51 verses for chanting and contemplation

51  verses for chanting and contemplation

1.  लाभस्तेषां जयस्तेषां कुतस्तेषां पराभवः।

    येषामिन्दीवरश्यामो हृदये संप्रतिष्ठितः॥

For those in whose hearts is enthroned (Srikrishna) of dark blue complexion like that of the blue lily,  it is always gain and victory only; from where is for them defeat?

2.    प्रविश्य कर्णरन्ध्रेण स्वानां भावसरोरुहम् ।

   धुनोति शमलं कृष्णः सलिलस्य यथा शरत् ॥

Srikrishna, entering through the ears (by hearing the glories and exploits of the Lord) into the heart-lotus( which is the seat of all thoughts and emotions) of the (devotee) cleanses all  the dirt there just like the saratkala ( the season following the rainy season) makes the water clear (which was muddy during the rains)

  3.     शृण्वतां स्वकथां कृष्णः पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तनः।

     हृद्यन्तस्थोह्यभद्राणि विधुनोति सुहृत्सताम्॥

Lord Krishna, the hearing and chanting of whose glories purifies one and who is the friend of the good, abides in the hearts of those who hear His stories and removes all inauspicious or unholy thoughts from there.

4.       जन्मान्तर सहस्रेषु तपोध्यानसमाधिभिः ।

     नराणां क्षीणपापानां कृष्णे भक्ति: प्रजायते ॥

It is only those who have,  in thousands of their previous births, attenuated their sins by the performance of austerities, meditation and samadhi will be blessed with Krishna Bhakti (devotion to Lord Krishna).

5.        मधुरमधुरमेतन्मंगलं मंगलानां

     सकलनिगमवल्लीसत्फलं चित्स्वरूपम् ।

     सकृदपिपरिगीतं श्रद्धया हेलया वा

     नृपवर नरमात्रं तारयेत् कृष्णनाम ।

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O the best among Kings ! The name ‘Krishna’  is the sweetest and the most auspicious of all things.  It is the best fruit of the creeper of all Vedas.  It is of the form or nature of pure Consciousness (Awareness).  It will take man across the ocean of Samsara  even if he utters it only once with faith or even plafully.

6. कृष्णव्रता कृष्णमनुस्मरन्तो

   रात्रौ च कृष्णं पुनरुत्थिता ये ।

   ते कृष्णदेहा प्रविशन्ति कृष्णं

   आज्यं यथा मन्त्रहुतं हुताशे ॥  

    

Those, whose vows are related to Krishna and who remember Krishna during the night (before going to sleep) and also when they wake up (in the morning), enter Krishna ( i.e. merge in him) taking a body identical with that of Krishna (i.e. सच्चिदानन्दस्वरूप- sachchidananda swarupa),  just as ghee offered into the fire with the chanting of mantras merges into the fire.

7.    एकोऽपि कृष्णस्य कृतः प्रणामो

     दशाश्वमेधावभृथेन तुल्यः ।

     दशाश्वमेधी पुनरेतिजन्म

     कृष्णप्रणामी न पुनर्भवाय ॥

Prostration to Krishna even once is eqaul to performing ten aswamedha yagas.  The one who has performed ten ashwamedha yagas takes birth again (i.e he is still subject to the cycle of births and deaths), but the one who prostrates before Krishna never again takes birth (i.e. he attains salokya, sarupya, sameepya or sayujya mukti).

8.           मनसो वृत्तयो नः स्युः कृष्णपादांबुजाश्रयाः

      वाचोऽभिधायिनीर्नाम्नां कायस्तद्प्रह्वणादिषु ।

      कर्मभिर्भ्राम्यमाणानां यत्रक्वापीश्वरेच्छ्या

      मंगलाचरितैर्दानैः रतिर्नः कृष्ण ईश्वरे ॥    

May all our thought processes always hang on to the lotus feet of Krishna. May our speech be engaged in uttering his names ard our body in serving him and bowing to him.  While being driven by our karmas  according to the will of the Lord, may the auspicious things we do and our charity (dana to the needy etc.) create in us deep love for Krishna.

9.जिह्वे कीर्तय केशवं मुररिपुं चेतो भज श्रीधरं

  पाणिद्वन्द्व समर्चयाच्युतकथाः श्रोत्रद्वय त्वं शृणु।

  कृष्णं लोकय लोचनद्वय हरेर्गच्छांघ्रियुग्मालयं

  जिघ्र घ्राण मुकुन्द पादतुलसीं मूर्द्धन्नमाधोक्षजम्॥

O Tongue! Sing the praises of Keshava (the slayer of Keshi, the one with beautiful hair)

O Mind ! meditate on Muraripu (enemy of Mura)

O Pair of hands! Worship Sridhara (the one on whose chest abides Lakshmi)

O Pair of ears! Hear the stories of achyuta (the one who never slips from his exalted position)

O pair of eyes! see Krishna ( of dark blue complexion,  One who is sachidananda swarupa )

O Pair of legs! Go to the temple of Hari (the one who takes away our sins)

O Nose! Smell the tulsi leaves offered at the feet Mukunda (the one who liberates us from samsara)

O Head!  Bow down to Adhokshaja (the one who is beyond the reach of senses)

10. सच्चिदानन्दरूपाय विश्वोत्पत्त्यादि हेतवे।

    तापत्रय विनाशाय श्रीकृष्णाय वयं नुमः॥

We bow to Krishna whose nature(स्वरूप) is sachidananda (Existence-Consciousness-Bliss), who is the first cause for the rise, sustenance and dissolution of all these worlds and who destroys the three types of afflictions (miseries) namely आध्यात्मिक (relating to our own body and mind), आधिभौतिक ( from others such as humans, animals, insects etc) and आधिदैविक (From natural calamities like floods, hurricanes, famine, pestilence etc.)

11. कृष्णो रक्षतु मां चराचरगुरु: कृष्णं नमस्याम्यहं

    कृष्णेनामरशत्रवो विनिहताः कृष्णाय तस्मै नमः।

    कृष्णादेव समुत्थितं जगदिदं कृष्णस्य दासोस्म्यहं

    कृष्णे भक्तिरचञ्चलास्तु भगवन् हे कृष्ण तुभ्यं नमः

May Lord Krishna, the Teacher of all, protect me. I bow to Krishna. By Krishna are the enemies of Devas killed. For Krishna are my prostrations.  From Krishna has all these worlds risen. I am the servant of Krishna. O God, May I have unwavering bhakti in  Krishna.  O Krishna!  My prostration to you

[ Note:  The above sloka contains all the variations for the seven cases (prathama to saptami vibhakti) and form of address respectively, masculine, singular for ‘krishna’:

कृष्णः, कृष्णं, कृष्णेन, कृष्णाय, कृष्णात्, कृष्णस्य, कृष्णे, हे कृष्ण!]

12. कृष्ण त्वदीय पदपंकजपञ्जरान्त-

    रद्यैव मे विशतु मानसराजहंस:।

    प्राणप्रयाणसमये कफवातपित्तैः

    कण्ठावरोधनविधौ स्मरणं कुतस्ते ॥

O Krishna!  let the King of swans which is my mind enter into the cage of your lotus feet this very day.  When life is ebbing out of the body and the throat is choked by the attack of the three doshas (vata, pitta and kapha) how can there be any remembrance of you?

[ from Mukundamala of Kulasekharazhvar]

13. चिन्तयामि हरिमेवे सन्ततं

     मन्दमन्दहसिताननांबुजम्।

     नन्दगोपतनयं परात्परं

     नारदादि मुनिबृन्दवन्दितम्॥

I always think of (meditate On) Hari who has a beatific smile on his lotus-face,  who is the son of Nandagopa, who is the Ultimate Reality and who is worshipped and saluted by Narada and other sages 

[from Mukundamala of Kulasekharazhvar]

14. मज्जन्मनः फलमिदं मधुकैटभारे

    मत्प्रार्थनीय मदनुग्रह एष एव।

    त्वद्भृत्यभृत्यपरिचारकभृत्यभृत्य-

    भृत्यस्य भृत्य इति मां स्मर लोकनाथ ॥

O Lord of the worlds and the slayer of  asuras Madhu and Kaitabha!  the most important aim of taking this birth, one which is prayed for by me and which I consider as the greatest blessing will be fulfilled if you remember me, O Lord as your servant’s severant’s attendant’s servant’s sevrant’s servant’s servant.

[from Mukundamala of Kulasekharazhvar]

 15.  दिवि वा भुवि वा ममास्तु वासो

      नरके वा नरकान्तक प्रकामं।

      अवधीरितशारदारविन्दौ

      चरणौ ते मरणेऽपि चिन्तयामि॥ 

O slayer Of Narakasura! Let me live in Heaven or on the Earth or in Hell, I do not mind. I will, even at the time of my death, think of (remember) your lotus-feet which surpass ( in beauty,  softness and delicacy) a pair of lotus blossoms in saratkala (the season after the rains).

[From Mukundamala] 

16.   भवे भवे यथा भक्तिः पादयोस्तव जायते।

      तथा कुरुष्व  देवेश नाथस्त्वं नो यतः प्रभो ॥

      नामसङ्कीर्तनं यस्य सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्

      प्रणामो दुःखशमनः तं नमामि हरिं परम्॥

O Lord of the devas ! make things happen in such a way that birth after birth we are blessed with devotion to your lotus-feet, for Thou, the Lord, art our Master (Protector)

I offer my pranams to Hari, the Highest Truth (Ultimate Reality),  the chanting and singing of Whose names destroys all sins and pranams to Whom wipe out all sorrows or miseries

[Source: Srimad Bhagavatam 12.13.22-23]

17.   विक्रेतुकामाऽखिलगोपकन्याः

      मुरारिपादार्पितचित्तवृत्तिः।

      दध्यादिकं मोहवशादवोचत्

      गोविन्ददामोदरमाधवेति ॥

The milkmaids of vraja sell milk and products obtained thereform like curd, buttermilk etc as street vendors. But their hearts and thought processes were ever at the lotus-feet of Krishna. Such was their complete absorption in the thoughts of Krishna that instead of calling out ‘curd’, ‘buttermilk’ etc they called out ‘Govinda!’, Damodara!’ and ‘Madhava!’.  One-pointed indeed is the loving devotion of the gopis for Krishna!

[From Govinda Damodara Stotra]

18.   शत्रुच्छेदैकमन्त्रं सकलमुपनिषद्वाक्यसंपूज्यमन्त्रं

      संसारोत्तारमन्त्रं समुपचिततमस्संघनिर्याणमन्त्रम्।

      सर्वैश्वर्यैकमन्त्रं व्यसनभुजंगसंदष्टसंत्राणमन्त्रं

      जिह्वे श्रीकृष्णमन्त्रं जप जप सततं जन्मसाफल्यमन्त्रम् ॥

O Tongue! repeatedly chant the Srikrishna Mantra which will make your life fruitful and fulfilled, which will destroy your enemies, which is worshipped and eulogised  by all the statements of the Upanishads, which will help cross this ocean of samsara, which will dispel the accumulated darkness (ignorance) of ages, which will bestow all the riches of the world  and which will rescue those who are bitten by the serpent of misery and misfortune.

19.  व्यामोहप्रशमौषधं मुनिमनोवृत्तिप्रवृत्यौषधम्

     दैत्येन्द्रार्तिहरौषधं त्रिजगतां सञ्जीवनैकौषधम् ।

     भक्तात्यन्तहितौषधं भवभयप्रध्वंसनैकौषधं

     श्रेयप्राप्तिकरौषधं पिब मनः श्रीकृष्ण दिव्यौषधम्॥

O Mind! Drink the divine medicine Krishna which  removes all delusions,  which inspires the minds of sages, which saves Prahlada from all his trials and tribulations, which gives life to the three worlds, which does immense good to the devotees and which is the only remedy to ward off the fear of samsara.

(From Mukundamala of Kulasekharazhvar)

20.  श्रेयःस्रुतिं भक्तिमुदस्य ते विभो

     क्लिश्यन्ति ये कवल बोधलब्धये ।

     तेषामसൗ क्लेशल एव शिष्यते

     नान्यद्यथा स्थूलतुषावघातिनां  ॥

     (श्रीमद्भागवतम् १०.१४.४, ब्रह्मकृता भगवत्स्तुतिः)

O Lord! some, setting aside loving devotion to you, exert themselves very much to acquire pure Knowledge alone.  While bhakti will generate material and spiritual well-being, the pursuit of knowledge alone will yield nothing. Only the effort will remain as in case of one who is pounding empty husk in the hope of getting grains. His efforts will surely not bear fruit. .

21. जिह्वे रसज्ञे मधुरप्रिया त्वं

     सत्यं हितं त्वां परमं वदामि ।

     अवर्णयेथा मधुराक्षराणि

     गोविन्ददामोदरमाधवेति ॥

O Tongue!  You recognise and appreciate different tastes but you are specially fond of sweet things.  Therefore I will give a piece of advise which is in conformity with truth and which will do you immense good.   Sing aloud Govinda! Damodara!  Madhava!, sweet words (eulogising Sri Krishna).

22.  भवजलधिमगाधं दुस्तरं निस्तरेयं

     कथमहमिति चेतो मा स्मगा कातरत्वम्।

     सरसिजदृशि देवे तावकी भक्तिरेका

     नरकभिदि निषण्णा तारयिष्यत्यवश्यम् ॥

O Mind! Do not lose heart or get frightened thinking how I am going to cross this ocean of samasara which is extremely difficult to cross.  Your loving devotion alone firmly established in the lotus-eyed Lord (Krishna), slayer of Narakasura, will enable you to cross the ocean of samasara without a shadow of doubt.    

[From Mukundamala of Kulasekharazhvar]

23.      कदा वा कालिन्दीकुवलयदलश्यामलतराः

         कटाक्षा लक्ष्यन्ते किमपि करुणावीचिनिचिता।

         कदा वा कन्दर्पप्रतिभटजटा चन्द्रशिशिराः

         कमप्यन्तस्तोषं ददति मुरलीकेलिनिनदाः ॥

When shall I receive  the katakshas (sideways glances of Krishna) which are full of compassion and which are darker than the petals of the  blue lily growing in Kalindi( Yamuna) ?  When shall the playful sweet melodies from the flute of (Krishna), cool as the rays of the moon on the matted locks of Lord Shiva,  give me inner peace and contentment?

(From Srikrishna Karnamrutam, 1.26 of Lila Suka)

24.  कृष्णे हृत्वा सिचय निचयं कूलकुञ्जाधिरूढे

     मुग्द्धा काचिन्मुहुरनुनयैः किन्विति व्याहरन्ती।

     सभ्रूभंगं सदरहसितं सत्रपं सानुरागं

     छायाशौरेः करतलगतान्यंबराण्याचकर्ष॥

When Krishna gathered the robes of the gopis and went up a tree on the banks of Yamuna, one innocent (simple) gopi,  saying to herself that it was no use making requests (for returning the clothes)), started pulling the clothes from the hands of Krishna’s shadow reflected in the Yamuna with her brows arched,  a smile on her face and  overcome by  emotions of shyness and love.

[SriKrishna Karnamrutam (2.8)]

25. हर्तुं कुम्भे विनिहितकरः स्वादुहैयंगवीनं

    दृष्ट्वा दामग्रहणचटुलां मातरं जातरोषाम् ।

    पायादीषत्प्रचलितपदो नावगच्छन्नतिष्ठ-

    न्मिथ्यागोपः सपदि नयने मीलयन् विश्वगोप्ता॥

 [From Gopalavimshati of Vedanta Desika]

Krishna puts his hands into the pot to steal tasty butter. (Just at that moment) he sees his mother in an angry mood  hurrying to lay her hand on a piece of rope (with which to tie him).  (Now he is in a dilemma). He moves his legs a little but he neither goes away nor stands still but just closes his eyes. May the Protector of the all the worlds in the guise of a cowboy save us (from the cycle of births and deaths)  

26. कदा पक्षीन्द्रांसोपरिगतमजं कञ्जनयनं

    रमासंश्लिष्टांगं गगनरुचमापीतवसनम् ।

    गदाशंखांभोजारिवरकरमालोक्य सुचिरं

    गमिष्यत्येतन्मे ननु सफलतां नेत्रयुगलम् ॥

When shall this pair of eyes of mine attain the highest purpose (fruit) of their existence by seeing  for long the beautiful form of the Lord who is unborn, who is seated on Garuda, whose eyes are pretty as lotus petals, who is embraced by His consort Lakshmi, Whose complexion is dark blue as the sky, whose clothes are of bright yellow and who sports in His hands the mace, the conch, the lotus and the disc (chakra)? 

[From Abhilashashtakam of Brahmananda]

27.          यद्रोमरंध्रपरिपूर्तिविधावदक्षाः

       वाराहजन्मनि बभूवुरमी समुद्राः।

       तं नाम नाथमरविन्ददृशं यशोदा

       पाणिद्वयान्तरजलैः स्नपयां बभूव ॥

During the incarnation of Lord Vishnu as Varaha ( His body was so huge)  that the waters of  all the oceans were not enough to fill a single follicle of His hair. When the Lord was born as child Krishna  with eyes beautiful as the lotus, Yasoda bathed him scooping water in her cupped palms.  (What a contrast ! Amazing  indeed are the leelas of the Lord)

[From Srikrishna Karnamrutam of Lila Suka, 2.27]

28.          लोकानुन्मदयन् श्रुतीर्मुखरयन् क्षोणीरुहान् हर्षयन्

       शैलान् विद्रवयन् मृगान् विवशयन् गोवृन्दमानन्दयन्।

       गोपान् संभ्रमयन् मुनीन् मुकुलयन् सप्तस्वरान् जृंभयन्

       ओंकारार्थमुदीरयन् विजयते वंशीनिनादः शिशोः ॥

Victory to the sweet melodies from the flute of child Krishna which makes people intoxicated, Vedas vocal, trees joyful, mountains soft and liquid, animals harmless, cows delighted, cowboys excited, sages  meditative and the meaning of ‘Om’ loud and clear.

[From Srikrishna Karnamrutam 2.109]

29. हे मर्त्याः परमं हितं शृणुत वो वक्ष्यामि संक्षेपतः

     संसारार्णवमापदूर्मिबहुलं सम्यक्प्रविश्य स्थिताः।

     नानाज्ञानमपास्य चेतसि नमो नारायणायेत्यमुं

     मन्त्रं सप्रणवं प्रणामसहितं प्रावर्तयध्वं मुहुः ॥

O Men and women who are neck deep in this sea of samsara which is full of waves of sorrow and misery !  I am telling you something which is in your best interests.  Stop pursuing all kinds of secular or spiritual knowledge and repeat in your mind, with love and devotion, the mantra ‘Om Namo Nayarayanaya’.

30.        यां दृष्ट्वा यमुनां पिपासुरनिशं व्यूहो गवां गाहते

       विद्युत्वानिति नीलकण्ठनिवहो यां द्रष्टुमुत्कण्ठते ।

       उत्तंसाय तमालपल्लवमिति छिन्दन्ति यं गोपिकाः

       कान्तिः कालियशासनस्य वपुषः सा पावनी पातु नः॥

May that purifying effulgence of the body of Krishna who disciplined Kaliya protect us;  the effulgence seeing which the herd of cows, thinking that it is the river Yamuna (because of the dark complexion of Krishna),  dip into it to quench their thirst;  the peacocks,  thinking that it is a dark cloud,  are excited and are eager to see it and the milkmaids, thinking it is a cluster of  leaf buds of the tamala tree,   want to pluck it to adorn their hair.

31. अयि मुरळि मुकुन्दस्मेरवक्त्रारविन्द-

    श्वसनमधुरसज्ञे त्वां प्रणम्याऽद्य याचे।

    अधरमणिसमीपं प्राप्तवत्यां भवत्यां

    कथय रहसि कर्णे मद्दशां नन्दसूनोः॥

O Murali!  You have tasted the sweetness of the breath from the lotus-face of Krishna.  I offer my pranamas to you and beg of you this: when you are near the gem-like bright lips of Krishna, secretly whisper into his ear about my (miserable) condition (on account of my separation from him)

32.  उत्क्षेपणं गर्भगतस्य पादयोः

     किं कल्पते मातुरधोक्षजागसे।

     किमस्तिनास्तिव्यपदेशभूषितं

     तवास्ति कुक्षेः कियदप्यनन्तः॥

 श्रीमद्भागवतम् 10.14.12,  ब्रह्मणा कृता भगवतः स्तुतिः)

Brahma says:

A mother does not blame the child in her womb when it kicks with its tiny feet. O Lord! is there anything of this creation,  which has the attributes of existent and non-existent,  outside of your abdomen? [ Since everything, including me (Brahma), is inside Your abdomen You should forgive my impertinence just as the mother forgives the kicks of the child in her womb.]

33. येऽन्येऽरविन्दाक्ष विमुक्तमानिनः

     त्वय्यस्तभावादविशुद्धबुद्धयः ।

     आरुह्य कृच्छ्रेण परं पदं ततः

     पतन्त्यधोऽनादृतयुष्मदङ्घ्रयः॥

O Lord, the Lotus-eyed One! there are those who pride themselves on being liberated souls but they are devoid of loving devotion to you and consequently their minds are not purified.  With great difficulty they reach the highest position achievable spiritually but ultimately fall from this position as they are indifferent and do not have feelings of love and devotion towards your lotus-feet.

34.  किं ब्रूमस्त्वां यशोदे कति कति सुकृतक्षेत्रवृन्दानि पूर्वं

     गत्वा कीदृग्विधानैः कति कति सुकृतान्यार्जितानि त्वयैव ।

     नो शक्रो न स्वयंभू न च मदनरिपुर्यस्य लेभे प्रसादं

     तत्पूर्णं ब्रह्म साक्षात् विलुठति विलपत् क्रोडमारोढुकामम् ॥

O Yashoda! How can we tell you the amount of punya you have accumulated by visiting many holy places earlier and by observing many types of vratas or austerities?  The all-pervading Brahman, whose benediction neither Indra nor Brahma or Shiva could receive, is rolling on the ground crying (as child Krishna),  wanting to get on to your lap. (Great indeed must be the magnitude of your meritorious deeds).

श्रीकृष्णः शरणं मम

35. नद्यस्तदा तदुपधार्य मुकुन्दगीत-

    मावर्तलक्षितमनोभवभग्नवेगाः।

    आलिङ्गनस्थगितमूर्मिभुजैर्मुरारे-

    र्गृह्णन्ति पादयुगलं कमलोपहाराः ॥

The rivers of Vrindavan hear the music of Mukunda (flowing from his flute) which  touches them, creates in them a surge of love manifested as whirls on their water surfaces and their current slows down. They embrace the lotus feet of Krishna holding them with their wave-hands and make an offering of lotus blossoms at His feet.  

[Srimad Bhagavatam 10.21.15]

36. तृष्णातोये मदनपवनोद्धूतमोहोर्मिजाले

    दारावर्ते तनयसहजग्राहसङ्घाकुले च।

    संसाराख्ये महति जलधौ मज्जतां नस्त्रिधामन्

    पादांभोजे वरद भवतो भक्तिनावं प्रयच्छ ॥

O Giver of boons and One whose abode is all the three worlds (swarloka, martyaloka and Patala)! We are drowning in the vast ocean of this samsara  the water of which is greed  waves are delusions driven by the winds of lust, whirlpool is wife and alligators are sons and brothers.  Please give us the boat of Bhakti at your Lotus Feet (to help us cross this samsara sagara)

37. अङ्कोलं निजबीजसन्ततिरयस्कान्तोपलं सूचिका

    साध्वी नैजविभुं लता क्षितिरुहं सिन्धुः सरिद्वल्लभम्।

    प्राप्नोतीह यथा तथा पशुपतेः पादारविन्दद्वयं

    चेतोवृत्तिरुपेत्य तिष्ठति सदा सा भक्तिरित्युच्यते ॥

The seeds of the ankola tree naturally gravitate towards the mother tree, the needle naturally gravitates towards the magnetic stone, the chaste woman towards her husband, the creeper towards the tree and the river towards the ocean.  In the same way when the thoughts and feelings of the mind and heart gravitate towards the lotus feet of Krishna and stays firmly established there always, that is called bhakti. 

38.  गभीरे कासारे विशति विजने घोरविपिने

     विशाले शैले च भ्रमति कुसुमार्थं जडमतिः

     समर्प्यैकं चेतःसरसिजमुमानाथ भवते

     सुखेनावस्थातुं जन इह न जानाति किमहो ॥

The fool enters deep lakes and wanders in lonely, dense forests and huge mountains to gather flowers (for your worship). It is sad that people do not know that they can ever stay happy by simply offering their heart-lotus to you, O consort of Uma.

39. मा गच्छ त्वमितस्ततो गिरिश भो मय्येव वासं कुरु

    स्वामिन्नादिकिरात मामकमनःकान्तारसीमान्तरे।

    वर्तन्ते बहुशो मृगाः मदजुषो मात्सर्यमोहादयः 

    तान् हत्वा मृगया विनोदरुचितालाभं च संप्राप्स्यसि ॥

O Girisha! (Shiva!) Don’t go about here and there (in search of a residence). Take up residence in me.  O Master ! Primeval Hunter!  Within the limits of the forest of my mind there are many wild aggressive animals like envy, delusion and others  ( lust, anger, greed and vanity). You can kill them in the sport of hunting and enjoy yourself and have fun too. 



40.   बिभ्रद्वेणुं जठरपटयोः शृङ्गवेत्रे च कक्षे

      वामे पाणौ मसृणकवलं तत्फलान्यङ्गुलीषु।

      तिष्ठन्मध्ये स्वपरिसुहृदो हासयन् नर्मभिः स्वैः

      स्वर्गे लोके मिषति बुभुजे यज्ञभुक् बालकेलिः॥

      (श्रीमद्भागवतम् १०.१३.११)

The scene is the vanabhojanam of Krishna with his cowboy friends in the forests of Vrindavan:

Krishna had stuck his flute between the stomach and his clothes at the waist.  The bugle and the cane were held under his arm. On his left palm was a ball of smooth and soft cooked rice.  On his fingers were varieties of  dishes.  Standing at the centre of the circle of friends he was making them burst into laughter by his jokes. The denizens of swarga were looking with wide-eyed wonder at this baalaleela  of Krishna  having  vanabhojanam with his cowboy  friends;  the same Krishna  who accepts the offerings in sacrifices ( performed as  prescribed in the Vedas) .    

41.  बर्हापीडं नटवरवपुः कर्णयोः कर्णिकारं

     बिभ्रद्वासः कनककपिशं वैजयन्तीं च मालाम्।

     रंध्रान् वेणोरधरसुधया पूरयन् गोपवृन्दैः

     वृन्दारण्यं स्वपदरमणं प्राविशद्गीतकीर्तिः ॥

Wearing a turban with peacock feathers stuck in it,  with his  body adorned  in the manner of a lead actor, with karnikara flowers adorning his  ears,  decked in a garment of golden hue and a garland  of wild flowers, filling the holes in his flute with the nectar of his lips (i.e. producing sweet music from his flute) and  accompanied by the cowboys Krishna, whose leelas  and fame are sung by saints and devotees,  entered Vrindavan which revelled in and  was thrilled by the touch of His feet.

42. अग्रे दीर्घतरोऽयमर्जुनतरुस्तस्याग्रतो वर्तनी

    सा घोषं समुपैतितत्परिसरे देशे कलिन्दात्मजा ।

    तस्यास्तीरतमालकाननतले चक्रं गवां चारयन्

    गोपः क्रीडति दर्शयिष्यति सखे पन्थानमव्याहतम् ॥

[Srikrishnakarnamrutam 2.43]

Ahead is a tall Arjuna tree. Beyond that is a foot path that leads to ghosha,  the colony of milkmen. In the vicinity of this colony is the river Yamuna. On the banks of Yamuna is a forest of tamala  trees.  There you will find a gopa (cowboy) grazing a herd of cows and playing.  He will, O friend !  show you the untrodden path (that will take you to Mukti, freedom from the cycle of births and deaths)

43.   मार्गावर्तितपादुका पशुपतेरंगस्यकूर्चायते

      गण्डूषांबुनिषेचनं पुररिपोर्दिव्याभिषेकायते

      किंचित्भक्षितमांसशेषकवलं नव्योपहारायते

      भक्तिः किं न करोत्यहो वनचरो भक्तावतंसायते

The footwear repeatedly used on the road and worn-out becomes the adornment on the body of  Lord Pasupati,  water carried in the month by the hunter and spouted on the Linga becomes divine bathing for the Enemy of Tripura  , the remnants of a partly-eaten piece of meat becomes freshly prepared offering to the Lord and the tribal (hunter) living in the forest becomes the crest-jewel of devotees of the Lord.  Wonder of wonders ! What is there that loving devotion to the Lord cannot do?    

[This sloka is from Sivananda Lahari.  The reference here is to Kannappa Nayanar

a  tribal hunter in the forest who was a great devotee of Lord Shiva.  The sloka describes his way of worshipping the Lord who happily accepts his offerings because of his loving devotion.  There is a story about the intensity of his devotion to the Lord.  It is something like this: Once he saw blood coming from  the eyes of the deity.  He immediately scooped out one of his eyes and put in place on the idol.  Now how will he manage to put the other eye in place? So Kannappa Nayanar put his toe on the spot where the other eye was to be placed. He then took out  his other eye  and put it where his toe had been placed. The Lord revealed himself to Him moved by his intense devotion.  The hill where Kannappa Nayanar worshipped is very near the Kalahasti temple.]  

44.  हे गोपालक! हे कृपाजलनिधे! हे सिन्धुकन्यापते!

      हे कंसान्तक! हे गजेन्द्रकरुणापारीण! हे माधव! ।

      हे रामानुज! हे जगत्त्रयगुरो! हे पुण्डरीकाक्ष! मां

      हे गोपीजननाथ पालय परं जानामि न त्वां विना ॥

O Gopalaka,  protector of cows !

O KrupajalanidheI, Ocean of Mercy !

O Sindhukanya pate,   Consort of the daughter of Milky Ocean (Lakshmi) !

O Kamsantaka, Slayer of Kamsa

O Gajendrakarunaapaareena,  who, moved by compassion, saved Gajendra,  the elephant !

O Madhava , Consort of Lakshmi!

O Ramanuja,  Younger brother of Balarama!

O Jagattrayaguro,  Teacher of the three worlds!

O Pundarikaksha,  The lotus-eyed one!

O Gopijananatha ,  The darling of gopis!

save me, take care of me,  (O Krishna!)  I do not know any one other than you as the Supreme Lord. (srikrishna karnamrutam 2.107)     

45.        निबद्ध मूर्द्धांजलिरेष याचे

      नीरन्ध्रदैन्योन्नतमुक्तकण्ठम् ।

      दयांबुधे! देव! भवत्कटाक्ष-

      दाक्षिण्यलेशेन सकृन्निषिञ्च  ॥

 [From Srikrishna karnamrutam 1.30]

With palms pressed together above my head I, utterly miserable and helpless,   beg of you at the top of my voice “ O Krishna ! Ocean of Compassion ! Light of lights!  Kindly drench me, just once, with just a little glance of compassion from the corners of your eyes.”  

46. प्रभुस्त्वं दीनानां खलु परमबन्धुः पशुपते

    प्रमुख्योऽहं तेषामपि किमुत बन्धुत्वमनयोः।

    त्वयैव क्षन्तव्याः शिव मदपराधाश्च सकलाः

    प्रयत्नात्कर्तव्यं मदवनमियं बन्धुसरणिः ॥

[From Sivanandalahari of Adi Sankaracharya]

O Pasupati ! You are the Lord and  you are a close relative or friend of those in misery. I am at the top of all miserable human beings. It goes without saying that our relationship is much closer.  You should pardon me all my misdeeds and  spare no effort to protect me;  that is the way of a  true relative or friend.

47.  वदन्त्येके स्थानं तव वरद! वैकुण्ठमपरे

     गवां लोकं लोकं फणिनिलयपातालमितरे।

     तथान्ये क्षीरोदं हृदयनलिनं चापि तु सतां

     न मन्ये तत्स्थानं त्वहमिह च यत्रासि न विभो ॥

 [From Vishnumahimna stotram of Brahmananda swami]

O Giver of boons!  some people say that Your place is in Vaikuntha. Others say that it is in Goloka.  Yet others aver that Your abode is in patala inhabited by serpents. There are others who speak about Your abode in the Milky ocean or in the heart-lotus of saints. As for me, O Lord !,  I do not know of any place where You are not there. 

48.   रत्नस्थले जानुचरः कुमारः

     संक्रान्तमात्मीयमुखारविन्दम्।

     आदातुकामस्तदलाभखेदात्

     विलोक्य धात्री वदनं रुरोद॥

Child Krishna was on all fours moving about the gem-studded floor on his knees and hands.  He sees his lotus-face reflected in the polished surface of the floor.  He is raring to catch hold of the reflection.  Frustrated in this attempt, he looks up at his mother’s face and bursts into tears crying.

[ What captivating picture of the balaleela of Krishna (who is none other than the Supreme Lord) captured for us by Lila Suka in Srikrishna Karnamrutam! ]

49.  अयः स्पर्शे लग्नं सपदि लभते हेमपदवीं

      यथा रथ्यापाथः शुचि भवति गङ्गൗघमिलितम्।

      तथा तत्तद्पापैरतिमलिनमन्तर्मम यदि

      त्वयि प्रेम्णा सक्तं कथमिव न जायेत विमलम्॥

Iron, when it comes into contact with sparsha becomes gold instantly.  Street water, when it mingles with the surging waters of the Ganga, is purified completely.  Similarly, how can my heart (antahkaranam), polluted as it is by many sinful acts, not become free from all impurites if its is attached to you O Mother! by the bonds of love and devotion?

(Sparsha =philosopher’s stone supposedly able to change base metals into gold)

[From Anandalahari of Sankara Bhagavadpada].      

50. शिवोऽहं रुद्राणामहममरराजो दिविषदां

     मुनीनां व्यासोऽहं सुरवर समुद्रोऽस्मि सरसाम्।

     कुबेरो यक्षाणामिति तव वचो मन्दमतये

     न जाने तज्जातं जगति ननु यन्नासि भगवन्॥

O Lord, You have said in the Bhagavadgita:

among the Rudras I am Siva ( रुद्राणां शंकरश्चास्मि – Gita, Ch.10)

among the Devas I am Indra (देवानामस्मि वासवः– Gita, Ch.10)

among hermits I am Vyasa (मुनीनामप्यहं व्यासः- Gita, Ch.10)

among water bodies I am the ocean(सरसामस्मि सागरः-Gita,Ch.10)

among yakshas I am Kubera (वित्तेशो यक्षरक्षसां- Gita, Ch.10)

But what You have said, O Lord, is only for the dull-witted.  I am not aware of anything which has taken birth in this world which YOU are NOT (because sarvam Vishnumayam jagat – the whole world is Vishnu only)  

[From Vishnumahimna stotram of Brahmananda]

51.  भवानि! त्वं दासे मयि वितर दृष्टिं सकरुणां

     इति स्तोतुं वाञ्छन् कथयति भवनि ! त्वमिति यः।

        तदैव त्वं तस्मै दिशसि निजसायुज्यपदवीम्

        मुकुन्दब्रह्मेन्द्रस्फुटमकुटनीराजितपदाम् 

A devotee  prays “भवानि! त्वं दासे मयि वितर दृष्टिं सकरुणां “ (O Bhavani ! May You bless this humble servant of yours with your compassionate glances). By the time he has said “भवानि त्वं” You instantly give him ‘sayujya’, your own exalted position   which is lighted up by the resplendent crowns of Vishnu, Brahma and Indra (as they bow down at your feet).  [ “भवानि त्वं” (if the vocative is removed)  literally means “May I become you”; so the devotee’s  wish is immediately granted by ‘sayujya mukti”, merging with the Divine Mother. ]  

 

Sri P R Ramamurthy Ji was the author of this website. When he started this website in 2009, he was in his eighties. He was able to publish such a great number of posts in limited time of 4 years. We appreciate his enthusiasm for Sanskrit Literature. Authors story in his own words : http://ramamurthypr1931.blogspot.com/

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