Sri Gauranga-stava-kalpa-vriksha
The Desire Tree of Prayers to Lord Gauranga
by Srila Raghunatha das Gosvami, Sri Stavavali
Translated by Srila Prabhupada and Kusakratha dasa
(Note: Translations followed by an asterisk are Srila Prabhupada’s.)
“Anyone who nourishes this celestial tree of praises of Sri Gauranga, whose branches are the verses of this poem, whose different splendidly shining flowers are the ecstatic feelings of Sri Gauranga, with the watering process of repeated recitation purified by the great herb of strong faith, will obtain its great juicy fruit; the sight of Sri Gauranga.”
Text 1
gatim drishtva yasya pramada-gaja-varye ‘khila-jana
mukham ca sri-candropari dadhati thutkara-nivaham
sva-kantya yah svarnacalam adharayac chidhu ca vacas-
tarangair gauraggo hridaya udayan mam madayati
When everyone sees His graceful motions they revile the graceful mad elephant and when they see His face they spit at the moon. He is splendid as a gold mountain and the waves of His words are nectar. The appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, awakening in my heart, maddens me.
Text 2
alankrityatmanam nava-vividha-ratnair iva valad-
vivarnatva-stambhasphuta-vacana-kampasru-pulakaih
hasan svidyan nrityan siti-giri-pater nirbhara-mude
purah sri-gaurango hridaya udayan mam madayati
Decorating Himself with the jewels of paleness, becoming stunned, stuttering, trembling, shedding tears, and bodily hairs erect with joy, and laughing and perspiring as He danced for the pleasure of Lord Jagannatha, may Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu rise in my heart and make me mad with love.
Text 3
rasollasais tiryag-gatibhir abhito varibhir alam
drisoh sincal lokan aruna-jala-yantratva-mitayoh
muda dantair dashtva madhuram adharam kampa-calitair
natan sri-gaurango hridaya udayan mam madayati
Staggering about in ecstasy, sprinkling everyone with water from the reddish syringes of His eyes, joyfully biting His charming lips with His teeth, and trembling as He dances, may Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu rise in my heart and make me mad with love.
Text 4
kvacin misravase vraja-pati-sutasyoru-virahat
slathac chri-sandhitvad dadhad adhika-dairghyam bhuja-padohluthan bhumau kakva
vikala-vikalam gadgada-vaca
rudan sri-gaurango hridaya udayan mam madayati
Sometimes Sri Caitanya would go to the house of Kasi Misra. There He would be greatly aggrieved, feeling separation from Krishna. The joints of His transcendental body would slacken, and His arms and legs would become elongated. Rolling on the ground, the Lord would cry out in distress in a faltering voice and weep very sorrowfully. The appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, awakening in my heart, maddens me.*
Text 5
anudghatya dvara-trayam uru ca bhitti-trayam aho
vilanghyoccaih kalingika-surabhi-madhye nipatitah
tanudyat-sankocat kamatha iva krishnoru-virahad
virajan gaurango hridaya udayan mam madayati
How wonderful it is! Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu left His residence without opening the three strongly bolted doors. Then He crossed over three high walls, and later, because of strong feelings of separation from Krishna, He fell down amidst the cows of the Tailanga district and retracted all the limbs of His body like a tortoise. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who appeared in that way, rises in my heart and maddens me.*
Text 6
svakiyasya pranarbuda-sadrisa-goshthasya virahat
pralapan unmadat satatam ati kurvan vikala-dhih
dadhad bhittau sasvad vadana-vidhu-gharshena rudhiram
kshatottham gaurango hridaya udayan mam madayati
Because of separation from His many friends in Vrindavana, who were like His own life, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu spoke like a madman. His intelligence was transformed. Day and night He rubbed His moonlike face against the walls, and blood flowed from the injuries. May that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu rise in my heart and make me mad with love.*
Text 7
kva me kantah krishnas tvaritam iha tam lokaya sakhe
tvam eveti dvaradhipam abhivadann unmada iva
drutam gaccha drashtum priyam iti tad-uktena dhrita-tad-
bhujantar gaurango hridaya udayan mam
“My dear friend the doorkeeper, where is Krishna, the Lord of my heart? Kindly show Him to Me quickly.” With these words Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu addressed the doorkeeper like a madman. The doorkeeper grasped His hand and replied very hastily, “Come, see Your beloved!” May that Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu rise within my heart and thus make me mad also.*
Text 8
samipe niladres cataka-giri-rajasya kalanad
aye goshthe govardhana-giri-patim lokitum itah
vrajann asmity uktva pramada iva dhavann avadhrito
ganaih svair gaurango hridaya udayan mam madayati
Near Jagannatha Puri was a great sand dune known as Cataka-parvata. Seeing that hill, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, “Oh, I shall go to the land of Vraja to see Govardhana Hill.” Then He began running madly to it, and all the Vaishnavas ran after Him. This scene awakens in my heart and maddens me.*
Text 9
alam dola-khela-mahasi vara-tan-mandapa-tale
svarupena svenapara-nija-ganenapi militah
svayam kurvan namnam ati-madhura-ganam murabhidah
sa-rango gaurango hridaya udayan mam madayati
Under a charming pavilion at the swing festival, with Svarupa Damodara and the other devotees He sweetly sang the holy names of Lord Krishna. May Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu rise in my heart and make me mad with love.
Text 10
dayam yo govinde garuda iva lakshmi-patir alam
puri-deve bhaktim ya iva guru-varye yaduvarah
svarupe yah sneham giridhara iva srila-subale
vidhatte gaurango hridaya udayan mam madayati
As Lord Narayana is kind to Garuda, He is kind to Govinda dasa. As Lord Krishna is devoted to His guru, He is devoted to Isvara Puri. As Lord Giridhari loves Subala, He loves Svarupa Damodara. May that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu rise in my heart and make me mad with love.
Text 11
maha-sampad-davad api patitam uddhritya kripaya
svarupe yah sviye kujanam api mam nyasya muditah
uro-gunja-haram priyam api ca govardhana-silam
dadau me gaurango hridaya udayan mam madayati
Although I am a fallen soul, the lowest of men, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu delivered me from the blazing forest fire of great material opulence by His mercy. He handed me over in great pleasure to Svarupa Damodara, His personal associate. The Lord also gave me the garland of small conchshells that He wore on His chest and a stone from Govardhana Hill, although they were very dear to Him. That same Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu awakens within my heart and makes me mad after Him.*
Text 12
iti sri-gaurangodgata-vividha-sad-bhava-kusuma-
prabha-bhrajat-padyavali-lalita-sakham sura-tarum
muhur yo ‘ti-sraddhaushadhi-vara-balat-patha-salilair
alam sinced vindet sarasa-guru-tal-lokana-phalam
One who, with the water of careful reading mixed with the medicine of strong faith, waters this celestial tree, its charming branches the verses of this poem, and the splendor of its flowers pure love for Lord Gauranga, will reap that tree’s heavy fruit: the sight of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
–
DIFFERENT ENGLISH TRANSLATION
1. Everyone who has seen His graceful movements mocks the gait of a maddened elephant and seeing His face, everybody spits on the sweetness of the full moon. His luster defeats the splendour of a golden mountain and the waves of His words defeat the sweetness of nectar. Sri Gauranga thus rises in my heart and maddens me with love.
2. Just as a great dancer decorates himself with many new ornaments for his dance, Sri Gauranga decorates Himself with the ornaments of asta-sattvika-bhavas, such as turning pale, becoming stunned, faltering of the voice, shivering, shedding tears, horripilating and perspiring, while He’s laughing in topmost bliss and dancing for the joy of Lord Jagannatha. That Sri Gauranga awakens in my heart and maddens me with love.
3. He staggers about in ecstasy, sprinkling everyone with great streams of loving tears from the reddish syringes of His eyes, joyfully biting His charming lips with His row of teeth, and trembles as He dances. That Sri Gauranga awakens in my heart and maddens me with love.
4. Once in the house of Kasi Misra, Sri Gauranga would be greatly aggrieved, feeling intense separation from Krishna, the prince of Vraja. The joints of His transcendental body would slacken, and His arms and legs would become elongated. Rolling on the ground, the Lord would pitifully weep in a faltering voice. Sri Gauranga awakens in my heart and maddens me with love.
5. How wonderful it is! Sri Gauranga left His residence without opening the three strongly bolted doors. In intense feelings of separation from Krishna He crossed over three high walls and fell down amidst the cows fromTailanga, retracting all the limbs of His body like a tortoise. Sri Gauranga, who appears in that way, awakens in my heart and maddens me with love.
6. In great separation from Vrindavana, which was billions of times dearer to Him than His own life-airs, He spoke like a madman. Day and night He rubbed His moonlike face against the walls in great agitation, causing blood to ooze from the resultant injuries. Sri Gauranga rises in my heart and maddens me with love.
7. “My dear friend, where is Krishna, the Lord of My heart? Show Him to Me quickly.” With these words Sri Gauranga addressed the gatekeeper of the Jagannatha temple as if he was mad. The gatekeeper grasped His hand and replied very hastily, ” Quickly come and see Your beloved!” Sri Gauranga rises within my heart and maddens me with love.
8. Sri Gauranga saw a great sand dune known as Cataka-parvata. Seeing that hill, Sri Gauranga exclaimed: ” O friends! I shall go to the land of Vraja and see Govardhana Hill!” Then He began running madly towards it and got captured by all His well-wishing friends. This scene awakens in my heart and maddens me with love.
9. At the base of the platform where they performed the deity’s swing festival, Sri Gauranga sang along with Svarupa Damodara and His other devotees the holy names of Sri Krishna in very sweet songs. Sri Gauranga awakens in my heart and maddens me with love.
10. As Lord Narayana is kind to Garuda, Sri Gauranga was kind to His servant Govinda dasa. As Lord Krishna was devoted to His guru Sandipani Muni, He is devoted to Isvara Puri. As Sri Giridhari loved Subala, He was affectionate to Svarapa Damodara. That Sri Gauranga rises in my heart and maddens me with love.
11. Although I am a fallen soul, the lowest of men, Sri Gauranga delivered me mercifully from the muck of great material opulence and other illusions. He mercifully placed me into the care of His own dear associate Svarupa Damodara, and also gave me His beloved gunja-necklace that He wore on His chest and a stone from Govardhana Hill. May Sri Gauranga rise within my heart and madden me with love for Him.
12 Anyone who nourishes this celestial tree of praises of Sri Gauranga, whose branches are the verses of this poem, whose different splendidly shining flowers are the ecstatic feelings of Sri Gauranga, with the watering process of repeated recitation purified by the great herb of strong faith, will obtain its great juicy fruit; the sight of Sri Gauranga.
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Stavavali by Srila Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami:
by Kusakratha Dasa,
Introduction
We can best and most authoritatively learn about the life of Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami by reading Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. In the Adi-lila it is written: “Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, the forty-sixth branch of the tree, was one of the most dear servants of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He left all his material possessions to surrender completely unto the Lord and live at His lotus feet.
“When Raghunatha dasa Gosvami approached Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at Jagannatha Puri, the lord entrusted him to the care of Svarupa Damodara, His secretary. Thus they both engaged in the confidential service of the Lord. He rendered confidential service to the Lord for sixteen years at Jagannatha Puri, and after the disappearance of both the Lord and Svarupa Damodara, he left Jagannatha Puri and went to Vrndavana.
“Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami intended to go to Vrndavana to see the lotus feet of Rupa and Sanatana and then give up his life by jumping from Govardhana Hill. Thus Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami came to Vrndavana, visited Srila Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami and offered them his obeisances. These two brothers, however, did not allow him to die. They accepted him as their third brother and kept him in their company.
“Because Raghunatha dasa Gosvami was an assistant to Svarupa Damodara, he knew much about the external and internal features of the pastimes of Lord Caitanya. Thus the two brothers Rupa and Sanatana always used to hear of this from him. Raghunatha dasa Gosvami gradually gave up all food and drink but a few drops of buttermilk. As a daily duty, he regularly offered one thousand obeisances to the Lord, chanted at least one hundred thousand holy names and offered obeisances to two thousand Vaisnavas. Day and night he rendered service within his mind to Radha-Krsna, and for three hours a day he discoursed about the character of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami took three baths daily in the Radha-kunda lake. As soon as he found a Vaisnava residing in Vrndavana, he would embrace him and give him all respect. He engaged himself in devotional service for more than twenty-two and a half hours a day, and for less than two hours he slept, although on some days that also was not possible.”
In a purport to one of these verses, Srila Prabhupada wrote: “Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura writes in his Anubhasya, ‘Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami was most probably born in the year 1416 Sakabda (A. D. 1494) in a kayastha family as the son of Govardhana Majumadara, who was the younger brother of the then zamindar, Hiranya Majumdara. The village where he took birth is known as Sri-krsnapura. One the railway line between Calcutta and Burdwan is a station named Trisabagha (now known as Adi-saptagrama), and about one and a half miles away is the village of Sri-krsnapura, where the parental home of Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami was situated. A temple of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda is still there. In front of the temple is a large open area but no large hall for devotees to assemble. A rich Calcutta gentleman named Haricarana Ghosa, who resided in the Simla quarter, recently repaired the temple. The entire temple compound is surrounded by walls, and in a small room just to the side of the temple is a small platform on which Raghunatha dasa Gosvami used to worship the Deity. By the side of the temple is the dying river Sarasvati.’
Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu
We can best and most authoritatively learn about the life of Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami by reading Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. In the Adi-lila it is written: “Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, the forty-sixth branch of the tree, was one of the most dear servants of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He left all his material possessions to surrender completely unto the Lord and live at His lotus feet.
Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami
He was most probably born in the year 1416 Sakabda (A.D. 1494) in a kayastha family as the son of Govardhana Majumadara. The forefathers of Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami were all Vaisnavas and were very rich men. His spiritual master at home was Yadunandana Acarya. Although Raghunatha dasa was a family man, he had no attachment for his estate and wife.
Seeing his tendency to leave home, his father and uncle engaged special bodyguards to watch over him, but nevertheless he managed to escape their vigilance and went away to Jagannatha Puri to meet Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This incident took place in the year 1439 Sakabda (A.D. 1517).
“Raghunatha dasa Gosvami compiled three books, named Stava-mala (or Stavavali), Dana-carita and Mukta-carita. He lived a long time, residing for most of his life at Radha-kunda. The place where Raghunatha dasa Gosvami performed his devotional service still exists by Radha-kunda.
“The forefathers of Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami were all Vaisnavas and were very rich men. His spiritual master at home was Yadunandana Acarya. Although Raghunatha dasa was a family man, he had no attachment for his estate and wife. Seeing his tendency to leave home, his father and uncle engaged special bodyguards to watch over him, but nevertheless he managed to escape their vigilance and went away to Jagannatha Puri to meet Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This incident took place in the year 1439 Sakabda (A.D. 1517).
“Raghunatha dasa Gosvami compiled three books, named Stava-mala (or Stavavali), Dana-carita and Mukta-carita. He lived a long time, residing for most of his life at Radha-kunda. The place where Raghunatha dasa Gosvami performed his devotional service still exists by Radha-kunda. He almost completely gave up eating, and therefore he was very skinny and of weak health. His only concern was to chant the holy name of the Lord. He gradually reduced his sleeping until he was almost not sleeping at all.
“It is said that his eyes were always full of tears. When Srinivasa Acarya went to see Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, the Gosvami blessed him by embracing him. Srinivasa Acarya requested his blessings for preaching in Bengal, and Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami granted them. In the Gauraganoddesa-dipika (186) it is stated that Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami was formerly the gopi named Rasa-manjari. Sometimes it is said that he was Rati-manjari.”
Stavavali is a collection of many groups of prayers composed by Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. By carefully reading these prayers, one has a close look at the mentality of an exalted devotee completely immersed in feelings of separation from Sri Sri Radha-Krsna his spiritual masters, possessing not even a slight tinge of desire for enjoyment of the material senses independently of the service of the Lord.
Kusakratha Prabhu is at his finest in this type of work. All of the prayers are very beautifully and poetically translated and indeed, one must only wonder at the poetic genius at work here! These prayers are especially to be relished by devotees on the platform of raganuga-bhakti and thus eager to follow in the footstep of the residents of Vrndavana. Still, here is pure glorification of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna and Their abode, and thus relishable for all classes of devotees.
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