Topics of Meditation for Arousing Prema-bhakti

1

rati-premā maya para-bandhe kṛṣṇa-nāma-rādhā-nāma upāsana rasa-dhāma caraṇe paḍiye parānande jūgala-caraṇa—unto the lotus feet of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa; prītī—love; parama—Supreme; ānanda—happiness; tati—Their; rati—attachment; premā maya—loving; para-bandhe—in the topics of; kṛṣṇa-nāma—the holy names of Kṛṣṇa; rādhā-nāma—the holy names of Rādhā; upāsana—worship; rasa-dhāma—abode of transcendental mellows; caraṇe—at the feet; paḍiye—falling; parānande—spiritual bliss. In spiritual bliss, I will develop intense love for the youthful Divine Couple Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, and hear the glorious topics of Their loving affairs. Worshiping and chanting the holy names of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa is the abode of all transcendental mellows. I will fall at Their lotus feet in ecstasy.

2

manera smaraṇa prāṇa madhūra madhūra dhāma jūgala bilāsa smṛti-sāra sādhya sādhana ei ihā bai āra nāi ei tattwa sarba-siddha-sāra manera—of the mind; smaraṇa—remembrance; prāṇa——life; madhūra madhūra—very sweet; dhāma—abode; jūgala bilāsa—pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa; smṛti—remembrance; sāra—essence; sādhya—goal; sādhana—process of achieving the goal; ei—this; ihā bai—without this; āra nāi—nothing else; ei tattwa—this truth; sarba-siddha-sāra—among all the prescription. Remembrance of the Lord’s pastimes is the life and soul of the devotee. Remembering the sweet loving pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa is the essence of all the processes. This is the goal of life and as well as the best means of achieving the goal.

3

jalada-sūndara kāṅti madhūra madhūra bhāti baidagadhi abadhi sūbeśa pīta-basana-dhara ābharaṇa maṇi-bara mayūra-candrikā karu keśa jalada—clouds; sūndara—beautiful; kāṅti—effulgence; madhūra madhūra—sweet; bhāti—like; baidagadhi—expert in conjugal pastimes; abadhi—expert; sūbeśa—handsomely dressed; pīta—yellow; basana—dress; dhara—wearing; ābharaṇa—ornaments; maṇi-bara—jewels; mayūra—peacock; candrikā—feather; karu keśa—curly hairs. The sweet Śyāma complexion of Kṛṣṇa is like the effulgent new rain clouds. He is wonderfully dressed and the most expert in performing conjugal pastimes. Jewelled ornaments adorn His yellow garments and a peacock feather decorates His curling Hair.

4

mṛgamada candana kūṅkūma bilepana mana mūrati tri-bhaṅga nabīna-kūsūmābalī śrī-aṅge śobhaye bhāli madhū-lābhe phire matta bhṛṅga mṛgamada—musk; candana—sandalwood pulp; kūṅkūma—red ointment; bilepana—smear; mana—enchanting; mūrati—form; tri-bhaṅga—three-fold bending forms; nabīna—new; kūsūmābalī—flowers; śrī-aṅge—in His beautiful body; śobhaye—decorated; bhāli—great; madhū-lābhe—being greedy for honey; phire—wanders; matta—maddened; bhṛṅga—bees. Sandalwood pulp mixed with saffron and musk is smeared upon His forehead. He stands in a most enchanting threefold bending form. His beautiful limbs are decorated with newly blossomed flowers which attract maddened bees for their honey.

5

īṣata madhūra-smita baidagadhi-līlāmṛta lūbadhala braja-badhū-bṛṇda caraṇa-kamala-para maṇimaya nūpūra nakha-maṇi jhalamala-candra īṣata—little; madhūra—sweet; smita—smile; baidagadhi-līlāmṛta—expert in conjugal pastimes; lūbadhala—attracted; braja-badhū-bṛṇda—the damsels of Vṛndāvana; caraṇa-kamala-para—upon the lotus feet; maṇimaya—jewelled; nūpūra—ankle bells; nakha-maṇi—the jewel-like nails; jhalamala—shinning brightly; candra—the moon. The sweet attractive smile of the Lord and His expertise in conjugal pastimes capture the minds of the damsels of Braja. Gem-studded ankle bells adorn His lotus feet, His jewel-like toe-nails shine brightly like the moon.

6

Braja Parakiya Tattva The Truth About Parakīyā Bhāva in Braja nūpūra-mūrālī-dhwani kūla-badhū-marālinī śuniyā rahite nāre ghare hṛdaye bāḍaye rati jena mile pati satī kūlera dharama jara dūre nūpūra—ankle bells; mūrālī-dhwani—the sounds of flute; kūla-badhū—damsels of Braja; marālinī—goose; śuniyā—hearing; rahite—remain; nāre—do not; ghare—at home; hṛdaye—in their hearts; bāḍaye—increases; rati—lust; jena—just as; mile—meets; pati—husband; satī—chaste wife; kūlera—familiar; dharama—religious principles; jara dūre—transgressed. Hearing the sweet sounds of His ankle bells, and His flute which is like the call of a male swan, the female swan Braja gopis cannot remain in their homes. Forgetting the transgression of mundane morality in their hearts, their attraction for Kṛṣṇa increases unlimitedly and they run to Him like chaste wives meeting their husbands.

7

Śrī Kṛṣṇa Vigrahe Nityatva The Truth About the Eternal Form of Kṛṣṇa gobinda-śarīra nitya taṅhāra sebaka satya bṛndābana-bhūmi tejomaya tāhāte jamunā-jala kare nitya jhalamala tāra tīre aṣṭa kūṅja haya gobinda—Lord Govinda; śarīra—body; nitya—eternal; taṅhāra—His; sebaka—servant; satya—eternal; bṛndābana-bhūmi—the land of Vṛndāvana; tejomaya—effulgent; tāhāte—in that land; jamunā-jala—the waters of Yamunā; kare—does; nitya—eternal; jhalamala—shining brightly; tāra tīre—on the bank of; aṣṭa—eight; kūṅja—groves; haya—is. The transcendental body of Govinda is eternal. His servants are eternal. The abode of Vṛndāvana is effulgent. The water of the Yamunā is crystal clear. There are eight kuñjas or groves on the banks of Yamunā.

8

śītala-kiraṇa-kara kalpa-tarū-guṇa-dhara taru-latā saḍa ṛtū-śobā purna-candra-sama jyoti cidānanda-maya mūrti mahālīlā-darśana-lobha śītala—cooling; kiraṇa-kara—moonshines; kalpa-tarū—desire tree; guṇa-dhara—quality; taru—trees; latā—creepers; saḍa ṛtū—the six seasons; śobā—beauty; purna-candra—full moon; sama—equal; jyoti—effulgence; cidānanda-maya—full of bliss and knowledge; mūrti—form; mahālīlā—great pastimes; darśana—to see; lobha—greedy. The groves of Vṛndāvana are charming with soothing moonbeams. The six seasons beautify the forests wherein the trees fulfill all desires. The blissful personality of Kṛṣṇa is more effulgent than the full moon, and one should be eager to have a glimpse of His wonderful pastimes.

9

gobinda ānandamaya nikaṭe banitā-caya bihare madhūra ati śobhā duṅhu preme dagamagi duṅhu doṅha anūragī duṅhu rūpa duṅhu mana lobhā gobinda—Lord Govinda; ānandamaya—most blissful; nikaṭe—near; banitā-caya—the damsels; bihare—enjoys; madhūra—sweet; ati—very; śobhā—beautiful; duṅhu—both of Them; preme—with love; dagamagi—overwhelmed; duṅhu—both of Them; doṅha—towards each other; anūragī—attached; duṅhu—both; rūpa—with beauty; duṅhu—both; mana—mind; lobhā—attracted. Śrī Govinda is personified bliss. He is surrounded by the gopīs and enjoys various sweet pastimes. They are overwhelmed by love, attracted and attached to each other’s beauty.

10

braja-pūra-banitāra caraṇa āśraya sāra kara mana ekānta kariyā anya bola gaṅdu-gola nā śuniha uttarola rākha prema hṛdaye bhariyā braja-pūra—of Braja; banitāra—the damsels; caraṇa—the lotus feet; āśraya—the shelter; sāra—essence; kara—do; mana—mind; ekānta—without deviation; kariyā—doing; anya—other; bola—topics; gaṅdu-gola—gossiping; nā—not; śuniha—hear; uttarola—urge; rākha—keep; prema—love; hṛdaye—in the heart; bhariyā—filled. O my mind, take shelter of the lotus feet of the damsels of Braja without deviation. Do not hear useless gossips, instead fill my heart with Kṛṣṇa’s prema.

11

External Renunciation for Internal Realization pāpa-puṅya-maya deha sakali anitya ehi dhana jana saba michā dhanda marile jāibe kothā nā pāo tāhāte byathā tabū niti kara karjya manda pāpa-puṅya-maya—mix with sin and piety; deha—the owner of the body; sakali—all; anitya—temporary; ehi—this; dhana—wealth; jana—followers; saba—all; michā—false; dhanda—conception; marile—after death; jāibe—will go; kothā—where; nā—not; pāo—get; tāhāte—in that; byathā—pain; tabū—still; niti—repeatedly; kara—do; karjya manda—sinful activities. O my mind, you should know this for certain that the dualities of sin and piety are all temporary. Wealth and followers are all false. You do not know where you will go after death. You do not feel pain about this and still you continue with your sinful activities.

12

rājāra je rājya-pāṭa jena natūjāra nāṭa dekhite dekhite kichū naya hena māyā kare jei parama īśwara sei tāṅre mana sadā kara bhaya rājāra—of the king; je—that; rājya-pāṭa—the kingdom; jena—as if; natūjāra nāṭa—act of play; dekhite dekhite—gradually; kichū naya—as if nothing; hena—such; māyā—illusory; kare—does; jei—whoever; parama īśwara—the Supreme Lord; sei—his; tāṅre—to him; mana—O my mind; sadā—always; kara bhaya—be afraid of. The state and administration of a king is just like an act of a play. It gradually vanquishes in due course of time. O my mind, it is He, the Supreme Lord who causes this show by His illusory energy. Be always afraid of falling under its control.

13

pāpe nā kariha mana adhama se pāpī-jana tāre mana dūre parihari pūṅyaje sūkhera dhāma tāra nā laio nāma pūṅya mukti dui tyaga kari pāpe—in sinful activities; nā—not; kariha—do; mana—mind; adhama—fallen; se—he; pāpī-jana—a sinner; tāre—to him; mana—O my mind; dūre—far away; parihari—give up; pūṅya—piety; je—that which; sūkhera—of happiness; dhāma—abode; tāra—that; nā—do not; laio—take; nāma—name; pūṅya—piety; mukti—liberation; dui—both; tyāga kari—give up. O mind, do not indulge in sinful activities because sinners are most fallen. Give up bad association from a distance. Although piety is the abode of material happiness, do not strive for it, rather give up the desire for piety and liberation.

14

prema-bhakti-sūdha-nidhi tāhe dūba nirabadhi āra jata kṣara nidhi prāya niraṅtara sūkha pābe sakala saṅtapa jābe para-tattwa karile upāya prema-bhakti—loving devotional service; sūdha-nidhi—ocean of nectar; tāhe—in that; dūba—drowned; nirabadhi—constantly; āra jata—all others; kṣara nidhi—ocean of salt; prāya—almost; niraṅtara—always; sūkha—happiness; pābe—will receive; sakala—all; saṅtapa—the threefold miseries; jābe—will go away; para-tattwa—the supreme truth; karile—I have thus explained; upāya—process. Loving devotional service is the ocean of nectar. Be always drowned in that ocean. Everything else is like an ocean of salt. If you follow this process, you will achieve eternal bliss and all your lamentations will go away.

15

anyera paraśa jena nāhi kadācit hena ihāte haibe sabādhāna rādhā-kṛṣṇa nāma gāna ei se parama dhyāna āra nā kariha paramāṇa anyera—of others; paraśa—touch; jena—even; nāhi—do not; kadācit—seldom; hena—happens; ihāte—in this; haibe—will be; sabādhāna—cautious; rādhā-kṛṣṇa—Śrī Rādhikā and Śrī Kṛṣṇa; nāma gāna—chant Their names; ei—this; se—that; parama—supreme; dhyāna—meditation; āra—more; nā—not; kariha—do; paramāṇa—goal. Never associate with non-devotees. Be very careful about them. Chanting the names of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa is the highest form of meditation. Do not accept any other process as the goal of life.

16

karmī jñānī miśra-bhakta nā habe tāya anūrakta śuddha-bhajanete kara mana braja-janera jei mata tāhe habe anugata ei se parama tattwa-dhana karmī—the performers of fruitive activities; jñānī—impersonalists; miśra-bhakta—mixed devotees; nā—do not; habe—will be; tāya—in that; anūrakta—attached; śuddha—pure; bhajanete—in worshipping the Lord; kara mana—engage your mind; braja-janera—of the residents of Braja; jei mata—the opinion; tāhe—in that; habe—will be; anugata—follow; ei se—this is the; parama tattwa—supreme truth; dhana—wealth. Do not mingle with fruitive workers, mental speculators and mixed devotees. Instead engage yourself in pure devotional service under the guidance of the residents of Braja. This is the highest treasure.

17

prārthanā karibe sadā śuddha-bhāve prema-kathā nāma-maṅtre kariyā abheda āṣṭika kariyā mana bhaja rāṅgā śrī-caraṇa granthi-pāpa habe pariccheda prārthanā—pray; karibe—will do; sadā—always; śuddha-bhāve—purely; prema-kathā—loving topics; nāma-maṅtre—with holy names and mantras; kariyā—considering; abheda—non-different; āstika—purify; kariyā—doing; mana—mind; bhaja—worship; rāṅgā—relished; śrī-caraṇa—lotus feet; granthi—knots; pāpa—sinful activities; habe—will be; pariccheda—unfolded. I will always desire to glorify the transcendental topics of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, considering the holy names and mantras as non-different from Them. I will fix my mind in worshipping the lotus feet of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. Then the knots of sinful desires within my heart will be undone.

18

rādhā-kṛṣṇa śrī-caraṇa tāte saba samarpaṇa śrī-caraṇe balihāri jāṅa dūṅhu nāma śuni śuni bhakta mūkhe pūni pūni parama ānanda sūkha-pāñā rādhā-kṛṣṇa—Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa; śrī-caraṇa—lotus feet; tāte—in that; saba—everything; samarpaṇa—surrender; śrī-caraṇe—unto the lotus feet; balihāri jāṅa—great; dūṅhu—both; nāma—the holy names; śuni śuni—repeatedly hearing; bhakta mūkhe—through the mouths of the devotees; pūni pūni—again and again; parama ānanda—great happiness; sūkha-pāñā—will be satisfied. I surrender myself unto the lotus feet of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa and take Their merciful shelter. I will repeatedly hear the names of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa from the mouths of pure devotees and attain great happiness and satisfaction.

19

hema-gauri-tanū rāi āṅkhi daraśana cāi rodana kariba abhilāṣe jaladhara dhara dhara aṅga ati manohara rūpe guṇe bhūbana prakāśe hema-gauri—molten gold; tanū—body; rāi—Śrī Rādhā; āṅkhi—eyes; daraśana cāi—want to see; rodana kariba—will cry; abhilāṣe—with a desire; jaladhara—the clouds; dhara dhara—newly; aṅga—the limbs; ati manohara—most enchanting; rūpe—in beauty; guṇe—in qualities; bhūbana prakāśe—illuminates the whole world. I will desire to see the golden complexioned Rādhā with my own eyes. I will cry to see the enchanting form and qualities of Kṛṣṇa whose complexion is like the new clouds.

20

sakhī-gaṇa cāri-pāśe sebā kare abhilāṣe parama se sebā-sūkha dhare ei bhaṇe mane mora ei rase hañā bhora narottama sadā-i bihare sakhī-gaṇa—the sakhīs; cāri-pāśe—on four sides; sebā kare—serve; abhilāṣe—according to their desire; parama—supreme; se—that; sebā—service; sūkha—happiness; dhare—yields; ei bhaṇe—this desire; mane mora—in my mind; ei rase—in this mellows; hañā bhora—being absorbed; narottama—Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura; sadāi—always; bihare—enjoys. The sakhīs surround Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa on all four sides, and while serving Them, feel ecstatic bliss in their hearts. Narottama dāsa desires such service being absorbed in loving transcendental mellows.