SONGS OF

SONGS OF

SRILA NAROTTAMA DASA THAKURA

Ista‑deve Vijnapti

Prayer to One's Beloved Lord

(from Prarthana)

hari hari! bifale janama gonainu

manusya‑janama paiya, radha‑krsna na bhajiya,

janiya suniya bisa khainu

golokera prema‑dhana, hari‑nama‑sankirtana,

rati na janmilo kene tay

samsara‑bisanale, diba‑nisi hiya jwale,

juraite na koinu upay

brajendra‑nandana jei, saci‑suta hoilo sei,

balarama hoilo nitai

dina‑hino jata chilo, hari‑name uddharilo,

tara saksi jagai madhai

ha ha prabhu nanda‑suta, vrsabhanu‑suta‑juta,

koruna karoho ei‑baro

narottama‑dasa koy, na theliho ranga pay,

toma bine ke ache amara

(1) O Lord Hari I have spent my life uselessly. Having obtained a human birth and having net worshiped Radha and Krsna, I have knowingly drunk poison.

(2) The treasure of divine love in Goloka Vrndavana has descended as the congregational chanting of Lord Hari's holy names. Why did my attraction for that chanting never come about? Day and night my heart burns from the fire of the poison of worldliness, and I have not taken the means to relieve it.

(3) Lord Krsna, who is the son of the King of Vraja, became the son of Saci (Lord Caitanya), and Balarama became Nitai. The holy name delivered all those souls who were lowly and wretched. The two sinners Jagai and Madhai are evidence of this.

(4) O Lord Krsna, son of Nanda, accompanied by the daughter of Vrsabhanu, please be merciful to me now. Narottama Dasa says, "O Lord, please do not push me away from Your reddish lotus feet, for who is my beloved except for You?"

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Lalasamayi Prarthana

(from Prarthana)

`gauranga' bolite habe pulaka‑sarira

`hari hari' bolite nayane ba'be nira

ara kabe nitai‑cander koruna hoibe

samsara‑basana mora kabe tuccha ha'be

visaya chariya kabe suddha ha'be mana

kabe hama herabo sri‑brndabana

rupa‑raghunatha‑pade hoibe akuti

kabe hama bujhabo se jugala‑piriti

rupa‑raghunatha‑pade rahu mora asa

prarthana koroye sada narottama‑dasa

PURPORT

by His Divine Grace

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

This song was sung by Narottama dasa Thakura, a great devotee and acarya in the Gaudiya Vaisnava‑sampradaya, the disciplic succession coming down from Lord Caitanya. Narottama dasa Thakura has written many songs, which are recognized as authoritative by all Vaisnavas. He has sung these songs in simple Bengali language, but the purport‑‑the deep meaning of his songs‑‑is very significant. In this song he says, 'gauranga' bolite habe pulaka sarira. One has attained the perfection of chanting when as soon as he chants the name of Lord Gauranga, who initiated this sankirtana movement, at once there is shivering in his body. This is not to be imitated, but Narottama dasa Thakura is asking, "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?" And after the shivering‑‑`hari hari' bolite nayane ba'be nira: "While chanting Hare Krsna, there will be tears in the eyes.'

Then he says, ara kabe nitai‑cander koruna hoibe. We are all asking about the mercy of Lord Nityananda. Nityananda is supposed to be the original spiritual master, so we have to approach Gauranga, Lord Caitanya, through the mercy of Lord Nityananda. What is the symptom of a person who has achieved the causeless mercy of Lord Nityananda? Narottama dasa Thakura says that the symptom of one who has actually received the causeless mercy of Lord Nityananda is that he has no more material desire. Ara kabe nitai‑cander koruna hoibe samsara‑basana mora kabe tuccha ha'be. Samsara‑basana‑ means "desire for material enjoyment," and Narottama dasa wonders when it will become very insignificant. Of course, as long as we have bodies we have to accept so many material things, but not in the spirit of enjoyment, but only to keep body and soul together.

Narottama dasa says further, rupa‑raghunata‑pade hoibe akuti: "When shall I be very much eager to study the books left by the six Gosvamis?" Akuti means "eagerness." Because Rupa Gosvami is the father of devotional service, he has written a book called Bhakti‑rasamrta‑sindhu, in which there are nice directions on devotional service. These topics are also dealt with in Caitanya‑caritamrta and other books, and we have given the summary of those directions in our book Teachings of Lord Caitanya. One has to learn of the conjugal loving affairs of Radha‑Krsna through the teachings of these six Gosvamis. Narottama dasa Thakura directs us not to try to understand the conjugal love of Radha‑Krsna by our own endeavor. We should try to understand this yugala‑piriti, conjugal love, under the direction of the Gosvamis.

As long as the mind is too much absorbed in materialistic thought, one cannot enter into the kingdom of Vrndavana. But Narottama dasa Thakura says, visaya chariya kabe suddha ha'be mana kabe hama herabo sri‑brndabana. "When the mind is completely purified, 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."

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Nama‑sankirtana

hari haraye namah krsna yadavaya namah

yadavaya madhavaya kesavaya namah

gopala govinda rama sri‑madhusudana

giridhari gopinatha madana‑mohana

sri‑caitanya‑nityananda sri‑adwaita‑sita

hari guru vaisnaba bhagavata gita

sri‑rupa sanatana bhatta‑raghunath

sri jiva gopala‑bhatta dasa‑raghunath

ei chay gosair kori carana vandan

jaha hoite bighna‑nas abhista‑puran

ei chay gosai jar‑‑mui tar das

ta‑sabara pada‑renu mora panca‑gras

tadera carana‑sebi‑bhakta‑sane bas

janame janame hoy ei abhilas

ei chay gosai jabe braje koila bas

radha‑krsna‑nitya‑lila korila prakas

anande bolo hari bhaja brndaban

sri‑guru‑vaisnaba‑pade majaiya man

sri‑guru‑vaisnaba‑pada‑padma kori as

nama‑sankirtana kohe narottama das

PURPORT

by His Divine Grace

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

This song of Srila Narottama dasa Thakura is very famous among devotees in Bengal and Orissa. When Lord Caitanya returned from Gaya, where He was initiated by Sri Isvara Puri, He was completely transformed into a God‑intoxicated personality whom His students of grammar had never known before. Instead of teaching ordinary grammar studies, Lord Caitanya explained every sentence in such a way that every Sanskrit word and every letter was understood to indicate Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This form of grammar was later on developed by Srila Jiva Gosvami in a book called Hari‑ namamrta‑vyakarana, the Grammar of the Nectar and Name of Sri Hari. But Lord Caitanya's students thought that their teacher had become mad, and they rubbed His head with Visnu oil, an oil that cools the brain. Finally they asked Him, "You say that everything means Krsna and we should ultimately always be chanting the names of Krsna. Just how should we do this?" Then Lord Caitanya began to sing the names of Krsna and clap His hands, and He began His nama‑ sankirtana movement. The names He sang are the first two lines of this song, and Narottama dasa Thakura and others have placed these names in the beginning of their writings to immortalize these events in the memory of everyone.

Narottama dasa Thakura chants the names of Lord Caitanya, Nityananda, Sri Advaita and Sita (Lord Advaita's consort). Since Lord Hari, the spiritual master and the Srimad Bhagavad‑gita are all on the transcendental platform, they are given the same respect. Then Srila Narottama Dasa chants the names of the six Gosvamis. "I offer my obeisances at their feet," he sings, "which destroy sufferings accumulated over many long years. I am the servant of these six Gosvamis, and the dust of their lotus feet is my five kinds of foodstuffs. To serve their lotus feet and keep the association of devotees is my only business, birth after birth." When the six Gosvamis were staying at Vrndavana, they revealed the eternal transcendental pastimes of Sri Sri Radha‑Krsna. Before Lord Caitanya the exact location of the places of Lord Krsna's pastimes we're not known, and therefore Lord Caitanya instructed the Gosvamis to uncover the holy places and construct temples. The temple of Sri Radha‑Damodara is situated near the location of the rasa dance, and Srila Rupa Gosvami and the other Gosvamis used to gather there and discuss the topics of their literatures, which scientifically explained the super‑excellent pastimes of Sri‑Sri Radha‑Krsna. Narottama dasa Thakura says, "In great ecstasy shout the name of Hari and serve the real transcendental master and devotees." He concludes by saying, "With all hopes in the lotus feet of my guru and the holy Vaisnavas. Narottama dasa sings the sankirtana of Lord Hari:‑ Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare."

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Sakhi‑vrnde Vijnapti

Prayer to the Sakhis

(from Prarthana)

radha‑krsna phrana mora jugala‑kisora

jivane marane gati aro nahi mora

kalindira kule keli‑kadambera vana

ratana‑bedira upara bosabo du'jana

syama‑gauri‑ange dibo (cuwa) candanera gandha

camara dhulabo kabe heri mukha‑candra

gathiya‑malatir mala dibo dohara gale

adhare tuliya dibo karpura‑tambule

lalita visakha‑adi jata sakhi‑brnda

ajnaya koribo seba caranaravinda

sri‑krsna‑caitanya‑prabhur daser anudasa

seva abhilasa kore narottama‑dasa

1) The divine couple, Sri Radha and Krsna, are my life and soul. In life or death I have no other refuge but Them.

2) In a forest of small kadamba trees on the bank of the Yamuna, I will seat the divine couple on a throne made of brilliant jewels.

3) I will anoint Their dark and fair forms with sandalwood paste scented with cuya, and I will fan Them with a camara whisk. Oh, when will I behold Their moon like faces?

4) After stringing together garlands at malati flowers I will place them around Their necks, and I will offer tambuta scented with camphor to Their lotus mouths.

5) With the permission of all the sakhis, headed by Lalita and Visakha, I will serve the lotus feet of Radha and Krsna.

6) Narottama Dasa, the servant of the servant of Sri Krsna Caitanya Prabhu, longs for this service to the divine couple.

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Saparsada‑bhagavad‑viraha‑janita‑vilapa

Lamentation Due to Separation from the Lord and His Associates

(from Prarthana)

je anilo prema‑dhana koruna pracur

heno prabhu kotha gela acarya‑thakur

kaha mora swarup rupa kaha sanatan

kaha dasa raghunatha patita‑pavan

kaha mora bhatta‑juga kaha kaviraj

eka‑kale kotha gela gora nata‑raj

pasane kutibo matha anale pasibo

gauranga gunera nidhi kotha gele pabo

se‑saba sangira sange je koilo bilas

se‑sanga na paiya kande narottama das

1) 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) Where are my Svardpa Damodara and Rupa Gosvami? Where is Sanatana? Where is Raghunatha Dasa, the savior of the fallen?

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

4) 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) 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.

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Sacarana‑sri‑gaura‑mahima

The Glories of Sri Gauranga

(from Prathana)

gaurangera duti pada, jar dhana sampada,

se jane bhakati‑rasa‑sar

gaurangera madhura‑lila, jar karne pravesila,

hrdoya nirmala bhelo tar

je gaurangera nama loy, tara hoy premodoy,

tare mui jai bolihari

gauranga‑gunete jhure, nitya‑lila tare sphure,

se jana bhakati‑adhikari

gaurangera sangi‑gane, nitya‑siddha kori' mane,

se jay brajendra‑suta‑pas

sri‑gauda‑mandala‑bhumi, jeba jane cintamani,

tara hoy braja‑bhume bas

gaura‑prema‑rasarnave, se tarange jeba dube,

se radha‑‑madhava‑antaranga

grhe ba vanete thake, 'ha gauranga' bo'le dake,

narottama mage tara sanga

PURPORT

by His Divine Grace

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

This is a song by Narottama Dasa Thakura in praise of the glories of Lord Caitanya. Gauranga refers to Lord Caitanya, who has a fair complexion. One who has a fair complexion is called gaura and since Lord Caitanya was very fair, just like molten gold, He was also named Gaurasundara. Narottama Dasa Thakura says, gaurangera duti pada, jar dhana‑sampada, se jane bhakati‑rasa‑sar. Anyone who has accepted the two lotus feet of Lord Caitanya can understand the true essence of devotional service. Devotional service is very difficult. It cannot be understood by any ordinary man. As it is stated in the Bhagavad‑gita, out of many thousands of persons who are trying to achieve the perfection of human life, only some actually become perfect and realize the self. And out of many thousands of such self‑realized persons, only one can understand Krsna. Without understanding Krsna, how can one engage himself in the service of Krsna? Therefore, the devotional service of Krsna is not an ordinary thing. But fortunately, if one follows in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya (gaurangera duti pada) by following the path shown by Lord Caitanya‑‑the process of simply chanting Hare Krsna‑‑he can very easily understand what devotional service is. Therefore Narottama Das Thakura prays that one take shelter of Lord Caitanya and follow in His footsteps, for then one can understand the essence of devotional service.

Lord Caitanya's pastimes are very pleasing, because the basic principles of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement are chanting, dancing, and eating krsna‑prasada. He made His headquarters in Jagannatha Puri and would dance, chant, and then immediately call for prasada to be distributed to the devotees. They were so pleased that every day hundreds of men would come to chant and dance with Lord Caitanya. The temple proprietor, the King of Orissa, Maharaja Prataparudra, had an open order to the workers in the temple to supply as much prasada to Lord Caitanya's devotees as they wanted. Therefore, His pastimes are very pleasing: chant, dance, and take prasada. If one is captivated by the pastimes of Lord Caitanya, simply by chanting and dancing and eating prosada the dirt things in his heart will all become cleansed. The heart of anyone who takes to this movement of chanting, dancing, and eating krsna‑prasada will surely be cleansed of all dirty material contamination. Narottama Dasa Thakura says, very rightly, gaurangera madhura‑lila, jar karne pravesila, hrdoya nirmala bhelo tar: if one wants to cleanse his heart, he must take to the movement of Lord Caitanya‑‑Krsna consciousness.

Lord Caitanya is so nice that one who simply takes the holy name of Gaurasundara, Sri Krsna Caitanya, will immediately develop love of God. Generally, devotees first chant sri‑krsna‑caitanya prabhu nityananda, for the preliminary process of cleansing the heart is to invoke the mercy of Lord Caitanya, Lord Nityananda, and Their associates. Lila means "pastimes." Without associates there cannot be pastimes, so Caitanya Mahaprabhu is always ac‑ companied by associates‑‑Nityananda, Advaita, Gadadhara, Srivasa, and many other devotees. Tar means "his," hoy means "it is effected,'' and premodoy refers to development of love of God. Simply by chanting sri‑krsna‑caitanya prabhu nityananda one immediately develops love of God. To such a person Narottama Das Thakura says, "Bravo!" to encourage him in chanting Lord Caitanya's name and chanting. Just as we clap and say, "Bravo!" similarly he says, jai bolihari: "Very nice. Excellent!"

Then he says, gauranga‑gunete jhure, nitya‑lila tare sphure: if one appreciates the merciful pastimes of Lord Caitanya and feels ecstasy and sometimes cries, this process will immediately help him to understand the pastimes of Radha‑Krsna, which are called nitya‑lila. The lying affairs between Radha‑Krsna are not a temporary thing. Here in this material world we can see loving affairs between boys and girls, but that is temporary. That is simply for a few months, a few years, or maybe a little more. But then all that so‑called love will go to hell. They are not permanent affairs. But if one really wants permanent love affairs, he must enter into the pastimes of Radha‑Krsna. Simply by appreciating Lord Caitanya's movement one can immediately enter into or understand Radha‑Krsna's eternal pastimes. One who can understand the transcendental, eternal pastimes of Radha‑Krsna reaches the highest perfectional stage of devotional service.

The next line is, gaurangera sangi‑gane. Sangi‑gane means "associates." Lord Caitanya is always associated: He is not alone. We never see a picture of Lord Caitanya alone. At least there must be Lord Nityananda or Gadadhara Pandita. Actually, wherever Lord Caitanya was present, many thousands of devotees would assemble. Such devotees, especially those who were His nearest intimate associates, were nitya‑siddha. In the devotional line there are three kinds of perfect devotees. One is called sadhana‑siddha. This refers to a person who has very rigidly performed the regulative prescriptions and thereby reached the perfectional stage. Reaching the perfectional stage by executing the regulative principles is called sadhana‑siddha. There is another kind of devotee, who is called krpa‑siddha. He may not have executed the regulative principles very rigidly, but by his service mood he is specifically blessed by the spiritual master or Krsna. He is immediately promoted to the perfectional stage. This is called krpa‑siddha. Nitya‑siddha is one who was never contaminated by the material nature. The sadhana‑siddhas and the krpa‑siddhas were supposed to have once been in the contamination of material nature, but nitya‑siddhas never came into contact with the material nature. All the associates of Caitanya Mahaprabhu are nitya‑siddhas, or eternally perfect. Nityananda Prabhu is Balarama, the immediate expansion of Krsna; Advaita Prabhu is Maha‑Visnu (He is also visnu‑tattva); Gadadhara Prabhu is an expansion of Radharani; and Srivasa is an incarnation of Narada. They are nitya‑siddha, or eternally perfect. They were never imperfect. They were never in contact with material contamination. We should understand that as Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Krsna Himself, is transcendental, similarly His personal associates are also nitya‑siddha, or eternally transcendental. Se jay brajendra‑suta‑pas. Brajendra‑suta means Krsna. Simply by accepting that the associates of Lord Caitanya are eternally free, one can immediately be promoted to the transcendental abode of Lord Krsna.

Sri‑gauda‑mandala‑bhumi. Gauda means West Bengal. Lord Caitanya appeared in West Bengal, Navadvipa, and He especially flooded that part of the country with the sankirtana movement. That part of the country has special significance, for it is non different from Vrndavana. It is as good as Vrndavana. Living in Vrndavana and living in Navadvipa are the same. Narottama Dasa Thakura says, sri‑gauda‑mandala‑bhumi, jeba jane cintamani. Cintamani means the transcendental abode. Tara hoy braja‑bhume bas. If one simply understands that this land of Navadvipa is not different from Vrndavana, then he actually lives in Vrndavana. One should not think that he is living in Bengal or any material country; the places where Lord Caitanya had His pastimes are as good as Vrndavana.

Lord Caitanya's distribution of this love of God is compared with an ocean (rasa‑arnava). What kind of ocean? tot !he salty ocean thad one cannot taste. The water of this ocean is so nice that if one drinks even one drop, he will like it more and more. It is not ordinary ocean water, of which one cannot taste even a drop. Therefore it is called rasarnava. In this ocean there are different waves; an ocean does not stand still, for it is not impersonal or void. And as the ocean is always dancing with waves, similarly the ocean of transcendental love of Krsna as introduced by Lord Caitanya has constant waves, constant sound. One has to dive deep into that ocean. If one knows the secret and says, "Let me dive deep into the ocean of the transcendental loving movement introduced by Lord Caitanya,'' he immediately becomes one of the confidential devotees of Radha and Krsna.

Therefore Narottama Dasa Thakura concludes this song by saying, grhe ba vanete thake, 'ha gauranga ' bo 'le dake. It is not necessary that one become a mendicant or give up his family life and society. One can remain wherever he finds it suitable, whether as a householder, as a brahmacari, as a vanaprastha, or as a sannyasi. Vanaprasthas and sannyasis are supposed to live outside of the city. Vanete means "forest." Formerly, those who were in spiritual consciousness used to live in the forest to become free of the turmoil of city life. But that is not possible now. In this age no one can go into the forest. That requires practice, and no one is practiced to that line. Therefore, generally one is recommended to live with his friends, wife, and children. That doesn't matter, but he must take to the process of Krsna consciousness as introduced by Lord Caitanya. It is not difficult. The real thing is that one has to accept the movement of Lord Caitanya‑‑chanting, dancing, and eating krsna‑prasada. Even if one is in family life, there is no difficulty. He can just sit down, chant Hare Krsna, dance nicely, and then take krsna‑prasada. Everyone can do this. Those who have renounced this world, sannyasis, also can do it; there is no difficulty. Therefore, Narottama Dasa Thakura says that it doesn't matter whether one is a brahmacari, grhastha, or sannyasi. He says, "If you have taken to these principles of life, I desire your company, because you are a devotee of Lord Caitanya." In this way, Narottama Dasa Thakura finishes the song.

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Sri Guru‑vandana

The Worship of Sri Guru

(from Prema‑bhakti‑candrika)

sri‑guru‑carana‑padma, kevala‑bhakati‑sadma,

bando mui savadhana mate

jahara prasade bhai, e bhava toriya jai,

krsna‑prapti hoy jaha ha'to

guru‑mukha‑padma‑vakya, cittete koriya aikya,

ar na koriho mane asa

sri‑guru‑carane rati, ei se uttama‑gati,

je prasade pure sarv asa

cakhu‑dan dilo jei, janme janme prabhu sei,

divya‑jnan hrde prokasito

prema‑bhakti jaha hoite, avidya vinasa jate,

vede gay jahara carito

sri‑guru karuna‑sindhu, adhama janara bandhu,

lokanath lokera jivana

ha ha prabhu koro doya, deho more pada‑chaya,

ebe jasa ghusuk tribhuvana

The lotus feet of our spiritual master are the only way by which we can attain pure devotional service. I bow to his lotus feet with great awe and reverence. By his grace one can cross the ocean of material suffering and obtain the mercy of Krsna.

My only wish is to have my consciousness purified by the words emanating from his lotus mouth. Attachment to his lotus feet is the perfection that fulfills all desires.

He opens my darkened eyes and fills my heart with transcendental knowledge. He is my Lord birth after birth. From him ecstatic prema emanates; by him ignorance is destroyed. The Vedic scriptures sing of his character.

Our spiritual master is the ocean of mercy, the fiend of the poor, and the lord and master of the devotees. O master! Be merciful unto me. Give me the shade of your lotus feet. Your fame is spread all over the three worlds.

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Savarana‑sri‑gaura‑pada‑padme Prarthana

A Prayer to the Lotus Feet of Sri Gauranga

(from Prarthana)

sri‑krsna‑caitanya prabhu doya koro more

toma bina ke doyalu jagat‑samsare