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Sacisunvastakam

harir dṛṣṭvā goṣṭhe mukura-gatam ātmānam atulaṁ sva-mādhuryaṁ rādhā-priyatara-sakhīvāptum abhitaḥ aho gauḍe jātaḥ prabhur apara-gauraika-tanu-bhāk śacī-sūnuḥ kiṁ me nayana-saraṇīṁ yāsyati punaḥ
Translation

Hari, having seen in a mirror His own incomparable form in the cowherd village, wishing to taste His own sweetness by becoming Radha's most beloved gopi-friend -- ah, that very Lord took birth in Gauda, assuming a uniquely golden body. When will that son of Saci again cross the path of my eyes?

purīdevasyāntaḥ-praṇaya-madhunā snāna-madhuro muhur govindodyad-viśada-paricaryārcita-padaḥ svarūpasya prāṇārbuda-kamala-nīrājita-mukhaḥ śacī-sūnuḥ kiṁ me nayana-saraṇīṁ yāsyati punaḥ
Translation

Sweet from bathing in the nectar of Puri's inner love; His feet worshiped again and again by Govinda's pure and abundant service; His face waved with lamps by Svarupa in an offering of a hundred million lives -- when will that son of Saci again cross the path of my eyes?

dadhānaḥ kaupīnaṁ tad-upari bahir-vastram aruṇaṁ prakāṇḍo hemādri-dyutibhir abhitaḥ sevita-tanuḥ mudā gāyann uccair nija-madhura-nāmāvalim asau śacī-sūnuḥ kiṁ me nayana-saraṇīṁ yāsyati punaḥ
Translation

Wearing a loincloth and, over it, a reddish outer cloth, His tall form served on all sides, glowing like a golden mountain, joyfully singing aloud His own sweet holy names -- when will that son of Saci again cross the path of my eyes?

anāvedyāṁ pūrvair api muni-gaṇair bhakti-nipuṇaiḥ śruter gūḍhāṁ premojjvala-rasa-phalāṁ bhakti-latikām kṛpālus tāṁ gauḍe prabhur ati-kṛpābhiḥ prakaṭayan śacī-sūnuḥ kiṁ me nayana-saraṇīṁ yāsyati punaḥ
Translation

The creeper of devotion, hidden in the Vedas, whose fruit is the brilliant mellow of love, which even the earlier sages expert in devotion did not make known -- that the compassionate Lord revealed in Gauda through His boundless mercy. When will that son of Saci again cross the path of my eyes?

nijatve gauḍīyān jagati parigṛhya prabhur imān hare-kṛṣṇety evaṁ gaṇana-vidhinā kīrtayata bhoḥ itiprāyāṁ śikṣāṁ janaka iva tebhyaḥ paridiśan śacī-sūnuḥ kiṁ me nayana-saraṇīṁ yāsyati punaḥ
Translation

Accepting the Gaudiyas of this world as His very own, the Lord, like a father instructing His children, taught them essentially this: "Chant in this way, counting Hare Krishna!" When will that son of Saci again cross the path of my eyes?

puraḥ paśyan nīlācala-patim uru-prema-nivahaiḥ kṣaran-netrāmbhobhiḥ snapita-nija-dīrghojjvala-tanuḥ sadā tiṣṭhan deśe praṇayi-garuḍa-stambha-carame śacī-sūnuḥ kiṁ me nayana-saraṇīṁ yāsyati punaḥ
Translation

Gazing upon the Lord of Nilacala, His tall, radiant form bathed by the tears streaming from His eyes in abundant love, ever standing at His beloved place behind the Garuda-pillar -- when will that son of Saci again cross the path of my eyes?

mudā dantair daṣṭvā dyuti-vijita-bandhūka-madhuraṁ karaṁ kṛtvā vāmaṁ kaṭi-nihitam anyaṁ parilasan samutthāpya premṇāgaṇita-pulako nṛtya-kutukī śacī-sūnuḥ kiṁ me nayana-saraṇīṁ yāsyati punaḥ
Translation

Joyfully biting His lip, sweeter than the radiance of the bandhuka flower, placing His left hand on His hip and gracefully raising the other, His hairs standing on end with countless thrills of love, eager to dance -- when will that son of Saci again cross the path of my eyes?

sarit-tīrārāme viraha-vidhuro gokula-vidhor nadīm anyāṁ kurvan nayana-jala-dhārā-vitatibhiḥ muhur mūrcchāṁ gacchan mṛtakam iva viśvaṁ viracayan śacī-sūnuḥ kiṁ me nayana-saraṇīṁ yāsyati punaḥ
Translation

Tormented by separation from the moon of Gokula in a garden on the riverbank, creating another river with the ceaseless streams of tears from His eyes, again and again falling into a swoon, making the whole world seem as if dead -- when will that son of Saci again cross the path of my eyes?

śacī-sūnor asyāṣṭakam idam abhīṣṭaṁ viracayat sadā dainyodrekād ati-viśada-buddhiḥ paṭhati yaḥ prakāmaṁ caitanyaḥ prabhur ati-kṛpāveśa-vivaśaḥ pṛthu-premāmbhodhau prathita-rasade majjayati tam
Translation

Whoever, with a mind ever purified through deep humility, recites this astaka about the son of Saci, which fulfills one's desires -- Lord Caitanya, overwhelmed by His own boundless mercy, fully immerses that person in the vast ocean of love that bestows the celebrated rasa.

About Sacisunvastakam

Composed by Raghunatha Dasa Goswami, among the most intimate of the six Goswamis and closely attached to Lord Caitanya's final years in Jagannatha Puri, this astakam paints eight tableaux of the Lord there -- served by Govinda, gazed upon by Svarupa Damodara, weeping before the Nilacala deity, dancing in ecstasy, and drowning in Krishna-viraha -- each closing with the aching refrain "saci-sunuh kim me nayana-saranim yasyati punah," "when will Saci's son again cross the path of my eyes," composed after the Lord's disappearance.

Verses
9

Frequently asked

Who wrote Sacisunvastakam?

Sacisunvastakam was composed by Raghunatha Dasa Goswami.

What is the meaning of Sacisunvastakam?

Hari, having seen in a mirror His own incomparable form in the cowherd village, wishing to taste His own sweetness by becoming Radha's most beloved gopi-friend -- ah, that very Lord took birth in Gauda, assuming a uniquely golden body. When will that son of Saci again cross the path of my eyes?

How many verses does Sacisunvastakam have?

Sacisunvastakam has 9 verses.

Can I download Sacisunvastakam as a PPT or PDF?

Yes. A ready-to-display slide deck for Sacisunvastakam — verse and translation on each slide — is available to download in both PowerPoint (.pptx) and PDF formats from this page, for use in kirtan or temple programs.