Sri Vrindavan Mahimamrta 1

[madanmohandas]

Vrindavana Mahimamrta Sataka 1
of Prabodhananda Sarasvati.

sriraadhaamuraleenamoharapadaabhojam sadaabhaavayam
sricaitanyamahaaprabhoh padarajah svaatmaanamevaarpayan/
srimadbhaagvatottamaan gunanidheem atyaadaraadaanamaan
srivrndaavanadivyavaibhavamaham stotum mudaa praarabhe//1

Always absorbed in contemplation sweet
On Radha and Murali-mohan's feet;
My soul unto the foot-dust I consign
Of the Great Master Chaitanya divine;
Bowing to the exalted devotees,
Who are endued with sublime qualities,
With joy, descriptive praises I commence,
Of Vrindavana's divine opulence. 1

isho'pi yasya mahimaamrtavaariraaseh
paaram prayaatumanalam bata tatra ke'nye/
kintvalpamapyahamatipranayaadvigaahya
syaam dhanya dhanya iti me samupakramo'yam 2

Isha himself could not the sea cross o'er,
Nor reach of its greatness the other shore,
Even though he may great effort bestow,
Who else then could its immense glory know?
And yet a little I herewith survey,
And somewhat of its great glory convey,
As with strong love and affection possessed,
I shall be doubly bless'd among the bless'd. 2

srimad-vrindaatavi mama hrdi sphorayaatmasvarupam
atyaascaryam prakrtiparamaanandavidyaarahasyam
purnabrahmaamrtamapi hriyaa vaabhidhaatum na neti
brute yatropanisada ihaatratya vaarttaa kutastyaa// 1.3.

O Vrinda Forest! this my hearts' appeal,
Your esoteric divine form reveal;
Fraught with high wonder supernatural,
And supreme bliss that is ineffable;
The sagacious Upanishads maintain,
And the full-joy-sweet of Brahman proclaim;
Yet put to shame in defining that bliss,
Can only say it is not that nor this;
Then how indeed such being here that case,
Can one describe the glory of that place! 1.3

raadhaakrsnavilaasapurnasucmatkaaram mahaamaadhuree
saarasphaaracamatkrtim harirasotkarsasya kaasthaa paraam/
divyam svaadyarasaikaramyasubhagaasesam na sesaadibhih
sesairgamyagunaughapaaramanisaam samstaumi vrndaavanam//1.4

Here Radha and Krishna enact their deeds,
Full fraught with wonder that wonder exceeds;
The condensed essence of astonishment,
With mellow humours of Hari's love blent;
With relish of divine amour replete,
Delightsome, delectable, pure and sweet;
That neither Isha nor Sesha divine,
Its endless fame could measure or define;
I therefore sing the praise as I delight,
Of sacred Vrindavan both day and night! 1.4

[madanmohandas]

premotkyena vicintyataam viluthanaih sarvaangamaasojyataam
dehasyaasya samarpanena sudrdhapremaa samastheeyaam/
raadhaajaanirupaasyataam sthiracarapraaneeha santosyataam
srivrndaavanameva sarvaparamam sarvaatmanaasreeyataam// 1.5

Contemplate with eager love and profound,
And roll your person on the dusty ground;
The body and its adjuncts dedicate,
Pure loving faith devoutly cultivate;
Worship to Radha's beloved apply,
The mobile and immobile satisfy;
Thus with all your being take refuge there,
In sacred Vrindavan, beyond compare. 1.5

Vedaantaah pratipaadayanti mukhato no cet tatah kim mama
manyante vata saastragartapatita dustarkinah kim tatah/
no ced bhaagavataanubhutupadaveem yaatastatah kim mama
svaatmaa vajrasahasraviddha iva na spandeta vrndaavanaat// 1.6

If Vedanta speaks not explicitly
Of its great glory, what is that to me?
And what of those who wallow in the pit
Of false reason derived from holy writ,
Who argue doctrines of a certain sect,
If they do not its great glory respect?
And if some devotees are unaware,
Of its supreme glory, why should I care?
A thousand bolts might strike me from above;
From Vrindavan an inch I would not move. 1.6