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_