SRI GAUDIYA GITANJALI : SARANAGATI GITI

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By Srila Narottam Das Thakur

anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmadyanavrtam
anukulyena krsnanusilanam bhaktir-uttama

‘The highest devotion is doing that which satisfies Lord Krishna without any other desires and without the coverings of any other pursuits, such as action or knowledge.’

(By Srimad Rupa Goswami Prabhupad)

anya-abhilasa chhadi’, jnana-karma parihari’,
kaya mane kariba bhajana
sadhu-sange krsna seva, na pujiba devi-deva,
ei bhakti parama karana [1]

I will serve the Lord with my body and mind, giving up all other desires and pursuits of material benefit and knowledge. I will serve Lord Krishna in sadhus’ association without worshipping any gods or goddesses – this is the ultimate way to attain devotion.

mahajanera yei patha, ta’te haba anurata,
purvapara kariya vichara
sadhana-smarana-lila, ihate na kara hela,
kaya mane kariya susara [2]

After a careful deliberation, I will passionately embrace the path of great souls and will live practising spiritual life and remembering the Lord. I will never slacken – I will always do my best to focus my body and thoughts on that.

asat-sanga sada tyaga, chhada anya gita-raga,
karmi jnani parihari’ dure
kevala bhakata-sanga, prema-katha-rasa-ranga,
lila katha vraja-rasa-pure [3]

Always give up bad association and do not listen to material songs and music. Keep as far as possible from materialists and scholars. Associate only with devotees: revel in the talks about divine love and pastimes of the Lord and relish ecstatic devotion of Vraja.

yogi, nyasi, karmi, jnani, anya-deva-pujaka, dhyani,
iha-loka dure parihari’
karma, dharma, duhkha, soka, yeba thake anya yoga,
chhadi’ bhaja giri-bara-dhari [4]

Yogis, sannyasis, materialists, scholars, worshippers of other gods, meditators – leave the association of such people, keep away from them. Leave all material and religious pursuits, sadness, grief and all other practices and only worship Lord Krishna, the Holder of Govardhan!

tirtha-yatra-parisrama, kevala manera bhrama,
sarva-siddhi govinda-charana
drdha-visvasa hrde dhari’, mada-matsarya parihari’,
sada kara ananya-bhajana [5]

The trouble of travelling to holy places is simply a delusion because all possible perfection is at Lord Govinda’s feet. Always practise exclusive devotion keeping strong faith and leaving pride and envy.

krsna-bhakta-sanga kari’, krsna-bhakta-anga heri’,
sraddhanvite sravana-kirtana
archana, vandana, dhyana, nava-bhakti maha-jnana,
ei bhakti parama karana [6]

Practising the nine aspects of devotion (listening about the Lord, chanting the Lord’s Names, worshipping the Lord’s Deity, meditating upon the Lord, etc.) with faith, keeping the association of Lord Krishna’s devotees and beholding the holy forms of Lord Krishna’s devotees – this is the greatest knowledge and the ultimate way to develop devotion.

hrsike govinda-seva, na pujiba devi-deva,
ei ta’ ananya-bhakti-katha
ara yata upalambha, visesa sakali dambha,
dekhite lagaye mane vyatha [7]

Desiring to serve Lord Govinda with all your senses without worshipping any other gods and goddesses is what is called exclusive devotion. Everything else is condemnable and just a display of arrogance – it pains me to see it.

dehe baise ripu-gana, yateka indriya-gana,
keha kara badhya nahi haya
sunile na sune kana, janile na jane prana,
dadhaite na pare nischaya [8]

My enemies live within my own body: all my senses enjoy free rein because there is nothing that can restrict them. Even when I hear something, my ears refuse to hear it; even if I know something, my heart refuses to know it – I cannot bring them under firm control.

kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada, matsarya, dambha-saha,
sthane sthane niyukta kariba
ananda kari’ hrdaya, ripu kari’ parajaya,
anayase govinda bhajiba [9]

I will engage lust, anger, greed, illusion, madness, envy and pride in corresponding places ‒ rejoicing in my heart at the victory over these enemies, I will then easily be able to serve Lord Govinda.

‘kama’ krsna-karmarpane, ‘krodha’ bhakta-dvesi-jane,
‘lobha’ sadhu-sange hari-katha
‘moha’ ista-labha-bine, ‘mada’ krsna-guna-gane,
niyukta kariba yatha tatha [10]

I will engage each of the enemies in their corresponding places: lust  – in offering my actions to Lord Krishna; anger – towards those who dislike devotees; greed – in listening about the Lord in devotees’ association; illusion – in the frustration of being unable to attain my worshippable Lord; madness – in chanting the glories of Lord Krishna.

anyatha svatantra kama, anarthadi yara dhama,
bhakti-pathe sada deya bhanga
kiba va karite pare, kama-krodha sadhakere,
yadi haya sadhu-janara sanga [11]

All other independent desires (forms of lust) are full of unwanted elements, and they always obstruct the path of devotion. But lust and anger will not be able to do anything if the practitioner keeps saints’ association.

krodhe va na kare kiba, krodha-tyaga sada diba,
lobha moha ei ta‘ kathana
chhaya ripu sada hina, kariba manera adhina,
krsna-chandra kariya smarana [12]

All kinds of things are done out of anger, so I will always renounce anger. The same applies to greed and illusion. These six enemies are always despicable, so I will bring them under my mind’s control by remembering Lord Krishna-chandra.

apani palabe saba, suniya ‘govinda’-rava,
simha-rave yena kari-gana
sakala vipatti yabe, mahananda sukha pabe,
yara haya ekanta bhajana [13]

They will all flee automatically once they hear the word ‘Govinda’, just as elephants flee hearing the roar of a lion. If you practise spiritual life properly, all dangers will go away and you will feel deep happiness.

na kariha asat chesta, labha, puja, pratistha,
sada chinta’ govinda-charana
sakala santapa yabe, parananda sukha pabe,
prema-bhakti parama-karana [14]

Do not strive for anything temporary and non-spiritual (any material gain, adoration or name and fame) – always think about Lord Govinda’s holy feet. All sorrows will go away, and you will feel spiritual joy. This is the ultimate way to attain transcendental loving devotion.

asat-sanga kutinati, chhada anya paripati,
anya debe na kariha rati
apana apana sthane, piriti sabai tane,
bhakti-pathe padaye vigati [15]

Give up bad association, duplicity and all other practices. Do not give your heart to any other god. Love always tries to entice everyone – it will pull you in different directions and take you away from the path of devotion.

apana bhajana-patha, tahe ha’ba anurata,
istadeva-sthane lila gana
naisthika-bhajana ei, tomare kahilu bhai,
hanumana tahate pramana [16]

I will become deeply devoted to the path of my spiritual life and sing about the pastimes taking place where my worshippable Lord resides. Brother, I have told you about what an exclusive, unswerving devotional life is. Hanuman bears witness to it.

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Sri Gaudiya Gitanjali (English)
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