Songs of Narottama dasa Thakura

Translated by Kusakratha dasa

Prarthana (Prayers)

Lalasamayi (Longings)

Song 1

Text 1

`gauranga' bolite habe pulaka-sarira

`hari hari' bolite nayane ba'be nira

gauranga--Gauranga; bolite--saying; habe--will; pulaka--with

shivering; sarira--body; hari--O Hari; hari--O Hari; bolita--

saying; nayane--on the eyes; ba'be--flows; nira--tears.

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?

Text 2

ara kabe nitai-cander koruna hoibe

somsara-basana more kabe tuccha habe

ara--and; kabe--will be; nitai--of Lord Nityananda; cander--of

the moon; koruna--mercy; hoibe--will be; samsara--of material

existence; basana--the desire; mora--my; kabe--when?; tuccha--

insignificant; habe--will be.

When will I obtain the mercy of Lord Nityanandacandra? When, by

His mercy, will the desire for material enjoyment become very

insignificant?

Text 3

bisaya chariya kabe suddha ha'be mana

kabe hama herabo sri-brndabana

bisaya--from material desires; chariya--giving up;

kabe--when?; suddha--purified; ha'be--will be; mana--the mind;

kabe--when?; hama--I; herabo--I will see; sri-brndabana--Sri Vrndavana.

When the mind is completely purified, being freed from

material anxieties and desires, then I shall be able to

understand Vrndavana and the conjugal of Radha and Krsna,

and then my spiritual life will be successful.

Text 4

Šrupa-raghunatha-pade hoibe akuti

kabe hama bujhabo se jugala-piriti

rupa--of Rupa Gosvami; raghunatha--of Raghunatha Gosvami;

pade--the books; hoibe--will be; akuti--eagerness; kabe--When?;

hama--I; bujhabo--I will understand; se--this; jugala--of the

divine couple; piriti--love.

When shall I be very much eager to study the books left by

the Six Gosvamis, 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.

Text 5

rupa-raghunatha-pade rahu mora asa

prarthana koroye sada narottama-dasa

rupa of Rupa Gosvami; raghunatha--of Raghunatha dasa

Gosvami; pade--at the lotus feet; rahu--is; mora--my; asa--

aspiration; prarthana--prayer; koroye--does; sada--

continually; narottama dasa--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 (Appeal)

Text 1

radha-krsna nibedana ei jana kore

donhe ati rasamaya sa-karuna-hrdaya

abadhana kara natha more

radha-krsna--O Radha and Krsna; nibedana--an

appeal ei--this; jana--person; kore--does; donhe--both; ati--

very; rasamaya--full of nectar; sa--with; karuna--of mercy;

hrdaya--in the heart; abadahana--attention; kara--please give;

natha--O Lords; more--to me.

O Radha and Krsna, this person presents an appeal

before you. You are both very chamring and full of nectar, and

Your hearts are full of compassion. My Lords, please listen to

my request.

Text 2

he krsna gokulacandra gopijana-vallabha

he krsna-preyasi-siromani

hema-gauri syama-gaya sravane parasa paya

Š guna suni' judaya parani

he--O; krsna--Krsna; gokula-of Gokula; candra--O moon;

gopijana--of the gopis; siromani--O crest--jewel; hema--of

gold; gauri--with a golden complexion; syama-gaya--with a

dark complexion; sravane--on the ear; parasa paya--may touch;

guna--quaalities; suni--hearing; judaya--accepting;

parani--life.

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, please hear my

glorification of Your transcendental virtues, and please accept

the offering of my entire life that I place before You. Please

let my appeal touch Your ears.

Text 3

adhama-durgati-jane kevala karuna mane

tribhuvana e jasah-kheyati

suniya sadhura mukhe sravana lai nu sukhe

upekhile nahi mora gati

adhama--degraded; durgati--misdirected; jane--person;

kevala--sole; karuna--mercy; mane--mind; tri-bhuvana--the three

words; e--this; jasah--fame; kheyati--ferry; suniya--hearing;

sadhura--of the saintly devotees; mukhe--in the mouth;

sravana--hearing; lai nu--accepted; sukhe--in happiness;

upekhile--neglect; nahi--not; mara--my; gati--direction.

O My Lords, the narration of Your transcendental glories is

like a ferryboat which enables the devotees to cross beyond the

three material worlds. O my Lords, You are very merciful to this

fallen and misdirected person. Please listen to this appeal from

the mouth of Your devotee. Let his words touch Your ears.

Please do not neglect me.

Text 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

jaya--all glories; radhe--O Radha; jaya--all glories;

krsna--O Krsna; jaya--all glories;jaya--all glories;radhe-

-O Radha; krsna--O Krsna; krsna--O Krsna; krsna-

-O Krsna; jaya--all glories;jaya--all glories;radhe--O

Radha; anjali--folded hands; mastake--on my head; kori--

placing; narottama--Narottama; bhume--on the ground; padi'--

falling; kahe-donhe--You two; purao--please fulfill; manah--of

my heart; sadhe--the desire.

O Radha, all glories to You. O Krsna all glories to You.

O Radha and Krsna, all glories, all glories to You. O ŠKrsna, 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

Text 1

hari hari ki mora karama-gati manda

braje radha-krsna-pada na bhajinu tila-ardha

na bujhinu ragera sambandha

hari--O Hari; hari--O Hari; ki--how; mora--my; karama-gati--

actions; manda--are slow; braje--in Vraja; radha--of Radha;

krsna--and Krsna; pada--the lotus feet; na--not; bhajinu--I

worshiped; tila-ardha--half a moment; na--not; bujhinu--I

understood; ragera--of divine love; sambandha--the relationship.

O Lord Hari, Lord Hari, how slow I am! I refuse to 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.

Text 2

swarupa sanatana rupa raghunatha bhatta-yuga

bhugarbha sri-jiva lokanatha

inha sabhara pada-padma na sevinu tila-ardha

ara kise puribeka sadha

swarupa--Svarupa Damodara Gosvami; sanata--Sanatana

Gosvami; rupa--rupa Gosvami; raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa

Gosvami; bhatta-yuga--Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami and

Gopala Bhatta Gosvami; bhugarbha--Bhugarbha Gosvami; sri-

jivga-- Srila Jiva Gosvami; lokanatha--Lokanatha

Gosvami; inha--this; sabhara--of the company; pada-padma--

lotus feet; na--not; sevinu--I serve; tila-ardha--for half a

moment; ara--and; kise--by which; puribeka--are fulfilled;

sadha--desire.

Even for half a moment I will 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 Srila, and Srila Lokanatha Gosvami. How will it be

possible for me to attain my desire?

Text 3

krsnadasa kaviraja rasika bhakata-majha

jenho kaila caitanya-carita

Šgaura-govinda-lila sunite galaye sila

tahate na haila mora cite

krsnadasa kaviraja--Krsnadasa Kaviraja; rasika--

expert at reslishing transcendental mectar; bhakata--of the

devotees; majha--in the midst; jenho--by whom; kaila--narrated;

caitanya-of Lord Caitanya; carita--the pastimes; gaura--of Lord

Gaurasundara; govinda--and of Lord Govinda; lila--the pastimes;

sunite--hearing; galaye--melt; sila--stones; tahate--in him;

na--not; haila--is; mora--my; cite--in the heart.

Among the devotees Krsnadasa 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 cannot appreciate him within my heart.

Text 4

se saba bhakata-sanga je karila tara sanga

tara sange kene nahila basa

ki mora duhkhera katha janama gonainu vrtha

dhik dhik narottama dasa

se--this; saba--all; bhakata--of the devotees; sanga--

association; je--who; karila--does; tara--of them; sanga--the

association; tara--of him; sange--in association; kene--take;

nahila--not; basa--residence; ki--how; mora--my; duhkhera--of

suffering; katha--narration; janama--life; gonainu--spent;

vrtha--uselessly; dhik--fie; dhik--fie; narrottama dasa--on

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 this Narottama dasa.

Song 4

Text 1

hari hari! bifale janama gonainu

manusya-janama paiya, radha-krsna na bhajiya,

janiya suniya bisa khainu

hari--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.

Text 2

golekera prema-dhana, hari-nama-sankirtana,

rati na janmilo kene tay

somsara-bisanale, diba-nisi hiya jwale,

juraite na koinu upay

Š

golokera--of Goloka Vrndavana; prema--of love of God;

dhana--the treasure; hari-- of Lord Hari; nama--of the name;

sankirtana--the glorification; rati--attraction; na--not;

janmilo--manifest; kena--why?; taya-somsara--of material

existance; bisa--of poison; anale--in the fire; diba--day;

nisi--and night; hiya jwale--burns; juraite--spreads; na--

not; koinu--I will accept; upaya--the remedy.

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 am I not attracted to it? Day and night I burn from the

poison of material existance, but still I refuse to take the

antidote.

Text 3

brajendra-nandand jei, saci-suta hoilo sei,

balarama hoilo nitai

dina-hina jata chilo, hari-name uddharilo,

tara saksi jagai madhai

braja--of Vraja; indra--of the king; nandana--the son; jei--

who is; saci--of Saci-devi; suta--the son; sei--He is;

balarama--Balarama; hoilo--has become; nitai--Nityananda;

dina--poor; hina--and fallen; jata--who; chilo--were; hari--of

Lord Hari; name--by the name; uddharilo--were delivered; tara-

-of this; saksi--the testimony; jagai-Jagai; madhai--and

Madhai.

Lord Krsna, the prince of Vraja has appeared as Lord

Caitanya, the son of Saci-devi, and Lord Balarama appeared as

Lord Nityananda. Those who were most fallen and degraded have

become 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.

Text 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

ha--O; ha--O; nanda--of Nanda Maharaja; suta--son;

vrsabhanu--of Maharaja Vrsabhanu; suta--by the daughter;

juta--accompanied; koruna--mercy; karoho--please give; ei-

baro--this time;narottama dasa--Narottama dasa; koy--says;

na--do not; theliho--push away; ranga--reddish lotus feet;

pay--having attained; toma--for You; bine--except; he--who?;

ache--is; amara--mine.

O Lord Krsna, O son of Maharaja Nanda, O companion of

Srimati Radharani, the daughter of Maharaja ŠVrsabhanu, 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

Text 1

praneswara nibedana ei jana kore

govinda gokulacandra parama ananda-kanda

gopi-kula-priya dekha more

prana--of life; iswara--O Lord; nibedana--appeal; ei--

this; jana--person; kore--does; govinda--O Govinda; gokual--of

Gokula; candra--O moon; parama--supreme; ananda--of bliss;

kanda--root; gopi-kula--of the gopis; priya--the dear beloved;

dekha--please glance; more--on me.

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.

Text 2

tuya pada-padma-seba eidhana more diba

tumi natha karunara nidhi

parama mangala jasa sravane parama rasa

kara kiba karya nahe siddhi

tuya--Your; pada--feet; padma--of the lotus; seba--

service; ei--this; dhana--wealth; more--my; diba--by day; tumi--

you; natha--O Lord; karunara--of mercy; nidhi--an ocean;

parama--supremely; mangala--auspicious; jasa--fame; sravSri

Krsnane--on the ear; parama--the greatest; rasa--nectar;

kara--difficulty; kiba--what; karya--activity; nahe--not;

siddhi--completed.

O my Lord, You are an ocean of mercy, and the service of

Your lotus feet are my constant treasure. Hearing Your supremely

auspicious glories is the greatest nectar for the ears. If You

bestow Your mercy, then what difficult task cannot be

accomplished?

Text 3

daruna-samsara-gati bisama-bisaya-mati

tuya bismarana-sela buke

jarajara tanu mana acetana anuksana

jiyante marana bhela duhkhe

daruna--harsh; samsara--of material life; gati--

movements; bisama--unbearable; bisaya--field of perception;

mati--consciousness; tuya--of You; bismarana--of forgetfulness;

sela--the dart; buke--in my chest; jarajara--shattered; tanu--my

body; mana--and mind; acetana--unconscious; anuksana--from Šmoment to moment; jiyante--in life; mstsns--with death; bhela--

mixed; duhkhe--in suffering.

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 I become unconscious.

Immersed in pain, I am like a living corpse.

Text 4

mo-hena adhama jane kara krpa-niriksane

dasa kari' rakha vrndabane

sri-krsna-caitanya-nama prabhu mora gaura-dhama

narottama laila sarane

mo-hena--like me; adhama--fallen; jane--person; kara--please

give; krpa--of mercy; niriksane--glance; dasa--a servant;

kari--making; rakha--please place; brndabane--in Vrndavana;

sri--krsna-caitanya--Sri Krsna Caitanya; nama--named;

prabhu--master; mora--my; gaura-dhama--with a golden complexion;

narottama--Narottama; laila--takes; sarane--shelter.

Please give me Your merciful glance. Make me Your servant,

and allow me to stay in Vrndavana. That goledn-complexioned

person who bears the name Sri Krsna Caitanya is my master,

Narottama dasa takes shelter of Him.

Song 6

Text 1

hari hari krpa kari' rakha nija-pade

kama krodha chaya jane lana phire nana sthane

bisaya-bhunjaya nana-mate

hari--O Hari; hari--O Hari; krpa--mercy; kari'--giving;

rakha--place me; nija-pade--at Your feet; kama--lust; krodha--

anger; chaya--six; jane--person; lana--accetp; phire--wander;

nana--various; sthane--in places; bisaya--the objects of the

senses; bhunjaya--enjoying; sana-mate--in various ways.

O Lord Hari, O Lord Hari, please give me shelter at Your

feet. Lust and anger are the leaders of the group of six men who

impell me to wander here and there in the attempt to enjoy

varieties of sense-gratification.

Text 2

haiya mayara dasa kari' nana abhilasa

tomara smarana gela dure

artha-labha ei ase kapata-baisnaba-bese

bhramiya bulaye ghare ghare

haiya--having become; mayara--of illusion; dasa--the servant; Škari'--having done; nana--various; abhilasa--desires;

tomara--of You; smarana--rememberance; gela--has gone; dure--

far away; artha--of wealth; labha--the aquisition; ase--

aspiration; kapata--cheating; baisnaba--of a Vaisnava;

bese--in the dress; bhramiya bulaya--wandering; ghara ghare--

from home to home.

I am full of material desires and I have become the servant

of material illusion. My memory of You has fled far asay.

Disguised as a Vaisnava I wander from house to house, motivated

by the desire to accumulate wealth.

Text 3

aneka duhkhera pare layechile braja-pure

krpa-dora galaya bandhiya

daiva-maya balat kare khasaiya sei dore

bhaba kupe dileka dhariya

aneka--many; duhkhera--sufferings; pare--beyond; layechile-

-is; braja-pure--Vrajabhumi; krpa--of mercy; dora--the rope;

galaya--about the neck; bandhiya--binding; daiba--maya--the

illusory energy; balat kare--at this outrage; khas-iya--

lossening; sei--these; dore--ropes; bhaba--of material existance;

kupe in the well; dileka-dhariya--throwing.

In this town of Vraja, which is situated beyond all these

sufferings, You have tied me about the neck with your rope of

mercy. Seeing this outrage, the illusory energy loosened those

ropes and again threw my into the well of material existence.

Text 4

punah yadi krpa-kari' e janare kese dhari'

taniya tulai braja-dhame

tabe se dekhiya bhala natuba parana gela

kahne dina dasa narottama

punah--again; yadi--if; krpa--mercy; kari'--having done;

e--this; janare--person; kese--by the hair; dhari--holding;

taniya--pulling; braja--of Vraja; dhame--in the abode; tave--

then; se--he; dekhiya--having seen; bhala--in an auspicious

condition; natuba--otherwise; parana--life; gela--would have

gone; kahe--speaks; dina--the poor; dasa narottama--Narottama

dasa.

If You are again merciful You will grasp this person by the

hair, rescue him from illusion's well, and place him in the abode

of Vraja. Seeing that the Lord placed him in an auspicious

condition of life, whereas otherwise his life would have

perished, the poor and fallen Narottama dasa sings this song.

Song 7

Text 1

Š

hari hari bada sela marame rahila

paiya durlabha tanu sri-krsna-bhajan binu

janma mora biphala haila

hari--O Lord Hari; hari--O Lord Hari; bada--great; sela--

javelin; marame--in the quick; rahila--dispatched; paiya--having

attained; durlabha--difficult to get; tanu--body; sri--krsna-

-of Sri Krsna; bhajana--the devotional service; binu--

without; janma--birth; mora--my; biphala--useless; haila--has

become.

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.

Text 2

brajendranandana hari nabadwipe abatari'

jagat bhariya prema dila

muni se pamara-mati bisese kathina ati

teni more karuna nahila

braja--of Vraja; indra--of the king; nandana--the son; hari-

-Lord Hari; nabadwipe--in Navadvipa; abatari'--having

incarnated; jagat--the universe; bhariya--filling; prema--pure

love of God; dila--the heart; muni--I; se--he; pamara--sinful;

mati--minded; bisese--specifically; kathina--hard and cruel;

ati--very; teni--that; more--in me; daruna--mercy; nahila--ther

is not.

Although Lord Hari, the prince of Vraja, has descended in

Navadvipa and filled the universe with pure love of God, I

remain very sinful at heart, cruel, and merciless.

Text 3

swarupa sanatana rupa raghunatha bhatta-yuga

tahate na haila mora mati

dibya cintamani dhama brndabana hena sthana

sei dhame na kainu vasati

swarupa--Svarupa Damodara Gosvami; sanata--Sanatana

Gosvami; rupa--rupa Gosvami; raghunatha--Raghunatha dasa

Gosvami; bhatta-yuga--Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami and

Gopala Bhatta Gosvami; tahate--in them; na--not; haila--is;

mora--my; mati--thought; dibya--transcendental; cintamani--of

cintamani gems; dhama--the abode; brndavana--Vrndavana;

hena--such; sthana--place; sei--this; dhame--in the abode; na--

not; kainu vasati--I reside.

My mind refuses to think of Srila Svarupa Damodara

Gosvami, Srila Sanatana Gosvami, Srila Rupa Gosvami, ŠSrila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Srila Raghunatha Bhatta

Gosvami, Srila Gopala Bhatta Gosvami. I decline to make

my residence in Vrndavana-dhama, the abode full of

transcendental cintamani gems.

Text 4

bisesa bisaye mati nahila baisnabe rati

nirantara kheda uthe mane

narottma dasa kahe jibara ucita nahe

sri-guru-baisnaba-seba bine

bisesa--specifically; bisaye--in the objects of sense-

gratification; mati--the mind; nahila--not; baisnabe--in the

association of devotees; rati--delight; nirantara--constant;

kheda--pain and regret; uthe--arises; mane--in the heart;

narottama dasa--Narottama dasa; kahe--says; jibara--of the

life; ucita--suitable; nahe--not; sri-guru--of the spiritual

master; baisnaba--and the Vaisnavas; seba--service; bine--

without.

My mind is absorbed in sense-gratification, and I do not

take pleasure in the association of devotees. For this reason

pain and regret arise within my heart. Narottama dasa says: It

is not good to live without serving the spiritual master and the

Vaisnavas.

Dainya-bodhika prarthana (Prayer Wherein the Author Describes

His Fallen Condition)

Song 8

Text 1

hari hari ki mora karama abhaga

biphale jibana gela hrdaye rahila sela

nahi bhela hari-anuraga

hari--O Lord Hari; hari--O Lord Hari; ki--how; karama--

activities; abhaga--unfortunate; biphale--useless; jibana--the

life is passed hrdaye--in the heart; rahile--placed; sela--a

javelin; nahi--not; bhela--mixed; hari--for Lord Hari; anuraga-

-love.

O Lord Hari, Lord Hari, everything that 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.

Text 2

yajna dhana tirtha-snana punya-karma japa dhyana

akarane saba gela mohe

bujhilama mane hena upahasa haya jena

bastraphina alankara dehe

Š

yajna--Vedic sacrifices; dhana--charity; tirtha--in

pilgrimage places; snana--bathing; punya--pious; karma--

activities; japa--chanting of mantras; dhyana--meditation;

akarane--useless; saba--all; gela--were; mohe--in illusion;

bujhilama--I knew; mane--in the mind; hena--like this; upahasa--

laughter; haya--was; jena--by which; bastra--elegant clothing;

hina--without; alankara--ornaments; dehe--on the body.

Vedic sacrifices, charity, bathing in holy places of

pilgrimage, pious deeds, mantra-chanting, and meditation, are all

useless and illusory. When I think of these things laughter

arises within my mind. Engaging in these activities without

performing devotional service is like placing valuable ornaments

on a body colthed in rags.

Text 3

sadhu-mukhe kathamrta suniya bimala cita

nahi bhela aparadha-karana

satata asat-sanga sakali haila bhanga

ki kariba aile samana

sadhu--of the saintly devotees; mukhe--on the mouth; katha-

-topics; amrta--nectar; suniya--hearing; bimala--cita--