Gaudiya Vaishnava songs - verses and translations

SRI-SRI GURU VANDANA

jaya jaya zrI guru, prema kalapa taru
adbhuta yAko prakAza
“All glories to zrI Guru, the wish-yielding tree of Love of God, whose manifestation is so astonishing.”

hiyA ageyAna, timira vara jJAna
sucandra kiraNe koru nAza
“With the nice moonbeams of his knowledge he destroyed the deep darkness of ignorance in my heart.”

iha locana Ananda dhAma
ayAcita eheno patita heri yo pahuG
yAci deyalo harinAma
“He is the abode of bliss for the eyes. Seeing this fallen soul, he gave me HarinAma, which is coveted by everyone, although I did not even ask for it.”

duragati agati, asata mati yo jana,
nAhi sukRti lava leza
“This person is hellbound and helpless, and my intelligence is totally corrupt. I do not even have a drop of pious merit.”

zrI vRndAvana, yugala bhajana dhana,
mohe korolo upadeza
“He instructed me in the treasure of the worship of the Divine Couple zrI-zrI RAdhA-KRSNa in zrI VRndAvana.”

niramala gaura, prema rasa siJcane,
pUralo saba mana Aza
“By showering me with the spotless prema rasa which is given by Lord GaurAGga, he fulfilled all my desires.”

so caraNAmbuje, rati nAhi hoyalo
royata vaiSNava dAsa
“VaiSNava DAsa weeps: I did not attain loving attachment to the lotus feet of my Gurudeva.”

MANGALA ARATI GAURA KISORA
by Krishna Dasa

This is a popular Bengali song describing the auspicious ceremony of awakening the youthful Lord Caitanya (Gaura Kisora). It is often sung together with the next song, which is in the same mode and which describes the mangala arati of Radha and Krishna.

maGgala Aroti gaura kizora
maGgala nityAnanda jora hi jora

The auspicious ceremony of awakening the youthful Gaura (zrI Caitanya MahAprabhu) takes place along with the loud awakening of Lord NityAnanda.

mangala zrI advaita bhakata hi saGge

zrI Advaita AcArya is awoken along with His devotees.

maGgala gAota prema taraGga

Auspicious songs are sung, flowing on like waves of love of God.

mangala bAjata khola karatala

Auspicious drums and handcymbals resound.

maGgala hari dAsa nAcata bhAlo

The auspicious devotee Hari dAsa ThAkura dances beautifully.

mangala dhUpa dIpa loiyA svarUpa

zrI SvarUpa DAmodara GosvAmI takes auspicious incense and lamps.

mangala Aroti kore aparUpa

And he performs a wonderful mangala Arati ceremony.

maGgala gadAdhara heri pahuG hAsa

The auspicious GadAdhara PaNDit smiles when he sees the Lord.

mangala gAote dIna kRSNa dAsa

The fallen devotee KRSNa DAsa sings this auspicious song.

MANGALA AROTI YUGALA KISORA
by Syamananda Thakura

This song describes the auspicious ceremony of awakening RAdhA and KRSNa in VrindAvan’s love groves.

mangala aroti yugala kizora
jaya jaya koratahi sakhI-gaNa bhora

Their girlfriends (sakhIs) are praising the youthful Divine Couple during Their MaGgala Arati, singing jaya! jaya!

ratana pradIpa koru Talamala tora

A jeweled lamp is being swung around as an offering to RAdhA-KRSNa.

nirakhata mukha vidhu zyAma sugaura

The sakhIs behold the moonlike faces of bluish KRSNa and golden RAdhA.

lalitA vizAkhA sakhI preme agora (2x)

The girlfriends LalitA and VizAkhA are absorbed in feelings of love.

koroto niramanchan doJhe duhuG bhora (2x)

They are absorbed in worshipping both RAdhA and KRSNa (with this mangala Arati-ceremony).

zrI vRndAvana kuJja bhuvana ujora

The forestgrove in VRndAvan beautifies the whole world.

mUrati manohara yugala kizora

Along with the enchanting form of the divine youthful Couple RAdhA and KRSNa.

gAoete zuka pika nAcata mor (2x)

The parrots and the cuckoos sing and the peacocks dance in VRndAvan.

cAGda upekhi mukha nirakhe cakora (2x)

The Cakora-birds reject their beloved moon to stare at the beautiful faces of RAdhA and KRSNa.

bajata vividha yantra ghana ghora

Many kinds of musical instruments are being played busily.

zyAmAnanda Ananda bajaya jaya tora

zyAmAnanda blissfully plays them for the divine Couple.

SRI PANCA TATTVA VANDANA

This is a Bengali song in praise of zrI Caitanya MahAprabhu and His eternal associates, sung before commencing lectures.

jaya jaya nityAnandAdvaita gaurAGga

Glory to Lord NityAnanda, zrI Advaita AcArya and Lord GaurAGga (Caitanya)!

nitAi gaurAGga! nitAi gaurAGga! (2x)
jaya jaya nityAnandAdvaita gaurAGga
jaya jaya yazodA nandana zacI suta gauracandra

Glory to the son of mother YazodA (KRSNa) who now appeared as the moonlike Gaura (Caitanya), the son of mother zacI.

jaya jaya rohiNI nandana balarAma nityAnanda

Glory to Lord NityAnanda, Who is actually Lord BalarAma, the son of mother RohiNI.

jaya jaya mahA viSNu avatAra zrI advaita candra

Glory to the moonlike zrI Advaita, who is an descension of MahA ViSNu.

jaya jaya gadAdhara zrIvAsAdi gaura bhakta vRnda

Glory to GadAdhara PaNDita, zrIvAsa PaNDita and the other devotees of Lord Gaura.

jaya jaya svarUp rUpa sanAtana rAy rAmAnanda

Glory to SvarUpa DAmodara GosvAmI, RUpa GosvAmI, SanAtana GosvAmI and zrI RAmAnanda RAya, Lord Caitanya’s foremost associates.

jaya jaya khaNDa-vAsI narahari murAri mukunda

Glory to the inhabitants of the town of KhaNDa (in Bengal) named Narahari, MurArI and Mukunda (see Caitanya CaritAmRta Adi-lIlA chapter 10, verses 78 and 79).

jaya jaya paJca putra saGge nAce rAy bhavAnanda

Glory to BhavAnanda RAy, who dances along with his five devotee-sons (see Caitanya CaritAmRta Adi lIlA chapter 10, verses 133 and 134).

jaya jaya tina putra saGge nAce sen zivAnanda

Glory to zivAnanda Sen, who dances along with his three sons (see Caitanya CaritAmRta Adi lIlA chapter 10, verse 62).

jaya jaya dvAdaza gopAla Adi cauSaThi mahanta

Glory to the twelve cowherdboy-associates of Lord NityAnanda (or BalarAma) and all the sixty-four great associates of Lord Caitanya.

ei bAr kRpA kori deho gaura caraNAravinda

This time please give me the lotus feet of Lord Gaura!

gaura caraNAravinda (2x)
jaya jaya nityAnandAdvaita gaurAGga

Glory to Lord NityAnanda, Advaita AcArya and Lord GaurAGga!

jaya jaya nityAnanda
zrI advaita gaurAGga (2x)

SRI RADHA-KRISHNA VANDANA

This Bengali song, glorifying zrI-zrI-KRSNa and Their eternal associates, is sung after lectures.

jaya jaya rAdhe kRSNa! govinda!

All glories to RAdhA and KRSNa, who is also called Govinda.

rAdhe govinda ! rAdhe govinda!
e bAr doyA koro go rAdhe!

(This time by merciful to me, O RAdhe!)

rAdhe govinda! rAdhe govinda!
jaya jaya rAdhe kRSNa govinda!
jaya jaya zyAmasundar madan mohan vRndAvana candra

All glories to zyAmasundara, or beautiful and black KRSNa, Who enchants even Cupid (Madan Mohana) and Who shines like the moon in VRndAvana (VRndAvana Candra).

jaya jaya rAdhA ramaN rAs bihArI zrI gokulAnanda !

All glories to KRSNa, who is the lover of RAdhA (RAdhA RamaNa), the enjoyer of the RAsa dance (RAsa bihArI) and who gives joy to the area of Gokula (GokulAnanda).

jaya jaya rAdhA kAnta rAdhA vinoda zrI rAdhA govinda

All glories to KRSNa, who is the lover of RAdhA (RAdhA KAnta), who pleases RAdhA (RAdhA Vinoda) and glories to RAdhA and Govinda together!

jaya jaya rAsezvari vinodini bhAnukula candra

All glories to zrImatI RAdhArANI, who is the Queen of the RAsa-dance (RAsezvarI) who gives pleasure (VinodinI) and who rises like the moon in the family of king VRSabhAnu (BhAnukula Candra)!

jaya jaya lalitA vizAkhA Adi yoto sakhI vRnda

All glories to LalitA and VizAkhA and all the other girlfriends of RAdhA and KRSNa.

jaya jaya zrI rUpa maJjarI Adi maJjarI anaGga

All glories to zrI RUpa maJjarI and all the other maidservants of RAdhA and KRSNa, such as AnaGga MaJjarI, zrI RAdhA’s younger sister.

jaya jaya paurNamAsI kundalatA jaya bIra vRndA

All glories to PaurNamAsI, the incarnation of YogamAyA, who arranges for RAdhA and KRSNa’s secret meetings, KundalatA, KRSNa’s niece, and VIrA and VRndA, the expert messengers of RAdhA and KRSNa.

tomrA sabei mile doyA koro Ami ati manda

All of you please be merciful to me, I am a great wretch!

yeno Akul prANe DAkte pAri hA rAdhe govinda

So that I may cry out with anxious heart: “HA RAdhe Govinda!”

yeno nayan jala DhAlte pAri zrI rAdhA govinda

So that I may shed tears and exclaim ‘zrI RAdhe Govinda!’

AmAr divA nizi hiyAy jAgau zrI rAdhe govinda

“zrI RAdhe Govinda! Arise in my heart day and night!”

ei bAr kRpA kori deho yugal caraNAravinda

All of you, please give me the lotus feet of RAdhA and KRSNa.

yugal caraNAravinda (2x)

(The following line is only sung by the leader and is called a GIta BhUSan, an ornament to the song)

Ami Ar kichu cAi nA apAra karuNAmayi

I don’t want anything else, o limitlessly merciful One (RAdhA)!

Ami Ar kichu cAi nA o go rAdhe

I don’t want anything else, O RAdhA!

rAdhe govinda! rAdhe govinda !
jaya jaya rAdhe kRSNa govinda
jaya jaya rAdhe kRSNa
rAdhe kRSNa govinda (2x)

SRI GAURA’S EVENING ARATI SONG

bhAli gorAcandera Aratiboni
bAje saGkIrtanera madhura rasa dhvani

“How beautiful is the evening-AratI of GorAcAnd! The saGkIrtana resounds sweetly and tastefully.”

zaGkha bAje, ghaNTA bAje, bAje karatAla
madhura mRdaGga bAje, zunite rasAla

“Conchshells resound, bells ring and karatAlas clang. Sweet mRdaGgas pound and all this sounds very tasteful.”

vividha kusuma phule gole vanamAlA
koto koTI candra jini vadana ujjvalA

“Around His neck Gora wears a garland of different kinds of forestflowers and His face shines brighter than millions of moons.”

brahmA Adi deva yAre karajoDa kore
sahasra vadane zire maNi chatra dhare

“BrahmA and other demigods stand there with folded hands and the thousand headed zeSa holds a jewelled umbrella over His head.”

ziva zuka nArada veda vicAre
nAhi parAtpara bhAva vibhore

“ziva, zuka and NArada are considering that nothing higher than this can be found in the Vedas, and thus they become absorbed in ecstasy.”

zrInivAsa haridAsa maGgala gAoye
narahari gadAdhara cAmara DhulAoye

“zrInivAsa and HaridAsa are singing auspicious songs while Narahari and GadAdhara are wielding yaktail fans.”

vIra vallabha dAsa zrI gaura caraNe Aza
jagabhari rahalo mahimA prakAza

“VIra-vallabha dAsa yearns for zrI Gaura’s lotus feet and the whole world is filled with the manifestation of His glories.”

RADHAJI’S EVENING ARATI

A Bengali song also sung by Hindustani devotees in Vrindavana, (for instance in Seva Kunja) written by one Manohara Das

jaya jaya rAdhAjI go! zaraNa tohAri

All glories to the shelter of the lotus feet of RAdhA!

aichana Aroti jao bolihAri!

All glories to such an Arati-ceremony!

paTTa paTTAmbara ore nIla sArI

RAdhA wears a blue silken sARI and veil.

siGthi pore sindUra aruNa ujori

And She has splendid red powder on Her part (as worn by married girls in India).

beza banAyala priya sahacari

Her dear maidservants help Her in arranging Her dress.

ratana simhAsane baiThali gaurI

GaurI (golden-complexioned RAdhA) sits on a jeweled throne.

ratana jarita moni mAnikya moti
jhalamala AbharaNa prati aGga jyoti

Each of Her limbs is illuminated by glistening ornaments of jewels and pearls.

cuwa candana gandha dehi braja bAlA

The gopIs of Vraja are anointing Her body with fragrant sandalwood pulp.

vRSabhAnu rAj nandinI vadana ujAlA

The face of king VRSabhAnu’s daughter shines splendidly.

caudike sakhI-gaNa dehi koratAli

On all sides Her girlfriends are blissfully clapping their hands.

Aroti koratahi lalitA piyAri

RAdhA’s dear girlfriend LalitA performs the Arati-ceremony.

nava nava vrajavadhU maGgala gAoe

The young married girls of Vraja are singing auspicious songs.

priya narma sakhI-gaNa cAmara DhulAoe

And the best girlfriends of RAdhA fan Her with whisks.

rAdhA pAda paGkaja bhakatahi AzA
dAsa manohara koroto bharasA

Manohara DAs desires the service of RAdhA’s lotus feet.

MADANA GOPALA’S EVENING-ARATI

harata sakala santApa janama ko

This Arati removes all material suffering.

miTata talapa jama kAla ki

And mitigates all pain of coming (birth) and death.

Arati kiye jai jai zrI madan gopAla ki

All glories to the Arati of zrI Madana GopAla (KRSNa, the Cupid-cowherdboy)!

go ghrita racita karpUra kA bAti
jhalakata kAJcana thAla ki

A camphor-wick with clarified butter is burning on a golden plate (and is offered to KRSNa during the ceremony).

candra koTi koTi bhAnu koTi chabi
mukha zobhA nanda dulAla ki

The face of Nanda’s son KRSNa is more beautiful and splendid than millions of moons and suns.

caraNa kamala pore nUpura bAje

His anklebells jingle on His lotus feet.

uDe dola vaijayanti mAla ki

And on His chest swings a garland of forest flowers.

mayUra mukuTa pitAmbara shohe

KRSNa wears a beautiful crown of peacock feathers and a yellow dhoti.

bAjata veNu rasAla ki

And He plays a delicious flute-song.

(chorus) Aroti kiya jai jai zrI madan gopAla ki

All glories to the Arati of zrI Madana GopAla.

sundara lola kapolanI kiye chabi

How beautifully His earrings dangle on His glossy cheeks!

nirakhata madana gopAla ki

So we behold Madana GopAla.

sura-nara-muni-gaNa koratAi Aroti

The demigods, human beings and the sages perform the Aroti-ceremony.

bhakata vatsala pratipAla ki

To the protector and benefactor of the devotees (KRSNa).

bAje ghaNTA tAla mridanga jhAGjari

The hand-cymbals and drums are playing.

aJjali kusuma gulAla ki

And handfuls of flowers and colored powder are thrown at KRSNa.

hu hu boli boli raghunAtha dAsa gosvAmI

Out of love, RaghunAtha DAs GosvAmI cries out ‘hu hu!’

mohana gokula lAla ki (2x)

O enchanting boy of Gokula!

(chorus) Aroti kiye jai jai zrI madan gopAla ki
madana gopAla jay jay jazodA dulAla ki

Glories to Madana GopAla, the son of YazodA!

yazodA dulAla jay jaya nanda dulAla ki

Glories to the son of YazodA and Nanda!

nanda dulAla jay jay giridhArI lAla ki

Glories to the son of Nanda, the lifter of Govardhana Hill!

giridhAri lAla jay jay govinda gopAla ki

All glories to GiridhArI, Govinda, GopAla!

govinda gopAla jaya jay gaura gopAla ki

Glory to Govinda GopAla (KRSNa) and Gaura GopAla (Lord Caitanya, the golden cowherd)

gaura gopAla jaya jaya zacIra dulAla ki

Glory to Gaura GopAla, the son of mother zacI!

zacIra dulAla jaya jaya nitAi dayAla ki

Glory to the son of mother zacI and the merciful NitAi (Lord NityAnanda).

nitAi dayAla sItA advaita dayAla ki

Glory to the merciful NitAi, SItA (the consort of Advaita AcArya) and Advaita AcArya.

advaita dayAla jaya jaya gadAdhara dayAla ki

Glory to the merciful Advaita Prabhu and the merciful GadAdhara Pandit.

gadAdhara dayAla jaya jaya zrIvAsAdi lAla ki

Glory to the merciful GadAdhara Pandit, zrIvAsa Pandit and all the other devotees of Lord Caitanya!

(chorus) Aroti kiya jaya jaya
zrI madan gopAla ki (2x)

SRI TULASI EVENING ARATI

namo namo tulasI mahArANI
vRnde ji mahArANi namo namo

“Obeisances to you again and again, TulasI MahArANi, VRnde ji MahArANi!”

namo re namo re meya namo nArAyaNI
(kRSNa bhakti pradAyinI) namo namo

“O NArAyaNI (consort of NArAyaNa), O bestower of KRSNa-devotion! Obeisances to you again and again.”

jAko daraze, paraze agha nAzI
mahimA veda purANe vAkhAni

“The Vedas and PurANas proclaim your glories, saying that you destroy the sins of whoever sees you or touches you.”

jAko patra, maJjarI komala,
zrIpati caraNa kamala lapaTANI
rAdhA pati carana kamala lapaTANi

“Your leaves and tender budding flowers entwine the lotus feet of zrIpati or the Lord of RAdhA.

dhanya tulasi, pUraNa tapa kiye
zAlagrAma ki mahA pATarANI

“Blessed you are, Tulasi, for by completing your penance you have become the great Queen of zAlagrAma.”

dhUpa dIpa, naivedya Aroti
phulana kiye barakhA barakhAni

“You delight those who offer you incense, lamps, food or Arati and shower them with your grace.”

chAppAnna bhoga, chatriza byanjana,
binA tulasI prabhu eka nAhi mAni

“The Lord will not accept any of the 56 offerings with 36 types of vegetables offered to Him if there are no TulasI leaves on them.”

ziva sanakAdi, aura brahmAdiko
Dhurata phirata mahA muni jJAnI

“ziva, Sanaka, BrahmA and all other greatly wise sages circumambulate you.”

candra sakhI meyA, tero jazo gAowe
bhakati dAna dijiye mahArANI

Candra SakhI is singing your glories. O MahArANi! Please bestow devotion upon me!”