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Post by madanmohandas on Sept 28, 2022 3:41:29 GMT -6
Song 17
I had heard from the lips of holy ones, And everybody also seems to say, That by Sri Rupa's unconditioned grace, The feet of the couple can be attained. 1
Alas, alas! My master Sanatan! And the associates of Lord Gaura, May all of you together favour me, And bring to fulfilment my true desire! 2
May Sri Rupa's unconditional grace, Be mercifully bestowed upon me; Whoever has gained refuge at his feet, He is most exalted and a great one. 3
May my master Lokanath favour me, And in his company bring me along, And dedicate me to the service dear, At Sri Rupa's feet, like fresh lotus flowers. 4
Will such a rare condition e'er be mine, With the familiar and dear sakhis, To render service on their fair commands, And Narottam their follower will be? 5
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Post by madanmohandas on Sept 28, 2022 5:20:16 GMT -6
Prarthana, Song 18
Observing this maidservant neophyte, Sri Rupa will glance kindly upon me. When will such a blessed moment arrive, How many days in longing must be spent? 1
She will suddenly issue her command, "Dear maidservant, come hither and approach, Prepare articles for service divine, Expediently and without delay!"2
My heart will be thus overwhelmed with joy, Receiving from her this pleasant command, And I shall with a pure attentive mind, Immediately my duties perform. 3
Collecting items for service divine, I shall place them on a gem studded tray, And fill with fragrant drinking water sweet, The golden vessels and arrange them fair. 4
Coming before the couple I will bring, The items and offer them sans delay. When will Narottam das this state attain, Such are the longings that I entertain. 5
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Post by madanmohandas on Sept 28, 2022 10:51:21 GMT -6
Song 19
Observing me behind Sri Rupa there, With apprehensive doubt and modesty, The couple further question will then raise, While casting their fond glances upon me. 1
Disposed to mercy the divine couple, With smiles upon their faces gan to say, ''O dear Rupa, explain to us and tell, Where did you get this modest damsel from?" 2
Thereupon dear Sri Rupa manjari, When having heard the question by them raised, Then said, "Oh, it was Sri Manjulali, That brought to me this modest damsel here; 3
Knowing her to be exceedingly shy, And with meekness and modesty endued, I have purposed to keep her here with me, To be engaged in services divine." 4
Thus having such intelligence conveyed, And speaking to the divine pair direct, Then such divine service will be assigned To Narottam who will thence be employed. 5
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Post by madanmohandas on Sept 29, 2022 3:32:59 GMT -6
Jumping ahead briefly.
Song 35 My precious treasure Nityananda is; And moon-like Gaurachandra is my Lord; My vital airs are the couple divine; The preceptor Advaita is my strength; I belong to Gadadhar's family; And Narahari is my happiness. 1 In dust of the Vaishnava's holy feet, I shall bathe myself, reveling in joy; And make libations of Vaishnava's names. After due deliberation in mind, I shall taste the humours of devotion, As written in the Bhagavat Puran. 2 In the leavings of the Vaishnava's meal, I shall have firm conviction in my mind; And joy to utter the Vaishnava's names. In Vrindavan, within a courtyard fair, I have a mind to take up my abode; So says the wretched Narottama das. 3 Song 36 The lotus flower feet of Lord Nitai, Are as balmy as millions of soft moons; And with their lambent rays sooth all the world. Without Nitai, as such, O brother mind, You cannot to Radha-Krishna attain; Therefore adhere to Nitai's lotus-feet. 1 Whoever is not related to him, His life is futile and passes in vain; He is of evil conduct and a brute. They never from their mouths say Nitai's name, Immersed in happiness of worldliness; What can the pride of wealth and learning do? 2 Deluded by their overweening pride, They disregard the feet of Lord Nitai, Considering the untruth to be truth. When Nitai is disposed to compassion, In Vraja, Radha-Krishna, can be gained; Therefore cling to the feet of Lord Nitai! 3 The feet of Nitai are eternal truth, And eviternal are his servitors; Always aspire for Lord Nitai's feet. Narottam is very distressed and sad, O Nitai, make me happy by your grace, And keep me at the red soles of your feet! 4
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Post by madanmohandas on Sept 30, 2022 10:08:25 GMT -6
Song 20 Alas, alas, my master Lokanath! Keep me securely at your holy feet. If you cast a merciful glance at me, I shall attain to ecstasy and bliss. 1 Then the desired perfection I seek, Will be fulfilled to mitigate my thirst; And attaining to Lord Chaitanya here, I shall attain to Radha-Krishna there. 2 But if you show not your favour to me, To whom then should I go, I do not know; At least one time on me bestow your grace, And fulfil the cherished hopes in my mind. 3 There is no one in all the triple world, To whom I may repair for shelter sure; Inclined to compassion, confer on me Refuge at the soles of your holy feet. 4 To sing of Radha-Krishna's loving sports, And qualities throughout the day and night, Is the cherished hope of this Narottam, To which, sans your grace, I cannot attain. 5 Song 21 O Lokanath, my preceptor divine, Bestow your gracious mercy upon me, Whereby may be manifest in my mind, Adorable Radha and Krishna's feet. 1 To be included in your company, And the company of the sakhi friends; This is the constant and fervent longing, That always rises up within my mind. 2 And when to the senior sakhi friends, Will you submit me at their holy feet? And when I have been consecrated there, I will be assigned various service. 3 Thereupon the fulfilment there will be Of my olden and long cherished desire. Thence I will be endued with happiness, And serve the feet of the couple divine. 4 O my dear friend Sri Rupa manjari, Cast upon me your glance of compassion, This tormented Narottam doth entreat, With the nectar of service sprinkle me. 5
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Post by madanmohandas on Sept 30, 2022 10:55:17 GMT -6
Song 22
Alas, alas, ah me, Oh Lord divine! Bestow your kind compassion upon me; I am caught in the net of Illusion, My body scorched in heat of misery. 1
And when will I such a condition gain, In the society of sakhi friends; That with fresh flowers of Vrindavan I Shall weave garlands and place them round their necks? 2
Standing before the couple seated there, I will fan them with a chamara whisk, With aguru perfume and sandal paste, I shall adorn the limbs of the couple. 3
When on the fair command of the sakhis, Will I offer sweet succulent tambul? And with red sindura powder I shall Adorn the couple with a tilak sign. 4
The curious wonders of their love sport, I shall gaze upon with dilated eyes; I shall behold their moon-like faces bright, While they are seated on a lion throne. 5
This delectable sweetness for to see, My mind with eager longing always yearns, For how long, and after how many days, Will Narottama das that grace receive. 6
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Post by madanmohandas on Sept 30, 2022 12:20:39 GMT -6
Song 23
Hari, Hari, ah me alas, Hari! Oh when will such a condition be mine, When I shall render service at the feet Of the divine couple, immersed in bliss? 1
I will become a greedy honey bee, And always hover round their lovely feet, And the nectar from their soft feet that drips, I shall always unsatiated drink. 2
This is my eager longing and fond hope, Addressed to the companion sakhi friends, May all of you bestow your grace on me, And thus fulfil my long cherished desire. 3
For many long days I have entertained This cherished hope that I would have fulfilled, May all of you combine to show your grace, And favour me, disposed to compassion. 4
In fond desire for service divine, Narottam laments and weeps day and night; Bestowing your unconditional grace, Make me your maidservant and follower. 5
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Post by madanmohandas on Sept 30, 2022 12:33:54 GMT -6
Song 24
All hail to Sri Krishna Chaitanya, hail! All hail to Nityananda, hail to you! All hail to Advaita the moon-like one! All hail, all hail to Gaura's devotees! 1
May all of you in compassion combine And show pity and kindness unto me, Observing me degenerate and base, Do not with me be disgusted nor spurn. 2
In all the existence of the three worlds Your sacred feet are the quintessence rare; Having all this considered and surveyed, I deem there is no other way for me. 3
Aspiring to attain to those feet, Brings anguish and misery to my mind, In perturbation my heart is distressed, I always weep in pitiable tones. 4
How shall I attain to that blessedness? I know nothing and cannot find the way, The holy feet of Lokanath, my Lord, I have not contemplated in my mind. 5
You are a gracious Master verily, At least one time look kindly upon me, And dispel all the gloomy darkness there In Narottama's heart; this is my prayer. 6
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Post by madanmohandas on Sept 30, 2022 15:51:14 GMT -6
As Song 25 has already been posted, Song 26
Alas, Hari, will such a state be mine? Having forsaken worldly existence, Immersed in exhilaration supreme, Will I to the blest land of Vraja go? 1
When of Vrindavan, fraught with happiness, Will I have the vision and blessed sight, And smear my body with the holy dust? With faltering voice choked in ecstasy, When shall I sing Radha and Krishna's names, And weeping clamorously wander round? 2
Then I shall proceed to a lonely bower, And with eight members prostrate on the ground, And call aloud, 'alas, O Radha's Lord!' When shall I venture to Yamuna's bank, And gain the touch of the holy water? When will I drink that water with cupped hands? 3
And moreover thus when will I proceed, To the site of the Rasa circle dance? When will I roll about in the dust there? I shall resort to Vamsivata's shade, In extremity of ecstatic bliss, And I will there fall down into a swoon. 4
When will I of the mountain Govardhan Fill my eyes with his glorious vision? And when will I reside at Radha kund? And as I wander and wander around, My body will fall there from exhaustion. So says the wretched Narottama das. 5
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Post by madanmohandas on Oct 1, 2022 8:30:06 GMT -6
Song 27 Alas, Hari! When will my state transform? When shall I leave all and sundry aside, And to the abode of Vrindavan go? This is the longing to which I aspire. 1 Wealth, relatives and sons and wife withal, I will remove from these to a distance, Then with singular purpose I will go. All unhappiness I shall cast away, And take up my abode in Vrindavan, And like a bee, subsist by begging alms. 2 The waters of the river Yamuna Are even as ambrosia divine, When will I drink and fill my belly there? When, in the pure water of Radha kund, Will I, exhilarated, take a bath, And make my prostration at Syama kund? 3 I will roam all the twelve forests around, And visit the sites of the divine play, And roll on the ground in loves' ecstasy. I shall inquire of the pure ones there, And hear from Vraja's dwellers of each place; And make my submission clasping their feet. 4 When will I to the site of 'dining' go, And behold with my eyes the very place, And visit the smaller forests and groves? Thus in the midst of holy Vrindavan, A mind has Narottama das to dwell, In yearning for the feet of the couple. 5 Song 28 With but a loin cloth and watering can, A tattered blanket to cover my limbs; I shall forsake all sensible objects. With constant love for Krishna, when will I In Vraja's charming bowers and soft groves, Repair to my cell deep within the wood? 1 Hari, Hari, ah me alas, Hari! Oh when will that auspicious day be mine? The sweet fruits and soft roots of Vrindavan, I shall partake at the end of the day, And wander around, quite indifferent. 2 In the cool waters of the Yamuna, I shall, exhilarated, take my bath, Becoming overwhelmed with love and bliss. Then with my arms raised up aloft for joy, Along Vrindavan's paths and alleyways, I shall go weeping, calling Krishna's name. 3 I shall behold the Sanket, trysting place, And soothe the heat of my tormented soul, And roll upon the ground, immersed in love. Where is Radha, the Goddess of my life? Where is the one who held the mountain king? I shall cry loudly, Oh Lord, where are you? 4 In a bower of madhavi flowers, I shall bide near male and female parrots, And hear their songs of Radha-Krishna's love. And sitting there at the root of a tree, I shall listen and soothed will be my heart. When shall I thus happily pass my days? 5 I shall Govinda and Gopinath view, With Srimati Radhika by their side, Standing on a gem studded lion throne. This poor and lowly Narottama das, Cultivates this rare and lofty desire; In how many days will it come to be? 6
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Post by madanmohandas on Oct 1, 2022 10:11:27 GMT -6
Song 29 Alas, Hari, when will it come to be, That I may in divine Vrindavan dwell? There I will always be able to see, The abundant beauty of the couple. 1 I shall forsake my comfortable bed, And do without soft pillows and cushions, But with the sanctified and holy dust Of Vraja, I will smear and rub my limbs. 2 The six-fold delectation of fine food, I shall forswear and keep it far away, But I will go to Vraja begging alms, And partake from here and there like a bee. 3 Having circumambulated around, I shall wander from forest to forest, And then I shall rest for a while at ease, On the soft banks of the Yamuna's flood. 4 I shall ward off the heat of the hot sun, Under the cooling shade of Vamsivat. When shall I sit in a flowery grove, In company of some Vaishnavas there? 5 So says the lowly Narottama das, Having forsaken all and everything, And from all attachments becoming free, When will I attain to that blessed state? 6 Song 30 And when will I that blessed state attain, When I leave all and to Vrindavan go? 1 When at the site of the circular Ras, Will I in eager bliss roll on the ground? 2 When will I of the mountain Govardhan Fill both my eyes with his divine vision? 3 Will I at Syama kund and Radha kund, There take a holy bath and soothe my soul? 4 And when in the holy Yamuna's stream Will I be purified by immersion? 5 To dwell in Vrindavan with holy ones The fond hope is of Narottama das. 6
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Post by madanmohandas on Oct 3, 2022 16:10:37 GMT -6
Well, back to Prarthana, but skipping to
Song 38
Whoever Gauranga's delicate feet Considers as his most precious treasure, Knows the quintessence of raptures of love. Into whoever's ears Gauranga's deeds, Delectable and sweet, have entered in, His heart is purified and washed of stain. 1
Whoever upon Gauranga's name calls, Undergoes the awakening of love; Him I commend with, bravo and well done! Who is absorbed in Gauranga's virtues, To him eternal exploits are revealed; For devotion he is the worthy one. 2
Whoever Gauranga's associates Considers eternal perfected souls, He attains to the son of Vraja's king. Who sees the circle of Sri Gauda's realm, Consisting of chintamani thought gems, Verily in the land of Vraja dwells. 3
Whoso in Gauranga's ocean of love Submerges in the billows of the flood, Is Radha and Madhava's intimate. He may at home or in the woods remain, But whoso calls aloud Gauranga's name, Narottama begs his society. 4
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Post by madanmohandas on Oct 4, 2022 3:39:43 GMT -6
Continuing, consecutively, with Prarthana,
Song 31
When shall I gain the wealth of Krishna's feet? Then I will keep them lodged within my heart; And thus my tormented soul will be soothed. I shall prepare a seat within my heart, And have my hearts' beloved seated there, And I will gaze upon his moon bright face. 1
O fair friend, will that blessed day be mine, Accompanied by that Lord of my life, When I shall participate in love play, Along the blissful banks of Yamuna? 2
As well with Lalita and Vishakha, I shall proceed with offerings in hand, And articles prepared with pious care. When Destiny turns in favour of me, I shall attain that ocean of virtues, I then of such fortune will be possessed. 3
But Destiny is stern in his decrees, And has closed down loves' market place for me; Nothing is left, no, not a mustard seed. Says Narottama das, disquieted, What hope is left for me in this life time, Now that the child of Vraja's king is gone? 4
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Post by madanmohandas on Oct 4, 2022 4:55:36 GMT -6
Song 32 If I were even but once to behold That lovely pair of soft delicate feet, I would ensconce them in my very heart. Whose soothing influence cools down my soul. 1 But since it is that I have not beheld, My mind in bitter torment is distressed; Or I will enter into burning fire, Or drown by leaping into water deep. 2 But no, I shall wipe sweat drops from his face, And feed him with succulent betel leaf; And I shall fan him to relieve the heat, And plaster his limbs with fresh sandal paste. 3 With flowers gathered from Vrindavan's groves, I shall string wreaths and place them round his neck; Then I shall bind the glory of his hair, Into a coil and into a top knot. 4 Then I shall designs of tilak apply, A sandal moon, and dots around the cheeks; Says Narottama das, this is indeed, The bond of love, the snare of affection! 5 Song 33 Vrindavan is a delightsome abode, The divine realm of chintamani gems, With temples captivating and bejewelled. Surrounded by Kalindi's sable stream, Where feathered royal swans frolic and play; Bright with the glow of golden lotus flowers. 1 In the midst a golden platform is raised, Like lotus encompassed with eight petals; On eight petals the chief heroines stand. Inside is a gem studded lion throne, Where the couple are seated in delight; Dark Syama and Radhika beautiful. 2 That abundance of beauty's pearly sheen, Is like a shower of ambrosia; As they converse with smiles and laughter sweet. Says Narottama das, in plaintive tones, May the eternal play endued with bliss, Be always manifested in my mind. 3
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Post by madanmohandas on Oct 4, 2022 12:35:27 GMT -6
Song 34
The fine fragrant kadamba flower trees, With branches distended contact the ground, And shed clusters of flowers all about. With abundance of ambient fragrance, The entire Vrindavan is perfumed; And male and female bees dart here and there. 1
Rai and Kanu in love play are engrossed; How exquisitely beautiful are they! Artful and the quintessence of fortune, Whose limbs are dight with ornaments and gems. 2
Radha, with her beautiful soft right hand, Clasps Giridhara, her beloved one, And thus they proceed sweetly and more sweet. Some sakhi friends before and some behind, Scatter with hands a rain of fragrant flowers, Some sakhi friends ply white chamara whisks. 3
Then come they where the pollen dust is strewn, Cool with the soft beams of the balmy moon, And there is a raised platform wrought of gems. Rai and Kanu, clasping each others' hands, Dance round in circles round and round again; Whose limbs by close contact are thrilled with joy. 4
With the deer musk and fragrant sandal scent, The sakhi friends adorn them with their hands, And scatter showers of flowers like rain. Studded with droplets of perspiration, The moon bright faces of the couple shine; His flute he will press to his lips and play. 5
In blissful humours of laughter and love, They converse innocently in sweet tones. Such is of Narottam the deep desire, That I may dress the pair in garments bright, And deck with blooms the glory of their hair, And relish the sight of their charming deeds. 6
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