Determining Who is Qualified to Study This Book.
(1)
vande vṛndāṭavī-candraṁ rādhikākṣi-mahotsavaṁ
brahmātmānanda-dhik-kāri-pūrṇānanda-rasālayam
I offer my obeisances unto Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the moon of Vṛndāvana forest, the great festival for Śrī Rādhikā’s eyes, and the abode of complete blissful rasa that eclipses the bliss of Brahman realisation.
(2)
caitanya-caraṇaṁ vande kṛṣṇa-bhakta-janāśrayaṁ
advaita-mata-dhaureya-bhārāpanodanaṁ paraṁ
I offer my obeisance unto the feet of Śrī Caitanya, the shelter of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s devotees and the supreme remover of the weighty burden of Advaita philosophy.
(3)
guruṁ vande mahā-bhāgaṁ kṛṣṇānanda-svarūpakaṁ
yan-mude racayiṣyāmi kalyāṇa-kalpa-pādapaṁ
I offer my respectful obeisances unto my greatly fortunate spiritual master, who is the embodiment of Kṛṣṇa’s bliss. For his pleasure I shall compose this Kalyāṇa-kalpataru.
(4)
aprākṛta-rasānande na yasya kevalā ratiḥ
tasyedaṁ na samālocyaṁ pustakaṁ prema-sampuṭaṁ
One who has no exclusive attraction to the bliss of transcendental rasa should not examine this book, for it is a coffer filled with prema.
(5)
ayaṁ kalpa-taror nāma kalyāṇa-pādapaḥ śubhaḥ
vaikuṇṭha-nilaye bhāti vane niḥśreyasāhvake
This auspicious desire tree is known as the Kalyāṇa-kalpataru. It shines in Vaikuṇṭha, within the forest known as Niḥśreyasa (the ultimate welfare).
(6)
tasya skandha-trayaṁ śuddhaṁ vartate viduṣāṁ mude
upadeśas tathā copa-labdhis tūcchvāsakaḥ kila
To delight the learned, this pure tree stands with three branches – Upadeśa (Instruction), Upalabdhi (Perception), and Ucchvāsa (Overflowing with Ecstasy).
(7)
aśrītya pādapaṁ vidvān kalyāṇaṁ labhate phalaṁ
rādhā-kṛṣṇa-vilāseṣu dāsyaṁ vṛndāvane vane
Taking shelter of this tree, a wise person obtains its blessed fruit: service to Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa in Their pastimes within the forests of Vṛndāvana.
(8)
saṁpūjya vaiṣṇavān viprān sarva-jīvāṁś ca nityaśaḥ
kīrtayāmi vinīto ’haṁ gītaṁ vraja-rasāśrītam
Having duly honoured the Vaiṣṇavas, the brāhmaṇas, and all jīvas at all times, I humbly sing these songs imbued with vraja-rasa.
