Sri Prema-bhakti-candrika

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 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 tribhubane dekha cai

narottama-pabana 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

nibedana 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