Śrī Dāmodara Kathā
Appendix 3 – Songs to Śrīla Prabhupāda
Śrīla Prabhupāda Praṇāma Stotram
by Ānanta Dāsa Śastrī
(1)
kṛṣṇaika-ceta mada-moha-vināśa-kārin
mad-dṛṣṭi-gocara prabho prabhupāda-svāmīn
doṣabhivṛtti-pariduṣita-manda-buddheḥ
sañcintayāmi caraṇau tava bhakti-hetoḥ
“O my master, O Prabhupāda, may you always be the object of my vision. Only the name of Kṛṣṇa can destroy my pride and illusion. Although my mind and intelligence are contaminated by wicked inclinations, I nevertheless take shelter of Your Divine Grace by constant meditation upon your lotus feet in causeless devotion.”
(2)
vṛndāvane ramana-reti-prasiddha-bhūmau
tatrāpi kṛṣṇa-balarāma-supāda-mūle
jñānaṁ paraṁ parama-kṛṣṇa-sudharmity uktam
dantas tu deva prabhupāda namo namaste
“In the most holy land of Vṛndāvana, in Ramana Reti, at the lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma, you are preaching the topmost knowledge of Kṛṣṇa the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is the fountainhead of religion. O master of the senses, O my Lord, Śrīla Prabhupāda, let me offer my obeisances unto you.”
(3)
namaste namaste kṛpā-pūrṇa-dṛṣṭi
namaste namaste mahānanda-dhātrī
namāmo namāmaḥ punar rakṣa rakṣa
prasiddha-prabho pāhi māṁ dakṣa dakṣa
“I offer my obeisances unto the spiritual master of the entire world, A.C. Bhaktivedānta Svāmī Prabhupāda, whose glances are full of mercy and who is the bestower of transcendental bliss. O renowned Lord, protect me and kindly shower your compassion on me again and again.”
(4)
bhaktisiddhānta-śiṣyāya
bhaktivedānta-swāmi-nāmine
prasannāya praśāntāya
tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
“Let me offer my obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master, who is a disciple of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, who is always calm and joyful, and who is known by the name of Bhaktivedānta Svāmī.”
(5)
śrī-vaṅga-bhūmi-jana-bhūṣaṇa gaura-līlā
gaurāṅga-bhāva parisāraṇa-mātra-śīlā
rādhā-mādhava-pada-padma-mano-vilāsin
ānanda-rāśi prabhupāda namo namas te
“The land of Bengal is worshipable by the whole world because Śrī Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu performed His pastimes there. I offer my obeisances unto Śrīla Prabhupāda, who is full of bliss. He is always in the ecstasy of Lord Gaurāṅga and is therefore immersed in the lotus feet of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Mādhava.”
Śrīla Prabhupāda Līlā-Smaraṇa-Maṅgala-Stotram
VERSE 1
jaya-re sva-pāriṣada, śrīla svāmī prabhupāda
abhaya amṛta parā-gati
tomāra caraṇa-padma, dhūli morā śreya-sadma
tāhe mama nitya paraṇati
All glories to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedānta Svāmī Prabhupāda. He is always accompanied by his associate servitors; his internal nature is just like the sweetest nectar and externally he appears like fearlessness personified. I continually offer my full prostrate obeisances unto the dust of his lotus feet that are the all auspicious shelter and goal of my life.
VERSE 2
sat-jana vandita, mama cira vānchita
prabhupāda-padme sukha-sevā
tava sevā parasāde, purila se hṛdi sādhe
tava guṇa-śobhā mana-lobhā
The blissful service of the lotus feet of Śrīla Prabhupāda is glorified by the topmost saints and devotees. To obtain the unalloyed service of his lotus feet is the only cherishable goal of my life. That eternal desire is always being fulfilled by the nectar of His Divine Grace and therefore the beauty of his unlimited transcendental qualities continually charms my heart. Now my dear devotees, please hear with great care and attention the narration of Śrīla Prabhupāda-Lila-Smaraṇa-Maṅgala-Stotram, the transcendental qualities and pastimes of His Divine Grace, the topmost servant of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.
VERSE 3
śrī nandotsava-dine nija sakhī-gaṇa-sane
premānanda-nimagna śrī rādhe
sukha icchā parakāśa dāki nija priya dāsa
kahilena ‘pura ei sādhe’
On the day when the grand festival of Śrī Nanda Mahārāja, celebrating the birth of Lord Kṛṣṇa was being held, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī accompanied by Her sakhīs, who were all deeply absorbed in the bliss of kṛṣṇa-prema, called for one of Her dearmost servants. Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, the Absolute Queen of Vṛndāvana, spoke thus revealing Her happy thoughts, “You must fulfill one desire of mine.”
VERSE 4
āji śubha divasete, mama kṛpāśiṣa sāthe
avatīrṇe hao dharanīte
śrī kamalā-dhani tathā, tava gaura-sevā-kathā
pracārila bhaviṣya-vāṇīte
On this auspicious day you must advent on the earth along with my blessings and spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness in every town and village of the world. My very dear Śrī Kamalā (another name of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura) has already announced your coming and she has also predicted your devotional service unto My Lord Gaurāṅga.
VERSE 5
iṣṭa-devī-pade-nami, tabe he śrī kṛṣṇa-premi
e dharāra kroḍa dhanya-kare
avatīrṇa haile nāmi, śuddha-bhakata-vaiṣṇava
śrī gaura-mohana-parivāre
That unalloyed servant of Śrī Kṛṣṇa (later to be known as A.C. Bhaktivedānta Svāmī Prabhupāda), whose heart was filled with the most inconceivable love of Godhead, paying obeisances and offering countless prayers at the lotus feet of the Supremely Worshipable Goddess of Fortune then appeared on the Earth in a renowned devotee family, headed by the pure Vaiṣṇava, Śrī Gaura-mohana.
VERSE 6 & 7
nija putra tare tini, parama kalyāṇa māni
prārthanā karilā sneha bhare
he vaiṣṇava sādhu-gaṇa, kara kṛpā anukṣana
mora prāṇa ei putra-pare
mama putra e abhaya, yena rādhā-dāsa haya
nitya-kāla seve rādhā-dhana
parama gaurava-bhaṅge, kīrtana karuka raṅge
tāṅra guṇa bhariyā bhuvana
Invoking the blessings of the Vaiṣṇava sādhus upon his son, Gaura-mohana prayed to all of them with great sincerity, “O sādhus, O Vaiṣṇavas, please bestow your blessings upon this dear son of mine, who is my life and soul, so that he can become the servant of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī eternally serving Her, the Supreme wealth of life. Please bless him so that he can preach and sing Her qualities and glories in a most grand way, inundating the whole world.”
VERSE 8
pare eka śubha-kāle, tvadīyā karuṇā bale
mililā śrī gurudeva-sāthe
śrī viṣṇu-kiraṇa-dyuti, su-divya karuṇā-mūrti-
rūpa tini herilā tāṅhāte
Afterwards, at an auspicious moment arranged by the grace of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī Śrīla Prabhupāda met his spiritual master (Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura). He saw the divine grace of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī in his Gurudeva and understood him to be an effulgent ray of Viṣṇu, His Divine Grace personified.
VERSE 9
bhaya-hīna pracāraka, bhakti-sadācara dakṣa
prabhu-vara se dayitā dāsa
nija dṛdha citta-mate, nāma dilā sva-śiṣyete
īśa-abhaya-caraṇa dāsa
That great divine master Śrī Varṣabhānavi Devī Dayitā Dāsa (another name of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, meaning the servant of the lover of Śrī Rādhā) who is expert at practicing pure devotional principles and who is a fearless preacher of the divine message of Godhead now conferred upon Śrīla Prabhupāda the name Abhaya Caraṇāravinda according to his own firm self-confident character. The meaning of that name is that he is the servitor of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead that are the abode of all fearlessness and hopes for the pure devotees.
VERSE 10
rādhā-kuṇḍa taṭāṅgane, ati antaraṅga sthāne
ela tāṅra sāndra premāveśa
gāḍha anurāga-mane, sarva-ātma nivedane
māthe tule-nilā gurvādeśa
In the most intimate place of the mādhurya pastimes, namely Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa, Śrīla Prabhupāda experienced the full ecstasy of kṛṣṇa-prema. Wholeheartedly surrendering unto Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura with intense love Śrīla Prabhupāda received upon his head the most holy order of his Gurudeva, “If you ever get money print and distribute books.”
VERSE 11
rūpa-sarasvatī-śrota, guru icchā–ājñā-mata
premabhare kīrtana karite
pradarśila e jagata, sakala saubhāgya yata
āse gāḍha guru-niṣṭha hate
By singing and preaching with great loving devotion that sublime message of his Gurudeva, which is pure devotional knowledge of the Rūpa-Sarasvatī (Rūpānuga) stream, Śrīla Prabhupāda has shown to the world that all good fortune manifests from adherent devotional service unto the lotus feet of Śrī Guru.
VERSE 12 & 13
śrī śrī rādhā-dāmodare, śrī jīvera mandire
prabhu-datta nija kuṭīrete
āra rūpa-samādhite, vraja-rāga āveśete
bhajana karilā rasa-prīte
śuddha-bhakta-ratna-maṇi, rūpe nitya-kāla tini
sethāya rahena virājita
yethā rādhā-pada-sevā, dhari rasa-mūrti-śobhā
nirantara hana prasphuṭita
In the temple of Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī, namely Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Dāmodara Mandira and Śrī Rupa’s samādhi, in his rooms given by his divine masters, Śrīla Prabhupāda performed his bhajana in the loving devotional mood of the vraja-gopīs.
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives eternally in his place of bhajana as the precious gem among the pure devotees where the loving devotional service of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī constantly blooms personifying the beauty of divine ecstatic mellows.
VERSE 14, 15 & 16
parama suhṛda haye, gaura-prema-vāṇī laye
pāścātya-deśete āilā yabe
‘bhāi’ bali śrī kṛṣṇere, sambodhiyā samādare
prārthanā karila ei tabe
bhāi! tava puṇya habe , rādhārāṇī khuśī habe
dhruva ati bali tomā tāi
labhive se bhāgya āru, yadi tumi khuśī kara
bhāgya-devī-rūpa śrī rādhāi
śrī siddhānta sarasvatī, rūpa dhari se śrīmatī
more ājñā dilā pracārite
sei icchā pūrṇa kara, āmāra vacana dhara
tabe pāri tāṅhāre sevite
Leaving behind the sacred land of Vṛndāvana and taking a great risk in his old age, Śrīla Prabhupāda came to the western world as our Ever Well Wisher carrying with him the message of gaura-prema, love of Lord Gaurāṅga. Upon his arrival he earnestly prayed to Lord Kṛṣṇa addressing Him as ‘bhāi’ (O Brother) in an intense loving way.
“O dear brother, my dear and intimate friend! I tell You this in a most definite way. You can achieve some invaluable merits by pleasing Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. You (Lord Kṛṣṇa) can really attain even more fortune if You can now please Her, the Supreme Goddess of all good fortunes.
Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī Herself in the form of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura ordered me to preach Her message. Therefore, please take my word and advice and fulfill Her desire; then only can I attain success and serve my guru fully
VERSE 17 & 18
atula saubhāgya-khani, tāṅra ei divya-vāṇī
śrī nāma śrī śacī-putrāśraye
śrī svarūpa sanātana, rūpa-prabhu guru-gaṇa
sabe mahā-kṛpānvita haye
āmā-bhakta sabākāre, dena praveśādhikare
śrī rādhā-sevikā-gaṇāṅgane
vṛndāvana-govardhane, kabhu rādhā-kuṇḍa-pāne
parama abhīṣṭa-siddhi dāne
The mine of incomparable good fortune is the message of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedānta Svāmī Prabhupāda – “If someone takes shelter of kṛṣṇa-nāma, and Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the son of mother Śacī, along with His dear associates, Śrī Svarūpa-dāmodara, Sanātana Gosvāmī, and Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī – they being greatly pleased with such a person bestow upon him entrance into the embrace of the dear associate servitors of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī at Govardhana, Vṛndāvana, and sometimes at Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa – blessing them with the supreme fulfillment of the ultimate goal of kṛṣṇa-prema.
VERSE 19
śrī rādhikā priyaṅkarī, śrī kārttikī-māsa bari
giri-rāja hṛdayete smari
tiṅho aprakaṭa hailā, nitya-līlā praveśilā
rāje yetā rādhā-saṅge hari
Completing his missionary activities in the western world Śrīla Prabhupāda returned to Vṛndāvana. Accepting the month of Kārttika, which is non-different from Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, bearing Girirāja-Govardhana in mind and embracing the lotus feet of his most worshipful Lord in the core of his heart, Śrīla Prabhupāda made his disappearance from this world and entered the nitya-līlā, the eternal loving pastimes of Goloka where Lord Govinda is always effulgently present with His dearmost Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.
VERSE 20
ei panthā pradarśane, śikṣā dilā āmāgaṇe
kon vastu-siddhi lakṣya haiya
kari vāsa govardhane, dainya ātma-nivedane
labha śrī rādhikā-gaṇāśraya
By showing us his disappearance from this world in the month of Kārttika and by revealing his desire to go to Govardhana Hill, Śrīla Prabhupāda has thus shown us the path which leads to the fulfillment of the ultimate aim and object of life, that is to obtain supreme shelter in the camp of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s associate-servants with humble self surrender, residing always at Śrī Govardhana.
VERSE 21
kabe tāra aprākṛta, bhāva-guṇa-vibhūṣita
jīvana-caritra-madhurimā
satya kari e vāstave, āmāri sampada habe
e jīvane dāni sukha sīmā
When will that day be mine, in some distant lifetime, when the beauty of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s transcendental life, possessed by the qualities of pure love for Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa actually become my only wealth giving me a taste of the highest happiness? O when will that day be mine?
VERSE 22 & 23
sakala hṛdaya diye, sutivra ākāṅkhā laiye
sei āse rahi mui hīna
kabe sei bhāgya habe, e jīvana dhanya habe
kabe morāsibe se dina
prāṇa-bari prati-sthāne, tāṅri kṛpā–śaktyadhāne
labhi eka-niṣṭha tanu-mana
e dina sevaka tāṇra, guṇa-gāṅthā-sambhāra
kari yabe satata kīrtana
Let us always pray to remain the humble and obedient servants of Śrīla Prabhupāda. With a burning heart, filled with an intense longing for his association, this poor and lowly insignificant beggar humbly prays for that fortunate day when the life of his servant will be empowered by His Divine Grace with firm determination so that I may with one pointedness, not caring for anything else, constantly sing with my body and mind the sweetest glories of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s unlimited transcendental qualities and pastimes.