Special Poetry: Srimad Bhaktivinod Viraha Dasakam | Sri Gaudiya Gitanjali

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SRI GAUDIYA GITANJALI : SPECIAL POETRY

Srimad Bhaktivinod Viraha Dasakam
(Prayers in Separation from Srimad Bhaktivinod Thakur)

(By Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj)

(Composed during the manifest pastimes of Srila Prabhupad, who read and praised this poem very much, expressing his hope and well-wishes for the service to the sampradaya in the future)

ha ha bhaktivinoda-thakura! guro ! dvavimsatis te sama
dirghad-duhkha-bharad-asesa-virahad-duhsthikrta bhuriyam
jivanam bahu-janma-punya-nivahakrsto mahi-mandale
avirbhava-krpam chakara cha bhavan sri-gaura-saktih svayam [1]

Alas, alas! O Bhaktivinod Thakur, O Supreme Guru! For the past twenty-two years, this earth has been grasped by the misery of deep sadness in unfathomable separation from you. Sri Gaura’s potency personified, you graciously appeared on this planet, being attracted by jiva souls’ sukriti (devotional merit) amassed during many lifetimes.

dino ’ham chira-duskrtir na hi bhavat-padabja-dhuli-kana-
snanananda-nidhim prapanna-subhadam labdhum samartho ’bhavam
kintv audarya-gunat-tavati-yasasah karunya-saktih svayam
sri-sri-gaura-mahaprabhoh prakatita visvam samanvagrahit [2]

Because I am poor and very unfortunate, I did not get the fortune to reach the ocean that bestows the auspiciousness of surrender by joyfully bathing in the dust of your holy lotus feet. Yet your magnanimity is such that Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu’s mercy and grand renown manifest themselves on their own – in this way, you granted your favour to this universe (I have become a recipient of His favour just by being present within this universe).

he deva! stavane tavakhila-gunanam te virinchadayo
deva vyartha-mano-rathah kim u vayam martyadhamah kurmahe
etan no vibudhaih kadapy atisayalankara ity uchyatam
sastresv eva ‘na paraye ’ham’ iti yad gitam mukundena tat [3]

O Lord! When even all the demigods headed by Lord Brahma feel frustrated trying to (properly) extol your great qualities, then where does it leave such vile human beings as us? The learned will never mean this as a hyperbole or an ornamental figure of speech because even the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna Himself famously sang, as recorded in the scriptures, saying, ‘I cannot (repay your devotion).

dharmas-charma-gato ’jnataiva satata yogas cha bhogatmako
jnane sunya-gatir japena tapasa khyatir jighamsaiva cha
dane dambhikata ’nuraga-bhajane dustapacharo yada
buddhim buddhi-matam vibheda hi tada dhatra bhavan presitah [4]

When religion was based on skin type, ignorance was considered saintliness and yoga was motivated by enjoyment; when cultivation of knowledge was merely a path to non-existence, and japa and austerities were practised in search of fame or out of spite; when charity was an exercise of pride; and when, with all the awful atrocious behaviour exhibited in the name of loving devotion, the minds of even intelligent people had become diverted – at this very time you were sent to this world by Providence.

visve ’smin kiranair yatha hima-karah sanjivayann osadhir
naksatrani cha ranjayan nija-sudham vistarayan rajate
sachchhastrani cha tosayan budha-ganam sammodayams te tatha
nunam bhumi-tale subhodaya iti hlado bahuh satvatam [5]

Just as in this universe, the cooling moon enhances its beauty by spreading the nectar of its moonlight, filling all plants with life and delighting the stars with its rays – in the same way, your auspicious descend to this earth, no doubt, fills the learned with joy (through your authoritative conception) and pleases all pure scriptures (through your studying them). As the result, devotees’ joy knows no end.

lokanam hita-kamyaya bhagavato bhakti-pracharas tvaya
granthanam rachanaih satam abhimatair nana-vidhair darsitah
acharyaih krta-purvam eva kila tad ramanujadyair budhaih
premambho-nidhi-vigrahasya bhavato mahatmya-sima na tat [6]

Blessing everyone, you manifested preaching about devotion to the Lord by composing many scriptures and by adopting various methods approved by saintly personalities. Previously, greatly learned souls (Sri Ramanuja and others) as well as many spiritual teachers performed this work – this is how the preceptorial line is formed. However, the extent of your glory is not (limited by) that, as you are a worshippable personification of the nectar of transcendental love.

yad dhamnah khalu dhama chaiva nigame brahmeti samjnayate
yasyamsasya kalaiva duhkha-nikarair yogesvarair mrgyate
vaikunthe para-mukta-bhrnga-charano narayano yah svayam
tasyamsi bhagavan svayam rasa-vapuh krsno bhavan tat pradah [7]

You have given Supreme Lord Sri Krishna, who is the fountainhead of all transcendental mellows and the origin of even the master of the spiritual world, Lord Narayan Himself. That which the Vedas describe as Brahman is merely the effulgence of His transcendental abode; and that which yoga experts search after accepting many hardships is merely a part of a part of His expansion. Moreover, even great liberated souls exist beautifully as honeybees at His lotus feet.

sarvachintyamaye paratpara-pure goloka-vrndavane
chil-lila-rasa-rangini parivrta sa radhika sri-hareh
vatsalyadi-rasais cha sevita-tanor-madhurya-seva-sukham
nityam yatra muda tanoti hi bhavan tad dhama-seva-pradah [8]

You can grant service to the holy abode of Sri Vrindavan that is situated in Goloka, the highest region of the spiritual world, filled with all kinds of inconceivable qualities, where, revelling in the nectar of transcendental pastimes, Srimati Radhika eternally and jubilantly bestows the bliss of loving service to Sri Krishna-chandra, the worshippable Deity served in four mellows of devotion (parenthood, etc.).

sri-gauranumatam svarupa-viditam rupagrajenadrtam
rupadyaih parivesitam raghuganair asvaditam sevitam
jivadyair abhiraksitam suka-siva-brahmadi- sammanitam
sri-radha-pada-sevanamrtam aho tad datum iso bhavan [9]

O wonder of wonders! That which, on the order of Sri Gaurachandra, Sri Svarup Damodar knows the internal purpose of; which is adored by Sri Sanatan Goswami; which is distributed by the preceptors headed by Sri Rupa Goswami, who teach transcendental mellows; which is tasted and enhanced by Sri Raghunath Das Goswami and his followers; which is carefully protected by the votaries headed by Sri Jiva Prabhu; and which (from a respectful distance) is venerated by great personalities such as Sri Suka, Lord Siva, Indra (the chief of demigods) and Lord Brahma (the grandfather of all beings) – you are capable of giving us that treasure of the nectarine rapture of servitude to the holy feet of Sri Radha.

kvaham manda-matis tv ativa-patitah kva tvam jagat-pavanah
bho svamin krpayaparadha-nichayo nunam tvaya ksamyatam
yache ’ham karuna-nidhe! varam imam padabja-mule bhavat-
sarvasvavadhi-radhika-dayita-dasanam gane ganyatam [10]

Where I am, a foolish and very fallen soul, and where you are, a great soul, the rescuer of the world! O Lord! You will no doubt mercifully forgive me (the author of this eulogy) for my offences. O ocean of mercy! I am praying at the soles of your lotus feet that you may make my life successful by counting me amongst the family of your heart’s all-in-all, Sri Varsabhanavi Dayita Das.

SRI GAUDIYA GITANJALI (English)
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