndavana, They enjoy transcendental pastimes.

44 In Vrndavana I meditate on the splendid and blissful divine couple, whose holy names the gopis serve, and whom the gopis teach the wonderful arts.

45 May Lord Krsna, whose limbs are splendid, who wears splendid yellow garments and splendidly colorful jewels, who is splendid with a belt, anklets, necklaces, earrings, graiveya, and finger-rings, who wears splendid bracelets and armlets, tilaka made of jewels, splendid garlands, and a peacock feather crown, protect me.

46 On the Yamuna’s shore, under a beautiful and splendid suradruma tree, under a splendid, colorful jewel awning, as the gopis sing and play musical instruments, and as flowers are offered in folded hands, sweet nectar enters the dancing arena of the upraised flute.

47 In the charming, fragrant, and splendid with jewels and gold splendid pastime-forest protected by Vrnda-devi, which is filled with a great circle of trees whose branches bear splendid flowers and jewels, which is charming with their shade, where the kings of the sages yearn to go,...

48 which is ornamented by the very gentle breeze, a friend to the fragrance of the beautiful blossoming lotuses in the beautiful Yamuna and a devoted servant of the beginnings of drops of perspiration that have now entered the arena of Srimati Varsabhanavi’s transcendental pastimes...

49 which has opulence the crest jewels of the Vedas cannot approach, the name alone of which showers spiritual treasures, which is ornamented by splendid flower-clusters, splendid flower-buds, and splendid flower-blossoms rare in all holy places...

50 which is ornamented with splendid vines, the buzzing of maddened bees, the splendid cooing of maddened parrots, cuckoos, and other birds, the timid glances of splendid, wonderful, wandering does, which is splendid paved with many great priceless gems...

51 which is charming with splendid caves in jewel mountains splendidly rich with gold and splendid mineral colors and beyond the descriptive powers of the poems of millions of transcendental poets...

52 which is ornamented with new sprouts playing as shinning lamps without oil or wick, with floods of water sweeter than the most splendid nectar, with splendid lakes, with splendid blossoming pankaja lotuses, and with charming bees eternally staying among the kairavas and other lotuses...

53 which is very beautiful with the splendid cooing of splendid swans, cranes, and other birds, which is charming with groves of splendid gold and jewel vines, which is glorious with wonderful splendid jewel courtyards...

54 which frees the people from millions of sins, which the beautiful eyebrowed gopis’ her serves eternally, which is beautiful with a mosaic of splendid houses, which is a palace for the splendidly beautiful young gopis’ pastimes....

55 which is splendid with transcendental love, which is filled with splendid transcendental vines, which is filled with the splendidly sweet bliss of transcendental amorous pastimes, which is filled with the opulence of all splendid transcendental pastimes, and which is filled with beautiful forests, I eternally meditate on playful Lord Hari.

56 On Lord Hari, who is wonderfully splendid with limitless transcendental pastimes, who day and night stays with splendid, blinded with love Sri Radha, who eagerly plays games with a ball in a splendid jewelled courtyard...

57 who is the moon of teenage boys, whose transcendental form is splendidly handsome, whose smiles and laughter are splendid, whose dancing is splendid, who expert joking is splendid, whose eyes are splendid, whose graceful threefold-bending gracefulness is splendid, whose graceful limbs are decorated with splendid ornaments...

58 whose playfully moving eyebrows frustrate Kamadeva’s splendid bow, whose splendid glances pierce the beautiful young gopis, who eclipses the splendid deer, bees and fish, whose ocean of desires is filled with tidal waves when the moon of Sri Radhika’s face rises...

59 whose heart is wounded by the arrow of Radhika’s sidelong glance, whose heart yearns to taste the nectar of Radhika’s lips, whose handsome eyes break the khanjana birds’ pride, who is splendid as glorious lotus flowers...

60 whose face is more handsome than millions of full moons, whose gentle and charming laughter rebukes the jasmine buds, whose arms are anointed with splendid kunkuma aguru, who is decorated with jewel bracelets and a host of other ornaments...

61 the splendid Kaustubha gem in whose necklace eclipses the moon, who holds Radhika’s flower-petal feet to His chest anointed with sweet fragrances, who is enthralled by Radhika’s wonderful garments and ornaments, whose bodily hairs stand erect when Radha embraces Him...

62 who, the crown of expert lovers, enjoys a great festival of transcendental amorous pastimes with deeply in love, blind with passion, and expert at ever-new amorous pastimes Sri Radha, who is eternally blessed by Her affectionate friends...

63 who is anointed with golden kunkuma and sandal paste, who is decorated with garlands of svarna-yuthis and other splendid flowers, who is decorated with golden necklaces, anklets, and splendid jewel ornaments, who wears graceful, colorful, fine, new, splendid, golden ornaments...

64 who wears wonderfully splendid jewelled rings, who wears tinkling bells tied with a glittering golden string, who place His flower-petal lips to the mouth of His golden flute, who wears charming golden-flower earrings...

65 who enjoys passionate amorous pastimes with Sri Radhika and many other beautiful girls more splendid than millions of lightning flashes, who gently smiles to have attained His heroine’s deep love, who always stays in the sweet mango groves that are Sri Radhika...

66 who is splendid as a dark monsoon cloud, whose beloved is splendid as lightning, whose heart yearns at every moment to enjoy pastimes with Sri Radha, who speaks incoherently in the madness of love, and who is in love with King Vrsabhanu’s daughter, I meditate day and night.

67 With a playful, handsome boy who with a happy heart draws colorful tilaka on the moon of Her beautiful forehead and who wears a jasmine-garland by His beloved’s kindness, Sri Radhika shines in the forest groves.

68 Handsomely dressed, an ocean of nectar in the paths of newly blossoming Vrndavana, decorated with flowers and jewels, and His hair splendid, may Lord Krsnacandra and His beloved protect you all.

69 I worship two transcendental splendors, who are decorated with flowers and wonderful garments, who smile at each other, whose hearts are filled with bliss, who are filled with limitless expert intelligence, and who mercifully give each other a host of kisses.

70 May Lord Hari who, decorating Himself with kunkuma tilaka, His glorious hair neatly tied and all His limbs blossoming with signs of happiness, jubilantly entered the forest grove and, eager to meet His beloved, searched for Her amongst Her friends, protect you all.

71 In Vrndavana forest a sweet and inconceivably glorious goddess is hidden. Please humbly bow before Her with folded hands. Worship Her with splendid and fragrant blue flowers. Circumambulate Her and bow down before Her.

72 If with love in your heart you carefully keep the blissful treasure of pure devotional service, then I will tell you the truth: sometimes when Krsna sweetly places the vine of His arms around Radha’s neck, She responds with “No! No!”

73 I shall tell you a mantra that is hidden from all the Vedas and not manifested anywhere in the most confidential scriptures. When a person chants this mantra the great spiritual perfections come before his feet and the opulences of the Supreme Personality of Godhead stand in his hand.

74 For a person who chants this mantra there are no orders or prohibitions. A person who understands the dust of this mantra’s lotus feet purifies they who know the rules of the Vedas. This mantra is the sweetest nectar. It is the auspiciousness of all auspiciousnesses. It is filled with all limitless wonderful glory. It is the attainment of all attainments.

75 It is the ultimate goal of all goals. It is the wild bliss of all wild blisses. They say it is the secret of all secrets. Without thinking of anything else, day and night chant this mantra: Radha.

76 This mantra is a flood of sweetness churned from the sweetest nectars. It is a precious flood of the wild sweetness of the bliss of pure love. O fortunate one, who understands us? Who understands the meaning of this mantra that is a flood of bliss flowing into the heart?

77 O goddess of Vrndavana, if You wish that the prince of the gopas would worship you every night, then look for a secluded place in the forest, hide, and become like an unmoving tree there, and we, your friends, will stay near You.

78 is obscured in the original.

79 Carefully instructing Her friends, as a practical joke She hid. Then, in the dear middle of the night passionate Lord Hari ran here and there looking for Her as She laughed. All glories to Radha’s outrageous, playful, wonderful, amorous joke!

80 In a dream You see Yourself in Vrndavana forest enjoyed by the crown of heroes. Now Your body is troubled with desire for that rare Deity. Although You do not notice Him, the Supreme Personality of Godhead of whom You ask now stands before You.

81 “My arrogant friends are now staring through the window in this forest-cottage. O beloved, O master of all heroes, act quickly! Put out all the jewelled lamps! Draw the curtains! If You have not lost all Your powers, do it!” May these words of Srimati Radharani protect your ears.

82 “O Radha, O generous one, please sprinkle on Me the gift of Our amorous pastimes. Let Your friends say, Now let us leave this forest, “ I meditate on these requests Lord Murari spoke to Srimati Radha as She leaned against His chest in the groves of limitless Vrndavana.

83 “My lover is always tormented with amorous desires. Lalita, her friends, and many other girls have given their instructions. O My virtuous maidservant, you tell Me: What should I do?” All glories to the advice she gave Srimati Radha on the forest-path!

84 “I will tell My beloved it is untrue. I will reassure Him. I will bring Him to the hidden cottage of vines. Now you should have the sense to angrily run from this place.” Please gaze on Srimati Radha as Her mouth is filled with these words of grief.

85 This forest arouses passionate amorous desires. His form is the ultimate of youthful handsomeness. He is more enchanting than millions of Kamadevas. He is always playful. My friends will go to My forest.

86 Here the cuckoos sing in flowering Vrndavana. Here the fragrant breeze gently blows. Here are my wise, great-hearted friends. I have taken bad advice. I am broken. How will I escape this suffering?

87 O bumblebee, in this Vrndavana are many yuthika trees. On these trees are numberless flowers. Fearsome Kamadeva is very powerful with his bow and millions of arrows. What is the use of My jealous anger here?

88 I will never listen to such bad advice again! With harsh words I have offended My saintly lover! Only He, coming here wounded by the cuckoos singing, can save My life.

89 “A proud and jealous girl is glorious in this world. O friend, girls that are not proud before their lover are wretched.” When these proud words from Her dear friends entered her ears, they pierced Her heart and made it tremble.

90 Friends, now I have attained the sweet state of jealous anger. Now springtime in Vrndavana is like a wonderful husband and wife. Now the bees’ singing is like the twang of young Kamadeva’s bowstring. Now the cuckoos’ cooing is like the sound of thunder.

91 Thinking it is nectar, my eyes always lust after the foul lump of flesh that is a woman’s body. I am drowning in pride for my little life. My tongue has not given up its love for sweet foods. My heart is greedy for money. O Vrndavana, even though I live within you, what will be my fate?

92 Vrndavana is a charming and impenetrable fortress carefully protected by the army of all who stay within it. Sri Radha, who stays eternally in a cottage of newly-blossoming vines, who is the ornament of Lord Krsna’s lap, and who is served eternally by Lalita and many others, is the supreme goddess there. May the generous king of ecstatic devotional love, who stays there, unseen even by the goddess of fortune, bless us all.

93 O friend, please worship He who wears a charming gunja necklace, who with charming flute-music robs the wealth of the gopis shyness, who neutralizes Vraja’s poisons and fires, who is loved eternally by His beloved, whose splendor has no equal, who enjoys transcendental pastimes in Vrndavana, and who takes away His devotees’ sins.

94 May Lord Hari, who fills the trees and vines here with transcendental splendor, who in Vrndavana forests’ cottage of vine pleases the beautiful girls of Vraja, and who makes the blissful sweet nectar of a festival of love flow from he holes in His flute, make blissful freedom from this world blossom within us.

95 In Vrndavana, by the Yamuna’s shore, where the bees sweetly hum, the parrots sing, and the breezes gently blow, in a cottage of splendid, blossoming jasmine vines, a boy splendid as a tamala tree enjoys pastimes. He makes a splendid gunja-necklace and then lovingly places it on Radha’s chest.

96 Please always remember Sri Sri Radha-Muralidhara who, blinded with amorous passion, laugh and sing in Vrndavana’s new forest-palaces beautiful as a nectar oceans of bliss.

97 Richly decorated with anklets and other ornaments, and resting on Sri Krsna’s chest in Vrndavana forest’s colorful flower garden, may Sri Radha shower upon me the great nectar ocean of a glimpse of the playful drama of Her wonderful transcendental amorous pastimes.

98 I meditate on the two fair and dark sweet splendors that sweetly sing under a beautiful kadamba tree in a flower garden by the Yamuna’s shore.

99 Please worship Sri Radha-Muralidhara who, wonderfully decorated with new flowers by Their friends, eager to enjoy pastimes in Vrndavana’s new forest-grove, and led by a certain girl, happily walk on the beautiful forest-path.

100 What is the use of millions of moons if Your blissful face is here? O girl with the beautiful face, what is the use of floods of nectar if Your bimba fruit lips are here? What is the use of Kamadeva’s sharp arrows if Your sidelong glances are here? O Radha, if You are pleased, then who is more fortunate than I?

101 In your hearts everyone please worship Sri Sri Radha-Madhupati who, enjoying wild amorous pastimes on the cottage porch in the new grove of vines and mandara trees by the Yamuna’s shore filled with gentle nectar breezes, sweetly laugh and sing.

102 O girl with the beautiful face, why is Your sindhura cosmetic suddenly gone? Why is the mascara on Your eyes blurred? Why do You cover Your face and body as You come from the forest? Why do You bow Your head and beg these things from us?

103 All glories to the handsome, splendid sapphire Vrndavana-moon very gently served by the breeze blowing from the blue-lotus forest blossoming in the Yamuna, shining on the porch of a palace among the trees and vines of Vrndavana forest, His limbs splendid and charming as sapphires, pleased by the showers of flowers sent by the poets in the heavenly planets, very charming, a flowing stream of the sweet nectar of love, and His heart inflamed with the sweet nectar of love for Sri Radha.

104 O Vrndavana-moon, with candana dots and red sindhura please draw on My forehead a tilaka love-mark to replace the decorations now destroyed. With kunkuma draw a beautiful picture on My breasts. Sweetly decorate My lips as they were before. Break My fear that My harsh friends will embarrass Me.

105 Please worship the handsome, sweetly amorous dark youth that, eager for news of Sri Radha, wanders Vrndavana pathways with Sridama and other friends and, His peacefulness long since fled, frantically makes plans to meet Her.

Sataka Sixteen

1 Yearn after He who is the splendid bumble-bee at the lotus feet of Radha’s mouth, the black mascara on Radha’s eyes, the splendid blue garment on Radha’s breasts, the chain binding Radha’s heart, the blue lotus growing in the nectar lake of Radha’s navel, the mark on the moons of Radha’s beautiful toenails, and Radha’s pet deer.

2 May Lord Hari, who in a secluded forest cottage sweetly places Sri Radha on His lap, strokes Her hair with His fingers, and again and again kisses Her face splendid as a golden lotus while the hairs of His body stand erect with joy, be always dear to me.

3 May I see the face of that person splendid as a host of monsoon clouds, His garments yellow as lightning, and His handsome form charming the beautiful gopis, filled with tears when He hears the syllables of the name Radha.

4 I worship the two splendors who, gazing at each other’s face, smiling playfully, on different pretexts touching each other’s bodies with Their hands, Their fair and dark forms shining with sweet nectar, and Their hairs erect with joy, are filled with love for each other.

5 If you yearn for what is above the material and spiritual worlds, then wholeheartedly love Lord Madanamohana. Don’t live in a crowded city. Live in Vrndavana. Offer respects to all living entities there. Never offend them.

6 In Vrndavana please worship the very wonderful splendor that has all transcendental opulence, that is an eternal ocean of ever-new wonderful, sweet, perfect handsomeness, that is wonderful with mercy, forgiveness, and other virtues, and that has a form that enchants Kama. 7 In Vrndavana, which is filled with the sweetest nectar of unalloyed love, and which places the goals all desires in the palm of one’s hand, reject impersonal mukti and worship the splendor that is a nectar cowherd boy.

8 O wise philosophers, on the pathways of Lord Hari’s devotional service please meditate on Vrndavana forest as the source of the nectar of transcendental bliss, as a treasure of wonderful beauty Brahman and Siva have no power to describe, and as the abode of two splendors glorious as a monsoon cloud and a new lightning flash.

9 Who will not glorify they who, not allowing even the word “woman” to touch their ears, terrified of any contact with women, and offering their lives to Sri Vrndavana, stay at Sri Radha’s feet?

10 O noble souls, in Vrndavana forest please serve the very wonderful, blissful and passionate amorous pastimes of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, who are intoxicated by drinking the very sweet madhvika nectar of Their love.

11 May the very wonderful nectar that wonderfully shines on the Yamuna’s shore, in beautiful Vrndavana wonderful in all six seasons, on the wonderful breezes, and on the autumn moon there, and that rests on Sri Sri Radhika-Madhava, the two treasures of transcendental virtue, be seen in my heart.

12 My heart longs to taste the splendid nectar of the fair and dark divine couple, who are greater than Rati and Kama, who are full of unalloyed love for each other, and who stay on the Yamuna’s shore in Vrndavana filled with flowering trees and vines, dancing peacocks, the buzzing of maddened bees, and the singing of parrots and cuckoos.

13 Eternally meditate on the fair and dark youthful divine couple worshipped by the artistic girls of Vraja in a charming pavilion of madhavi vines by the Yamuna’s shore filled with malaya breezes and decorated with the humming of bumblebees.

14 May the two very sweet fair and dark youthful splendors that bewilder Kamadeva and flood Vrndavana with glistening waves from the ever-new nectar of ocean of the splendor of Their limbs, enjoy pastimes in my heart.

15 I worship Sri Sri Radha-Krsna who, facing each other as They sit on a charming cushion at the door of a vine cottage, sweetly play with dice, Their hearts soft with a playful lover’s quarrel as Their friends serve Them by offering arati with camara fans.

16 In the ever-new forest of Vrndavana every day I worship two splendors sweeter than all sweetness, glorious as new gold and sapphires, and Their forms the essence of nectar.

17 At every moment I search in my heart for the charming youthful splendor, glorious as glittering new gold and campaka flowers, where Vrndavana’s Kamadeva finds His shelter.

18 May my queen, Sri Radha, whom even He who has large deer’s eyes cannot get to sit with Him on the beautiful couch, stay eternally in my heart.

19 I adore the two youthful fair and dark splendors tossed by the waves of a great, eternal, shoreless nectar ocean in a forest cottage.

20 In nectar Radha’s pastime forest, where the moonlight of Her glory delights the kumuda lotus flowers of the poets’ voices, I yearn to become a flowering vine.

21 Worship the queen of Vrndavana’s lover, who is decorated with peacock feathers, who wears a beautiful new guna garland, and who charms everyone with the sound of His flute.

22 Please take shelter of Vrndavana, where every forest is supremely sweet, which is filled with sweetly cooing young cuckoos, and where the splendid trees and vines blossom during every season.

23 Worship Vrndavana’s hero who, the hairs of His body erect and His reddened eyes rolling with amorous passion, moment after moment kisses Sri Radha’s mouth.

24 Bow down before smiling Lord Hari, who pleases Sri Radha with the sweet songs of His flute, whose splendid form blossoms with hairs standing up, and on whose neck She has placed a garland of flowers.

25 In this forest’s pathways worship the two playful splendors that are glorious as sapphires and new gold, that are an ocean of perfect nectar, and that enchant millions of Ratis and Kamadevas.

26 I meditate on two youthful golden and sapphire splendors that, joking and laughing, again and again touching each other on various pretexts, wonderfully singing, playing musical instruments, and dancing, and surrounded by wonderful, sweetly talking gopi friends, enjoy pastimes in Vrndavana.

27 Meditate on the graceful, eternally playful, eternally together, fair and dark youthful hero and heroine blind with passion in the great shoreless ocean of transcendental amorous pastimes and tossed by the waves of Their pastimes of live in sweetly splendid Vrndavana.

28 May Sri Radha who, in the ever-new forest grove, following a friend’s advice, from the chest of Krsna as He pretended to sleep, stole Krsna’s glistening flute, loudly lamented that Krsna’s flute was gone, and was consoled by expert Krsna and a host of smiling friends who shook away Her grief, stay in my heart.

29 “Your breasts are two golden jewel-cases. A row of jasmine buds disguises itself as Your smile. Your lips are coral. Your hands and feet are strings of jewels. Your body is made of the finest gold.”

30 By gently massaging Their feet give pleasure to Sri Sri Radha-Muralidharana who, after bathing together, decorating each other ornaments, drinking nectar together, and enjoying arati together, now sleep happily on Their bed in the forest.

31 In Vrndavana, sometimes on the Yamuna’s shore, sometimes underneath a tree, sometimes in garden grove, and sometimes deep in the forest, my two heart’s friends, singing and enjoying in many ways, eternally enjoy sublimely sweet transcendental amorous play.

32 Ignoring the world of illusion and Their splendid and pure fair and dark forms full of transcendental bliss and knowledge, my two life-breaths enjoy a festival of amorous pastimes in the land of Vrndavana.

33 A pair of fair and dark sweetnesses that are eternal battlefields of transcendental amorous pastimes, are the greatest secret hidden from the Upanisads, and shine with ever-new youth, are manifest in Vrndavana forest. What are They? Nothing is as sweet as They.

34 Listen, brother. I vow that what I say is true. Although nothing is sweeter than Lord Hari’s feet, the wonder of the dust of Sri Vrndavana-Kamadeva’s feet is sweeter still!

35 “Friend, informed by you, I am now jealous and angry. Who has suffered more unbearable pain than I? With your words you must drag here Lord Vamsidhara’s senses and His body decorated with Vrndavana’s flowers.

36 Where there is romantic Vrndavana forest, where there is eternal springtime, where there are newly blossoming trees and vines, where mad bumblebees hum, where cuckoos sing with mouthfuls of mango sprouts, and where Lord Syama, the handsome god of love, is personally present, how can there be any talk of jealous anger?

37 “My friend has forbidden Me! Rake, never again will You speak to Me! Never will You see Me! My heart has not doubts! Don’t say anything! In vain do You try affectionately to touch Me! However, You may place Your guna garland around My neck.”

38 “Radha has spoken to Me! Now I am plunged into flowing currents of bliss! Before She had refused Me Her words and thoughts! Friends, why do you stare at Me and smile? Why are you against Me? Now I have regained My life! Because of the power of Vrndavana forest, do-eyed Radha is now civil to Me!”

39 This verse is obscured in the original manuscript.

40 This is the land of Vrndavana. Krsna showers nectar everywhere here. He conquers the hearts of all moving and still creatures. What more need be said? O friend, He fills my every limb with maddening passion. He stuns my eyes and senses. How can You be angry with Him?

41 May the two beautiful, youthful, sweetly passionate, fair and dark splendors that with firm new threads of transcendental love have sewn up each other’s heart, words, senses, body and everything, and that eternally play in Sri Vrndavana, stay in our hearts.

42 Friend, what would it matter if I knew everything? Who am I? What can I do? If with the knife of worshipping Krsna I can cut the tight ropes of material love, and if by serving Vrndavana I can subdue the wicked senses, then what need have I for giving charity, performing yajnas, or doing anything else?

43 Please meditate on the two fair and dark splendors that, enjoying betelnuts. Their hairs erect with excitement, Their soft arms placed around each other’s neck, gazing at each other with smiling glances, Their new anklets, belts, and other ornaments sweetly tinkling, and Their heads decorated with crowns by Their exalted gopi friends, dance in Vrndavana.

44-45 These verses are obscured in the original manuscript.

46 May pure transcendental love for Lord Madhava, who in Vrndavana’s beautiful forest-cottages, in a beautiful cave on the king of mountains, on the Yamuna’s shore, and in the shade of a kadamba tree, performs the dance of service to the feet of King Vrsabhanu’s daughter, arise in my heart.

47 May the waves of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava’s pastimes of collecting a toll by Govardhana Hill, bathing in the Yamuna, collecting a toll to cross the Yamuna, and stealing flowers in Vrndavana’s gardens, flood my heart.

48 Don’t leave Vrndavana! Don’t go the fearful world of the non-devotees! Sri Radhika enjoys a festival of sweet nectar in the new gardens of Vrndavana.

49 I worship the fair and dark youthful divine couple who under the kadamba trees by the Yamuna’s shore, where many fragrant and splendid flowers bloom in the land and water, and where gentle, cooling, fragrant breezes blow, eternally enjoy the nectar of many graceful amorous pastimes.

50 I meditate on Sri Sri Radhika-Madhava who, on the Yamuna’s shore, in the shade of Kadamba trees, in a splendid pavilion of glittering jewel-vines lit by sapphire lamps and glorious with pearl flower-buds, diamond flowers, and lapis lazuli sprouting twigs, enjoy playful amorous joking.

51 Sometimes, as a dark cloud with lightning, overcome with amorous desire, Lord Hari plays with His beloved on His chest. Sometimes, as a handsome tamala tree by a new golden vine, Lord Hari is embraced by a splendid golden form.

52 With Her plantain-tree arm, its hairs erect with wild passion, She sometimes embraces Her beloved’s neck, its hairs also erect. Sometimes She places her lover’s aguru scented arm around Her neck. Sometimes She places His lotus hand over Her heart.

53 Tossed by waves of amorous desire, She sometimes pulls Her beloved on the pretext of seeing the forest’s beauty. Sometimes, pretending that She yearns to smell the lotus of His face, again and again She kisses the smiling lotus mouth that brings enchantment from the flute.

54 With her left lotus hand She tilts Lord Hari’s peacock-feather crown and with Her right hand She touches His enchanting chin and handsome cheeks where the hairs stand erect. With many passionate kisses she extracts the nectar from His lips.

55 Sometimes She decorates Lord Madanamohana with Her own ornaments. Sometimes he happily decorates Her with His ornaments. Sometimes He anoints His beloved with His own fragrant powders. Sometimes She anoints Him with the kunkuma and other fragrant powders on Her breasts.

56 Sometimes She takes the garland from Lord Hari’s neck and places it on Her own neck. Sometimes She takes the garland from her neck and places it on His neck. Sometimes she scolds Him. Sometimes She offers prayers of love. Sometimes She is angry. Sometimes, Her heart filled with deep thoughts, She glorifies Him.

57 Sometimes, tormented by lust, She weeps. Leaving Her friends, She goes to the forest to be alone. With hints from Her eyes and the movements of Her fingers, She points Her beloved to the cottage of vines where She will come to His side.

58 In the sweet forest by the Yamuna’s shore I meditate on King Vrsabhanu’s daughter who, in the company of the young gopis, who are an ocean of beauty where the beauty of the goddess of fortune and all other beautiful girls is rarely a single drop, is like a beautiful crescent moon among a host of wonderful stars.

59 All glories to my queen, who is a flooding ocean of the sweetness of transcendental amorous pastimes, whose limbs are more splendid than a host of glittering golden campaka flowers, who is a glittering ornament on Lord Madanamohana’s chest and whose youthfulness has just begun to sprout.

60 Conquering He who is all handsome, who is splendid as dark clouds and blue lotuses beginning to bloom, who is a treasure-house of noble pastimes, who is young and charming, and whose form is filled with the nectar of amorous love, and placing Him at Her feet, Sri Radhika enjoys pastimes in the forest.

61 All glories to my queen, who at every moment is the most learned in the arts of wonderful transcendental amorous pastimes, whose form is at every step flooded with wonderful splendor, who is an eternal awe-filled ocean of passionate love for Lord Krsna, and whose virtues have no equal.

62 Meditate on Sri Radha’s young Vraja maidservants, whose hearts rejoice in the waves of their queen’s every splendid meaningful, and sweet gesture, who are the most expert and talented of all artists, and whose beautiful limbs, with hairs standing erect, are tossed to and fro out of great love.

63 I meditate on the circle of Sri Varsabhanavi’s maidservants, who are busy in the transcendental amorous pastimes ocean filled with eternal, limitless, nectar waves of pure love, who have Lalita as their leader, and who celebrate a festival of giving good advice to their dear friend.

64 O goddess Laksmi, renounce your shining palace filled with the nectar of bliss and hosts of blue lotuses and humming bees, and with great love find happiness in Sri Radhika’s sweet madhavi-vine palace beautiful with the opulence of love for Lord Madanamohana.

65 In Vrndavana, where there is a great nectar festival of many forest groves filled with countless gopi maidservants, where there are tumultuous sounds of many parrots, cuckoos, and bumblebees, and where there are beautiful blossoming trees and vines, and fragrant, cooling breezes, the two who are my life and soul enjoy transcendental pastimes.

66 Sweetly rocking back and forth as it rests on Lord Madanamohana’s chest, a beautiful splendor more brilliant than golden campaka flowers plays in a glorious palace in Vrndavana forest charming with waves of wonderful splendor.

67 May the youthful divine couple, splendid as gold and sapphires, shining with great love and enjoying playful, ever-new transcendental amorous pastimes in a glittering nectar ocean in a beautiful palace of newly blossoming trees and vines in Vrndavana forest, appear in my affectionate heart.

68 The very self of pure transcendental love, may Vrndavana forest appear on the island in the splendid nectar ocean in my heart. Gazing at each other in the shade of a kadamba tree, may Sri Sri Radha-Madhava appear before me.

69 O Lord Syamacandra, may I be filled with love for You, whose chest is splendid with a golden lotus garland in Vrndavana forest’s blissful Kamadeva temple flooded with regal waves of nectar.

70 She who is more dear to me than life, from whose every limb tossed by waves of nectar in limitless, beautiful, golden full-moonlight flows an ocean of intense beauty, and the movements of whose eyebrows create millions of madly passionate Kamadevas, eternally plays on the lap of Lord Syama.

71 In Vrndavana, in every new forest grove, in every new garden, and in every beautiful place of splendid new pastimes, the divine couple, filled with new amorous playfulness and more dear to me than life, enjoy sublimely sweet transcendental amorous pastimes eternally.

72 Sometimes as two bumblebees among the Yamuna’s golden lotuses, sometimes as two swans in the Yamuna’s forest of lotuses, and sometimes as a golden vine climbing a divine tamala tree, They enjoy pastimes of meeting.

73 Sometimes They sweetly sing as two parrots. Sometimes They coo as two cuckoos with soft and passionate “kuhus” in their throats. Sometimes They dance together as a maddened peacock and peahen. Sometimes They gaze at each other as a timid stag and doe.

74 I take shelter of the girls in the land of Vrndavana, whose fair golden limbs overwhelmed with amorous passion are like graceful vines, who decorate themselves with prasadam garlands, garments and ornaments, who are wonderfully talented in all the arts, and whose bodily hairs stand erect as they shed tears of eternal love for Sri Sri Radha-Krsna.

75 In the wide ocean of the bliss of intense love, on a splendid island, is Vrndavana forest. In that place is a wonderful flower-garden surrounded by eternally-new forest-groves flooded with the intensely sweet nectar of Sri Radha. Please meditate in this way.

76 I pray that I may joyfully carry on my head the dust of the beautiful feet of the great souls who are supremely renounced, who talk among themselves about the sweet divine couple so dear to them, who, shedding tears and their bodily hairs standing erect, speak broken words choked in the ecstasy of love, and who play in the great, shoreless, nectar ocean of Sri Vrndavana.

77-78 A girl, fair as kunkuma and molten gold, who with nectar words sweet with gentle cooling smiles and laughter and scented with the nectar of Vrndavana makes the living entities here tremble again and again, who with crooked glances floods them with waves of nectar, and who is Herself tossed by nectar waves of transcendental love, is the only goal of my life.

79 May She who is King Vrsabhanu’s family jewel, who with limitless waves of nectarean golden splendor floods Sri Vrndavana, to whom all the demigods offer prayers, and who is an ocean of limitless, peerless sweetness, always shine before me.

80 Under a nectar tree in the blissful land of Vrndavana, far from the world of the three modes and above even the realm of pure transcendental knowledge, may the limitless nectar splendor of devotional service to Sri Radha’s feet flood your heart.

81 A saintly devotee who, in sweet Vrndavana forest, which is flooded by a great ocean of bliss, always joyfully meditates on Sri Sri Radha and Krsna finds the four goals of life (economic development, sense gratification, piety and liberation) and the Supreme Lord’s own transcendental opulence approach from all directions, eager to serve him.

82 This text is largely obscured in the original manuscript.

83 O Sri Radha, I meditate on Your youthful, charming form’s wonderful splendor, which rebukes the shining of the beautiful golden moon, enchants Lord Muralimohana’s heart, and makes great waves on the sweet ocean of nectar.

84 As Sri Sri Radha-Muralidhara sat under a vine-covered tree, many flowers suddenly offered themselves to Them. Then, from all around, many more beautiful flowers suddenly sprouted and bloomed and, smiling and laughing, also bowed down to offer themselves to the youthful divine couple. Please direct your thoughts to these pastimes.

85 Parrots and cuckoos singing on its blossoming trees and vines, maddened peacocks gracefully dancing on its splendid ground, and its rivers and hills beautiful with splendid jewels, eternal Vrndavana forest is overcome with the nectar of Lord Hari.

86 O Sri Radha, the sight of whose shadow bewilders the best of flute-players and fills His with amorous desires, O queen of Vrndavana’s ever-new forests, I joyfully offer my respectful obeisances to the dust of the feet of Your confidential maidservants.

87 O dear girl whose face is more splendid than a host of moons, please accept me. My tongue will be tightly bound with the chanting of Your virtues. I wish to stay eternally in this beautiful forest where I may see the sweet loving pastimes of the youthful divine couple.

88 O beautiful one, please worship the sweetly affectionate fair and dark couple that now sweetly enjoy new amorous pastimes of youth in the grove of new vines by the Yamuna’s shore in Vrndavana forest.

89 May She who is the best of musicians, whose youthful limbs are splendid as molten gold, who is a jewel mine of glittering splendors, and who, Her bodily hairs erect with joy, plays the vina for Lord Syama, stay in my heart.

90 Obeisances to the Lord who enjoys nectar pastimes in Vrndavana forest! O queen of Vrndavana, obeisances to the pollen of Your lotus feet! O Sri Lalita, charming and playful with love for the divine couple, obeisances to You! O Vrndavana, I offer many, many obeisance’s to you!

91 Above the material energy, from which endless material universes have sprung, is the Brahman effulgence. Within that effulgence is the beautiful realm of Vaikuntha. Within Vaikuntha is the sweet circle of Mathura. Within that circle my secret Vrndavana forest shines.

92 My heart does not yearn for final liberation in Lord Hari’s Vaikuntha, which is difficult for the demigods to attain. I only pray that I may accept the body of a blade of grass in the land of Vrndavana, where Sri Sri Gandharva-Muralidhara place Their charming feet.

93 Her bodily hairs erect with joy, She places betelnuts in the moon of Her beloved’s mouth. Her beloved happily chews the sweet betelnuts offered. The very dear maidservant that originally brought the betelnuts is overwhelmed with joy. Vrndavana forest, the scene of these pastimes and the home of my life, shines with great splendor.

94 When Krsna, as He dreamed of the nectar of unalloyed service to Sri Radha’s lotus feet, tossed in His sleep and by His touch accidently broke Her bodice, She, who is my life and soul, at once wept, laughed, and spoke many words.

95 O heart, please meditate on Radha’s maidservants who, their bodies tossed by waves if nectar and their hairs upright in ecstatic love, with garlands, perfumes, fanning, betelnuts, and gentle massaging of Their feet, serve the affectionate divine couple eternally.

96 Meditate on Vrndavana, the philanthropist that gives the nectar of intense transcendental bliss. Eternally serve the youthful divine couple in your heart melting with love. In a secluded place here every day weep and call out. Alas! Alas! when will They mercifully glance on me?”

97 When will we go to the forest where Lord Damodara celebrates a great festival of transcendental amorous pastimes? When will our hearts become charmed by the sight of the beautiful gopis? When will we no longer travel on the darkly shaded path of this temporary world? When will we no longer spend our time trying to enjoy the fruits growing in the jungle of this world? When will we worship two oceans of nectar in our shining hearts?

98 Who is your beloved wife? Who is your son? With a steady mind think about death. Will you see death today? Transcendental Vrndavana is your only shelter.