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Post by madanmohandas on Aug 17, 2010 17:59:11 GMT -6
Ok. Here is the verse in keeping with your reading Nitai.
Whoever the realm of the gods or that of the manes attains are always commended, 'well done, well done!' But for those who worship the couple, floating in love's joy, the three worlds make but for calamity.
I'm not completely convinced. The problem is it can't possibly mean both being so couterposed, but that word nichani being taken as 'worship' or 'calamity' makes all the difference. Perhaps I may include both readings?
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Post by Nitaidas on Aug 18, 2010 8:45:39 GMT -6
Ok. Here is the verse in keeping with your reading Nitai. Whoever the realm of the gods or that of the manes attains are always commended, 'well done, well done!' But for those who worship the couple, floating in love's joy, the three worlds make but for calamity. I'm not completely convinced. The problem is it can't possibly mean both being so couterposed, but that word nichani being taken as 'worship' or 'calamity' makes all the difference. Perhaps I may include both readings? Did you leave out the part about mahasukha? Those who reach the worlds of the gods and manes taste great happiness and every moment say "Well done! Well done!" [But] Those who worship the loving couple, afloat in love's sweet bliss, find the triple world a tragedy.
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Post by Nitaidas on Aug 18, 2010 10:18:26 GMT -6
"I don't know about Sundarananda's edition, but I think the definitive edition was done by Nirodprasad Nath and was published by Kolkata University. It is called Narottama Das O Tanhar Racanavali. It contains all of his works as well as those attributed to him and a long introduction. It is over 800 pages long and has variant readings for each verse." Where to begin to try to find a copy of this work? Kolkata U? Sanskrit Pustak Bhandar probably has copies. I don't know. I got my copy years ago during one of my research periods in Kolkata. There is also the Sanskrit Book Depot and a few other places on College Street that might still have copies. It you want something specific that is not too large, I can scan it into a pdf document and send it to you.
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Post by madanmohandas on Aug 18, 2010 13:50:18 GMT -6
Yes Nitai, I missed the mahasukha. Here is another attempt. Yours is fine but the meter has been lost, not that I am strict about it, but I'd like to keep as close as possible.
Who reach the realms of gods and manes great joy attains, and costantly say,' well done ,well done!' Those who worship the couple, floating in love's joy, find in the triple-world but tragedy.27
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Post by Nitaidas on Aug 18, 2010 14:23:41 GMT -6
Looks good, madanji.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2010 2:43:44 GMT -6
@nitaiji, this advice is probably enough for me for now. I want to search through and read the entire text. Next time I get back to Kolkata I have got to make a pilgrimage to the bookstores. Thank you.
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Post by madanmohandas on Aug 31, 2010 7:32:17 GMT -6
To dwell apart amounts to miserable sense indulgence, so dwell in Vraja and serve Govinda. Krsna's tidings and Krsna's names are rapture's true abode; always associate with Vraja's people.28
For loving service always aspire with faithful mind, and always fearless be. Narottama das says, ' I fell into a wretched state, save me, O great one!29
Thou art the ocean of grace, the lowly one's friend, pay heed, master, to my plea; I fell into a wretched state, devoured by whales of desire, O lord deliver me!30
Since birth I am guilty of overwhelming transgressions, I have not, without guile, worshipped thee, yet thou art my recourse, lord of my heart, forsake me not, there is none so wretched as I.31
'Saviour of the fallen', a name, O Syam, by which thou art renowned; if neglected I have no recourse. Even if I am guilty thou art still my sole recourse, truely as a chaste spouse is true.32
Thou art indeed the god supreme, thou shouldst forsake me not, hear, O hear me lord of my life! If I transgress thou art my master still, confer on me service as thine attendant.33
By desire my cognition is ruined, never heeding my good, my mind's vile tendancies are not removed; yet accept me , master, thou wish-yealding tree, let all observe thy compassion.34
There is none so base as I, look thou, in all the three worlds, let 'Narottama's Saviour' be thy name! Renowned in the world as redeemer of the base, O Syam, make me your attendant, O mountain lifter!35
Narottama is very unhappy, master, make me happy, let me worship and adore thee. But impediments persist and this is my great fear; and so my constant supplication.36
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Post by madanmohandas on Sept 1, 2010 5:58:59 GMT -6
Extrenuous topics, worldly pains, I go not to these, but set upon thy feet my recollection; unwearied and incesently and in dulcet tones thy virtues I sing in the assembly of the good.37
I observe no other vows or charities nor knowledge of things, nor do I serve and worship other gods. Repeatedly calling, 'Alas, alas, O Krsna!', I roam in joy with no extrenuous thought in mind.38
My goal in life or death are Radha and Krsna, heart's lord, whose mutual love joy's rapture is; the companions of the couple are the garland of my heart, this topic within my bosom lies.39
Serve the couple's feet, meditate upon their feet, cherish in mind the couple's love; the adolescent couple's beauty reigns o'er all Cupids and Ratis, keep in mind their glorious exploits.40
Clenching straw between the teeth, ' Alas, alas, Kisor Kisori! At thy lotus-feet I make submission. O Syam, prince of Vraja! O charming damsel Radhika, named Vrsabhanu's daughter!41
Rai shines like a golden Ketaki, Syam like an emerald glows, whose beauty crushes Cupid's pride; he is her lead dancer, she his chief dancing partner, each remains immersed in each's virtues.42
Their beauteous faces shine like gold and saphire, embelished with ornaments of rapture, clad in blue and yellow raiment, fair and dark enchanters, rapt in heart's mutual craving.43
Each limb of each with bejewelled ornaments is adorned, thus says poor Narottama das. Day and night their virtues sing, and thus attain great joy, this is my mind's high aspiration.44
And now I speak in set terms of passionate worship's path, which is the essence of secular and Vedic lore. Becoming a follower of the sakhis, attaining a prefect body in Vraja, this rapture will sooth your soul.45
How much can be said of those who are Radha's sakhis! I will count the cheif among them; Lalita and Visakha, Citra and Campakalata, and Rangadevi and Sudevi too,45
Tungavidya, Indulekha, these the 'eight sakhis' are called, now I speak of confidantes, Radha's dear companions called beloveds who always in loving service are enganged.46
First is Sri Rupa manjari, then Rati manjari, Lavanga manjari and Manjulali, and Rasa manjari, Kasturika and other playful damsels, all exhilirated by loving service.47
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Post by Nitaidas on Sept 3, 2010 12:28:34 GMT -6
Thanks for this madanmohanji. it is delightful.
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