Sravanam Diaries

Bhajan by Narottam Das Thakur & Purport by His Divine Grace Srila Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

WAKE UP SLEEPING SOUL

Melody by my dad, Subuddhi Ray Prabhu, that's how he would lead Tulasi Arati at home

Sing Along Everybody!

Author: Narottama Dasa Thakura Book Name: Prema Bhakti Candrika Language: Bengali LYRICS: (1) śrī-guru-caraṇa-padma, kevala-bhakati-sadma, bando muñi sāvadhāna mate jāhāra prasāde bhāi, e bhava toriyā jāi, kṛṣṇa-prāpti hoy jāhā ha'te (2) guru-mukha-padma-vākya, cittete koribo aikya, ār nā koriho mane āśā śrī-guru-caraṇe rati, ei se uttama-gati, je prasāde pūre sarva āśā (3) cakṣu-dān dilo jei, janme janme prabhu sei, divya jñān hṛde prokāśito prema-bhakti jāhā hoite, avidyā vināśa jāte, vede gāy jāhāra carito (4) śrī-guru karuṇā-sindhu, adhama janāra bandhu, lokanāth lokera jīvana hā hā prabhu koro doyā, deho more pada-chāyā, ebe jaśa ghuṣuk tribhuvana TRANSLATION 1) The lotus feet of our spiritual master are the only way by which we can attain pure devotional service. I bow to his lotus feet with great awe and reverence. By his grace one can cross the ocean of material suffering and obtain the mercy of Krsna. 2) My only wish is to have my consciousness purified by the words emanating from his lotus mouth. Attachment to his lotus feet is the perfection that fulfills all desires. 3) He opens my darkened eyes and fills my heart with transcendental knowledge. He is my Lord birth after birth. From him ecstatic prema emanates; by him ignorance is destroyed. The Vedic scriptures sing of his character. 4) Our spiritual master is the ocean of mercy, the friend of the poor, and the lord and master of the devotees. O Lokanatha Goswami! O master! Be merciful unto me. Give me the shade of your lotus feet. Your fame is spread all over the three worlds.

After describing the different opulences of Kṛṣṇa, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī tries to further describe the transcendental beauties and qualities of the Lord as decorated, enjoying, pleasing, dependable, steady and predominating. He is also described as a meticulous dresser and a magnanimous personality. These are generally considered to be the qualities of great personalities.

bhajahū re mana śrī-nanda-nandana abhaya-caraṇāravinda re durlabha mānava-janama sat-saṅge taroho e bhava-sindhu re (2) śīta ātapa bāta bariṣaṇa e dina jāminī jāgi re biphale sevinu kṛpaṇa durajana capala sukha-laba lāgi' re (3) e dhana, yaubana, putra, parijana ithe ki āche paratīti re kamala-dala-jala, jīvana ṭalamala bhajahū hari-pada nīti re (4) śravaṇa, kīrtana, smaraṇa, vandana, pāda-sevana, dāsya re pūjana, sakhī-jana, ātma-nivedana govinda-dāsa-abhilāṣa re 1) O mind just worship the lotus feet of the son of Nanda, which make one fearless. Having obtained this rare human birth, cross over this ocean of worldly existence through the association of saintly persons.   2) Both in the day and at night I remain sleepless, suffering the pains of the heat and cold, the wind and the rain. For a fraction of flickering happiness I have uselessly served wicked and miserly men.   3) What assurance of real happiness is there in all of one's wealth, youthfulness, sons, and family members? This life is tottering like a drop of water on a lotus petal; therefore you should always serve and worship the divine feet of Lord Hari.   4) It is the desire and great longing of Govinda Dasa to engage himself in the nine processes of bhakti, namely hearing the glories of Lord Hari and chanting those glories, constantly remembering Him and offering prayers to Him, serving the Lord's lotus feet, serving the Supreme Lord as a servant, worshiping Him with flowers and incense and so forth, serving Him as a friend, and completely offering the Lord one's very self.