Vaiṣṇava Siddhānta Mālā 4

O Brothers!
The mine of unlimited auspicious attributes, who is beyond both cit ad acit, the Supreme Controller, the Parabrahma, the source of Paramātmā, the Controller of all things, the Possessor of all opulence, who removes the suffering of the fallen souls in the unlimited ocean of saṁsāra, with the intention of bestowing all benefit, manifests various spiritual sections in the form of the Vedas. Later, in order to propagate the significance of all the śruti, Nārāyaṇa, Nārada, Kapila, Vyāsa etc. descended as sages and disseminated the entire smṛti-śāstra. Reappearing in bhū-maṇḍala, He appeared in the forms of Nṛhari, Vāmana, Rāma and Kṛṣṇa in order to propagate His acintya-līlā (inconceivable pastimes). But when the insurmountable age of Kali grew progressively cloudy, the consciousness of the jīva became extremely polluted. Then the Supreme Lord appeared in the form of Śrī Caitanya-candra in Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma, for the sake of the eternal welfare of the jīvas, He showered the nectar of His Name, which is the essence of all the Vedas, and removed all ignorance of those beings afflicted by Kali. Supreme nectar issued from the divine mouth of that Son of Śacī, who is full of eternity, knowledge and bliss, in the form of the Śikṣāṣṭaka for delivering the jīvas of this world. Today, by singing this Śikṣāṣṭaka, we can attain the highest bliss.

VERSE 1
ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaṁ
śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaṁ vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam
ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaṁ prati-padaṁ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaṁ
sarvātma-snapanaṁ paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam

The Lord said, “O jīvas! Śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtana is possessed of all victory. Its nature is that it purifies the mirror of the consciousness, eradicates the blazing fire of material life, it is the very life of knowledge, it expands the ocean of bliss, it enables one to relish complete nectar at every step, and it is completely purifying.”

pīta-varaṇa kali-pāvana gorā
gāoyāi aichana bhāva-vibhorā

(“Absorbed in bhāva, Gaura, who has a golden complexion and who is the saviour of Kali-yuga, sings in this way…”)

citta-darpana-parimārjana-kārī
kṛṣṇa-kīrtana jaya citta-vihārī

(“Glories to śrī-kṛṣṇa-kīrtana, which thoroughly purifies the mirror of the consciousness and delights the heart.”)

helā-bhava-dāva-nirvāpana-vṛtti
kṛṣṇa-kīrtana jaya kleśa-nivṛtti

(“Glories to śrī-kṛṣṇa-kīrtana, which easily extinguishes the forest fire of material existence and removes all distress.”)

śreyaḥ-kumuda-vidhu-jyotsnā-prakāśa
kṛṣṇa-kīrtana jaya bhakti-vilāsa

(“Glories to śrī-kṛṣṇa-kīrtana, which manifests like the rays of the moon and causes the white lotus of auspiciousness to bloom and is the pastime of bhakti.”)

viśuddha-vidyā vadhū jīvana-rūpa
kṛṣṇa-kīrtana jaya siddha-svarūpa

(“Glories to śrī-kṛṣṇa-kīrtana, which is like a young bride, whose very life is divine knowledge itself which gives the highest perfection.”)

ānanda-payo-nidhi-vardhana-kīrti
kṛṣṇa-kīrtana jaya plāvana-mūrti

(“Glories to śrī-kṛṣṇa-kīrtana, which is celebrated for causing the milk-ocean of bliss to expand and takes the form of a great flood.”)

pade pade pīyūṣa-svāda-pradātā
kṛṣṇa-kīrtana jaya prema-vidhātā

(“Glories to śrī-kṛṣṇa-kīrtana, which gives a taste of nectar at every moment and bestows prema.”)

bhaktivinoda-svātma-snapana-vidhāna
kṛṣṇa-kīrtana jaya prema-nidāna

(“Glories to śrī-kṛṣṇa-kīrtana, which bathes the ātmā of Bhaktivinoda and is a storehouse of love of prema.”)

VERSE 2
nāmnām akāri bahudhā nija-sarva-śaktis
tatrārpitā niyamitaḥ smaraṇe na kālaḥ
etādṛśī tava kṛpā bhagavan mamāpi
durdaivam īdṛśam ihājani nānurāgaḥ

O Kṛṣṇa! You have many different Names, and You have invested all Your personal potencies within them. Also, there are no rules regarding the time when one can remember all these Names. You have so much compassion for the jīvas – but, O Bhagavān! I am so greatly unfortunate that attachment for those Names has not manifest within me.

tuhu dayā-sāgara tārayite prāṇī
nāma aneka tuyā śikhāyali āni’

(“You are an ocean of mercy for delivering the living beings. You have brought Your many names to this world and taught about them.”)

sakala śakati dei nāme tohārā
grahane rākhali nāhi kāla-vicārā

(“You invested all Your potencies in Your Names, and You have not created any rules in regards to time for chanting them.”)

śrī-nāma-cintāmaṇi tohāri samānā
viśve bilāyali karuṇā-nidānā

(“Your touchstone-like Names are non-different from You, and O ocean of mercy, You have distributed them throughout the world.”)

tuyā dayā aichana parama udārā
atiśaya manda nātha bhāga hāmārā

(“Such is Your supremely generous mercy. But, O Lord, I am most unfortunate.”)

nāhi janamala nāme anurāga mora
bhakativinoda-citta duḥkhe vibhora

(“I have no attachment for these Names. The heart of Bhaktivinoda is overwhelmed with sorrow.”)

VERSE 3
tṛṇād api su-nīcena taror iva sahiṣṇunā
amāninā māna-dena kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ

One who is lower than grass, who adopts a humble attitude, who is more tolerant than a tree, who does not demand respect for himself and shows respect to others, only such a person is eligible to engage in kīrtana of śrī-hari-nāma.

śrī-kṛṣṇa-kīrtane yadi mānasa tohāra
parama yatane tāṅhi labha adhikāra

(“If your mind wishes to engage in śrī-kṛṣṇa-kīrtana, then with great endeavour, you must become qualified.”)

tṛṇādhika hīna dīna akiñcana chāra
āpane mānabi sadā chāḍi’ ahaṅkāra

(“Abandon your false ego and always consider yourself to be lower than grass, and think of yourself as destitute and mean.”)

vṛkṣa-sama kṣamā-guṇa karabi sādhana
prati-hiṁsā tyāji’ anye karabi pālana

(“Practice tolerance like that of a tree, giving up violence towards others and protect them.”)

jīvana-nirvāhe āne udvega nā dibe
para-upakāre nija-sukha pāsaribe

(“Do not give any disturbance to others while maintaining your life. Forget about your own pleasure while helping others.”)

haile-u sarva-guṇe guṇī mahāśaya
pratiṣṭhāśā chāḍi kara amānī hṛdaya

(“Even if you are respectable and with all good qualities, reject the desire for fame and make your heart humble.”)

kṛṣṇa-adhiṣṭhāna sarva-jīve jāni’ sadā
karabi sammāna sabe ādare sarvadā

(“Knowing that Kṛṣṇa eternally resides within all jīvas, always show everyone great respect at all times.”)

dainya, dayā, anye māna, pratiṣṭhā varjana
cāri guṇe guṇī hai‘ karaha kīrtana

(“By humility, compassion, respect to others, and giving up the desire for prestige, become virtuous through these four qualities and engage in kīrtana.”)

bhakativinoda kāṅdi’ bale prabhu-pāya
hena adhikāra kabe dibe he āmāya

(“Weeping at the feet of the Lord, Bhaktivinoda says, ‘When will you give me these qualities?’”)

VERSE 4
na dhanaṁ na janaṁ na sundarīṁ
kavitāṁ vā jagadīśa kāmaye
mama janmani janmanīśvare
bhavatād bhaktir ahaitukī tvayi

O Lord of the universe! I do not desire wealth, followers or poetic praise. May I have Your causeless mercy, birth after birth.

prabhu tava pada-yuge mora nivedana
nahi magi deha-sukha, vidya, dhana, jana

(“O Lord! This is my submission at Your feet. I do not pray for physical pleasures, knowledge, wealth, or followers.”)

nāhi māgi svarga āra mokṣa nāhi māgi
nā kari prārthanā kana vibhūtira lāgi’

(“I do not desire Svarga, I do not desire mokṣa. Nor do I pray for any mystic powers.”)

nija-karma-guṇa-doṣe ye ye janma pāi
janme janme yena tava nāma-guṇa gāi

(“From the faults of my activities, whatever birth I accept, may I sing the glories of Your Name birth after birth.”)

ei mātra āśā mama tomāra caraṇe
ahaitukī bhakti hṛde jāge anukṣane

(“This is my only desire, which I place at Your feet – that causeless bhakti to You may eternally awaken in my heart.”)

viṣaye ye prīti ebe āchaye āmāra
sei-mata prīti hauk caraṇe tomāra

(“Let me have love for Your feet just as I have love for mundane things now.”)

vipade sampade tāhā thāku sama-bhāve
dine dine vṛddhi hauk nāmera prabhāve

(“In both adversity and good fortune, let that love stay the same and, day by day, let it increase through the influence of Your Name.”)

paśu-pakṣi ha’ye thāki svarge vā niraye
tava bhakti rahu bhaktivinoda-hṛdaye

(“Whether as a bird or a beast, in heaven or hell, may bhakti to You always remain within the heart of Bhaktivinoda.”)

VERSE 5
ayi nanda-tanuja kiṅkaraṁ
patitaṁ māṁ viṣame bhavāmbudhau
kṛpayā tava pāda-paṅkaja-
sthita-dhūlī-sadṛśaṁ vicintaya

O Nanda-nandana, I have fallen into this dreadful ocean of material life. Yet I am Your eternal servant. Kindly accept me as a particle of dust at Your lotus feet.

anādi karama-phale, paḍi’ bhavārnava-jale,
taribāre nā dekhi upāya
e-viṣaya-halāhale, divā-niśi hiyā jvale,
mana kabhu sukha nāhi pāya

(“As a result of my karma which is without any beginning, I have fallen into the ocean of mundane existence, and I see no means of deliverance. Day and night my heart is burning from the poison of this world, and my mind finds no satisfaction.”)

āśā-pāśa-śata-śata, kleśa deya avirata,
pravṛtti-ūrmira tāhe khelā
kāma-krodha-ādi chaya, bāṭapāḍe deya bhaya,
avasāna haila āsi’ belā

(“The nooses of hundreds and hundreds of desires constantly trouble me, and I am in the midst of the capricious waves of the enjoying tendency. The six robbers of lust, anger etc. create fear in me, and the time of my death has now arrived.”)

jñāna-karma-ṭhaga dui, more pratārīya lai,
avaśeṣe phele sindhu-jale
e hena samaye, bandhu, tumi kṛṣṇa kṛpā-sindhu,
kṛpā kari’ tola more bale

(“The two thugs of jñāna and karma have deceived me and have finally thrown me into the waters of the ocean of despair. O Kṛṣṇa, at such a time as this, You are my only friend and You are an ocean of mercy. Kindly pull me out of this ocean by force!”)

patita-kiṅkare dhari’, pāda-padma-dhuli kari’,
deho bhaktivinode āśraya
ami tava nitya-dāsa, bhuliyā māyāra pāśa,
baddha ha’ye āchi dayāmaya

(“Grasping Your fallen servant, make him a particle of dust at your lotus feet. kindly give shelter to Bhaktivinoda. O most merciful One, forgetting that I am Your eternal servant, I am bound by the noose of māyā.”)

VERSE 6
nayanaṁ galad-aśru-dhārayā
vadanaṁ gadgada-ruddhayā girā
pulakair nicitaṁ vapuḥ kadā
tava nāma-grahaṇe bhaviṣyati

O Kṛṣṇa! When will that day be mine when tears will flow from my eyes at the time of taking Your Name, my words will falter and the hair all over my body will stand on end?

aparādha-phale mama, citta bhela vajra-sama,
tuyā nāme nā labhe vikāra
hatāś haiye, hari, tava nāma ucca kari’,
baḍa duḥkhe ḍāki bāra bāra

(“As a result of my offences, my heart has become just like a thunderbolt, and feels no transformation while chanting Your Name. O Hari! Now in absolute hopelessness, I sing Your name aloud, and in great distress I call out to You again and again.”)

dīna dayāmaya karuṇā-nidāna
bhāva-bindhu dei rākhaha parāṇa

(“O ocean of mercy, who is compassionate to the fallen – please give me a drop of bhāva and save my life.”)

kabe tuyā nāma-uccaraṇe mora
nayane jharaba dara dara lora

(“When will streams of tears flow from my eyes as I loudly chant Your Name?”)

gada-gada-svara kaṇṭhe upajaba
mukhe bala ādha ādha bāhirāba

(“With a faltering voice arising from my throat, the words from my mouth will be incoherent.”)

pulake bharaba śarīra hāmāra
sveda-kampa-stambha habe bāra bāra

(“The hair on my body will stand on end, I will perspire, tremble, and become paralysed again and again.”)

vivarṇa-śarīre hārāyaba jñāna
nāma-samāśraye dharabuṅ parāṇa

(“My body will become pale and I will lose consciousness and my very life and soul will take shelter of Your Name.”)

milaba hāmāra kiye aichana dina
ro-uye bhaktivinoda mati hīna

(“When will such a day arrive? Bhaktivinoda is bereft of any intelligence.”)

VERSE 7
yugāyitaṁ nimeṣeṇa cakṣuṣā prāvṛṣāyitam
śūnyāyitaṁ jagat sarvaṁ govinda-viraheṇa me

In separation from Govinda, the blinking of an eye seems like a yuga, torrents of tears fall from my eyes, and the entire world seems to be empty.

gāite gāite nāma ki daśa haila
kṛṣṇa-nitya-dāsa muñi hṛdaye sphurila

(“What is my condition while chanting the Name? Within my heart it was revealed that ‘I am an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa.’”)

jānilām māyā-pāśe e jaḍa-jagate
govinda-virahe duḥkha pāi nānā-mate

(“I realised that I am caught in the noose of māyā in this mundane world, and in separation from Govinda I suffer in various ways.”)

āra ye saḿsāra mora nāhi lāge bhāla
kāṅhā yāi’ kṛṣṇa heri e cintā viśāla

(“I no longer like this material world. My main concern is, ‘Where can I see Kṛṣṇa?’”)

kāṅdite kāṅdite mora āṅkhi-variśaya
varṣā-dhārā hena cakṣe haila udaya

(“My eyes shed tears continuously, just like torrents of rain.”

nimeṣe haila mora śata-yuga-sama
govinda-viraha āra sahite akṣama

(“A moment for me is just like a hundred yugas. I cannot tolerate separation from Govinda any longer.”)

śūnya dharā-tala caudike dekhiye
parāna udāsa haya
ki kari, ki kari sthira nāhi haya
jīvana nāhika raya

(“As I look in all directions at the surface of the earth, it seems empty, My life seems useless. What should I do? What should I do? I am unstable and my life cannot continue.”)

vraja-vāsī-gana mora prāṇa rākha
dekhāo śrī-rādhā-nāthe
bhakativinoda minati māniyā
lao he tāhāre sāthe

(“O residents of Vraja! Protect my life and show me the Lord of Śrī Rādhā. Please accept this prayer of Bhaktivinoda and take him with you.”)

The Seventh Song Concerning Different Symptoms

śrī-kṛṣṇa-viraha āra sahite nā pāri
parāṇa chāḍite āra dina dui cāri

(“I cannot tolerate separation from Śrī Kṛṣṇa any longer. In two to four days or so, I will give up my life!”)

gāite govinda-nāma, upajila bhāva-grāma
dekhilām yamunāra kūle
vṛṣabhānu-sutā-saṅge, śyāma-naṭavara raṅge,
vāṁśarī bājāya nīpa-mūle

(“Upon chanting Govinda’s Name, many types of bhāva arose. On the banks of the Yamunā, beneath a kadamba tree, I saw Śyāma, the best of dancers, sporting with the Daughter of Vṛṣabhānu, and playing His flute.”)

dekhiyā yugala-dhana, asthira haila mana,
jñāna-hārā hainu takhana
kata-kṣane nāhi jāni, jñāna-labha haila māni,
āra nāhi bhela daraśana

(“Upon seeing the treasured Divine Couple, my mind became unsteady and then I lost consciousness. I do not know for how long I was unconscious, but when I regained consciousness, that vision was no more.”)

sakhi go, kemate dhariba parāṇa
nimeṣa haila yugera samāna

(“O sakhī! How will I maintain my life? The passing of but a moment is the same as a yuga!)

śrāvaṇera dhārā, āṅkhi-variṣaya,
śūnya bhela dharā-tala
govinda-virahe, prāṇa nāhi rahe,
kemane vāñciba bala

(“My eyes shed tears like rain in the month of Śravaṇa, and the earth’s surface seems vacant. My life cannot continue in separation from Govinda! Tell me – how will I live?”)

bhakativinoda, asthira haiyā,
punaḥ nāmāśraya kari’
ḍāke rādhā-nātha, diyā daraśana,
prāṇa rākho, nāhe mari

Bhaktivinoda has become restless and again takes refuge in the Holy Name. He calls out, ‘O Lord of Rādhā! Give me your darśana and save my life! Otherwise I shall perish!’”)

VERSE 8
āśliṣya vā pāda-ratāṁ pinaṣṭu māṁ
marma-hatāṁ karoty vā adarśanān
yathā tathā vā vidadhātu lampaṭo
mat-prāṇa-nāthas tu sa eva nāparaḥ

I am a fallen servant at the feet of Kṛṣṇa. He may crush me in His embrace or under His foot, or He may break my heart by not giving me His darśana – whatever is His desire, He can do as He likes, for He is the Lord of my life, and no one else!

bandhu-gaṇa! śunaha vacana mora
bhāvete vibhora, thākiye jakhana,
dekhā deya citta-cora

(“O friends! Kindly hear my words. I am overwhelmed with bhāva when the thief of my heart appears to me.”)

vicakṣana kari’, dekhite cāhile,
haya āṅkhi-agocara
punaḥ nāhi dekhi’, kāṅdaye parāṇa,
duḥkhera nāhi thāke ura

(“When I try to see Him more closely, He disappears before my eyes. Losing sight of Him again, my heart weeps, and there is no limit to my misery.”)

jagatera bandhu sei kabhu more laya sātha
yathā tathā rakhu more āmāra sei prāṇa-nātha

(“Sometimes that friend of the universe takes me with Him. Whichever way He treats me, He is the Lord of my life.”)

darśana-ānanda-dāne, sukha deya mora prāṇe,
bale more praṇaya-vacana
punaḥ adarśana diyā, dagdha kare mora hiyā,
prāṇe mora māre prāṇa-dhana

(“By giving His blissful darśana, He gives happiness to my life, and He speaks loving words to me. Again, by not showing Himself, He burns my heart. In life or in death, He is the Lord of my life.”)

yāhe tā’ra sukha haya, sei sukha mama
nija sukhe-duḥkhe mora sarvadā-i sama

(“Whatever gives Him happiness, that is my happiness. My own happiness and distress are all the same.”)

bhakativinoda, saṁyoge, viyoge,
tāhe jāne prāṇeśvara
tā’ra sukhe sukhī, sei prāṇa-nātha,
se kabhu nā haya para

(“In meeting or in separation, Bhaktivinoda knows Him to be the Lord of his life. I become happy by His happiness. He is the Lord of my life, and nobody else.”)

The Eighth Song Concerning Different Symptoms

yoga-pīṭhopari-sthita, aṣṭa-sakhī-suveṣṭita,
vṛndāraṇye kadamba-kānane
rādhā-saha vaṁśī-dhārī, viśva-jana-citta-hārī,
prāṇa mora tāṅhāra caraṇe

(“Situated at the Yogapīṭha, surrounded by the eight sakhīs in a kadamba grove within the forest of Vṛndā, along with His beloved Rādhā, that Player of the flute steals the hearts of the denizens of this world. I lay my life at His feet.”)

sakhī-ājñā-mata kari doṅhāra sevana
pālya-dāsī sadā bhāvi doṅhāra caraṇa

(“According to the instructions of the sakhīs, I offer service to Them. As a pālya–dāsī, a maidservant who is dependent upon her superiors, I constantly think about Their feet.”)

kabhu kṛpā kari, mama hasta dhari’,
madhura vacana bale
tāmbūla laiyā, khāya dui jane,
mālā laya kutūhale

(“Sometimes, by their mercy, They take my hands and speak sweet words unto me. They accept the betel nuts I prepare and chew them, and eagerly accept garlands.”)

adarśana haya kakhana ki chale
nā dekhiyā doṅhe hiyā jvale

(“By some trick They sometimes disappear. Not seeing Them, my heart burns.”)

yekhāne sekhāne, thākuka du’jane,
āmi to’ caraṇa-dāsī
milane ānanda, virahe yātanā,
sakala samāna vāsi

(“Wherever They may be, I am a maidservant at Their feet. The bliss of union with Them, the pain of separation from Them – I remain the same in both.”)

rādhā-kṛṣṇa prāṇa mora jīvane maraṇe
more rākhi’ māri’ sukhe thākuka du’jane

(“In life or in death, Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa are my very life. They may protect me or kill me, but let Them be happy!”)

bhakativinoda, āna nāhi jāne,
paḍi’nija-sakhī-pāya
rādhikāra gaṇe, thākiyā satata,
yugala-caraṇa cāya

(“Bhaktivinoda knows nothing else than this. Falling at the feet of the sakhī whom he serves, he remains amongst the associates of Rādhikā, desiring the feet of the Divine Couple.”)

(At the time when singing and dancing is concluded:)

jaya śrī-godruma-candra gaura-chāṅd kī jaya!
(All glories to the Moon Of Godruma, Śrī Gaura-chāṅd!)

jaya prema-dātā śrī-nityānanda kī jaya!
(All glories to Śrī Nityānanda, the giver of prema!)

jaya śrī-śāntipura-nātha kī jaya!
(All glories to the Lord of Śāntiputa, Śrī Advaita!)

jaya śrī gadādhara-paṇḍita gosvāmī kī jaya!
(All glories to Śrī Gadādhara Paṇḍita Gosvāmī!)

jaya śrī-śrī-śrīvāsādi bhakta-vṛnda kī jaya!
(All glories to Śrī Śrīvāsa and the devotees!)

jaya śrī navadvīpa-dhāṁa kī jaya!
(All glories to Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma!)

jaya śrī-nāma-haṭṭa kī jaya!
(All glories to the marketplace of the Holy Name!)

jaya śrī-śrotṛ-varga kī jaya!
(All glories to the respected listeners!)

The main sweeper of the marketplace of the Holy Name, the most fallen
Śrī Kedāranātha Bhaktivinoda