Sri Prema-bhakti-candrikä (New98)

Sri Prema-bhakti-candrikä

Of Çréla Narottama Däsa Öhäkura

Translated by Çrémän Kuçakratha däsa

Introduction

Text 1

om ajïäna-timirändhasya

jïänäïjana-çaläkayä

cakñur unmélitaà yena

tasmai çré-gurave namaù

I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him.*

Text 2

çré-caitanya-mano 'bhistaà

sthäpitaà yena bhütale

svayaà rüpaù kadä mahyaà

dadäti sva-padäntikam

When will Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé Prabhupäda, who has estabished within this material world the mission to fulfill the desire of Lord Caitanya, give me shelter under his lotus feet?*

Text 3

akhila-rasämåta-mürtiù

prasåmara-ruci-ruddha-tärakä-päliù

kalita-çyämä-lalito

rädhä-preyän vidhur jayati

Let Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, be glorified! By virtue of His expanding attractive features, He subjugated the gopés named Tärakä and Päli and absorbed Syämä and Laliltä. He is the most attractive lover of Srimaté Radharäëé and is the reservoir of pleasure for all devotional mellows.*

Song 1

Text 1

çré-guru-carana-padma,kebala-bhakati-sadma,

bando mui säbadhäna mate

jähära prasäde bhäi, ei bhava toriy ä jäi,

kåñëa-präpti hoy jähä ha'te

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 Kåñëa.

Text 2

guru-mukha-padma-bäkya,cittete koriba aikya,

är nä koriho mane äçä

çré-guru-caraëe rati,ei sei uttama-gati,

je prasäde püre sarba äçä

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.

Text 3

cakhu-dän dilo jei,janme janme prabhu sei,

dibya-jïän håde prokäçito

prema-bhakti jähä hoite,abidyä binäça jäte,

bede gäy jähära 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.

Text 4

çré-guru karuëä-sindhu,adhama janära bandhu,

lokanäth lokera jébana

hä hä prabhu koro doyä, deho more pada-chäyä,

ebe jaça ghuçuk 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.

Text 5

baiñëaba-caraëa-reëubhüñaëa kariyä tanu

jäha haite anubhäba haya

marjjana haya bhajanasadhu-saìge anukñaëa

ajïäna-abidyä-parajaya

By making the dust of the Vaiñëavas' feet the ornament of my body, ecstatic love comes. Washing the Vaiñëava's lotus feet is my method of worship. By always associating with the Vaiñëavas, I shall overcome the darkness of ignorance.

Text 6

jaya sanätana rüpaprema-bhakti-rasa-küpa

jugala-ujjwala-rasa-tanu

jäìhära prasäde lokapaçarila saba çoka

parakatala kalpa-taru janu

O Çréla Sanätana Gosvämé and Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé, 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!

Text 7

prema-bhakti-réti jätanija-granthe su-byäkata

kariyächena dui mahäçaya

jähära çrabaëa haiteparänanda haya cite

jugala-madhura-rasäçraya

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.

Text 8

jugala-kiçora-premajini' lakña bäëa hema

hena dhana prakaçila jäëra

jaya rüpa sanätanadeha' more sei dhana

sei ratana mora gela hära

You are fabulously wealthy, possessing ecstatic love for the youthful Divine Couple, a love more precious than gold purified in ten thousand flames. O Rüpa and Sanätana Gosvämé, all glories to you! I beg you, please give me in charity some of these jewel necklaces.

Text 9

bhägabata-çästra-marmanaba-bidha bhakti-dharma

sadäi kariba su-sebana

anya-deväçraya näitomäre kahinu bhäi

ei bhakti parama-bhajana

I shall eternally engage in the nine-fold process of devotional service, which is the essential message of Çrémad-Bhägavatam, and I shall not worship the demigods. O brother, I say to you: Devotional service is the most exalted kind of worship.

Text 10

sädhu-çästra-guru-bäkyacittete kariyä aikya

satata bhäsiba prema-majhe

karmé jïäné bhakti-hénaihare karibe bhina

narottama ei tattwa gaje

Making the words of the guru, sadhus, and çastras one with my heart, I constantly float and swim in the ocean of pure love. I am different from the karmés and jïänés, who have no devotion for Kåñëa. Narottama speaks the truth.

Song 2

Invocation

çrémad-rüpa-gosvämi-prabhupädenoktam’-

anyäbhiläñitä-çünyaà

jïäna-karmädy-anävåtam

änuküleyna kåñëänu-

çélanaà bhaktir uttamä

Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé Prabhupäda has said (Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu 1.1.11):

"Uttamä bhakti, or unalloyed devotion unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Kåñëa, involves the rendering of devotional service in a way that is favorable to the Lord. This devotional service should be free from any extraneous motive and devoid of fruitive karma, impersonal jïäna and all other selfish desires."*

Text 1

anya-abhiläña chäòi'jïäna karma parihäri'

käya mane kariba bhajana

sädhu-saìge kåñëa-sebäna pujiba devé-deva

ei bhakti parama-käraëa

Rejecting all other desires, and abandoning philosophical speculation and fruitive work, in the company of the devotees I will worship and serve Lord Kåñëa with my body and mind. I will not worship the demigods and demigoddesses. Devotional service is reason for my life.

Text 2

mahäjanera jei pathatate habe anurata

pürbäpara kariyä bicära

sädhana-smaraëa-léläihäte na kara helä

käya mane kariyä susära

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 rememberance of the Lord's pastimes.

Text 3

asat-saìga säda tyägachäòa anya géta-räga

karmé jïäné parihäri' düre

kebala bhakata-saìgaprema-kathä-rasa-raìga

lélä-kathä braja-rasa-püre

Always reject the company of the impious. Give up attraction to non-devotional songs. Leave the karmis and jïanis far away. Only associate with the devotees. Take pleasure in hearing the nectar descriptions of pure love for Kåñëa. Become flooded by the nectar of the narrations of the Lord's pastimes in Vraja.

Text 4

jogé nyäsé karmé jïänianya-debatä-püjaka dhyäné

ihä-loke düre parihäri'

karma dharma duùkha çokajeba thäke anya joga

chäòi' bhaja giribara-dhäré

Putting the yogés, svämés, karmis, jnani’s, demigod-worshipers, and meditators far away, and rejecting the torments that are fruitive work, ordinary religion, and the other yogas, worship Lord Giridhari.

Text 5

tértha-jäträ pariçramakebala manera bhrama

sarba-siddhi gobinda-caraëa

dåòha-béçwäsa håde dhäri'mada-matsarja parihäri'

sadä 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.

Text 6

kåñëa-bhakta saìga kari'kåñëa-bhakta aìga heri'

çraddhänbita çrabaëa-kértana

arcana bandana dhyänanaba-bhakti mahä-jïäna

ei bhakti parama-käraëa

See the devotees of Lord Kåñëa, associate with the devotees of Lord Kåñëa. Faithfully engage in the nine-fold process of devotional service, which includes hearing about the Lord, chanting His glories, worshiping Him, offering obeisances to Him, and remembering Him. Following these activities enlightens the devotees with spiritual knowledge.

Text 7

håñéke gobinda-sebäna püjiba devé-deva

ei tä' ananya-bhakti-kathä

ära jäta upalambhabiçeña sakali dambha

dekhite lagaye mane byathä

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.

Text 8

dehe baise ripu-gaëajateka indriya-gaëa

keha kara badhya nähi haya

çunile na çuna kanajanile na jäne präëa

dåòhäite na pare niçcaya

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.

Text 9

käma krodha moha lobhamada matsarja dambha-saha

sthäne sthäne nijukta kariba

änanda kari' hådayaripu kari/ parajaya

anäyase 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.

Text 10

käma kåñëa-karmärpaëekrodha bhakta-dweçis-jäne

lobha sädhu-saìge hari-kathä

moha iñta-lablha-binemada kåñëa-guëa-gäne

nijukta kariba jathä tathä

Lust I will engage in offering the fruits of my work to Lord Kåñëa. 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 Kåñëa. In this way I will engage each of these in the service of Lord Kåñëa.

Text 11

anyathä swatantra kämaanrthädi jära dhäma

bhakti-patha sadä deya bhaìga

kibä bä karite parekäma-krodha sadhäkere

jadi haya sädhu-janara saìga

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.

Text 12

krodha bä na kare kibäkrodha-tyäga sadä diba

lobha moha ei ta' kathana

chäya ripu sadä hénakariba manera adhéna

kåñëacandra kariyä smaraëa

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 Kåñëacandra.

Text 13

äpani palabe sabaçuniya gobinda raba

siàha-raba jena kari-gaëa

sakala vipatti jäbe mahänanda sukha päbe

jära haya ekänta 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 Kåñëa, then the worshiper attains transcendental bliss, and all kinds of calamities flee from him.

Text 14

na kariha asat-ceñtäläbha püjä pratiñthä

sadä cinta' gobinda-caraëa

sakala santapa jäbeparänanda sukha päbe

prema-bhakti parama-käraëa

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 Kåñëa will spontaneously come.

Text 15

asat-sanga kutinätichäòa anya paripäti

anya debe na hariha rati

äpana äpana sthänepiréti sabai täne

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.

Text 16

äpana bhajana-panthatäha habe anurata

iñta-deva-sthäne-lélä-gäëe

naiñthika bhajana eitomäre kahila bhäi

hanumän tähäte pramäëa

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 Hanumän, who demonstrates this exclusive devotion to one's worshipable Deity. Hanumän said:

Text 17

çrénathe jänaké-näthe

abhedaù paramätmani

tathäpi mama sarvasvaà

rämaù kamala-locanaù

Although He is not different from Lord Narayaëa, lotus-eyed Lord Rama alone is the be-all and end-all of my life.

Text 18

devaloka pitålokapäya tära mahä-sukha

sädhu sädhu bale anukñaëa

jugala bhajaye jarapremänande bhäse tära

täëdera nichani tri-bhubana

If one attains the planets of the demigods or Pitäs 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.

Text 19

påthak äyäsa-jogeduùkhamaya-biñaya-bhoge

braje bäsa gobinda-sebana

kåñëa-kathä kåñëa-nämasatya-satya rasa-dhäma

braja-jane-saìge anukñaëa

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 Kåñëa, chant the holy names of Lord Kåñëa, and at every moment relish the transcendental mellows of devotional service in the association of the residents of Vraja.

Text 20

sadä sebä-abhiläñamanete kari' biçwäsa

sadä-käla haiya nirbhaya

narottama däsa bolepadinu asat-bhole

pariträëa kara mahäçaya

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 däsa says: Somehow or other I have accepted the role of a non-devotee. O my master, O great soul, please deliver me.

Song 3

Text 1

tumi tä' dayära sindhuadhama-janera bandhu

more prabhu kara abadhana

padinu asat-bholekäma-timiìgile gile

ohe nätha kara pariträëa

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 timiìgila fish of lust. O Lord, please protect me.

Text 2

javat janama moraaparädhe hainu bhora

niñkapate na bhajinu tomä

tathäpi ha tumi gatna chäòiha präëa-pati

mora sama nähika 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.

Text 3

patita-päbana nämaghoñaëa tomära çyäma

upekhile nähi mora gati

jadi häëa aparädhétathäpiha tumi gati

satya satya jena satyéra pati

O Lord, You are known as Patita-pävana, 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.

Text 4

tumi ta' parama debanahi more upekhiba

çuna çuna präëera éçwara

jadi karoë aparaädhatathäpiha tumi nätha

sebä diyä kara anucära

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.

Text 5

käme mora hata citanähi jane nija hita