Śrī Nityānandāstakam

Śrī Nityānandāstakam

BY Śrīla Vṛndāvan Dāsa Ṭhākura

Eight Beautiful Verses Glorifying Lord Nityānanda
Translated by Swarupa Damodara dasa

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(1)
śarat-candra-bhrāntiṁ sphurad-amala-kāntiṁ gaja-gatiṁ
hari-premonmattaṁ dhṛta-parama-sattvaṁ smita-mukhaṁ
sadā ghūrṇan-netraṁ kara-kalita-vetraṁ kali-bhidaṁ
bhaje nityānandaṁ bhajana-taru-kandaṁ niravadhi

I perpetually worship Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, the root of the Kṛṣṇa-bhakti tree, whose bright face mocks the full autumn moon, whose pure complexion glistens, whose gait is like that of a maddened elephant, who is always intoxicated in Kṛṣṇa-prema, who embodies pure spiritual energy, whose face holds a gentle smile, whose eyes are always rolling due to His absorption in Kṛṣṇa-prema, whose lotus hand holds a glowing staff, and who, by the performance of nāma-saṅkīrtana, pierces the influence of Kali-yuga.

(2)
rasānām āgāraṁ svajana-gaṇa-sarvasvam atulaṁ
tadīyaika-prāṇa-pratima-vasudhā-jāhnavī-patiṁ
sadā-premonmādaṁ parama-viditaṁ manda-manasāṁ
bhaje nityānandaṁ bhajana-taru-kandaṁ niravadhi

I perpetually worship Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, the root of the Kṛṣṇa-bhakti tree, who is the mainstay of all the rasas, who is everything to His devotees, who is beyond compare, who is the master of both Vasudhā and Jāhnavā-devī, who consider Him more dear than their own lives, who is always maddened in Kṛṣṇa-prema, and who is unknown only to those of meager intelligence.

(3)
śacīsūnu-presthaṁ nikhila-jagad-iṣṭaṁ sukha-mayaṁ
kalau majjaj-jīvoddharaṇa-karaṇoddāma-karuṇam
harer-vyākhyānād vā bhava-jaladhi-garvonnati-haraṁ
bhaje nityānandaṁ bhajana-taru-kandaṁ niravadhi

I perpetually worship Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, the root of the Kṛṣṇa-bhakti tree, who is very dear to Śrī Śacī-nandana, who is worshipped by the entire universe, who is the embodiment of happiness, who possesses infinite mercy for delivering the souls who are drowning in the age of Kali, and who, by the performance of sri-harinama-sankirtana, thwarts the progressing false pride of the ocean of repeated birth and death.

(4)
aye bhrātar nṛṇaṁ kali-kaluṣināṁ kiṁ nu bhavitā
tathā prāyaścittaṁ racaya yad-anāyāsatamime
vrajanti tvām itthaṁ saha bhagavatā mantrayati yo
bhaje nityānandaṁ bhajana-taru-kandaṁ niravadhi

I perpetually worship Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, the root of the Kṛṣṇa-bhakti tree, who said to Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, “Hey brother Gaurāṅga! What will be the destination of the sinful souls of Kali-yuga and how will theyt be redeemed? Please devise a method by which they will easily attain You.”

(5)
yatheṣṭam re bhrātaḥ! kuru hari-hari-dhvānam aniśaṁ
tato vaḥ saṁsārābudhi-taraṇa-dāyo mayi laget
idaṁ bāhu-sphoṭair aṭati raṭayan yaḥ pratigṛhaṁ
bhaje nityānandaṁ bhajana-taru-kandaṁ niravadhi

I perpetually worship Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, the root of the Kṛṣṇa-bhakti tree, who wandered around Bengal and, approaching the door of each and every home, threw open His arms and exclaimed, “O brothers! All of you should eternally perform sri-harinama-sankirtana together. By doing so, I will take the responsibility to deliver you all from the ocean of material existence.”

(6)
balāt saṁsārāmbhonidhi-haraṇa-kumbhodbhavam aho
satāṁ śreyaḥ-sindhunnati-kumuda-bandhuṁ samuditaṁ
khala-śrenī-sphūrjit-timira-hara-sūrya-prabham ahaṁ
bhaje nityānandaṁ bhajana-taru-kandaṁ niravadhi

I eternally worship Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, the root of the Kṛṣṇa-bhakti tree, who is the Agastya Muni who forcibly swallows the ocean of repeated birth and death, who is a rising full moon which increases the ocean of the saintly persons’ welfare, and who is a sun which dissipates the darkness of ignorance cast by the various classes of miscreants.

(7)
naṭantaṁ gāyāntaṁ harim anuvadantaṁ pathi pathi
vrajantam paśyantaṁ svam api na dayantaṁ jana-gaṇam
prakurvantaṁ santaṁ sakaruṇa-dṛg-antaṁ prakalanād
bhaje nityānandaṁ bhajana-taru-kandaṁ niravadhi

I eternally worship Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, the root of the tree of Kṛṣṇa-bhakti, who wandered on every path in Bengal dancing, singing, and calling out “Hari bol! Hari bol!” and who lovingly bestowed merciful sidelong glances upon those who were not compassionate to even their own selves.

(8)
su-bibhrāṇaṁ bhrātuḥ kara-sarasijaṁ komalataraṁ
mitho vaktālokocchalita-paramānanda-hṛdayam
bhramantaṁ mādhuryair ahaha! madayantaṁ pura-janān
bhaje nityānandaṁ bhajana-taru-kandaṁ niravadhi

I eternally worship Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, the root of the Kṛṣṇa-bhakti tree, who held the supremely soft lotus-hand of His brother Śrī Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu, whose heart became filled with the highest bliss when the two brothers gazed into each other’s faces, and who wandered here and there delighting the townspeople with His sweetness.

(9)
rasānām ādhāraṁ rasika-vara-sad-vaiṣṇava-dhanaṁ
rasāgāraṁ sāraṁ patita-tati-tāraṁ smaraṇataḥ
paraṁ nityānandāstakam idam apūrvaṁ paṭhati yaḥ
tad-aṅghri-dvandvābjaṁ sphuratu nitarām tasya hṛdaye

May Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu place His lotus feet in the heart of one who lovingly recites this unprecedented Nityanandastaka, which is the reservoir of rasa, the greatest treasure of the most exalted of rasika Vaiṣṇavas, and the storehouse of the essence of bhakti-rasa.

This aṣṭaka is sung in the melody known as ‘Śikhariṇī‘.

Different English Translation

1. I worship Lord Nityānanda, the unlimited root of the tree of devotional service. He appears like an autumn moon, very splendid and free from any taint. Maddened with pure love for Lord Hari, His eyes constantly roll about and he walks as gracefully as an elephant. He is the Absolute Truth, His face is smiling, and holding a staff in His hand, He disperses the influence of the age of Kali.
2. I worship Lord Nityānanda, the unlimited root of the tree of devotional service. He is the abode of the mellows of devotional service, no one can be compared to Him and He is the be all and end all for His devotees. He is the Lord of Jāhnavā Devī, the goddess Who considers Nityānanda more dear than life. He is always maddened with pure love of Godhead and the unintelligent non-devotees, cannot understand that He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself.
3. I worship Lord Nityānanda, the unlimited root of the tree of devotional service. He is very dear to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the son of Śacīdevī and He is worshipped by the entire universe. He is very cheerful and He delivers the souls immersed in the Kali-yuga. By chanting the holy name of Lord Hari, He removes the false ego born from the ocean of material life.
4. I worship Lord Nityānanda, the unlimited root of the tree of devotional service. He spoke to Lord Caitanya saying, “O, brother! The people will become infected with all the sins of Kali-yuga. How will they be able to atone for these sins? Please give them some way by which they can easily approach You.”
5. I worship Lord Nityānanda, the unlimited root of the tree of devotional service. He went to each and every house and raised His arms saying, “O, brothers! If you will, please constantly chant the holy name of Lord Hari! If you do this, you will become free from the ocean of birth and death in the material world. Please give this gift of your liberation to Me.”
6. I worship Lord Nityānanda, the unlimited root of the tree of devotional service. He is like Agastya Muni who forcibly swallows the ocean of material existence, and He is the rising full moon which is the friend of the lotus flowers and which increases the ocean, which is the welfare of the saintly devotees. He is the blazing sun which removes the darkness which is the community of demons.
7. I worship Lord Nityānanda, the unlimited root of the tree of devotional service. He traveled on every path singing and dancing and repeating, “Hari! Hari!” Without considering His own interests, He was merciful to the people and he gave them His merciful side long glance.
8. I worship Lord Nityānanda, the unlimited root of the tree of devotional service. He held the beautiful lotus hand of His brother, Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and when They glanced at each others faces, Their hearts became full of transcendental bliss. They wandered through the towns of Bengal and delighted the people there.

These eight verses glorifying Lord Nityānanda are the abode of the mellows of devotional service and they are the wealth of the pure devotees expert at relishing these mellows. These verses are very excellent, transcendental, and unprecidented. May the two lotus feet of Lord Nityānanda continually appear in the hearts of those who read these verses and remember the Lord.