Verses, prayers and quotes of choice. If you come across something you find inspiring, please post it here. You can also start threads on a particular theme and regularly post in something related.
June Meditations - ...verses and poems of choice...
Madhava - Sun, 02 Jun 2002 02:02:31 +0530
SUMMER FOREST
from Sri Govinda Lilamrta, chapter 12aTavIM priyAm atha darzayan
avadat priyau madhumaGgalaH (79)
nacAyataM zrI vrajakAnanezau
nidAgha maJjuM vanabhAgam etam
yaH svAgatau vIkSya purobhavantau
sevotsukaH svair vibhavaiz cakAsti (80)
Madhumangala showed his dear Vrindatavi (Vrindavana) to Radha and Krishna, saying: “O king and queen of the Vraja-forests! Look at the beautiful summer-forest that is very eager to serve You! Seeing Your auspicious arrival, it has become very beautiful!”
so ‘yaM TiTtibha dundubhi dhvanibharair dhUmyATa bherI svarair
jhillI jhallari nisvanaiH pika pikI vINA ninAdair mudA
dRSTvA vAm iha cASa DinDima ravaiH zarI vacaH saMstavair
bhRGgAlI dhvani gItakair vitanute nRtyaM lAtagraiz calaiH (81)
vastrANi sat pATali puSpavRndaiH
zirISa puSpair avataMsakAMz ca
mallIbhir aGgAbharaNAni harSAd
vibhartyasau vAm iva dAtum utkaH (82)
supaktrimaiH pIlu karIra dhAtrI
rAjAdanaiH sat panasAmra bilvaiH
vikaNtakair jAlaka tAlabIjaiH
siSeviSur vAM dhinute ’sakau mAm (83)
“The Tittibha-birds sing like Dundubhi-drums, the Dhumyatakas sing like Bheri-drums, the crickets hum like hand cymbals, the cuckoos sing like Vinas and the Casa-birds sing like Damaru-drums (an X-shaped drum like Lord Siva’s). The sarika parrots recite Your praises, the bees are singing and the vines are dancing out of joy from seeing You!
The forest is eager to serve You with roses for garments, Sirisa-flowers for earrings and Jasmines for body ornaments! These are all blissfully provided by the forest! This forest wants to serve You with edibles like these ripe Pilu-fruits, Kari-fruits, Myrobalans, good jackfruits. mangoes, Bael-fruits, Vikanthas and palm seeds. They make me very happy also!”
Madhava - Sun, 02 Jun 2002 03:35:10 +0530
sudIrgha nAseti supaktrimAmre
vinyasta caJcuM pikam Akalayya
smerAnanAH prekSya puro nijAlIH
priyAM hare pazya vinamra vaktrAm (86)
“O Hare! Look! Looking at the cuckoo, that keeps its long beak in the ripe mango, the sakhis laugh (taking it to be You kissing Radhika on Her lips)! Seeing this, Radhika lowers Her head out of shyness!”
mallI vallImatallI tatibhir iha lasallola lolAlimAlA
cillIbhiz cArutallI taTabhuvi vidadhat sAdhu hallIzakelim
krudhyat kandarpa mallIkRta kusumacayeSat smitAbhis tamAlaH
so’yaM zrI gopapallIpatisuta iva sad vallarIbhiz cakAsti (87)
“A Jasmine-creeper embraces a Tamala-tree by the side of this beautiful lake. Its flowers are the smiling face of this Tamala-tree and the wandering bees are its eyebrows. It is as if the prince of cowherds takes the excellent gopis with Him and joyfully dances the Hallisaka!”
Madhava - Sun, 02 Jun 2002 03:42:54 +0530
nizamya vAcaM madhumaGalasya
rAdhA mukundau smita zobhitAsyau
vRndA vitIrNAn zravaNe nyadhattAM
zirISa puSpa stavakAn parasparaM (88)
karAravindena parAgapAMzulAn
kRSNaH priyAyA alakAn vyatastayat
sApyasya cUDopari keki candrakAn
vikAzi dormUlam athAlakAn api (89)
Radha and Mukunda beautified Their faces with smiles when They heard Madhumangala's words and They put Sirisa-flowers, handed by Vrnda, on Each others’ ears. Krishna showered Radhika’s curly locks with flower pollen and Radhika lifted Her arm, showing Her armpit, to shower Krisna’s locks and peacock feather crown with flower pollen.
Madhava - Sun, 02 Jun 2002 03:51:48 +0530
kRSNaH priyAm Aha hRdi spRzan
priye nidagha tApair upatApito ’bhitaH
palAyamAnaH kuca zaila durgakaM
samAzritaH zaityaguNo ’sti kiM tava (90)
Krishna touched His beloved's breast and said: “Priye! Has the quality of coolness, being burned by the summer heat, fled and taken shelter of the boulder-fortress of Your breasts?”
kAnte sudhAMzu maNibaddha nagAlabAle
tvad vaktra zubhra kiraNodaya jAmbupUre
snAtvA nipIya salilaM vigatoSNatApAs
tat setu mUrdhni vilasanti khagAH sakAntAH (91)
“O beloved! The irrigation reservoirs’ moonstone dams start shedding water when they see the rising of Your moonlike face (a moonstone melts when the moon rays touch it), so the birds and their wives start enjoying on the crests of their bridges, bathing and drinking there to remove the summer heat!”
Thus ends the description of the Summer Forest
from Sri Govinda Lilamrta of Krishnadas Kaviraja
(translations from the edition of Advaitadas)
Madhava - Sat, 08 Jun 2002 00:45:43 +0530
AjAnu-lambita-bhujau kanakAvadAtau
saGkIrtanaikapitarau kamalAyatAkSau
vizvambharau dvija-varau yuga-dharma-pAlau
vande jagat-priya-karau karuNAvatArau
“I worship the incarnations of mercy, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Nityananda Prabhu, whose arms extend to Their knees, whose complexions are a resplendent yellow and very enchanting like the hue of gold, who inaugurated the sankirtana movement, whose eyes are large like lotus petals, who nourish the entire universe, who appeared in the families of exalted brahmanas, who protect the yuga-dharma, and who bestow the highest auspiciousness upon the residents of the material world.”
(From Sri Caitanya Bhagavata of Vrindavan Das Thakura)
Madhava - Sun, 09 Jun 2002 12:58:51 +0530
Sri Govardhanastakam
of Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura
kRSNa-prasAdena samasta-zaila-
sAmrAjyam Apnoti ca vairiNo ‘pi
zakrasya yaH prApa baliM sa sAkSAd
govardhano me dizatAm abhISTam (1)
May Govardhana Hill fulfil my deepest desire to get the darsana of Sri Radha-Krishna’s pastimes. By Krishna’s mercy Govardhana became the emperor of all mountains and was worshiped by his arch-enemy Indra in front of everyone.
sva-preSTha-hastAmbuja-saukumArya-
sukhAnubhUter ati-bhUmi vRtteH
mahendra-vajrAhatim apy ajAnan
govardhano me diSatAm abhISTam (2)
Feeling that softness of Krishna’s soft lotus hand when he was being held aloft by Him filled him with so much bliss that he did not even notice Indra’s thunderbolts striking his body. May that Govardhana fulfil my desire.
yatraiva kRSNo vRSabhAnu-putryA
dAnaM gRhItuM kalahaM vitene
zruteH spRhA yatra mahaty ataH zrI-
govardhano me diSatAm abhiSTam (3)
Demanding a road tax, Krishna quarrelled for several hours at Dan Ghati with the daughter of Vrisabhanu Maharaja. Saints visiting Govardhana are eager to listen to that sweet loving quarrel. May that Govardhana fulfil my desire to hear that verbal battle.
snAtvA saraH svazu samIra hastI
yatraiva nIpAdi-parAga dhUliH
Alolayan khelati cAru sa zrI-
govardhano me diSatAm abhISTam (4)
Bathing in Govardhana’s lakes which are filled with lotuses and surrounded by kadamba and other flowers, the cool, sweet and strong breeze blows over the water, shaking the pollen from the flowers as it blows the flowers against each other. This breeze, mixing playfully with the pollen and fragrance of the flowers, is like an elephant who covers himself with dust after taking his bath and then plays with his female friends. May that Govardhana fulfil my desire.
kastUrikAbhiH zayitaM kim atrety
UhaM prabhoH svasya muhur vitanvan
naisargika-svIya-zilA-sugandhair
govardhano me diSatAm abhISTam (5)
Is the sweet fragrance of Govardhana coming because Krishna is sleeping on a bed of musk here? If Krishna is not sleeping here, how is this fragrance coming? All of Govardhana’s silas are fragrant because the breeze is carrying the fragrance and pollen of the flowers and the fragrance of Krishna’s pastimes here with all the gopIs. May that Govardhana fulfil my desire.
vaMza-pratidhvany-anusAra-vartma
didRkSavo yatra hariM hariNyAH
yAntyo labhante na hi vismitAH sa
govardhano me diSatAm abhISTam (6)
The deer on Govardhana start running upon hearing the sound of the wind blowing through the holes of all the bamboo trees, thinking that Krishna is there playing His flute. Not finding Him, they are astonished and wander here and there searching for Him. May that Govardhana fulfil my desire.
yatraiva gaGgAm anu nAvi rAdhAm
Arohya madhye tu nimagna-naukaH
kRSNo hi rAdhAnugalo babhau sa
govardhano me diSatAm abhISTam (7)
In the middle of Manasi Ganga, which has arisen from the heart of Sri Govardhana, Radha was sitting in Krishna’s boat. As He began to make the boat sink, He embraced Her and She, in turn, tightly clung to Krishna’s neck. Together They looked very beautiful. May that Govardhana fulfil my desire.
vinA bhavet kiM hari-dAsa-varya-
padAzrayaM bhaktir ataH zrayAmi
yam eva saprema nijezayoH zrI-
govardhano me diSatAm abhISTam (8)
Without taking shelter of the lotus feet of Govardhana, who is the best of Sri Hari’s servants and who is full of love for Sri Radha-Krishna, how will one ever attain devotion? May that Govardhana fulfil my inner desire and grant me special service for Sri Radha and Krishna when they are m
eeting in his many kunjas.
etat paThed yo hari-dAsa-varya-
mahAnubhAvASTakam Ardra-cetAH
zrI-rAdhikA-mAdhavayoH padAbja-
dAsyaM sa vinded acireNa sAkSAt (9)
May that person who reads these eight verses glorifying Sri Hari’s greatest servant, with his heart melting, his voice choking, his hairs standing on end and tears flowing, quickly attain direct service to the lotus feet of Sri Radhika-Madhava. Govardhana is feeling so many emotions as he’s watching Their pastimes and‚ being very kind, he can easily give this prema.
Madhava - Sat, 15 Jun 2002 13:03:28 +0530
vRndAvanIyAM rasa-keli-vArtAM
kAlena luptAM nija-zaktim utkaH
saJcArya rUpe vyatanot punaH sa
prabhur vidhau prAg iva loka-sRSTim
“Within the course of time, topics about the amorous sports of sacred rapture in Vrindavana were lost. Sriman Mahaprabhu, being eager to reveal these pastimes, infused His unique potency into the heart of Rupa Gosvami, and manifested them again, just as He had manifested wisdom in the heart of Brahma at the dawn of creation.”
(Caitanya Caritamrita, Madhya-lila, 19.1)
Madhava - Mon, 17 Jun 2002 07:15:37 +0530
punaH zuka kahe kRSNa ‘madana-mohana’
tabe Ara zloka zuka karila paThana
Again the male parrot said, “Krishna is the enchanter of the mind of Cupid.” He then began to recite another verse.
vaMzI-dhArI jagan-nArI-
citta-hArI sa zArike
vihArI gopa-nArIbhir
jIyAn madana-mohanaH
“My dear sari [female parrot], Sri Krishna carries a flute and enchants the hearts of all women throughout the universe. He is specifically the enjoyer of the wives of the cowherd men. Let the enchanter of Cupid be glorified!”
punaH zArI kahe zuke kari’ parihAsa
tAhA zuni’ prabhura haila vismaya-premollAsa
Then the female parrot began to speak jokingly to the male parrot, and Sriman Mahaprabhu was struck with wonderful ecstatic love to hear her speak.
rAdhA-saGge yadA bhAti
tadA ‘madana-mohanaH’
anyathA vizva-moho ’pi
svayaM ‘madana-mohitaH’
The female parrot said, “When Sri Krishna is with Radharani, He is the enchanter of Cupid; otherwise, when He is alone, He Himself is enchanted by erotic feelings even though He enchants the whole universe.”
(Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, Madhya-lila, 17.213-216)
Malatilata - Tue, 18 Jun 2002 02:02:50 +0530
priyAyA gacchantyAH svayam anupalabdho vanapathaM
pariSkurvan puSpair ghana viTapavallIr vighaTayan
sva pANibhyAM lumpan nija caraNa-cihnaM calati yas
tad agre taM naumi praNaya-vivaZaM tvAM giridharam
When His Priyatama (Radhika) rushes over the forestpaths to meet Him, He personally sweeps the bulbs and pebbles from the road in an unseen way and strews flowers all over the lane. He removes all the trees and vines that are obstructing the way and then wipes out His own footprints with His hands before He moves on. I offer my obeisances to Giridhari, who is thus overwhelmed by feelings of love.
Sri-Sri Nikunja Keli Virudavali, verse 12
Madhava - Mon, 24 Jun 2002 14:10:07 +0530
(KRSNA) DEVA! BHAVANTAM VANDE
by zrIla RUpa GosvAmI
(kRSNa) deva! bhavantaM vande
man-mAnasa-madhukaram arpaya nija-pada-paGkaja-makarande
O BhagavAn zrI KRSNa! I am offering a prayer to You. Please let the bee of my mind be offered the nectarean honey of Your lotus feet. In other words, please let it have a taste of the rasa of those lotus feet so that it will then never be attracted to anything else!
yadyapi samAdhiSu vidhir api pazyati, na tava nakhAgra-marIcim
idam icchAmi nizamya tavAcyuta! tad api kRpAdbhuta-vIcim (1)
Although BrahmA in full samAdhi cannot catch a glimpse of even a ray of the effulgence from the tips of Your toe-nails, still he Acyuta! having heard of the waves of Your astonishing mercy, I long to receive Your grace.
bhaktir udaJcati yadyapi mAdhava! na tvayi mama tila-mAtrI
paramezvaratA tad api tavAdhika, durghaTa-ghaTana-vidhAtrI (2)
O MAdhava! Although I don’t possess even a sesame seed of bhakti for You, still, by Your inconceivable power which makes the impossible possible, please fulfill the desires of my heart.
ayam avilolatayAdya sanAtana, kalitAdbhuta-rasa-bhAram
nivasatu nityam ihAmRta-nindini, vindan madhurima-sAram (3)
He SanAtana! Because Your lotus feet are filled with such wonderful rasa, let the bee of my mind always reside unwaveringly in that nectar which puts everything else to shame, for they are the essence of all sweetness – this is my only prayer.
GITAM – SRI SRI RADHIKA PADA-PADME VIJNAPTI
by zrila RUpa GosvAmI
rAdhe! jaya jaya mAdhava-dayite!
gokula-taruNI maNDala-mahite (1)
O zrImatI RAdhike! O beloved of MAdhava! O most worshipable young maiden of Gokula-maNDala! All glories to You! All glories to You!
dAmodara-rati vardhana-veze!
hari-niSkuTa-vRndAvipineze! (2)
From the effulgence of the tips of Your toes to the top of Your head, Your artistic dress and entire appearance increase DAmodara’s loving attachment for You! O You are the Queen of the forest of VRndAvana, the pleasure garden of zrI Hari!
vRSabhAnu-dadhi-nava-zazi-lekhe!
lalitA-sakhi! guNa-ramita-vizAkhe! (3)
Just as the moon was produced from the churning of the Milk Ocean, You have arisen like the new moon from the ocean of VRSabhAnu MahArAja’s affection for You. O dearmost friend of LalitA! O You who have captivated the heart of Your intimate sakhI VizAkhA with Your charming (lalita) qualities of friendship, kindness and loyalty to KRSNa!
karuNAM kuru mayi karuNA-bharite!
sanaka-sanAtana-varNita-carite! (4)
O KaruNa-mayI, all-compassionate one! Even naiSTika brahmacArIs like Sanaka and SanAtana, who have described Your aSTa-kAlIya lIlA in the Vedas, BhISmadeva and zukadeva GosvAmI meditate on Your transcendental qualities and character. O zrI RAdhe! Bestow Your kindness upon me!