Attaining Siddha-Deha-Sevā

A rare bhajana by Śrīla Bhaktivinode Ṭhākura, with a fresh translation into English.​

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ব্রজবন-সুধাকর, ব্রজবনের ঈশ্বর,​

ব্রজেশ্বরী আমার ঈশ্বরী।​

ললিতা তাঁহার সখী, তুল্য তা'র নাহি লিখি,​

বিশাখা শিক্ষিকা-পদ ধরি॥১॥​

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vraja-vana-sudhākara, vraja-vanera īśvara,​

vrajeśvarī āmāra īśvarī |​

lalitā tāṅhāra sakhī, tulya tāṅra nāhi likhi,​

viśākhā śikṣikā pada dhari ||1||​

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The moon of Vraja (Krishna) is the Lord of the forest of Vraja. Śrīmatī Vrajeśvarī (Rādhā) is my supremely worshipable feminine deity. Lalitā is her dear friend and I can see nobody comparable to her. I also tightly clasp the feet of Śrī Viśākhā, my instructor.​

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এই ভাবে ভাব ওরে মন।​

রাধাকুণ্ড সরোবর, গোবর্ধন গিরীশ্বর,​

রতিপ্রদ তত্ত্ব তদীক্ষণ॥২॥​

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ei bhāve bhāva ore mana |​

rādhā-kuṇḍa sarovara, govardhana girīśvara,​

rati-prada-tattva tad īkṣaṇa ||2||​

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O Mind! Reminisce these emotions! Govardhana is the Lord of all mountains, and within it lies the lake named Rādhā-kuṇḍa. A mere sight of these two bestows rati (sthāyi-bhāva).​

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ব্রজে গোপীদেহ ধরি', মঞ্জরী আশ্রয় করি',​

প্রাপ্তসেবা কর সম্পাদন।​

মঞ্জরীর কৃপা হবে, সখীর চরণ পাবে,​

সখী দেখাইবে নিত্যধন॥৩॥​

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vraje gopī-deha dhari, mañjarī āśraẏa kari,​

prāpta-sevā kara sampādana |​

mañjarīra kṛpā habe, sakhīra caraṇa pābe,​

sakhī dekhāibe nitya-dhana ||3||​

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O Mind! Taking on the siddha-deha of a gopī in Vraja, take shelter of a Mañjarī and execute your designated duties nicely. Once the mañjarī bestows her mercy, you will get shelter at the feet of the sakhis. The sakhis will then show you your eternal wealth (the service of the divine couple).​

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প্রহরে প্রহরে আর, দণ্ডে দণ্ডে সেবা সার,​

করিয়া যুগলধনে ডাক।​

সকল অনর্থ যাবে, চিদ্বিলাস-রস পাবে,​

ভক্তিবিনোদের কথা রাখ॥৪॥​

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prahare prahare āra, daṇḍe daṇḍe sevā sāra,​

kariẏā yugala-dhane ḍāka |​

sakala anartha yābe, cid-vilāsa-rasa pābe,​

bhaktivinodera kathā rākha ||4||​

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O Mind! In each and every prahara, and in each and every daṇḍa, carrying out your eternal service is the essence of your existence. Executing such eternal service, call out loudly the names of that divine couple — the wealth of your life. All anarthas will go away. You will attain rasa full of spiritual variegatedness. Dear Friend! Keep these words of Bhaktivinode always with you.​

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Note: In Aṣṭa-kālīya-līlā, the daily 24-hour service of Śrī-śrī-Rādhā-Krishna is divided into praharas (3 hour slots) and daṇḍas (approx half hour slots).​

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— Taken from Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura Kṛta Bhajana darpaṇa bhāṣya padyānuvāda. Published by Śrī Bhaktivilāsa Bhāratī Mahārāja. Transliteration and Translation by Hari Pārṣada Dāsa. 02-December-2021.​

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PS: Interesting fact -- the final verse says that the effect of rendering such siddha-deha-sevā will be that all anarthas will go away. This is in stark contrast to the standard line of thought that one has to first get rid of all anarthas before even attempting mānasī-sevā. Food for thought _/\ò_

My (Truly) Desired Assemblies

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This is a continuation of the previous article:​

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वक्ता क्रूरपथानुगः स यजमानोऽप्यज्ञचूडामणि-​

र्नानावाद्यकरा लयादिविगुणैः सम्पूर्णतामागताः ।​

स्थानं चक्रिरिपोर्निवासमतुलं भोज्यं हि भक्तादिकं​

श्रोतारो नरसिंहदेवजनकाश्चास्त्वीदृशी मे सभा ॥शार्दूलविक्रीडितम्॥​

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[Meter: śārdūla-vikrīḍitam (sing like ṣaḍ-gosvāmy-aṣṭakam)]:​

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vaktā krūra-pathānugaḥ sa yajamāno'py ajña-cūḍāmaṇir​

nānā-vādya-karā layādi-viguṇaiḥ sampūrṇatām āgatāḥ​

sthānaṁ cakri-ripor nivāsam atulaṁ bhojyaṁ hi bhaktādikaṁ​

śrotāro narasiṁha-deva-janakāś cāstv īdṛśī me sabhā​

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The previous verse began with the phrase — vaktā krūra-pathānugaḥ — "The vaktā (speaker) is an anugaḥ (devout follower) of krūra-patha (the path of cruelty)". This phrase can also however break down as vaktā + akrūra-pathānugaḥ — "The vaktā (speaker) is an anugaḥ (devout follower) of akrūra-patha (the path taken in life by Akrūra)". Akrūra's path in life was to glorify Krishna in the best possible way, and the vaktā (speaker) is also following in his footsteps and trying to glorify Krishna in the choicest words.​

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The second phrase was — sa yajamāno'py ajña-cūḍāmaṇiḥ — "The yajamāna (organizer) is the cūḍāmaṇiḥ (crest-jewel) of all ajña (fools)". The term "ajña" usually means "ignorant fool", but it can also break down as a-jña (knower of a). According to the Bhagavad-gītā (10.33), the syllable 'a' denotes Krishna-tattva. So a-jña means "knower of Krishna-tattva" (aṁ kṛṣṇaṁ jānātīti). Thus, the entire phrase now means — "The yajamāna (organizer) is the cūḍāmaṇiḥ (crest-jewel) of all a-jña (knowers of Krishna-tattva). Another meaning of a-jña can be "na jño yasmāt" — "He who has nobody superior to him in learning".​

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The third phrase was — nānā-vādya-karā layādi-viguṇair sampūrṇatām āgatāḥ — "The nānā-vādya-karāḥ (various musicians) are sampūrṇatām āgatāḥ (completely full) of viguṇaiḥ (bad qualities) such as layādi (laziness etc.)". This phrase can also be interpreted as follows — "The nānā-vādya-karāḥ (various musicians) are sampūrṇatām āgatāḥ (completely full) of viguṇaiḥ (viśiṣṭa-guṇaiḥ — special qualities) such as layādi (maintaining proper rhythm, beat etc).​

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The fourth phrase was — sthānaṁ cakri-ripor nivāsam — "The sthānam (selected location) is the nivāsam (residence) of the ripoḥ (enemy) of cakrī (Viṣṇu)". The term "cakrī" however also means "snakes", and hence this phrase can also mean — "The sthānam (selected location) is the nivāsam (residence) of the ripoḥ (enemy) of cakrī (snakes)". Garuḍa is the natural enemy of snakes, so this phrase means that the selected location is the residence of Garuḍa. Deities of Garuḍa are found in all Viṣṇu temples, so this phrase indicates that the location selected is a temple of Viṣṇu.​

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The fifth phrase was — atulaṁ bhojyaṁ hi bhaktādikam — "The atulam (matchless) bhojyam (food) is bhaktādikam (devotees of Viṣṇu etc.)". However, the term "bhakta" also means "cooked rice preparations". Hence, this phrase means — "The atulam (matchless) bhojyam (food) is bhaktādikam (cooked rice preparations etc.)"​

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The sixth phrase was — śrotāro narasiṁha-deva-janakāś ca — "The śrotāraḥ (audience) are the janakāḥ (fathers) of Narasiṁha-deva (i.e. the pillars)". The term janakāḥ however can also mean "janāḥ" (people). If the suffix "ka" is added to the term "jana", it becomes "janaka" but it will still mean jana (people). In Sanskrit, this is known as svārthe ka-pratyayaḥ. So this phrase now means — "The śrotāraḥ (audience) are the janakāḥ (people) belonging to Narasiṁha-deva". In other words, the audience consists of the devotees of Bhagavān.​

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astu īdṛśī me sabhā — May all my assemblies be like this.

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The intended translation is thus as follows: The Speaker? He's a devout follower of the path shown by Akrūra. The organizer? He's the crest-jewel among those who know Krishna-tattva. The various music players? They are full of special qualities viz. rhythm, beat etc. The selected place? It is the residence of Garuḍa (i.e. a Viṣṇu-temple). The matchless food? It consists of cooked rice preparations etc. The audience? It consists of the devotees of Narasiṁha-deva. May all my assemblies be like this.​

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— Composed and Translated by Hari Pārṣada Dāsa. 03-November-2021.

My Desired Assembly

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वक्ता क्रूरपथानुगः स यजमानोऽप्यज्ञचूडामणि-​

र्नानावाद्यकरा लयादिविगुणैः सम्पूर्णतामागताः ।​

स्थानं चक्रिरिपोर्निवासमतुलं भोज्यं हि भक्तादिकं​

श्रोतारो नरसिंहदेवजनकाश्चास्त्वीदृशी मे सभा ॥शार्दूलविक्रीडितम्॥​

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[Meter: śārdūla-vikrīḍitam (sing like ṣaḍ-gosvāmy-aṣṭakam)]:​

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vaktā krūra-pathānugaḥ sa yajamāno'py ajña-cūḍāmaṇir​

nānā-vādya-karā layādi-viguṇaiḥ sampūrṇatām āgatāḥ​

sthānaṁ cakri-ripor nivāsam atulaṁ bhojyaṁ hi bhaktādikaṁ​

śrotāro narasiṁha-deva-janakāś cāstv īdṛśī me sabhā​

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The Speaker? He's a devout follower of the path of cruelty. The organizer? He's the crest-jewel of all fools. The various music players? They are full of bad qualities viz. laziness etc. The selected place? It is the residence of Viṣṇu's enemies. The matchless food? It consists of the devotees of Viṣṇu [cooked alive]. The audience? It consists only of the fathers of Narasiṁha-deva (i.e. only the pillars).​

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— May all my assemblies be like this.​ _/\ò_

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Dāmodara gives up his Aparādhika Nature

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Concluding Verse:​

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सुबद्ध इह खल्वसि त्वमपराधिकोऽसीत्यतः​

पुनश्च न तथा भवेत्यखिलगोपिकानां वचः ।​

विचार्य किमु राधिकाद्युतिसुभावधारी कला-​

वभून्मधुरभावदः कपटवेशदामोदरः ॥पृथ्वी॥​

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[Meter: pṛthvī (sing like anarpita-carīṁ cirāt)]:​

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subaddha iha khalv asi tvam aparādhiko'sīty ataḥ​

punaś ca na tathā bhavety akhila-gopikānāṁ vacaḥ​

vicārya kim u rādhikā-dyuti-subhāva-dhārī kalāv​

abhūn madhura-bhāva-daḥ kapaṭa-veśa-dāmodaraḥ​

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Translation: "You are firmly bound here to the mortar because you are an aparādhika (offender). Therefore, never again become an apa-rādhika (separated from Rādhikā)!" — having meditated upon these words of all the gopīs, did our deceitfully dressed Dāmodara take upon the brilliant complexion and mood of Rādhikā and appear as the great bestower of Mādhurya-bhāva in Kali-yuga?​ _/\ò_

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— Composed and Translated by Hari Pārṣada Dāsa. 2-Nov-2021.​

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PS: Word-play on the term — aparādhikaḥ, which has two meanings here — (1) Offender ; (2) Separated from Rādhikā — apagatā rādhikā yasmāt saḥ. ​

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​Sample Recording at : https://voca.ro/1lbgCx2wnIjE