Vaishnava Songs
Nandgram Dham
Nandgram Dham Vaishnava Songs · nandgramdham.org/songs

Samsara Davanala Lidha Loka

Sri Sri Gurvastakam - Mangala Arati

Eight Prayers to the Guru — by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura

हिन्दी में पढ़ें

Listen

5 versions
Show
Script
Text
saṁsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka- trāṇāya kāruṇya-ghanāghanatvam prāptasya kalyāṇa-guṇārṇavasya vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
Word for word
saṁsāra (of) material existence; dāvā-anala (by) the forest fire; līḍha afflicted; loka the people; trāṇāya to deliver; kāruṇya of mercy; ghanāghana-tvam the quality of a cloud; prāptasya who has obtained; kalyāṇa auspicious; guṇa (of) qualities; arṇavasya who is an ocean; vande I offer obeisances; guroḥ of my spiritual master; śrī auspicious; caraṇa-aravindam unto the lotus feet
Translation

The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities.

mahāprabhoḥ kīrtana-nṛtya-gīta- vāditra-mādyan-manaso rasena romāñca-kampāśru-taraṅga-bhājo vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
Word for word
mahāprabhoḥ of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kīrtana (by) chanting; nṛtya dancing; gīta singing; vāditra playing musical instruments; mādyat gladdened; manasaḥ whose mind; rasena due to the mellows of pure devotion; roma-añca standing of the hair; kampa quivering of the body; aśru-taraṅga torrents of tears; bhājaḥ who feels; vande I offer obeisances; guroḥ of my spiritual master; śrī auspicious; caraṇa-aravindam unto the lotus feet
Translation

Chanting the holy name, dancing in ecstasy, singing, and playing musical instruments, the spiritual master is always gladdened by the saṅkīrtana movement of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Because he is relishing the mellows of pure devotion within his mind, sometimes his hair stands on end, he feels quivering in his body, and tears flow from his eyes like waves. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

śrī-vigrahārādhana-nitya-nānā- śṛṅgāra-tan-mandira-mārjanādau yuktasya bhaktāṁś ca niyuñjato 'pi vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
Word for word
śrī-vigraha (of) the arcā vigraha (Deities); ārādhana the worship; nitya daily; nānā (with) various; śṛṅgāra clothing and ornaments; tat of the Lord; mandira (of) the temple; mārjana-ādau in the cleaning, etc; yuktasya who is engaged; bhaktān his disciples; ca and; niyuñjataḥ who engages; api also; vande I offer obeisances; guroḥ of my spiritual master; śrī auspicious; caraṇa-aravindam unto the lotus feet
Translation

The spiritual master is always engaged in the temple worship of Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. He also engages his disciples in such worship. They dress the Deities in beautiful clothes and ornaments, clean Their temple, and perform other similar worship of the Lord. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

catur-vidha-śrī-bhagavat-prasāda- svādv-anna-tṛptān hari-bhakta-saṅghān kṛtvaiva tṛptiṁ bhajataḥ sadaiva vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
Word for word
catuḥ four; vidha kinds; śrī holy; bhagavat-prasāda which have been offered to Kṛṣṇa; svādu palatable; anna (by) foods; tṛptān spiritually satisfied; hari (of) Kṛṣṇa; bhakta-saṅghān the devotees; kṛtvā having made; eva thus; tṛptim satisfaction; bhajataḥ who feels; sada always; eva certainly; vande I offer obeisances; guroḥ of my spiritual master; śrī auspicious; caraṇa-aravindam unto the lotus feet
Translation

The spiritual master is always offering Kṛṣṇa four kinds of delicious food [analyzed as that which is licked, chewed, drunk, and sucked]. When the spiritual master sees that the devotees are satisfied by eating bhagavat-prasāda, he is satisfied. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

śrī-rādhikā-mādhavayor apāra- mādhurya-līlā guṇa-rūpa-nāmnām prati-kṣaṇāsvādana-lolupasya vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
Word for word
śrī-rādhikā (of) Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī; mādhavayoḥ of Lord Mādhava (Kṛṣṇa); apāra unlimited; mādhurya conjugal; līlā pastimes; guṇa qualities; rūpa forms; nāmnām of the holy names; prati-kṣaṇa at every moment; āsvādana relishing; lolupasya who aspires after; vande I offer obeisances; guroḥ of my spiritual master; śrī auspicious; caraṇa-aravindam unto the lotus feet
Translation

The spiritual master is always eager to hear and chant about the unlimited conjugal pastimes of Rādhikā and Mādhava, and Their qualities, names, and forms. The spiritual master aspires to relish these at every moment. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

nikuñja-yūno rati-keli-siddhyai yā yālibhir yuktir apekṣaṇīyā tatrāti-dākṣyād ati-vallabhasya vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
Word for word
nikuñja-yūnaḥ of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa; rati (of) conjugal love; keli (of) pastimes; siddhyai for the perfection; yā yā whatever; ālibhiḥ by the gopīs; yuktiḥ arrangements; apekṣaṇīyā desirable; tatra in that connection; ati-dākṣyāt because of being very expert; ati-vallabhasya who is very dear; vande I offer obeisances; guroḥ of my spiritual master; śrī auspicious; caraṇa-aravindam unto the lotus feet
Translation

The spiritual master is very dear, because he is expert in assisting the gopīs, who at different times make different tasteful arrangements for the perfection of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa's conjugal loving affairs within the groves of Vṛndāvana. I offer my most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair uktas tathā bhāvyata eva sadbhiḥ kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
Word for word
sākṣāt directly; hari-tvena with the quality of Hari; samasta all; śāstraiḥ by scriptures; uktaḥ acknowledged; tathā thus; bhāvyate is considered; eva also; sadbhiḥ by great saintly persons; kintu however; prabhoḥ to the Lord; yaḥ who; priyaḥ dear; eva certainly; tasya of him (the guru); vande I offer obeisances; guroḥ of my spiritual master; śrī auspicious; caraṇa-aravindam unto the lotus feet
Translation

The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord, because he is the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a bona fide representative of Śrī Hari [Kṛṣṇa].

yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto 'pi dhyāyan stuvaṁs tasya yaśas tri-sandhyaṁ vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
Word for word
yasya of whom (the spiritual master); prasādāt by the grace; bhagavat (of) Kṛṣṇa; prasādaḥ the mercy; yasya of whom; aprasādāt without the grace; na not; gatiḥ means of advancement; kutaḥ api anywhere; dhyāyan meditating upon; stuvan praising; tasya of him (the spiritual master); yaśaḥ the glory; tri-sandhyam three times a day (sunrise, noon, and sunset); vande I offer obeisances; guroḥ of my spiritual master; śrī auspicious; caraṇa-aravindam unto the lotus feet
Translation

By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Kṛṣṇa. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.

Also found in

About Samsara Davanala Lidha Loka

Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura's Sri Guru-astaka, opening with this line comparing material existence to a forest fire that only the guru's mercy, likened to a cloud, can extinguish. One of the most universally recited prayers in Gaudiya temples, sung daily before guru-puja.

Srila Prabhupada on this song

In a class given in Los Angeles on January 2, 1969, Srila Prabhupada spoke on this song:

“This song is offering obeisances particularly to the spiritual master, and the symptoms of the spiritual master are described in this prayer.”

Excerpted from Srila Prabhupada's recorded classes, © Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Read the complete purport at the Vanisource link above.

Frequently asked

Who wrote Samsara Davanala Lidha Loka?

Samsara Davanala Lidha Loka was composed by Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura. It appears in Songs of Vaishnava Acaryas.

What is the meaning of Samsara Davanala Lidha Loka?

The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities.

Where can I listen to Samsara Davanala Lidha Loka?

You can listen to 5 recordings of Samsara Davanala Lidha Loka on this page, including versions sung by Srila Prabhupada, HG Jai Sachinandana Prabhu, HG Sivarama Prabhu, HG Swarupa Damodar Prabhu.

How many verses does Samsara Davanala Lidha Loka have?

Samsara Davanala Lidha Loka has 8 verses.

Can I download Samsara Davanala Lidha Loka as a PPT or PDF?

Yes. A ready-to-display slide deck for Samsara Davanala Lidha Loka — 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.

Audio courtesy of ISKCON Desire Tree. All glories to the devotee singers.