Gītā-mālā

(1)
āmi ati dīna-mati,  vraja-kuñje nivasati
rādhā-kṛṣṇa-yugala-caraṇe
kāṅdiyā kāṅdiyā āja,  chāḍi’ saba loka-lajjā
nivediba yata āche mane

I am of very low and distressed mentality, residing in the groves of Vraja. At the lotus feet of the divine couple Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, crying and crying, I will today give up all worldly shame, and I will submit whatever is on my mind.

(2)
tumi kṛṣṇa nīlamaṇi,  nava-megha-prabhā jini’
vraja-ānanda karo vitaraṇa
tumi rādhā nava-gaur,  gorocanā-garva-hāri
vraje hara kṛṣṇacandra-mana

You, Kṛṣṇa, are a sapphire surpassing the brilliance of fresh rain clouds, distributing the bliss of Vraja. And You, Rādhā, are newly radiant and golden-white, taking away the pride of the beauty of gorocanā, and in Vraja You steal the mind of Kṛṣṇa-candra.

(3)
tumi kṛṣṇa pītāmbare, e parājiyā ārta-śvare
vraja-vane nitya-keli-rata
tumi rādhā nīlāmbarī,  palāśera garva-hāri
kṛṣṇa-keli-sahāya satata

You, Kṛṣṇa, in yellow garments, surpass radiant splendour and are always absorbed in eternal pastimes in the forest of Vraja. And You, Rādhā, in blue garments, take away the pride of the palāśa flower and are always the constant companion in Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes.

(4)
tumi kṛṣṇa harin-maṇi, yuvā-vṛnda-śiromaṇi
rādhikā tomāra prāṇeśvarī
vraja-aṅganā-śiraḥ-śobhā, dhammilla-mallikā-prabhā
tumi rādhā kṛṣṇa-priyāṅkarī

You, Kṛṣṇa, are an emerald and the crest-jewel of all youths, and Rādhikā is Your very life’s mistress. And You, Rādhā, are the topmost beauty of all Vraja’s women, shining like jasmine in braided hair. You are most dear to Kṛṣṇa.

(5)
ramā-pati-śobhā jini’,  kṛṣṇa tava rūpa-khāni
jagat māṭāya vraja-vane
ramā jini’ vraja-aṅganā, gaṇa-madhye su-śobhanā
tumi rādhā kṛṣṇa-cittāṅgane

O Kṛṣṇa, Your form surpasses the beauty of the husband of Ramā (Lakṣmī) and makes the whole world bewildered in the forest of Vraja. O Rādhā, surpassing Ramā herself, You are supremely beautiful among the Vraja women, and You dwell in the courtyard of Kṛṣṇa’s heart.

(6)
taraṅga-saurabha-kaṇa, vaṁśī-gīta anukṣaṇa
ohe kṛṣṇa rādhā-mana-hara
rādhe aṅga-gandha tava, tomāra su-vinā-svara
kṛṣṇa-citta unmādita kare

O Kṛṣṇa, waves of fragrance and the constant sound of Your flute steal Rādhā’s mind. O Rādhā, the fragrance of Your body and Your sweet voice drives Kṛṣṇa’s mind into madness.

(7)
tomāra capalekṣaṇa-hare,  rādhā-dhairya-dhana
tumi kṛṣṇa cora-śiromaṇi
baṅka dṛṣṭi-bhaṅgi tava,  śrī-kṛṣṇa-hṛdaya-śaṣa
tumi rādhe kalāvatī dhanī

O Kṛṣṇa, by the thief-like movement of Your restless eyes, You steal the treasure of Rādhā’s patience; You are the crown-jewel of all thieves. And O Rādha, by Your crooked sidelong glance, You pierce Kṛṣṇa’s lotus heart like a bee, making Him maddened by Your enchanting, crooked behaviour. You are indeed the wealthy possessor of all artistic skills, full of mastery in music, dance, and all refined arts.

(8)
parihāse rādhikāra,  kathā nāhi sare yāra
tumi kṛṣṇa naṭa-kula-guru
kṛṣṇa narma-ukti śuni’,  romāñcita tanu-khani
tava rādhe rasa-kalpa-taru

O Kṛṣṇa, You are the teacher and master of all dancers, yet at the playful jokes of Śrī Rādhikā, You sometimes become so overwhelmed that You cannot even reply. And O Rādhe, hearing Kṛṣṇa’s soft playful words, Your body becomes covered with ecstatic thrill. Thus You are like a wish-fulfilling tree of rasa itself.

(9)
aprākṛta-guṇa-maṇi, nirmita-giri-śreṇi
tumi kṛṣṇa sarva-guṇa-maya
umādi ramaṇī-jana, vāñchita guṇa-gaṇa
rādhe tava svabhāvika haya

O Kṛṣṇa, You are full of all transcendental qualities, like a range of mountains made of precious jewels of divine virtues. And O Rādhe, all the qualities desired by beautiful women headed by Umā naturally exist in You as Your very nature.

(10)
āmi ati manda-mati, kari he kāku-nati
nikhapaṭe e prārthanā kari
vṛndāvana-adhīśvara, tumi kṛṣṇa prāṇeśvara
tumi rādhe vraja-vaneśvarī

I am extremely dull-minded and fallen. With folded hands I offer this sincere prayer. O Kṛṣṇa, You are the Lord of Vṛndāvana and the Lord of my life, and O Rādhe, You are the Queen of the forests of Vraja.

(11)
tomādera kṛpā pāite, rūpa-yogyatā nāi
yadi āmāra vraja-vane
duṅhe mama kṛpā-maya, jāni’ kainu padāśraya
kṛpā kara e adhama jane

I have no qualification at all to receive Your mercy in Vraja. Yet knowing You both to be full of compassion, I have taken shelter at Your feet. Kindly show mercy to this most fallen soul.

(12)
kevala ajogya nāhi, aparādhī āmi hai
tathāpi karaha kṛpā-dāna
loke kṛpā-viṣṭa jana, kṣame aparādha-gaṇa
tumi duṅhe mahā-kṛpāvān

I am not merely unqualified – I am also an offender. Still, I beg You both to grant Your mercy. Just as great souls forgive the offences of ordinary people, You both are supremely merciful and forgiving by nature.

(13)
kṛpā-hetu bhakti-sāra, leśābhāsa nāhi tāra
kṛpā-adhikārī nāhi āmi
duṅhe mahā-līleśvara, hana sei līlā-pare
kṛpā karo vraja-jana-svāmī

The essence of Your mercy is bhakti, yet I have not even a trace of it, nor am I qualified for such mercy. Still, You are the Lords of divine līlā; O Lords of Vraja, please show me Your mercy.

(14)
su-duṣṭa abhakta-jane, śivādi deva-gaṇe
prasanna hailā kṛpā kari’
mahā-līlā sarveśvara, duṅhu mora prāṇeśvara
dayā kara doṣa parihari’

By Your mercy, You became pleased even with wicked non-devotees and the Devas headed by Śiva. O Lords of great pastimes, O Lords of my life, kindly be merciful and forgive my faults.

(15)
adhame uttama māni, mūḍha-buddhi abhimānī
duṣṭa haiyā śiṣṭa-abhimāna
ei doṣe doṣī haiyā, gela cira-dina bāhire
nā karinu bhajana-vidhāna

I consider myself exalted though I am fallen and foolish; being proud and misled, I became contaminated by such faults and remained always outside proper devotional practice.

(16)
tathāpi e dīna-jane, yadi nāma-uccāraṇe
nāmābhāse karila jīvana
sarva-doṣa-nivāraṇa, duṅhu nāma-saṅkīrtana
prasāde prasīda dui-jana

Still, if this fallen soul has ever uttered Your holy name even faintly, may that chanting destroy all faults; O Lords, please be pleased by Your mercy.

(17)
bhakti-lava-mātre khaya, sarva-aparādha haya
kṣamā-śīla duṅhera kṛpāya
e āśā mane dhari’, caraṇe prārthanā kari’
śodha doṣa kṣamiyā āmāya

Even a tiny fragment of bhakti destroys all offences by Your forgiving nature. Holding this hope in my heart, I pray at Your feet – please purify me and forgive my faults.

(18)
sādhana-sampatti-hīna, ohe e jīva dīna
ati-kleśe dhṛṣṭatara chāra
duṅhu pada-nipatita, prārthanā karaye hita
prasannatā ha-uka doṅhāra

This most fallen jīva, bereft of all spiritual wealth is full of pride, I fall at Your feet and pray only for Your satisfaction.

(19)
dante tṛṇa dhari’ hāya, kāṅditeche uccaiḥ-svara
e pāpī kampita śarīra
ha nātha ha nātha bali’, haya aji kṛtāñjali
prasāda arpiya karo sthira

Holding a straw between my teeth, I cry aloud in distress; my sinful body trembles. O Lord, O Lord, with folded hands I beg You – please pacify me by Your mercy.

(20)
e durbhāgya ha ha-svare, prasāda prārthanā kare
anutāpe gaḍāgaḍi yāya
he rādhe he kṛṣṇa-candra, śuna mora kāku-bāta
tumi kṛpā vinā prāṇa yāya

This unfortunate soul cries out in grief, rolling in repentance. O Rādhe, O Kṛṣṇa-candra, please hear my plea – without Your mercy my life is lost.

(21)
phutkāra kariyā kāṅde, āhā āhā kāku-nāde
bale hao prasanna āmāya
ei ta ayogya jane, kṛpā kara nija-guṇe
karuṇa-sāgara rākha pāya

Crying out loudly, “Alas! Alas!” in a voice full of lamentation, I weep and weep, begging You to be pleased with me. I am indeed unqualified and unworthy. Yet by Your own divine nature, please bestow mercy and keep me at Your lotus feet, O ocean of compassion.

(22)
mukhete aṅguṣṭha diyā, uccaiḥ-svare ārta ha-ila
kāṅdite kāṅdite bale nātha
karuṇā-kaṇikā-dāna, kara mora prāṇe
kara ei dine ātma-śānta

Placing my thumb in my mouth, I try to suppress my loud crying, but in distress I again cry out, “O Lord!” Again and again I weep and pray – please give me just a particle of Your mercy and thus make me pacified today.

(23)
e tava mūḍha-jana, dīna-vākyera su-krandana
prārthanā kare dṛḍha-mane
he karuṇā-sindhu, anugati kara dāna
karuṇā-laharī vraja-vane

Thus this foolish, fallen person cries out in humble words, praying with firm determination – O ocean of mercy, please grant me Your shelter and let waves of Your compassion flow in the forests of Vraja.

(24)
bhāva-citta-sukhakara, yata āche su-madhura
prakaṭa-aprakaṭa līlā-sthāne
rādhā-kṛṣṇa-prema-sāra, sakalera sārāt-sāra
sei bhāva jani kṛpā-bale

All the sweet bhāvas that bring joy to one’s consciousness, both in the manifest and unmanifest pastimes, are situated in the places of pastimes. The essence of all existence is the prema of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, and that bhāva is only realised by the power of mercy.

(25)
yadi e dāsīra prati, prasanna karuṇā-mati
duṅhu pada-sevā kara dāna
āra kichu nāhi cāi, yugala-caraṇa pāi
śītala ha-uka mora prāṇa

If You Both become pleased with this maidservant, then please grant me the service of Your lotus feet. I desire nothing else. Let my life be cooled and satisfied simply by attaining the feet of the Divine Couple.

(26)
anātha-vatsala tumi, adhama anātha āmi
tvadīya sākṣāt-dāsya māgi
ei prasāda kara dāna, rākha anāthera prāṇa
chāḍiyā saba tava dāsya māgi

You are the protector of the helpless, and I am an utterly fallen orphan. I beg for Your direct service. Please grant this mercy and preserve the life of this orphan; abandoning all else, I ask only for Your service.

(27)
śirete añjali dhari, o-pade vijñapti kari
āmāra abhīṣṭa nivedana
eka-bāra dāsya diyā, śītala kara he hiyā
tabe māni sārthaka jīvana

With folded hands upon my head, I submit this humble request at Your feet. Please grant me Your service just once and cool my heart – only then will I consider my life successful.

(28)
kabe duṅhe ei vane, vilokiba sammīlane
amūlya-aṅga-parimala-ghrāṇa
āmāra nāsikā-dvāre, praveśiyā citta-pure
acaitanya karibe vidhi-āna

When will I see You Both meeting in this forest? The priceless fragrance of Your divine bodies will enter my nostrils and, entering my heart, will render me unconscious.

(29)
duṅhāra nūpura-dhvani, haṁsa-kaṇṭha-svara jini’
madhura madhura mora kāne
praveśiyā kona kṣaṇe, mora citta su-rañjane
mātāibe sevā-rasa-pāne

The sound of Your ankle-bells defeats the sweetness of a swan’s voice. Entering my ears, it will enchant my heart and intoxicate me with the nectar of service.

(30)
cakrādi saubhāgyāspada, vilikhita duṅhu pāda
cihna ei vraja-vana-bhūme
dekhiyā e dāsī kabe, bhāsibe ānanda-utsave
duṅhu kṛpā pāiyā saṅgopane

The auspicious marks of Your lotus feet – disc, conch, lotus, etc. – are seen throughout the forests of Vraja. When will this maidservant, seeing them, float in a festival of bliss by Your confidential mercy?

(31)
sakala-saundaryāspada, nīrājita duṅhu pāda
he rādhe he nandera nandana
mamākhi-gocare kabe, sarvādbhuta-mahotsave
karaibe ānanda-vitaraṇa

O Rādhe! O Son of Nanda Mahārāja! The lotus feet of You Both are the abode of all beauty and are worshiped by the highest splendour of loveliness itself. When will my eyes behold such an astonishing festival, which will spread waves of bliss?

(32)
pracīnāśā-phala-pūrti, tuṅhu padāmbuja-sphūrti
sei duṅhu-jana-darśana
e janme ki haibe mora, e utkaṇṭhā su-viṣama
vicalita kare mora mana

A glimpse of Your lotus feet fulfills all highest aspirations – such is the result of seeing You Both. But what will happen to me in this birth? This unbearable longing disturbs and agitates my mind.

(33)
kabe āmi vraja-kuñjāntare darśana
kariba sundara duṅhu-jane
surata-līlāya rata āmā haite adūrata
preme magna haiba darśane

When will I see You Both within the groves of Vraja? Seeing Your intimate loving pastimes from nearby, I will become overwhelmed and fully submerged in ecstatic love.

(34)
ghaṭanā-vaśataḥ kabe, duṅhu yoga asambhave
paraspara sandesha āniyā
vāḍāiba duṅhu sukha, yabe tabe mana-duḥkha
vāḍāiba ānande mātiyā

When, in the course of Your pastimes, You Both become separated, will I be able to carry messages between You? By increasing Your happiness, I will forget my own sorrow and become intoxicated with bliss.

(35)
kabe ei vraja-vane, duṅhu duṅha adarśane
phire yāba duṅhe anveṣiyā
sammilana karāiba, hāra-pada-ādi pāba
parituṣṭa duṅhāre kariyā

When in this forest of Vraja will I search for You Both when You are hidden from each other? I will reunite You, and being pleased, You will reward me with ornaments such as Your ankle-bells and other jewels.

(36)
duṅhe hāra dhariyā paṇe, dyūta-krīḍā samāpane
āmi jayī āmi jayī bali
karibe kalaha tabe, hāra-saṅgraha-kāle kabe
āmi tāhā sakala dekhibi

At the end of Your playful dice games, when You wager a necklace and both declare “I win, I win!”, You will quarrel over it. When will I be able to witness all these divine sports?

(37)
āhā kabe dui jane, kuñja-mājhe su-sayane
kusuma-śayyāya virāmibe
sei samaye duṅhu-pāda, sambāhana-susampada
e dāsīra saubhāgya haibe

When will I see You Both resting upon a bed of flowers in the forest grove? At that time, I will massage Your lotus feet, and thus will this maidservant attain such fortune.

(38)
kandarpa-kalahodgāre, chiṇḍibe kaṇṭhera hāra
latā-gṛhe paḍibe khasiyā
sei hāra gāṇthite kabe, e dāsī niyukta haibe
duṅhu kṛpā-ājñā śire pāiyā

Sometimes in Your playful quarrels of Kāmadeva, Your necklaces break and fall within the vine-covered groves. When will I be appointed to restring them, receiving Your merciful order upon my head?

(39)
keli-kallolera yabe, duṅhu keśa srasta haibe
dui-janera iṅgita pāiyā
śikhi-piñcha kari dhariyā, kuṇṭala-madhita kariyā
āmi rava ānande ḍubiyā

When, in the waves of Your playful pastimes, Your hair becomes loosened, receiving Your signal, I will comb and arrange Your locks with a peacock-feather comb, remaining drowned in bliss.

(40)
kandarpa-krīḍāya yabe, duṅhu srak srasta haibe
tabe āmi duṅhu ājñā pāiyā
ubhaya lalāṭa-mājhe, tilaka-sājā kariba
matta haibe se śobhā dekhiyā

When, in Kāmadeva’s playful sports, Your garlands become disarrayed, then by Your order, I will decorate Your foreheads with tilaka. Seeing that beauty, I will become intoxicated in ecstasy.

(41)
kṛṣṇa tava vakṣe āmi, bana-mālā diyā svāmī
rādhe tava nayane kajjala
kuñja-mājhe kona dina, pāva sukha samīcīna
preme citta haibe ṭalamala

O Kṛṣṇa! When will I be able to place a garland of forest flowers upon Your chest? O Rādhe! And when will I apply kajjala around Your eyes? When shall I attain such perfect service in the groves of Vraja, where my heart will tremble in ecstatic love?

(42)
kabe jāmbūnada-varṇa, laiyā tāmbūla-patra
śirā-śūnya karpūrādi-yuta
vīṭikā nirmāṇa kariyā, duṅhu mukhe dibā dhariyā
preme citta haibe paripluta

When will I prepare betel for You Both, using golden-coloured leaves, removing the veins, and adding camphor and fragrant spices? Rolling them carefully, I will place them in Your lotus mouths, and my heart will be completely flooded with love.

(43)
kothā e durāśā mora, kothā e duṣkarma ghora
e prārthanā yadi bala kena
he rādhe he ghana-śyāma, duṅhu-jana-guṇa-grāma
mādhurī balāya more hena

Where are these impossible hopes of mine, and where are my terrible sinful deeds? Why do I speak such prayers at all? O Rādhe! O dark-complexioned Śyāma! Your sweetness alone is making me utter these descriptions of Your divine qualities.

(44)
duṅhāra ye kṛpā-guṇe, pāinu dhāma vraja-vane
sei kṛpā abhīṣṭa-pūraṇa
karuṇa āmāya nātha, pāñā tumi sakhī-sātha
kuñja-sevā pāi anukṣaṇa

By Your merciful nature, I have attained residence in the land of Vraja, and that mercy fulfills all desires. O Lord, please be compassionate to me and allow me constant service in the groves of Vraja with Your intimate companions.

(45)
ohe rādhe ohe kṛṣṇa, sei vraja-rasa-tṛṣṇā
kārpaṇya-pañjikā-kathā-chale
jalpana karaye sadā, tāra vāñchā-pūrti tadā
karuṇa duṅhu kṛpā-bale

O Rādhe! O Kṛṣṇa! This thirst for the vraja-rasa is expressed through this diary of humility. Constantly I speak in this way, and only by Your mercy can all these aspirations be fulfilled.

(46)
śrī-rūpa-mañjarī-pāda, śire dhari su-sampada
kamala-mañjarī kare āśā
śrī-godruma-vraja-vane, duṅhu-līlā-darśane
pūrṇa ha-u rasera pipāsā

Holding the feet of Śrī Rūpa Mañjarī upon her head as her greatest treasure, Kamala Mañjarī aspires that by seeing Your pastimes in the forests of Śrī Godruma and Vraja, her thirst for divine rasa will become fully satisfied.