GItAvalI
Eight Prayers in Glorification of zrImatI RAdhArANI
By Srila Bhaktivinod Thakura
Song 1
rAdhikA-caraNa-padma, sakala zreyera sadma,
jatane je nAhi ArAdhilo
rAdhA-padmAGkita dhAma, bRndAbana jAr nAma,
tAhA je nA Azroy korilo
He who has failed to carefully worship the lotus feet of zrImatI RAdhikA,
which are the abode of all auspiciousness; he who has not taken shelter in the
transcendental abode known as VRndAvana, which is decorated with the
beautiful lotus flower named RAdhA...
rAdhikA-bhAva-gambhIr, citta jebA mahAdhIr,
gaNa-saGga nA koilo jIvane
kemone se zyAmAnanda, rasa-sindhu-snAnAnanda,
labhibe bujhoha eka-mane
...he who in this life has not associated with the devotees of RAdhikA, who
are very wise and whose devotion for RAdhA is very deep-how will such a
person ever experience the bliss of bathing in the ocean of Lord zyAma's
sublime mellows? Please understand this most attentively.
rAdhikA ujjvala-raser AcArya
rAdhA-mAdhava-zuddha-prem vicArya
zrImatI RAdhikA is the exemplary teacher of the brilliant mellows of conjugal
love. This pure love between RAdhA and MAdhava is worthy of discussion and
contemplation.
je dharilo rAdhA-pada parama jatane
se pailo kRSNa-pada amUlya-ratane
He who has grasped hold of the lotus feet of RAdhA with great care obtains
the lotus feet of KRSNa, which are like priceless jewels.
rAdhA-pada vinA kabhu kRSNa nAhi mile
rAdhAr dAsIr kRSNa sarva-vede bole
Without taking shelter of the lotus feet of RAdhA, one can never personally
meet Lord KRSNa. The Vedic scriptures declare that KRSNa is the property of
the maidservants of zrI RAdhA.
choData dhana-jan, kalatra-suta-mita,
choData karama geyAn
rAdhA-pada-paGkaja, madhurata sevan,
bhakativinoda paramAn
Abandoning wealth, followers, wife, sons, and friends, and giving up
materialistic activities and intellectual knowledge, being absorbed in the
sweetness of service to the lotus feet of zrImatI RAdhArANI-this is
Bhaktivinoda's conviction.