Vṛndāvana

by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura

(translated by Swami B.V. Giri)

(Written in Jagannātha Purī on 18th July, 1871)

(1)
nitya-dhāma vṛndāvana, yathā mora kṛṣṇa-dhana
nitya-kāla karena vilāsa
cidānandamaya latā, prema-kisalaya yathā
jñānānandamaya kuñja-vāsa

My treasure, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, always sports in the eternal abode of Vṛndāvana. He resides in its forest-bowers that are full of divine knowledge, that are decorated with spiritual creepers and buds of love divine.

(2)
su-nirmala upāsanā, kālindite vibhāvanā
yathā sadā bhaktera hṛdaye
jīvera ye uchha-bhāva, govardhana āvirbhāva
care jīva gābhi-rūpa haye

The purest type of worship is exhibited on the banks of the Kālindī and is eternally found in the hearts of the devotees there. The topmost bhāva acquired by the jīvas is manifest at Govardhana, where there are animals such as cows reside.

(3)
sakhī-bhāva bhrātṛ-bhāva, yathā sadā nitya-bhāva
ānanda yāhāra mātra aṅga
kāma dveśa ādi yata, nāhi yathā kona mata
prema-rūpa rasa mātra raṅga

There, the eternal disposition is in the mood of the sakhīs as well as brotherly affection, and bliss is the only commodity. There is no lust, envy etc. or anything of that type and only mellows of divine love are performed.

(4)
dāsya sakhya su-madhura, vātsalyādi rasa-pura
vraja-dhāma premera ālaya?
janma mṛtyu śodha roga, nāhi tathā kare bhoga
premāmṛta jīvera āśraya

That realm is full of the rasas of servitude, friendship, parental affection, and amorous love. Indeed, Vraja-dhāma is the home of love divine. There, the jīvas do not experience birth, death, endurance or disease. They take shelter of the nectar of prema.

(5)
abhautika atīndriya, sei deśa kṛṣṇa-priya
deśa-kāla atīta sarvadā
bhūtamaya deha laye, jaḍāsakta citta ha’ye
keha nā yāite pāre tathā

That land, which is most dear to Kṛṣṇa, is beyond matter and all mundane sense-perception. It eternally transcends time and space. One who has a material body and whose mind is attached to matter can never reach it.

(6)
sei jīva bhāgyāvana, pāiyache susandhāna
guru-kṛṣṇa prasannatāśraye
manomaya bhūtamaya, dehe kari’
parājaya yāya sei ānanda nilaye

Those jīvas who have discovered the happy shelter of Śrī Guru and Kṛṣṇa are most fortunate. They transcend the mental and physical bodies, and attain that abode of bliss.

(7)
aprākṛta deha pāi, vrajera nikaṭa yāi
sakhī-pada kariyā āśraya
rādhā-kṛṣṇa sevā-sukha, bhūñji saba yāya duḥkha
mahā-bhāva paryanta udaya

They attain a divine form, enter Vraja, and take refuge at the feet of the sakhīs. They find happiness serving Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, leave behind all miseries, and rise the stage of mahā-bhāva.

(8)
ataeva bandhu-jana, chala yāi vṛndāvana
ati dūra nahe sei deśa
indriya saṁyama dhari, antare praveśa kari’
samādhi labhibe avaśeṣa

Therefore, O friends, let us go to Vṛndāvana! That land is not very far away. Control your senses, enter within, and finally you will attain samādhi.

(9)
bhūta-bhāva deśa kāla, viramile kichu-kāla
ātmāra dahara vikaśibe
sei bhūmi vṛndāvana, jāna ohe sādhu-jana
yathā rādhā-govinda dekhibe

For a while, our experience of material time and space may remain, but the ātmā’s intimate connection with that land will eventually develop. O sādhus! Know that the land of Vṛndāvana is where you will eventually behold Rādhā-Govinda.

(10)
tathā keli kutūhale, paśibe yamunā jale
sakhī-saha rādhikā sevāya
rādhikā jīvaneśvarī, kṛṣṇa-priyā sarveśvarī
prema-vākya kahibe tomāya

There, you will enter the Yamunā’s waters with great ecstasy and play with the sakhīs while serving Śrī Rādhikā. Rādhikā, the Mistress of the jīvas, who is Kṛṣṇa’s dearmost, the Goddess of all, will speak words of love unto you.

(11)
śunibe govinda vaṁśī, jīvera hṛdaya daṁśi
bhūvana mātāya yāra rabe
pulaka kadamba-tale, tomāya ānibe bale
ḍubāibe premera āsabe

You will hear the sound of Govinda’s flute, which pierces the heart of the jīva and makes the world go mad. It will forcibly take you to the base of a blossoming kadamba tree and you will be drowned in the nectar of love divine.

(12)
paśile yamunā jale, prema-jvālā āro jvale
dhaḍaphaḍi uṭhibe takhana
puline āgata haye, kṛṣṇa-rūpa nirakhiye
eka-bāre ha’be acetana

Entering the waters of the Yamunā, the fire of prema will burn even stronger and your heart will begin to palpitate. Returning to the riverbank, you will see the form of Kṛṣṇa and suddenly you will become unconscious.

(13)
hena vṛndāvana-dhāma, sarva-jīva abhirāma
chaḍi yei yāya anya sthāna
tā’ra sama mūrkha nāi, cintā kari’ dekha bhāi
yadi pāo premera sandhāna

Śrī Vṛndāvana-dhāma brings delight to all jīvas. There is no fool greater than one who leaves Vṛndāvana and goes elsewhere. O brother, think about it! You will never find divine love anywhere else.

(14)
kāminīra saha-vāsa, galpa ādi parihāsa
madya kumbha alaṅkāra caya
sakali duḥkhera mūla, sukha bali tava bhūla
ei belā bujhaha niścaya

Living with women, jokes, stories, bottles of wine, ornaments etc. are the root cause of all miseries. It is a mistake on your part to consider them to be happiness. You must understand this very clearly.

(15)
dehe jvarā praveśiyā, kāṅpāibe tava hiyā
kaphe kaṇṭha paripūrṇa ha’be
śunite nā pā’be kāne, nāsikā akṣama ghrāṇe
nirasta haiyā cakṣu ra’re

Fever will enter your body and make you shiver. Your throat will become filled with mucus. Your ears will be unable to hear, your nose will be unable to smell, and your eyes will stop working.

(16)
priya bandhu yāre jana, se tomāra ha’be āna
aṅgaja karibe avahelā
dvāre pratihāri prāya, rākhibe tomāre hāya
bālakera ha’be tumi khelā

Those whom you think are your dearest friends will become like strangers. Your family members will shun you. They will stop you at the door like a gatekeeper and their children will poke fun at you.

(17)
pūrva ye priyasī tava, ebe ghṛṇā kare saba
surā sukha nāhi deya āra
ye asthi carviyā sukha, pāibe se ebe duḥkha
danta-hīne diteche apāra

All of your former lovers will hate you. Alcohol will no longer give you any happiness. The bones you chew on and enjoy will now cause you untold misery, as you will become toothless.

(18)
alaṅkāra paridhāne, āra śobhā nāhi māne
ebe mūrti markaṭa samāna
kothā se darpaṇa-rāja, kothā se tomāya sāja
cinti’ kara vairāgya vidhāna

Wearing ornaments will not make you look more attractive, and your body will look like a monkey. Where have your grand mirror and decorations gone? Think about this and become detached.

(19)
ataeva ei-kṣane, cala bhāi vṛndāvane
nitya-sukha pāibe tathāya
kṛṣṇa-prema nitya-sukha, kabhu nāhi deya duḥkha
acyuta padapi yāte pāya

Therefore, brother, let us now go to Vṛndāvana! You will find everlasting happiness there. Divine love for Kṛṣṇa is eternal and never causes any misery. With that you will become faultless.

(20)
tava aprākṛta deha, vṛndāvane pābe geha
jaḍa-deha jaḍete rahibe
pañcatva āpanna ha’le, deha rabe ei sthale
tumi vraja kabhu nā chāḍibe

You will attain a divine form and a residence in Vṛndāvana. Your mundane body will remain in the material world. When you die, your body comprised of the five elements, will remain here, but you will never leave Vraja.

(21)
kahe kedarnātha datta, ei vṛndāvana-tattva
guru mora caitanya gosāi
tāra dāsa saṅga ha’le, jaḍe citta nāhi chale
caitanya āśraya kara bhāi

Thus, Kedarnātha Datta describes the truth about Vṛndāvana. My guru is Caitanya Gosāi. When you take the association of His servants, your mind will never drift towards matter. O brother, take shelter of Śrī Caitanya!

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