ŚUDDHA-BHAKATA
by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura
by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura
1)
śuddha-bhakata-caraṇa-reṇu,
bhajana-anukūla
bhakata-sevā, parama-siddhi,
prema-lati-kāra mūla
bhajana-anukūla
bhakata-sevā, parama-siddhi,
prema-lati-kāra mūla
The dust of the lotus feet of pure devotees, enthusiastic devotional service, and service to the pure devotees of the highest order are the roots of the creeper of devotion.
2)
mādhava-tithi, bhakti-jananī,
yatane pālana kori
kṛṣṇa-bosati, bosati boli',
parama ādare bori
yatane pālana kori
kṛṣṇa-bosati, bosati boli',
parama ādare bori
The holy days like Ekādaśī and Janmāṣṭamī are the mother of devotion for those devotees who respect them. Let the holy places of Kṛṣṇa's pastimes be my places of worship, and bless me.
3)
gaur āmāra, ye-saba sthāne,
koralo bhramaṇa raṅge
se-saba sthāna, heribo āmi,
praṇayi-bhakata-saṅge
koralo bhramaṇa raṅge
se-saba sthāna, heribo āmi,
praṇayi-bhakata-saṅge
May I always visit all the holy places associated with the līlā of Lord Caitanya and His devotees.
4)
mṛdaṅga-vādya, śunite mana,
avasara sadā yāce
gaura-vihita, kīrtana śuni',
ānande hṛdoy nāce
avasara sadā yāce
gaura-vihita, kīrtana śuni',
ānande hṛdoy nāce
When I hear the sound of the mṛdaṅga in my heart I always desire to join in kīrtana; and when I hear the bonafide songs describing Lord Caitanya's pastimes, my heart dances in ecstasy.
5)
jugala-mūrti, dekhiyā mora,
parama-ānanda hoya
prasāda-sevā, korite hoya,
sakala prapañca joya
parama-ānanda hoya
prasāda-sevā, korite hoya,
sakala prapañca joya
Whenever I see the transcendental śrī-vigrahas of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa I am in bliss, for by taking Their Lordships' prasāda we can conquer over the material elements.
6)
je-dina gṛhe, bhajana dekhi,
gṛhete goloka bhāya
caraṇa-sīdhu, dekhiyā gaṅgā,
sukha nā sīmā pāya
gṛhete goloka bhāya
caraṇa-sīdhu, dekhiyā gaṅgā,
sukha nā sīmā pāya
One day while performing devotional practices, I saw my house transformed into Goloka Vṛndāvana. When I take the caraṇāmṛta of the Deity, I see the holy Ganges waters that come from the feet of Lord Viṣṇu, and my bliss knows no bounds.
7)
tulasī dekhi', juḍāya prāṇa,
mādhava-toṣaṇī jāni'
gaura-priya, śāka-sevane,
jīvana sārthaka māni
mādhava-toṣaṇī jāni'
gaura-priya, śāka-sevane,
jīvana sārthaka māni
By seeing the tulasī tree my heart feels joy, and Lord Mādhava (Kṛṣṇa) is also satisfied. When I eat the prasāda favored by Lord Caitanya it is a new life's experience. (Lord Caitanya was very fond of a green vegetable preparation called śāk, and there is another song in this book that tells of the amazing effects of this type of prasāda.)
8)
bhakativinoda, kṛṣṇa-bhajane,
anakūla pāya yāhā
prati-divase, parama-sukhe,
svīkāra koroye tāhā
anakūla pāya yāhā
prati-divase, parama-sukhe,
svīkāra koroye tāhā
Bhaktivinoda concludes by saying: "Whosoever attains the stage of enthusiasm for these devotional practices will be supremely blissful wherever he may be."
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