Chapter One
Yāmuna Bhāvāvalī (The Ecstasies of Yāmunācārya)

Song Twenty Three
The Qualities of the Pure Devotee

(1)
hari he
tomāra je śuddha-bhakta tomāte se anurakta
bhukti mukhti tuccha kori’ jāne
bāreka dekhite taba cid-ākāra-śrī-baibhaba
tṛṇa boli’ anya sukha mane

Oh my Lord Hari! Your pure unalloyed devotee, who is uncompromisingly devoted and attached to You only, considers any type or material enjoyment or liberation to be insignificant. Simply by beholding the beauty and opulences of Your form made of eternity, knowledge and bliss, such a pure devotee considers all other forms of so-called happiness to be just like small pieces of straw which one sees strewn here and there in the gutter.

(2)
se saba bhaktera saṅge līlā koro nānā-raṅge
biraha sahite nāhi pāra
kṛpā kori’ akiñcane dekhāo mahātma-gaṇe
sādhu binā gati nāhi āra

You always perform different types of sportive pastimes in the company of pure devotees of this calibre, for You are not able to tolerate separation from them even for a moment. Please show Your gracious favor to me and reveal to me who these great souls are, for I can find no purpose for living without the shelter of their company.

(3)
se bhakta-caraṇa-dhana kabe pā’bo daraśana
sodhibo āmāra duṣṭa mana
e bhaktibinoda bhaṇe kṛpā ha’be jata-khaṇe
mahātmara ho’be daraśana

When will I get the vision of the rare treasure-like feet of all these pure devotees? If I could just catch a glimpse of their lotus feet, then that would completely purify me and rectify my sinister mind. Bhaktivinoda narrates this prayer to You, oh Lord: I will be able to get the audience of such great souls only if Your causeless mercy comes upon me by Your own sweet will.