All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga

Srimad Bhaktivinoda-viraha Dasakam

Prayer in Separation of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur

~by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj

Webpage prepared by Jagamohini Devi Dasi

ha ha bhaktivinoda-thakkura! guroh! dvavimsatis te sama

dirghad-duhkha-bharad-asesa-virahad-duhsthikrta bhuriyam

jivanam bahu-janma-punya-nivaha krsto mahi-mandale

avirbhava-krpam chakara cha bhavan sri-gaura-saktih svayam [1]

Alas, alas! O Bhaktivinoda Thakura, O Supreme Guru, for twenty-two years this world has been plunged into misfortune, long grief-stricken in your intolerable separation. You are the divine potency of Sri Gaura, and you graciously made your advent in this earthly plane, being attracted by the living beings' virtuous deeds performed throughout many lifetimes.

dino ’ham chira-duskrtir na hi bhavat-padabja-dhuli-kana-

snanananda-nidhim prapanna-subhadam labdhum samartho ’bhavam

kintv audaryya-gunat-tavati-yasasah karunya-saktih svayam

sri-sri-gaura-mahaprabhoh prakatita visvam samanvagrahit [2]

Since I am lowly and very wretched, it was not my luck to reach the ocean that bestows the fortune of surrender -- the ocean of the ecstasy of bathing in a particle of the dust of your holy lotus feet. Yet due to your magnanimous nature, you gave your grace to the whole universe, personally revealing your super-eminence as the personification of the mercy potency of Sri Gauranga. (That is, by coming into this world, I received his grace.)

he deva! stavane tavakhila-gunanam te virinchadayo

deva vyartha-mano-rathah kim u vayam marttyadhamah kurmmahe

etan no vibudhaih kadapy atisayalankara ity uchyatam

sastresv eva “na paraye ’ham” iti yad gatam mukundena tat [3]

O Lord, even all the demigods headed by Lord Brahma feel frustrated by their inability to (fittingly) sing the glories of all your divine qualities. What, then, can be said of the attempt of a fallen soul, a mere human like me? Surely, the learned will never waste their eloquent words eulogising this statement, since even the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna Himself, has sung in the Scriptures His celebrated confession "na paraye 'ham" -- "I am unable (to reciprocate your devotion)."

dharmmas-charmma-gato ’jnataiva satata yogas cha bhogatmako

jnane sunya-gatir japena tapasa khyatir jighamsaiva cha

dane dambhikata ’nuraga-bhajane dustapacharo yada

buddhim buddhi-matam vibheda hi tada dhatra bhavan presitah [4]

At a time when religion was evaluated in terms of bodily relationship, saintliness was determined by ignorance, and yoga practice was motivated by sensual pleasure; when scholarship was cultivated just for voidism, japa was conducted for the sake of fame, and penance was performed out of vindictiveness; when charity was given out of pride, and on the pretext of spontaneous devotion the most gross, sinful acts were perpetrated - and in all such anomalous situations even the intelligentsia were at loggerheads with one another...at that very time, you were sent by the Almighty Creator.

visve ’smin kiranair yatha hima-karah sanjivayann osadhir

naksatrani cha ranjayan nija-sudham vistarayan rajate

sach-chastrani cha tosayan budha-ganam sammodayams te tatha

nunam bhumi-tale subhodaya iti hlado bahuh satvatam [5]

As the universally cooling moon is beautified by diffusing its nectarine rays, nourishing the plants and inciting the twinkling of the stars, your Holy Advent in this world is similarly ascertained as satisfying the pure devotional Scriptures (through profound study) and blessing the learned with full-blown happiness (by the perfect axiomatic conclusions descending in Divine Succession). With your appearance, the ecstasy of the devotees knows no bounds.

lokanam hita-kamyaya bhagavato bhakti-pracharas tvaya

granthanam rachanaih satam abhimatair nana-vidhair darsitah

acharyyaih krta-purvvam eva kila tad ramanujadyair budhaih

premambho-nidhi-vigrahasya bhavato mahatmya-sima na tat [6]

By writing many books and by multifarious methods recognised by the pure devotees, you have demonstrated the preaching of pure devotional service unto the Supreme Lord, for the benefit of the whole world. We have heard of similar achievements in previous times by stalwart scholars such as Sri Ramanuja and many other Acharyyas; but the glory of you--the very embodiment of the nectar of divine love- does not end (cannot be confined) here.

yad dhamnah khalu dhama chaiva nigame brahmeti samjnayate

yasyamsasya kalaiva duhkha-nikarair yogesvarair mrgyate

vaikunthe para-mukta-bhrnga-charano narayano yah svayam

tasyamsi bhagavan svayam rasa-vapuh krsno bhavan tat pradah [7]

Merely the effulgence of His divine abode has been designated by the title 'Brahman' in the Vedas, and only the expansion of an expansion of His expansion is sought after with great tribulation by the foremost yogis. The most exalted of the liberated souls shine resplendent as the bumblebees at His lotus feet. The Primeval Origin of even the Original Sri Narayana who is the Lord of the spiritual sky above Brahman: He is the Original Supreme Lord, the personification of all nectarine mellows - Sri Krishna -- and He is the one that you give.

sarvvachintyamaye paratpara-pure goloka-vrndavane

chil-lila-rasa-rangini parivrta sa radhika sri-hareh

vatsalyadi-rasais cha sevita-tanor-madhuryya-seva-sukham

nityam yatra muda tanoti hi bhavan tad dhama-seva-pradah [8]

Situated in the topmost region of the absolutely inconceivable spiritual sky is the holy abode of Sri Vrindavana Dhama, in the spiritual planet known as Goloka. There, surrounded by Sakhis, Srimati Radhika revels in the mellows of divine pastimes. With great ecstasy, She expands the joy of loving sweetness in the service of Sri Krishnachandra, who is otherwise served in four relationships up to parenthood. You, O Thakura Bhaktivinoda, can give us the service of that holy Dhama.

sri-gauranumatam svarupa-viditam rupagrajenadrtam

rupadyaih parivesitam raghu-ganair asvaditam sevitam

jivadyair abhiraksitam suka-siva-brahmadi-sammanitam

sri-radha-pada-sevanamrtam aho tad datum iso bhavan [9]

The internal purport is known to Sri Svarupa Damodara by the sanction of Sri Gaurachandra, of that which is adored by Sri Sanatana Goswami and distributed by the preceptors realised in transcendental mellows, headed by Sri Rupa Goswami; that which is tasted and enhanced by Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami and followers and carefully protected by the votaries headed by Sri Jiva Prabhu; and that which (from a respectful distance) is venerated by great personalities such as Sri Suka, Lord Siva, the chief of the demigods, and Lord Brahma, the grandfather of all beings -- O wonder of wonders! The nectarine rapture of servitude unto Sri Radhika -- that, too, you can give us.

kvaham manda-matis tv ativa-patitah kva tvam jagat-pavanah

bho svamin krpayaparadha-nichayo nunam tvaya ksamyatam

yache ’ham karuna-nidhe! varam imam padabja-mule bhavat-

sarvvasvavadhi-radhika-dayita-dasanam gane ganyatam [10]

Where am I, so lowly and fallen, and where are you, the great soul who delivers the universe! O Lord, by your grace, you are sure to forgive my offences. O ocean of mercy, in the dust of your lotus feet I pray for just this benediction: kindly make my life successful by recommending me for admission into the group of Sri Varsabhanavi Dayita Dasa, who is the dearmost one in your heart.

Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Nabadwip
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