the path of spontaneous love for Krishna ! Narotama das thakura!

ragera bhajana-pathakahi ebe abhimata

loka-beda-sara ei bani

sakhira anuga hanabraje siddha-deha pana

ei bhabe judabe parani

I shall now describe the path of spontaneous love for Krishna, which is glorified by the exalted devotees and the Vedic literatures. By traversing this path of spontaneous love one becomes a follower of the gopis and attains the perfect spiritual body of a liberated soul.

Text 2 and 3

shri-radhikara sakhi jatataha ba kahiba kata

mukhya sakhi kariye ganana

lalita bishakha tathasucitra campakalata

rangadevi sudevi kathana

tungabidya indurekhaei ashta-sakhi lekha

ei kahi narma-sakhi gana

ihon seba-shacaripriya-preshtha nama dhari'

prema-seba kare anukshana

I shall now describe the most important of Shrimati Radharani's gopi-friends. Lalita, Vishakha, Sucitra, Campakalata, Rangadevi, Sudevi, Tungavidya, and Indulekha, are the eight most important gopi-friends of Shrimati Radharani. Her other gopi-friends are divided into groups; the narma-sakhis, priya-sakhis, and preshtha-sakhis. All these gopis constantly render loving service to Shrimati Radharani.

Text 4

shri-rupa-manjari arashri-rati-manjari sara

labanga-manjari manjunali

shri-rasa-manjari-sangekasturika-adi range

prema-seba kare kutuhali

Shri Rupa-manjari, Shri Rati-manjari, Lavanga-manjari, Manjunali, and Shri Rasa-manjari eagerly and lovingly serve Shrimati Radharani, supplying her musk and various other articles.

Text 5

ei-sabara anuga hanaprema-seba niba cana

ingite bhujiba saba kaje

rupa guna dagamagisada haba anuragi

basati kariba sakhi majhe

I am the follower of all these gopis. I shall serve them with great love. I will completely understand their orders, even when couched in casual hints or gestures. I shall become immersed in wonder at their transcendental virtues and beauty, and I shall dearly love them. I shall always remain in their company.

Text 6

bridabane du janacari-dike cakhi-gana

samayera seba rasa-sukhe

sakhira ingita habecamara dhulaba tabe

tambula jogaba canda-mukhe

Immersed in the happiness of serving the Divine Couple surrounded by Their gopi-friends in Vrindavana, I will understand the gopis' hints, and, taking up the camara wisk I will fan the Divine Couple, and after than I will place betel-nuts in Their moonlike mouths.

Text 7

jugala-carana sebinirantara ei bhabi

anurage thakiba sadaya

sadhane bhabiba jahasiddha-dehe paba taha

raga pathera ei sei upaya

Someday I will constantly serve the lotus feet of the Divine Couple with great love. At present I will follow the rules of sadhana-bhakti until I attain a perfected spiritual body and am able to love the Divine Couple spontaneously.

Text 8

sadhane je dhana caisiddha-dehe taha pai

pakwa pakwa matra sei bicara

pakile sei prema-bhaktiapakwe sadhana khyati

bhakati-lakshana-anusara

That treasure of pure love of God for which I hanker while I follow the regulative practices of sadhana-bhakti, I will attain when I have the spiritual body of a liberated soul. Actually sadhana-bhakti and prema-bhakti are the same devotional service. Sadhana-bhakti is the stage where love for Krishna has not fully ripened yet, and prema-bhakti is the same devotion where love of Krishna has reached the mature, ripened stage. That is the description of devotional service.

Text 9

narottama dasa kaheei jena mora haye

braja-pure anurage basa

sakhi-gana-gananateamare ganibe tate

tabahun puriba abhilasha

Narottama dasa says: I hope that I may attain the stage of spontaneous love for the Divine Couple in the town of Vraja. I hope that I will be counted among the gopi-friends of the Divine Couple. O Divine Couple, in this way I will be able to serve You and satisfy all Your desires.

Text 10

tatha hi’-

sakhinam sangini-rupam

atmanam vasana-mayim

ajna-seva-param tat-tat-

kripalankara-bhushitam

The stage of prema-bhakti is described in the following statements of Vaishnava literature:

One should meditate on one self as being the maidservant of the gopis, and in this way one will attain their mercy."

Text 11

krishnam smaran janam casya

preshtham nija-samihitam

tat-tat-katha-ratash casau

kuryad vasam vraje sada

The devotee should always think of Krishna within himself, and one should choose a very dear devotee who is a servitor of Krishna in Vrindavana. One should constantly engage in topics about that servitor and his loving relationship to Krishna, and one should live in Vrindavana. However, if one is physically unable to go to Vrindavana, he should mentally live there."

Text 1

jugala-carana-pratiparama-ananda tati

rati-prema hau para-bandhe

krishna-nama-radha-namaupasana rasa-dhama

carane padiye paranande

Love for the lotus feet of the Divine Couple is the resting place of transcendental bliss. Radha and Krishna's holy names are the reservoir of transcendental sweetness. I happily fall down to offer my respectful obeisances to Radha and Krishna's lotus feet.

Text 2

manera smarana pranamadhura madhura nama

bilasa jugala smriti-sara

sadhya sadhana eiara nai iha bai

ei tattwa sarba-tattwa-sara

The Divine Couple's sweet, sweet holy name is life of the mind's memory. Their pastimes are the best remembering. Remembering Them is the both goal and the way to attain it. That is the truth of all truths. This book is not the only place that is said.

Text 3

jalada-sundara-kantimadhura madhura bhati

baidagadhi-abadhi subesha

su-pita-basana-dharaabharana mani-bara

mayura-candrika karu kesha

Shri Krishna is splendid like a monsoon cloud, very sweet and charming, expert, gracefully dressed in yellow garments, decorated with jewel ornaments, and crowned with a peacock feather placed in His hair.

Text 4

mrigmada su-candanakunkumadi bilepana

mugdha-kari murati tri-bhanga

nabina-kusumabalishri-ange shobhaye bhali

madhu-lobhe phire matta bhringa

He is decorated with musk, sandal paste, kunkuma, and other fragrances. His three-fold bending form is sweet and charming. His transcendental body is decorated with garlands of flowers so fresh they draw swarms of maddened bumblebees eager for honey.

Text 5

ishat madhura-smitabaidagadhi-lilamrita

lubadhala braja-badhu-brinda

carana-kamala-paramanimaya su-manjira

nakha-mani jini' bala-candra

His gentle smile is sweet. He is expert at tasting the nectar of transcendental pastimes. He is surrounded by the amorous girls of Vraja. His lotus feet are decorated with jewel anklets. His toenails eclipse the glory of the crescent moon.

Text 6

nupura-marala-dhwanikula-badhu-maralini

shuniya rahite nare ghare

hridaye barhaye ratijena mile pati sati

kulera dharama jara dure

When they hear the warbling of the male swan that is Krishna's anklets, the female swan gopis can no longer remain peacefully in their homes. Love for Him growing in their hearts, they run, leaving their household duties far behind, to meet Him, their lover.

Text 7

krishna-mukha-dwija-rajesarala-bamshi-biraje

jara dhwani bhubana mataya

shrabane patha diyahridaye prabesha hana

prana adi akarshi anaya

The music of the straight flute placed to Krishna's lips enchants the world. Entering first the ear and then the heart, that music attracts all living beings

Text 8

gobinda-sebana satyatanhara sebaka nitya

brindabana-bhumi tejomaya

tahate jamuna-jalakare nitya jhalamala

tara tire ashta kunja haya

Devotional service to Lord Govinda is eternal. They who serve Him are His servants eternally. The land of Vrindavana is glorious. There the Yamuna's water glitters eternally. Eight forests are on the Yamuna's shore.

Text 9

shitala-kirana-karakalpa-taru-guna-dhara

taru-lata shad-ritu-seba

purna-candra-sama jyoticid-ananda-maya murti

mahananda-darashana-lobha

Vrindavana is splendid with cooling moonlight and glorious with kalpa-vriksha trees and kalpa-lata‘ vines blossoming in all six seasons. Full of transcendental bliss and glorious as the full moon, it makes everyone eager to see its blissful form.

Text 10

gobinda anandadamayanikate banita-caya

bihare madhura ati shobha

dunhu prema dagamagidunhu donha anuragi

dunhu rupa dunhu manolobha

Surrounded by the gopis and very handsome and charming, Lord Govinda is full of transcendental bliss. The Divine Couple is beautiful, charming, and overcome with passionate love.

Text 11

braja-pura-banitaracarana ashraya sara

kara mana ekanta kariya

anya bola gandu-golanahi shuna utarola

rakha prema hridaye bhariya

O mind, take shelter of the lotus feet of the Vraja-gopis. Don't listen to the useless din of the materialists' words. Fill my heart with pure love for the Divine Couple

Text 12

krishna prabhu eka-barakaribena angikara

jena' mana e satya bacana

dhanya lila brindabanaradha-krishna-shri-carana

dhanya sakhi manjarira gana.

O mind, just this one time accept Lord Krishna as your supreme master. I tell you the truth. Shri Shri Radha and Krishna's lotus feet are supremely glorious, Their pastimes are glorious, Their land of Vrajapura is glorious, and their friends, the sakhi-gopis, and manjari-gopis, are glorious.

Text 13

papa-punya-maya dehasakala anitya eha

dhana jana saba micha dhanda

marile jaibe kothatahate na pao byatha

tabu karja kara sada manda

This material body, which one attains because of his previous pious and impious deeds is temporary, and the foolish attempt by all conditioned souls to accumulate more and more wealth is a clever trick of the illusory potency maya. When the material body dies, what will happen to all the carefully collected wealth? Where will it go? O mind, don't work day and night with a great struggle simply to collect money. You are so foolish that you constantly work for such a fleeting goal.

Text 14

rajara je rajya-patajena natujara nata

dekhite dekhite kichu naya

hena maya kare jeiparama ishwara sei

tanre mana sada kara bhaya

A monarch's kingdom is just like the dramatic performance of an actor: although one sees them, they are never actually real, but only a pretense arranged by the illusory energy maya. O mind, don't pay attention to these false material things. Fix your mind always on the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Fear His displeasure. Don't be concerned with other things.

Text 15

pape na kariha manaadhama sei papi-jana

tare mana dure parihari'

punyaje sukhera dhamatara na laio nama

punya mukti dui tyaga kari'

O mind, don't sin. Stay far away from sinful persons. Don't work to attain material piety, the resting place of material happiness. Don't strive for the false liberation imagined by the impersonalists.

Text 16

prema-bhakti-sudha-nidhitahe du/ba nirabadhi

ara jata kshara nidhi praya

nirantara sukha pabesakala santapa jabe

para-tattwa karile upaya

Dive into the shoreless nectar ocean of pure love for Krishna, larger than the largest salt-water ocean. If one swims in that nectar ocean of love for Krishna, Lord Krishna will make all his sufferings disappear, and he will attain endless transcendental bliss.

Text 17

anyera parasha jenanahi haya kadacana

ihate haibe sabadhana

radha-krishna nama ganaei se parama dhyana

ara na kariha paramana

Take great care only to serve the Divine Couple, and don't let any other activity touch you. Know that the chanting of the holy names of Shri Shri Radha and Krishna is the supreme spiritual meditation. Please don't try to raise any objections to this, or try to present evidence confirming any other view.

Text 18

karmi jnani micha-bhaktana ha'be taya anurakta

shuddha-bhajanete kara mana

braja-janera jei matatahe habe anugata

ei se parama tattwa-dhana

O mind, please engage in pure devotional service, which cannot be followed by the fruitive workers, speculative philosophers, or pseudo-devotees. Just accept that the opinion of the exalted devotees in Vraja is the perfect explanation of the Absolute Truth.

Text 19

prarthana kariba sadashuddha-bhave prema-katha

nama-mantre kariya abheda

astika kariya manabhaja range shri-carane

granthi-papa habe pariccheda

I shall continually offer prayers to the Divine Couple, and I shall describe the pure love of the Lord and His devotees. With my words I shall prove that the Supreme Lord is not different from the chanting of His holy names. O mind, have firm faith in Lord Krishna, and worship the reddish soles of His lotus feet. Do this, and the karmic results of all your past sins will be smashed.

Text 20

radha-krishna-shri-caranamatra paramartha-dhana

sa-jatane hridayete lao

dunhu nama shuni' shuni'bhakta-mukhe puni puni

parama ananda sukha-pana

O mind, please place in my heart Shri Shri Radha Krishna's lotus feet, which are my only treasure. Again and again hear the holy names of the Divine Couple from the mouths of the devotees, and in this way attain transcendental bliss.

Text 21

hema-gaura-tanu raiankhi darashana cai

rodana karaye abhilashe

jaladhara dhara dharaanga ati manohara

rupete bhubana parakashe

Shrimati Radharani's transcendental form has the splendor of gold. Weeping, I pray to attain the glance of Her lotus eyes. Shri Krishna's handsome form is splendid as a monsoon cloud. From it the entire material cosmos is manifested.

Text 22

sakhi-gana cari-pasheseba kare abhilashe

parama se shobha-sukha dhare

ei mane asha moraaiche rase hana bhora

narottama sada-i bihare

I yearn to engage in devotional service with the gopis at my four sides. That service is my great happiness. Again and again Narottama says: This is the desire in my heart.

Text 1

radha-krishna karon dhyanaswapane na bala ana

prema binu ara nahi cana

jugala-kishora-premajini' laksha-bana hema

arati-piriti-rase dhana

Meditate on Shri Shri Radha-Krishna. Don't desire anything else, even in your dreams. The treasure of love for the youthful Divine Couple is more valuable than gold purified in ten thousand flames.

Text 2

jala binu jena minaduhkha paya ayu hina

prema binu ei-mata bhakta

cataka jalada-gatie-mati ekanta-rati

jei jane sei anurakta

As a fish without water suffers and dies, so a devotee perishes without love for the Divine Couple. As a cataka bird carefully follows the clouds, so a devotee loves the Divine Couple.

Text 3

saroja-bhramara jenacakora-candrika tena

pati-brata stri-lokera pati

anyatra na cale manajena daridrera dhana

ei-mata prema-bhakti-riti

As a bumblebee yearns for lotus flowers, a cakora bird yearns for moonlight, a chaste wife yearns for her husband, and a pauper yearns for money, a devotee yearns to attain love for the Divine Couple.

Text 4

bishaya garala-mayanahe mana sukha-caya

sei na sukha duhkha kari' mana

gobinda-bishaya-rasasanga kara tanra dasa

prema-bhakti satya kari' jana'

The happiness of the senses is full of poison. Pride does not bring happiness. These things do not being happiness. They bring only pain. Taste the nectar of serving Lord Govinda. Associate with His devotees. Learn the truth of loving devotional service.

Text 5

madhye madhye ache dushtadrishti kari' haya rushta

gunahi biguna kari' mane

gobinda-bimukha-janesphurti nahe hena dhane

laukika kariya saba jane

The treasure of divine love does not present itself before the demons, whose turn their backs on Lord Govinda, become angry when they see the devotees, and think the devotees are ordinary people.

Text 6

ajnana abhaga jatanahi laya sata-mata

ahankare na jane apane

abhimani bhakti-hinajaga-majhe sei dina

britha tara ashesha bhabana

These unfortunate fools cannot understand the truth. Proud, bewildered by false-ego, and empty of devotion for the Lord, they are the poorest and most wretched people in the world. All their thoughts are empty and without meaning.

Text 7

ara saba parihari'parama ishwara hari

seba mana prema kari' asha

eka braja-raja-puragobinda rasika-bara

karaha sadai abhilasha

O mind, renounce everything and desire only to love and serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Hari. Lord Govinda, the best of they who taste transcendental nectar, stays in King Nanda's house. Desire Him alone.

Text 8

narottama dasa kahesada mora prana dahe

hena bhakta-sanga na paiya

abhagyera nahi oramicha-mohe hainu bhora

duhkha rahe antare jagiya

Narottama dasa says; Because I cannot attain the association of devotees, my life is like a burning fire. No one is unfortunate as I. I am overcome by material illusion, and great pain is beginning to waken in my heart.