Vaishnava Songs
Nandgram Dham
Nandgram Dham Vaishnava Songs · nandgramdham.org/songs
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Text
āna kathā nā baliba āna kathā nā śuniba sakali kahiba paramārtha prārthanā kariba sadā lālasā abhīṣṭa-kathā ihā binā sakali anartha
Word for word
āna kathā worldly talks; nā baliba will not speak; āna kathā mundane topics; nā śuniba will not hear; sakali all; kahiba will say; paramārtha absolute truth; prārthanā pray; kariba will do; sada always; lālasā eagerness; abhīṣṭa kathā topics regarding goal of life; ihā binā without this; sakali everything; anartha unwanted
Translation

I will neither indulge in useless mundane topics nor hear them. I will only engage in spiritual cultivation. I will always pray to eagerly discuss the topics of my worshipable Lord, because everything else is simply unwanted.

īśwarera tattwa jata tāhā bā kahiba kata ananta apāra kebā jāne braja-pūra-prema nitya ei se parama satya bhaja bhaja anūrāga-mane
Word for word
īśwarera of the Supreme Lord; tattwa science; jata everything; tāhā that; bā or; kahiba will explain; kata how much; ananta unlimited; apāra insurmountable; kebā who; jāne knows; braja-pūra in Braja; prema loving dealings; nitya eternal; ei this; se that; parama satya supreme truth; bhaja bhaja worship; anurāga with attachment; mane the mind
Translation

How much can I explain the science of the Supreme Lord, for it is unlimited and unfathomable? However, the loving dealings of Braja are eternal and nectarean. O my mind, please worship this Supreme Truth with deep attachment.

gobinda gokūlacandra parama ānanda-kanda paribāra-gopa-gopī saṅge nandīśwara jāra dhāma giridhārī jāṅra nāma sakhī-saṅge tāre bhaja raṅge
Word for word
gobinda Lord Govinda; gokūlacandra the moonlike personality of Gokula; parama great; ānanda happiness; kanda source; paribāra entourage; gopa-gopī the cowherd boys and girls; saṅge in the association; nandīśwara Nandagram; jāṅra whose; dhāma residence; giridhārī the lifter of Govardhana Hill; jāra whose; nāma name; sakhī-saṅge in the association of the sakhīs; tāre Him; bhaja worship; raṅge happily
Translation

Śrī Govinda, the moonlike personality of Gokūla, the lifter of Govardhana Hill, the reservoir of all transcendental happiness, is accompanied by the gopālas and the gopīs and is living in Nandagram. Serve Him happily in association with the sakhīs.

prema-bhakti-tattwa ei tomāre kahinū bhāi āra dūrbasanā parihari śrī-guru-prasāde bhāi e saba bhajana pāi prema-bhakti sakhī anūcarī
Word for word
prema-bhakti loving devotional service; tattwa science; ei this; tomāre to you; kahinū I have thus explained; bhāi O brothers; āra all others; dūrbasanā material desires; parihari by giving up; śrī-guru-prasāde by the mercy of the spiritual master; bhāi O brother; e saba all these; bhajana process of worship; pāi receive; prema-bhakti loving devotional service; sakhī anūcari the companion of the sakhīs
Translation

O brother, I have thus described the science of devotional service to you. Please, give up all material desires. You can perform loving devotional service by the mercy of the spiritual master and in the perfected stage, you will be counted as a maidservant of the sakhīs.

sārthaka bhajana-patha sādhu-saṅge abirata smaraṇa bhajana kṛṣṇa-kathā prema-bhakti haya jadi tabe haya manaḥ śuddhi tabe jāya hṛdayera byathā
Word for word
sārthaka perfection; bhajana-patha the path of worship; sādhu-saṅge in the association of the devotees; abirata always; smaraṇa remembrance; bhajana worship; kṛṣṇa-kathā discussing the topics of Kṛṣṇa; prema-bhakti loving devotional service; haya is; jadi if; tabe than; haya is; manaḥ śuddhi purification of the mind; tabe than; jāya go away; hṛdayera of the heart; byathā pain
Translation

The most successful method of devotional service is to constantly remember the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa in the association of devotees. When one attains loving devotional service, then his mind will be fully purified and the distress of his heart will be vanquished.

biṣaya bipatti jāna saṁsāra swapana māna nara-tanū bhajanera mūla anūrāge bhaja sadā prema-bhābe līlā-kathā āra jata hṛdayera śūla
Word for word
biṣaya material sense objects; bipatti danger; jāna please know; saṁsāra material existence; swapana dream; māna accept; nara-tanū human form of life; bhajanera mūla the root of worshiping the Lord; anūrāge with attachment; bhaja worship; sadā always; prema-bhābe with love; līlā-kathā the topics of various pastimes; āra jata everything else; hṛdayera of the heart; śūla pain
Translation

Consider material sense objects as dangerous, and material life as a dream. The human form of life is most suitable for worshiping Kṛṣṇa. Always sing about the loving pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. All other topics causes distress to the heart.

rādhikā-caraṇa-renū bhūṣana kariyā tanū anāyāse pābe giridhārī rādhikā-caraṇāśraya ye kare se mahāśaya tāṅre mūñi jāi balihāri
Word for word
rādhikā-caraṇa-renū the dust of the lotus feet of Śrī Rādhikā; bhūṣana kariyā decorate; tanū body; anāyāse easily; pābe will receive; giridhārī the lifter of Govardhana Hill; rādhikā-caraṇāśraya taking shelter of the lotus feet of Śrī Rādhikā; ye kare one who does so; se mahāśaya is a great person; tāre to him; mūñi I; jāi balihāri glorify
Translation

Decorate your body with the dust from the lotus feet of Śrī Rādhikā. Then, you will achieve the full grace of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the lifter of Govardhana Hill. One who takes shelter of the lotus feet of Rādhikā, I glorify him as a great person.

jaya jaya rādhā-nāma bṛndābana yāṅra dhāma kṛṣṇa-sūkha-bilāsera nidhi hena rādhā-guṇa-gāna nā śunila mora kāna baṅcita karila more bidhi
Word for word
jaya jaya all glories; rādhā-nāma the holy names of Rādhā; bṛndābana Vṛndāvana; yāra whose; dhāma abode; kṛṣṇa-sūkha pleasing Kṛṣṇa; bilāsera nidhi the ocean of enjoyment; hena rādhā such Rādhā; guṇa-gāna glorifying Her qualities; nā śunila did not hear; mora kāna my ears; baṅcita deceived; karila did; more to me; bidhi the creator
Translation

All glories to the holy names of Śrī Rādhā, who eternally resides in Vṛndāvana. She is the ocean of Kṛṣṇa’s happiness. I have been cheated by Providence because I have not heard about the glorification of Rādhā.

tāṅra bhakta-saṅga sadā rasa-līlā-prema-kathā je kahe se pāya ghanaśyāma īhāte bimūkha jei tāra kabhū siddhi nāi nāhi jena śuni tāra nāma
Word for word
tāṅra Her; bhakta-sanga associates with the devotees; sadā always; rasa-līlā nectarean pastimes; prema-kathā the topics of love; je kahe one who chants; se pāya he receives; ghanaśyāma the dark-colored Śyāmasundara; īhāte in this; bimūkha against; jei whoever; tāra his; kabhū never; siddhi perfection; nāi not; nāhi not; jena śuni may hear; tāra nāma his name
Translation

One who associates with the devotees of Śrī Rādhā and discusses the loving pastimes of Rādhā certainly meets Śyāmasundara. Anyone averse to this never attains perfection and I do not wish to even hear the name of such a person.

kṛṣṇa-nāma-gāne bhāi rādhikā-caraṇa pāi rādhā-nāma-gāne kṛṣṇacandra saṅkṣepe kahila kathā ghūcāo manera byathā dūḥkha-maya anya kathā-dwandwa
Word for word
kṛṣṇa-nāma the holy names of Kṛṣṇa; gāne by chanting; bhāi O dear brothers; rādhikā-caraṇa the lotus feet of Śrī Radhikā; pāi attain; rādhā-nāma the holy name of Rādhā; gāne by chanting; kṛṣṇacandra the moonlike Kṛṣṇa; saṅkṣepe in brief; kahila kathā I have thus explained; ghūcāo destroy; manera byathā pains of the mind; dūḥkha-maya full of miseries; anya kathā mundane topics; dwandwa duality
Translation

O brother, simply by chanting the names of Kṛṣṇa, one can receive the lotus feet of Rādhikā, and by chanting the names of Rādhikā, one can receive the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. Thus, I have briefly explained everything by which you will be relieved from the pains of your heart. All other topics are full of miseries and dualities.

ahaṅkāra abhimāna asat-saṅga asaj-jñāna chāḍi bhaja guru-pāda-padma kara ātma-nibedana deha-geha-parijana guru-bākya parama mahattwa
Word for word
ahaṅkāra false ego; abhimāna pride; asat-saṅga association with non-devotees; asaj-jñāna useless knowledge; chāḍi by giving up; bhaja worship; guru-pāda-padma the lotus feet of the spiritual master; kara ātma-nibedana surrender fully; deha the body; geha the house; parijana the family members; guru-bākya the words of the spiritual master; parama supremely; mahattwa important
Translation

Give up false ego and pride. Giving up bad association and endeavoring for useless material knowledge, worship the lotus feet of the spiritual master. Surrender your body, home and family members unto him. The words from the lotus mouth of the spiritual master are supremely important.

śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanyadeba rati-mati bhabe seba prema-kalpa-taru-dātā braja-rāja-nandana rādhikā-jībana-dhana aparūpa ei saba kathā
Word for word
śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanyadeba Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya; rati-mati bhabe with attachment and attention; seba serve; prema-kalpa-taru the desire tree of love of God; dātā the giver; braja-rāja-nandana the son of King of Braja; rādhikā-jībana-dhana the life and treasure of Śrī Rādhikā; aparūpa wonderful; ei this; saba all; kathā topics
Translation

Please serve Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanyadeva with attachment and determination, because He is the desire-tree for bestowing love of God. He is non-different from the son of the King of Braja and the life and soul of Śrī Rādhīka. This is simply wonderful.

nabadwīpe abatari rādhā-bhava angī kari tāṅra kānti aṅgera bhūṣana tina bānchā abhilāsī śacī-garbhe parakāśi sange lañā pariṣada-gaṇa
Word for word
nabadwīpe in Navadvīpa; abatari by incarnating; rādhā-bhava the mood of Rādhā; angī kari by accepting; tāra kānti Her complexion; angera of the limbs; bhūṣana decoration; tina bānchā three desires; abhilāsī to fulfill; śacī-garbhe in the womb of Śacī; parakāśi appeared; saṅge with Him; lañā taking; pariṣada-gaṇa associates
Translation

Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanyadeva has appeared in Navadvīpa in the mood of Śrī Rādhā and has decorated Himself with the complexion of Rādhā. In order to fulfill three wishes, He has appeared in the womb of Mother Śacī along with His associates.

gaura-hari-abatari premera bādara kari sādhilā manera nija kāja rādhikāra prāṇa-pati kiba bhabe kānde niti ihā būjhe bhakata-samāja
Word for word
gaura-hari Lord Gaurāṅga; abatari after descending; premera of love of God; bādara kari showering like rain; sādhilā fulfilled; manera of His mind; nija own; kāja work; rādhikāra of Śrī Rādhikā; prāṇa-pati life and soul; kiba bhabe how; kānde cries; niti always; ihā this; būjhe understand; bhakata-samāja the society of devotees
Translation

Śrī Gaurahari has appeared and showered love of God. In this way, He has fulfilled His inner desires. He is the life and soul of Śrī Rādhikā. Only the devotees understand the Lord’s cries and lamentation.

gopate sādhile siddhi sādhana nabadhā bhakti prārthanā kariba dainye sadā kari hari-saṅkīrtana sadāi bibhola mana iṣṭa-lābha binū saba bādhā
Word for word
gopate secretly; sādhile will practise; siddhi the goal of life; sādhana the process; nabadhā bhakti the nine types of bhakti; prārthanā kariba will pray; dainye with humility; sadā always; kari performing; hari-saṅkīrtana congregational chanting of the holy names of Hari; sadāi always; bibhola absorbed; mana the mind; iṣṭa-lābha attaining the goal of life; binū without; saba everything; bādhā impediments
Translation

One should be absorbed internally in the thought of Śrī Kṛṣṇa while externally practicing the nine processes of devotional service, always praying with humility. One should chant the names of Hari without deviation. Without the achievement of this goal of life, everything is wasted.

saṁsāra bātojāre kāma-phāṅse bāndhi māre phūkāra karaha haridāsa karaha bhakata-saṅga prema-kathā-rasa-raṅga tabe haya bipada bināśa
Word for word
saṁsāra the material world; bātojāre plundering; kāma lusty desires; phāṅse with the hopes; bāndhi binding; māre killing; phūkāra karaha lament; haridāsa O servant of Śrī Hari; karaha bhakata-saṅga associate with devotees; prema-kathā topics of loving dealings; rasa-raṅga nectarean pastimes; tabe than; haya is; bipada danger; bināśa vanquishes
Translation

The material world is cheating you. Lusty desires are killing you by hanging you with ropes. Lament, O servant of Hari. Associate with devotees and engage in discussing the topics of love of God. Then, all your dangers will be vanquished.

strī-pūtra bālaka kata mari jāra śata śata āpanāke hao sābadhāna mūñi se biṣaye hata nā bhajinū hari-pada mora āra nāhi paritrāṇa
Word for word
strī wife; pūtra son; bālaka children; kata so many; mari jāra die; śata śata hundreds; āpanāke yourself; hao become; sābadhāna careful; mūñi I am; se that; biṣaye hata killed by material desires; nā not; bhajinū worshiped; hari-pada the lotus feet of Hari; mora for me; āra nāhi no other; paritrāṇa deliverance
Translation

Wives, sons and children die by the hundreds, so be careful for your own self. As for me, I have been struck down by sense objects and have not worshipped the lotus feet of Hari. Therefore, I have no protection and deliverance.

rāmacandra kabirāja sei saṅge mora kāja tāṅra sanga binū saba śunya haya janma jadi punaḥ tāṅra saṅga haya jena tabe haya narottama dhanya
Word for word
rāmacandra kabirāja Śrī Rāmacandra Kavirāja; sei saṅge with his association; mora mine; kāja concern; tāṅra saṅga his association; binū without; saba everything; śunya empty; haya janma rebirth; jadi if; puna again; tāṅra saṅga his association; haya jena may I receive; tabe than; haya is; narottama Narottama dāsa; dhanya glories
Translation

My only wish is to have the association of Rāmachandra Kavirāja. Without him, everything looks empty. If I am to be born again, may I get his association. Then the life of Narottama dāsa will be successful.

āpana bhajana-kathā nā kahiba jathā tathā ihāte haiba sābadhāna nā kariha keha roṣa nā laiha mora doṣa praṇāmaha bhaktera caraṇe
Word for word
āpana own; bhajana-kathā method of worship; nā kahiba will not disclose; jathā tathā here and there; ihāte in this matter; haiba I will be; sābadhāna careful; nā kariha do not; keha anyone; roṣa angry; nā laiha do not take; mora doṣa my offense; praṇāmaha I offer my respectful obeisances; bhaktera caraṇe unto the lotus feet of the devotees
Translation

I will not disclose my path of worshiping the Lord to anyone and everyone. I will be extremely careful about it. Please do not get angry with me or take offense. I offer my respectful humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of the devotees.

śrī-gaurāṅga prabhū more je bolāna bānī tāhā kahi bhāla manda kichūi nā jāni
Word for word
śrī-gaurānga prabhu Lord Gaurāṅga; more to me; je that which; bolāna make me speak; bānī statement; tāhā kahi I am speaking only that; bhāla manda good and bad; kichūi nā nothing; jāni know
Translation

Whatever message Śrī Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu has spoken to me, that I have related here. Actually I do not know what is right or wrong.

lokanātha prabhupāda hṛdeye bilāsa prema-bhakti-candrikā kahe narottama dāsa
Word for word
lokanātha prabhūpada the lotus feet of Śrīla Lokanātha Gosvāmī; hṛdeye bilāsa place in my heart; prema bhakti-candrikā the rays of the moonlight of loving devotion; kahe says; narottama dāsa Narottama dāsa
Translation

Placing the lotus feet of Śrīla Lokanātha Prabhu in my heart, I, Narottama dāsa described “Śrī Prema Bhakti-chandrikā.”

About The Ultimate Instructions

The closing song, tied for the longest in the set at 21 verses, gathering Narottama's ultimate instructions — the final word of a treatise moving systematically from invocation through surrender to a devotee's marks.

Frequently asked

Who wrote The Ultimate Instructions?

The Ultimate Instructions was composed by Narottama Dasa Thakura. It appears in Prema Bhakti Chandrika.

What is the meaning of The Ultimate Instructions?

I will neither indulge in useless mundane topics nor hear them. I will only engage in spiritual cultivation. I will always pray to eagerly discuss the topics of my worshipable Lord, because everything else is simply unwanted.

How many verses does The Ultimate Instructions have?

The Ultimate Instructions has 21 verses.

Can I download The Ultimate Instructions as a PPT or PDF?

Yes. A ready-to-display slide deck for The Ultimate Instructions — 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.