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Post by madanmohandas on Sept 20, 2022 10:15:39 GMT -6
Narottama das Thakura's
Prarthana
Song 1 When calling Gauranga, the fair-limbed one, With raptures will my hair all stand on end? And crying, alas, O Hari, Hari! Will tears in torrents stream down from my eyes? 1 And will my Nitaichand, the moon-like one, Have mercy and compassion upon me? Then will my worldly aspirations be Diminished into insignificance? 2 And when will I the sensibles forsake, And thereby cleanse and purify my mind? Then only will I be able to see The transcendental realm of Vrindavan. 3 The verses of Rupa and Raghunath, I will be eager to study and read, Then I will be able to comprehend The sacred love of the divine couple. 4 At the feet of Rupa and Raghunath, I place my aspirations and desires. Making his constant and his fervent prayer, His longing Narottama das declares. 5 ………………..
Song 3 Alas, Hari! how worthless are my deeds! The feet of Radha-Krishna in Vraja, I have not worshipped half a mustard seed; And ties of love I could not comprehend. 1 Svarupa, Sanatana, and Rupa, The two Bhattas, and Raghunatha das, Bhugarbha, Sri Jiva and Lokanath; The lotus-feet of all these holy ones, I have not served for half a mustard seed; How then will I fulfil my hearts’ desire? 2 The poet prince Krishna das Kaviraj, The connoisseur among the devotees, Has told the account of Chaitanya's deeds, As with Gaura, Govinda's deeds hath told; To hear which causes even stones to melt. But I have not concentrated on that. 3 The company of all these devotees, Also those associated with them, Why did I not attain their company! What can I say of my unhappy state? My life hath passed in futility vain, O fie upon this Narottama das! 4 ………………
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Post by madanmohandas on Sept 20, 2022 11:01:25 GMT -6
Song 2 Radha-Krishna! this creature makes his prayer. You are exceedingly playful in love, Your hearts are filled with compassion and grace; Attentive to my prayer, O Lord, heed me. 1 O Krishna, O bright moon of Gokula! O fond lover of cowherd damosels! And, O crest gem of Krishna's beloveds! O golden Gauri! O Shyama dark blue! To hear of your beauty and qualities, Were as a balm to sooth my life and soul. 2 Toward the lowly who have gone astray, You are exclusively compassionate; This is proclaimed in all the triple world. Having heard from the lips of holy ones, I have sought your refuge in happiness, If you neglect me, what will be my fate? 3 All hail, all hail Radhe! All hail Krishna! All hail again, all hail Radhe Krishna! O Krishna, O Krishna, O Radhe hail! With palms folded and held above his head, Narottam falls prostrate upon the ground, And says, may ye both fulfil my desire. 4
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Post by madanmohandas on Sept 20, 2022 11:34:41 GMT -6
Prarthana, song 9
Alas, Hari! when will such day be mine, When I will gaze upon the couples' limbs? When will I touch their limbs that I may serve, And when will I attend upon the pair? 1
In Lalita, Vishakha's company, I will render service in playful joy, And weave jasmine wreaths to offer to them; In a golden canister I will bring Abundance of tambul and fresh camphor, And then present the leaf wraps to their lips. 2
Sri Radha and Krishna in Vrindavan, Are the great wealth and treasure of my heart; They are my very means of livelihood. Hail to the saviour of the fallen souls! O deign to grant that treasure unto me, I do not like anything but for you. 3
Sri Guru is an ocean of all grace, And of the fallen souls the dearest friend; My teacher Lokanath is life and soul. Alas, alas! my Lord, be merciful, Afford the sheltering shade of your feet; Now let your fame resound the triple world! 4
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Post by madanmohandas on Sept 20, 2022 12:26:21 GMT -6
Prarthana. Song 4
Alas, Hari! my life hath fruitless been. Since having once attained this human birth, Radha and Krishna I did not adore, And knowingly I have poison consumed. 1
Goloka's wealth of love hath now appeared, In the great sankeertan of Hari's name; Why hath no love for that been born in me? In scorching poison of transmigration, Both day and night my heart is burnt and pained; Why did I not adopt the remedy? 2
That one who is son to the cowherd chief, Has now become the worthy Sachi's son, And Balaram has now become Nitai. And those who were the basest and the mean, Have secured redemption through Hari's name; Of which Jagai and Madhai bear witness. 3
Alas, O son of Nanda, O my Lord! With Vrishabhanu raja's daughter fair, At least once show compassion unto me. Says Narottama das, O my Master, Spurn me not from the red soles of your feet; What do I have, what am I without you? 4
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Post by madanmohandas on Sept 20, 2022 13:13:37 GMT -6
Prarthana, song 25
Hari Hari, ah me alas, Hari! O when will that auspicious day be mine? When under the strong influence of love, I will that Radha and Krishna adore. 1
With accompaniment of instruments, I shall sing sweetly and in dulcet tones; And overwhelmed in the raptures of bliss, I sing their beauty and their qualities. 2
And while 'Radhika Govinda' I sing, I shall weep and raise up my voice for joy; My limbs will become all sprinkled and wet, With the tears that roll freely from my eyes. 3
O my Rupa and O my Sanatan! At least once show compassion unto me, O Raghunatha das I pray to you, O Sri Jiva, you are my life and soul! 4
O fair Lalita and Vishakha dear! At least once show compassion unto me, As well as all the dear friends of the Lord, As Subala and all the cowherd boys. 5
May all of you in compassion conspire, And thus fulfil my long cherished desire; This is the constant and unfailing prayer, So says this servant Narottama das. 6
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Post by madanmohandas on Sept 26, 2022 5:26:03 GMT -6
Song 5. Lord of my life, this creature makes his prayer, O Govinda, O moon of Gokula; O repository of supreme bliss, With your beloved gopis, look on me. 1
To render service unto your dear feet, This great wealth deign to confer upon me; Since, O Master, you are a sea of grace. Supremely hallowed is your holy fame, To hear of which affords supreme delight; Who hath not attained fulfilment through this? 2
Hard are the ways of worldly existence, My mind hankers for sensible objects; Forgetting you, a spear pierces my breast, The body quakes, unconscious is the mind, And though alive I feel as I were dead; Steeped in irremeable misery. 3
There is no one, no, none as base as I, Be pleased to cast your gracious glance on me; As your servant stay me in Vrindavan. And my Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya named, My Lord Gaura, the fair radiant one, This Narottam hath sought refuge in you. 4
Prarthana, Song 6.
O Hari! kindly keep me at your feet. Those six fellows headed by Lust and Wrath, Have lead me on to diverse regions round, To indulge in the diverse sense objects. 1
I have become the slave of Illusion, And entertain diverse hopes and desires; Remembrance of you hath gone far away. In hopes for some profit and meagre gain, I don false habits of a Vaishnava, And ambulate around from home to home. 2
Thus afflicted by no little distress, You kindly brought me to Vraja's fair town, Having bound with the rope of grace my neck. But then the divine Maya supervened, Loosened the rope and threw me down with force, Into the gloomy well of existence. 3
But if you would show your favour again, And seize upon this creature by the hair, Then pull me up to Vraja's divine realm. If such were seen it would look very well, Or else my vital air will soon depart; So says the wretched Narottama das. 4
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Post by madanmohandas on Sept 26, 2022 6:10:26 GMT -6
Jumping ahead here somewhat, to Song 16.
The lotus-feet of Rupa manjari, To me are the greatest treasure and wealth; They are my adoration and worship; They are the precious wealth of my life breath; The are my decorative ornament; Yea, they are the very life of my life! 1
They are the store of love rapture for me, They constitute my cherished perfection; They are my Vedic path of righteousness; My pious vows and strict austerity; They are my mantra meditation chant; They are my good conduct and holy deeds. 2
When destiny turns in favour of me, I shall perfection at those feet attain, And gaze upon them with my longing eyes. That sweet abundance of beauty and grace, Will shed moonlight on my lily-like life; Which shall unfold to bloom both day and night. 3
But the serpent bite of not seeing you, Burns all my body with deadly poison; For untold days my life is fraught with pain. Alas, alas, my Lord, be merciful, Afford the sheltering shade of your feet; This Narottam hath sought refuge in you! 4
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Post by madanmohandas on Sept 26, 2022 7:04:07 GMT -6
Prarthana, Song 7
O Hari! a spear is lodged in my heart! Having gained this rare form of human life, Yet Lord Sri Krishna I have not adored; And thus my life hath been fruitless and vain. 1
The son of the cowherd chief, Lord Hari, In Navadip hath made divine descent; And filled the world with his ecstatic love. But as I am extremely base and mean; And in particular of a hard heart, I did not any of that grace receive. 2
Svarupa, Sanatana and Rupa, The two Bhattas, and Raghunatha das; My mind remained unattracted to them. In the divine abode of wishing-gems, In the supernal realm of Vrindavan, I did not care to dwell there or abide! 3
My mind is drawn to diverse sense objects, I have no love for saintly Vaishnavas, Unmitigated grief assails my mind. Says Narottama das, 'this very life Were unprofitable and unworthy, Without serving Guru and Vaishnavas. 4
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Post by madanmohandas on Sept 26, 2022 7:58:53 GMT -6
Prarthana, Song 8
O Hari! how misfortunate am I! My fruitless life spent in futility; Within my heart a massy spear is lodged; I never turned a lover of Hari. 1
Sacrifice, charity and pilgrimage, My good deeds and mantra meditation, To me have proved worthless and of no gain. I realise I have been played a jest, And laugh at the exquisite irony, Like donning ornaments, but without clothes. 2
The sweet accounts from lips of holy ones, Which hearing purifies of taint the mind, On me had no effect due to offence. To evil associations attached, Everything has been quite ruined for me; Oh where shall I go when stern death arrives? 3
The Sruti and the Smriti texts declare, As I have many times and often heard, That Hari's feet are an asylum sure. In seeming happiness I took my birth, But never uttered I Lord Krishna's name, Nor did I think of his beauty sublime. 4
At Radha-Krishna's lovely pair of feet, My body and my mind I shall resign; And drive all other desires away. Says Narottama das, 'ah me, no more Shall I be assailed with apprehension; Body and mind I have offered to you, 5
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Post by madanmohandas on Sept 26, 2022 13:06:38 GMT -6
Song 10
Hari, Hari, ah me alas, Hari! And when will that auspicious day be mine, When during the amorous couple's play, I shall render divine service to them? 1
With fair Lalita and Vishakha dear, And all the sakhi friends in company, While they in circle foregather around; Rai and Kanu in dancing pose hold hands, And dance in circles round and round again; Beholding which I shall be fraught with bliss. 2
Exhausted, to a calm cottage they go, On Govardhan, the best of mountains high, Where Rai and Kanu recline in repose. Says Narottama das in humble prayer, This is indeed my long cherished desire, To always render service at their feet. 3
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Post by madanmohandas on Sept 26, 2022 15:03:07 GMT -6
Song 11
On Govardhan, the best of mountains high, In a private and solitary place, Rai and Kanu recline in soft repose. Along with Lalita and Vishakha, I shall render services in delight, At the red soles of their feet filled with joy. 1
Then I a golden canister shall bring, Filled with tambul and mixed with camphor fresh, Which I will present to their lotus-mouths. Then I shall take gem studded tinkling bells And bejeweled anklets of shiny gold, And therewith decorate their lovely feet. 2
I shall then take from a golden vessel, Abundance of fresh fragrant sandal paste, And therewith besmear their beautiful limbs. With Guru as a sakhi on my left, And standing in a three curved bending pose, I shall ply a whisk to create a breeze. 3
The lotus-petal eyes of the couple, I shall behold with thrills of vast delight, And forward stretch my hand to touch their feet. This servant of Chaitanya's servant says, This is my minds' only aspiration, May Narottam das always perceive this. 4
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Post by madanmohandas on Sept 27, 2022 4:57:00 GMT -6
Prarthana, Song 12.
Alas, Hari! Will such a state be mine, When I in Vrishabhanu's famous town, In a worthy and noble cowherds' home, There, as a daughter dear, be brought to birth? 1
To Yavat village when will I be sent, And married off to some cowherder there? When will I be fortunate there to dwell? In the company of her dearest friends, And her familiar attendant maids, I shall render services at their feet. 2
They will kindly urge me forward to them, And at the red soles of their lovely feet, They shall dedicate me to their service. Thereon fruitful will be my condition, With the fulfilment of all my desires, And I shall serve the couple's lovely feet. 3
In Vrindavan the divine loving pair Are surrounded by sakhis on each side; When I have completed some service there, The sakhis gather from all sides to take Diverse musical instruments in hand; To see which fulfils my cherished desire. 4
Beholding the moon-faces of the pair, Is balm to sooth the eyes balls of sore pain; Then my eyes will flow with a stream of tears. Will Vrinda then issue her fair command, That I approach toward the couple nigh; Ah me, and when will such a day be mine? 5
Sri Rupa manjari the dear sakhi, Observing me alone without a guide, Will stay me at the red soles of her feet. Says Narottama das in pleasing verse, Among the dear familiar sakhis, When will I their dear maidservant become? 6
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Post by madanmohandas on Sept 27, 2022 5:56:07 GMT -6
Song 13
Alas, Hari! Will such a state be mine, When I have forsaken this body male. I shall attain to femininity, And smear the couple's limbs with sandal paste? 1
I shall bind up the clusters of their hair With strands of fresh colourful goonja beads, And adorn them with woven flower wreaths. I shall adorn his limbs with yellow cloth, In company of the dear sakhi friends, And offer to his mouth a tambul leaf. 2
The couple are most enchanting to see, And with their beauty I will fill my eyes. Now Rai is draped in fine raiment of blue; With clusters of the nine gems shining bright, The glory of her plaited hair is twined, And with strands of jessamine garlanded. 3
With the sweet delectable beauties sheen, Of the loving pair I will fill my eyes; This is indeed my long cherished desire. Hail Rupa, Sanatana! Grant to me, That treasure most valuable and rare; This is the prayer of Narottama das. 4
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Post by madanmohandas on Sept 27, 2022 13:23:29 GMT -6
Song 14
In Vrindavan, the flowery abode, The plumy peacocks dance around in glee; And tuneful Pika birds sing with the bees. In the dear company of loving friends, And singing pleasantly, we shall proceed To an enchanting cottage in the grove. 1
Hari, alas! When will my hopes bear fruit, To see the couple amble languidly, The eager curiosity and joy, Will thrill my body, fill my heart with bliss. 2
Surrounded by sakhi friends, in their midst Sri Radhika will gesture unto me With glances, to take a comb in my hand, And gather up her wavy curls of hair, And bind them carefully into a coil, Then wind into a wonderful chignon. 3
With deer musk and sandal from Malaya, I shall plaster her limbs with fragrant paste, And adorn her with a charming necklace. With sandal paste and kumkum powder mixed, On her forehead I shall tilak apply, And on her nectar-dripping moon-face gaze. 4
Thereupon with a raiment of bright blue, I shall adorn her limbs with loving care, And fasten gem anklets upon her feet. Then from a jug of water standing there, I shall wash her dear tender red-soled feet, Then rub them dry with my soft flowing hair. 5
With petals of the lotus flowers soft, I shall arrange the amorous play bed, And then induce the couple there to rest. I will then a white chamara whisk take, And gently gently drive a balmy breeze, And thus remove their bodily fatigue. 6
From a golden canister in my hand, Filled with tambul and mixed with camphor fresh, I shall place the leaf wraps into their mouths; The natural sweet nectar of their lips, Is reddened by the juice of the tambul, And I, with care, will seek to offer more. 7
Sri Guru is an ocean of all grace, And Lokanath is the friend of the poor, Since I am poor, may he give heed to me, Radha-Krishna in divine Vrindavan, Among the dear familiar sakhis, Narottama but begs this charity. 8
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Post by madanmohandas on Sept 28, 2022 2:58:55 GMT -6
Song 15 Hari, Hari, ah me alas, Hari! And when will that auspicious day be mine? On Govardhan, the best of mountains high, In an extremely solitary place, I will induce Rai and Kanu to rest. 1 Then from a jug of water standing there, I shall wash their dear tender red-soled feet, And rub them dry with my soft flowing hair. From a golden canister in my hand, Filled with tambul and mixed with camphor fresh; I shall present the leaf wraps to their lips. 2 In the company of the sakhis dear, I shall services render full of joy, And serve their feet with my own very hands. Then gazing at their lotus-petal eyes, I shall delighted be with playfulness, My body thrilled, my heart with joy elate. 3 With mallika, malati and yuthi, And other flowers, I will garlands weave; O when will I place them around their necks? Then, with a dish of gold held in my hand, With fragrant sandal paste and camphor fresh, When will I anoint the limbs of the pair? 4 When shall I of such occasion avail, To gaze upon their lovely faces there, Reclining on a play bed in the bower? In Sri Kundalata's dear company, Of the curiosity of their play, Narottam will listen to the report. 5
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