Sri Chaitanya Chitrastakam

[madanmohandas]

Sri Chaitanya Chitrastakam of Prabodhananda Sarasvati 1-4

Sri Chaitanya Chitrastakam

Sri Prabodhananda Sarasvati

The gloomy and dark ignorance that dwells
Within the heart to a distance dispels;
The heretics their foul iniquities
Abandon and become great devotees,
And taste the nectar of love consummate,
To all in the three worlds compassionate;
Is not such a great wonder and surprise,
Since fair-moon-Gaura in Gauda did rise! 1

The lame across high mountains now proceed,
Love germinates without sowing a seed;
The blind from birth perceive vision divine,
The dumb can speak with eloquence sublime;
Right suddenly there is no more distress,
But only unwavering happiness;
Is not such a great wonder and surprise,
Since fair-moon-Gaura in Gauda did rise! 2

Glass now transforms into pure gold, and then
Pure gold becomes a wish fulfilling gem;
The cats eye stone produces jewels rare;
A crow, the king of birds that ply the air;
The bonsai, form of sandal tree acquires,
The fruitless tree now fulfils all desires;
Is not such a great wonder and surprise,
Since fair- moon-Gaura in Gauda did rise! 3

That which great Gods like Brahma fail to gain,
Which wise sages always strive to attain;
Which is most rare for Lakshmi to procure;
The love which is fresh ambrosia pure;
Outcasts and sinners in Kali achieve,
And the abundance of that love receive;
Is not such a great wonder and surprise,
Since fair-moon-Gaura in Gauda did rise! 4

[madanmohandas]

Sri Chaitanya Chitrastakam, verse 5

vrndaaranya-rahasya-keli-sadaneluptaatikaala krame
khyaataa caivam-abhut samasta-sukha-daa leelaa-kathaa-maadhuri/
govindeti vrajendra-mitra-tanayaa saaksaad rabhu raajate
gaude gaura-sudhaakare samudite kim kim vicitram na hi//

The glory of Vrindavan's play divine
Was hidden and lost in the course of time;
And the sweet accounts of those exploits there,
Have been revealed again although most rare.
The daughter of the friend of Vraja's king,
Hath now appeared, Govinda's name to sing;
Is not such a great wonder and surprise,
Since fair-moon-Gaura in Gauda did rise! 5

[madanmohandas]

Sri Chaitanya Chitrastakam 6

raadhaa-krsna-padaaravinda-bhajanaanandotsavaaharnisham
krsnaaradhana-krisna-keertana-mudaa-premaamrtaasvadanam/
sarve visva-caraacara-prbhrtayah premaanbudhau magnavad
gaude gaura-sudhaakare damudite kim kim vicitram na hi//

The grand festivity with joy replete,
In worship of the lotus flower feet
Of Radha and Krishna, filled with delight,
In adoration singing day and night,
Hath drowned all beings in the boundless sea;
The moving and inert in ecstasy;
Is such not a great wonder and surprise,
Since fair-moon-Gaura in Gauda did rise! 6

[madanmohandas]

Sri Chaitanya Chitrastakam 7

haa raadhe jaya raadhike sumadhure haa praananaathapriye
haa vamseedhara-mohinee sashimukhee praanesvaree haa kutah/
haa vrndavana-sundaree rasamayeeti tittham muhur-jalpayad
gaude gaura-sudhaakare samudite kim kim vicitram na hi//

O Radhe! hail Radhe! sweet dame adored!
Hail beloved of thy beloved Lord!
O one who the dark flute player beguiles!
O moon-face damsel of the tender smiles!
O mistress of my life, to thee I bow;
O beauty of Vrindavan, where art thou?
O damsel of the sweet humours replete,
Now all the world thy glory doth repeat.
Is not such a great wonder and surprise,
Since fair-moon-Gaura in Gauda did rise! 7

[madanmohandas]

Sri Chaitanya Chitraskam 8/9

he raadhaapriya raadhikaa-dayita he govinda gopipate
he vrndaavana-sundarao ramana he haa praananaathah kutah/
ittham premasudhaarasam sumadhuram pitvaa pramattam jagad
gaude gaura-sudhaakare samudite kim kim vicitram na hi// 8

Belov'd of Radha, Radhika's dear Lord!
O Govinda, of cowherd dames adored!
To Vrindavan's handsome Lord I bow,
O Lord of life, beloved, where art thou?
Thus in the sea of humours all are hurled,
Quaffing the sweets of love-madness the world;
Is not such a great wonder and surprise,
Since fair-moon-Gaura in Gauda did rise!

yair-etat-pathita, sunirmaladhiyaa caitanya-citrastaakam
srutvaa vaa manasaa grnanti vivashaa gaayanti ye'harnisam/
sarve paapasuduskrtam ca vinasan-majjanati premaambudhaa-
vante tasya padaaravinda-yugale tishtanti maa samsayah// 9

Who doth this hymn with a pure mind recite,
As the Chaitanya Chitraskam hight,
Or listens with a deep attention, they,
Sing it with devotion both night and day;
Their sins and wickedness are all dispersed,
And in the ocean of love are immersed;
Then in the end his lotus-feet attain,
And blessed, let no doubt of this remain. 9