Verse 1
ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṃचेतोदर्पणमार्जनंbhava-mahā dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaṃभवमहा दावाग्निनिर्वापणंśreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaṃश्रेयःकैरवचन्द्रिकावितरणंvidyā-vadhū-jīvanamविद्यावधूजीवनम्ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaṃआनन्दाम्बुधिवर्धनंprati-padaṃ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaṃप्रतिपदं पूर्णामृतास्वादनंsarvātma-snapanaṃ paraṃ vijayateसर्वात्मस्नपनं परं विजयतेśrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanamश्रीकृष्णसङ्कीर्तनम्
Word for word
cetaḥ—of the heart; darpaṇa—the mirror; mārjanam—cleansing; bhava—of material existence; mahā-dāva-agni—the blazing forest fire; nirvāpaṇam—extinguishing; śreyaḥ—of good fortune; kairava—the white lotus; candrikā—the moonshine; vitaraṇam—spreading; vidyā—of all education; vadhū—wife; jīvanam—the life; ānanda—of bliss; ambudhi—the ocean; vardhanam—increasing; prati-padam—at every step; pūrṇa-amṛta—of the full nectar; asvādanam—giving a taste; sarva—for everyone; ātma-snapanam—bathing of the self; param—transcendental; vijayate—let there be victory; śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam—for the congregational chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.चेतः—of the heart; दर्पण—the mirror; मार्जनम्—cleansing; भव—of material existence; महादावअग्नि—the blazing forest fire; निर्वापणम्—extinguishing; श्रेयः—of good fortune; कैरव—the white lotus; चन्द्रिका—the moonshine; वितरणम्—spreading; विद्या—of all education; वधू—wife; जीवनम्—the life; आनन्द—of bliss; अम्बुधि—the ocean; वर्धनम्—increasing; प्रतिपदम्—at every step; पूर्णअमृत—of the full nectar; अस्वादनम्—giving a taste; सर्व—for everyone; आत्मस्नपनम्—bathing of the self; परम्—transcendental; विजयते—let there be victory; श्रीकृष्णसङ्कीर्तनम्—for the congregational chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.
Glory to the śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years together and thus extinguishes the blazing fire of conditioned life, of repeated birth and death. This saṅkīrtana movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge, it increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious.
Verse 2
nāmnām akāri bahudhā nija-sarva-śaktisनाम्नाम् अकारि बहुधा निजसर्वशक्तिस्tatrārpitā niyamitaḥ smaraṇe na kālaḥतत्रार्पिता नियमितः स्मरणे न कालःetādṛśī tava kṛpā bhagavan mamāpiएतादृशी तव कृपा भगवन् ममापिdurdaivam īdṛśam ihājani nānurāgaḥदुर्दैवम् ईदृशम् इहाजनि नानुरागः
Word for word
nāmnām—of the holy names of the Lord; akāri—manifested; bahudhā—various kinds; nija-sarva-śaktiḥ—all kinds of personal potencies; tatra—in that; arpitā—bestowed; niyamitaḥ—restricted; smaraṇe—in remembering; na—not; kālaḥ—consideration of time; etādṛśī—so much; tava—Your; kṛpā—mercy; bhagavan—O Lord; mama—My; api—although; durdaivam—misfortune; īdṛśam—such; iha—in this (the holy name); ajani—was born; na—not; anurāgaḥ—attachment.नाम्नाम्—of the holy names of the Lord; अकारि—manifested; बहुधा—various kinds; निजसर्वशक्तिः—all kinds of personal potencies; तत्र—in that; अर्पिता—bestowed; नियमितः—restricted; स्मरणे—in remembering; न—not; कालः—consideration of time; एतादृशी—so much; तव—Your; कृपा—mercy; भगवन्—O Lord; मम—My; अपि—although; दुर्दैवम्—misfortune; ईदृशम्—such; इह—in this (the holy name); अजनि—was born; न—not; अनुरागः—attachment.
O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction to living beings, and thus You have hundreds and millions of transcendental names, such as Kṛṣṇa and Govinda, in which You have invested all Your transcendental energies. There are no hard and fast rules for chanting these names. O My Lord, out of kindness You enable us to easily approach You by Your holy names, but I am so unfortunate that I have no attraction for them.
Verse 3
tṛṇād api sunīcenaतृणाद् अपि सुनीचेनtaror api sahiṣṇunāतरोर् अपि सहिष्णुनाamāninā mānadenaअमानिना मानदेनkīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥकीर्तनीयः सदा हरिः
Word for word
tṛṇāt api—than downtrodden grass; sunīcena—being lower; taroḥ—than a tree; iva—like; sahiṣṇunā—with tolerance; amāninā—without being puffed up by false pride; mānadena—giving respect to all; kīrtanīyaḥ—to be chanted; sadā—always; hariḥ—the holy name of the Lord.तृणात् अपि—than downtrodden grass; सुनीचेन—being lower; तरोः—than a tree; इव—like; सहिष्णुना—with tolerance; अमानिना—without being puffed up by false pride; मानदेन—giving respect to all; कीर्तनीयः—to be chanted; सदा—always; हरिः—the holy name of the Lord.
One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and should be ready to offer all respects to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.
Verse 4
na dhanaṃ na janaṃ na sundarīṃन धनं न जनं न सुन्दरींkavitāṃ vā jagad-īśa kāmayeकवितां वा जगदीश कामयेmama janmani janmanīśvareमम जन्मनि जन्मनीश्वरेbhavatād bhaktir ahaitukī tvayiभवताद् भक्तिर् अहैतुकी त्वयि
Word for word
na—not; dhanam—riches; na—not; janam—followers; na—not; sundarīm—a very beautiful woman; kavitām—fruitive activities described in flowery language; vā—or; jagat-īśa—O Lord of the universe; kāmaye—I desire; mama—My; janmani—in birth; janmani—after birth; īśvare—unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhavatāt—let there be; bhaktiḥ—devotional service; ahaitukī—with no motives; tvayi—unto You.न—not; धनम्—riches; न—not; जनम्—followers; न—not; सुन्दरीम्—a very beautiful woman; कविताम्—fruitive activities described in flowery language; वा—or; जगतीश—O Lord of the universe; कामये—I desire; मम—My; जन्मनि—in birth; जन्मनि—after birth; ईश्वरे—unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; भवतात्—let there be; भक्तिः—devotional service; अहैतुकी—with no motives; त्वयि—unto You.
O almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor do I desire beautiful women, nor do I want any number of followers. I only want Your causeless devotional service, birth after birth.
Verse 5
ayi nanda-tanuja kiṅkaraṃअयि नन्दतनुज किङ्करंpatitaṃ māṃ viṣame bhavāmbudhauपतितं मां विषमे भवाम्बुधौkṛpayā tava pāda-paṅkaja-कृपया तव पादपङ्कजsthita-dhūlī-sadṛśaṃ vicintayaस्थितधूलीसदृशं विचिन्तय
Word for word
ayi—O my Lord; nanda-tanuja—the son of Nanda Mahārāja, Kṛṣṇa; kiṅkaram—the servant; patitam—fallen; mām—me; viṣame—horrible; bhava- ambudhau—in the ocean of nescience; kṛpayā—by causeless mercy; tava—Your; pāda-paṅkaja—lotus feet; sthita—situated at; dhūlī-sadṛśam—like a particle of dust; vicintaya—kindly consider.अयि—O my Lord; नन्दतनुज—the son of Nanda Mahārāja, Kṛṣṇa; किङ्करम्—the servant; पतितम्—fallen; माम्—me; विषमे—horrible; भव अम्बुधौ—in the ocean of nescience; कृपया—by causeless mercy; तव—Your; पादपङ्कज—lotus feet; स्थित—situated at; धूलीसदृशम्—like a particle of dust; विचिन्तय—kindly consider.
O son of Mahārāja Nanda [Kṛṣṇa], I am Your eternal servitor, yet somehow or other I have fallen into this horrible ocean of birth and death. Please pick me up from this ocean of death and place me as one of the atoms at Your lotus feet.
Verse 6
nayanaṃ galad-aśru-dhārayāनयनं गलदश्रुधारयाvadanaṃ gadgada-ruddhayā girāवदनं गद्गदरुद्धया गिराpulakair nicitaṃ vapuḥ kadāपुलकैर् निचितं वपुः कदाtava nāma-grahaṇe bhaviṣyatiतव नामग्रहणे भविष्यति
Word for word
nayanam—the eyes; galat-aśru-dhārayā—by streams of tears running down; vadanam—mouth; gadgada—faltering; ruddhayā—choked up; girā—with words; pulakaiḥ—with standing up of the hairs due to transcendental happiness; nicitam—covered; vapuḥ—the body; kadā—when; tava—Your; nāma-grahaṇe—in chanting the name; bhaviṣyati—will be.नयनम्—the eyes; गलतश्रुधारया—by streams of tears running down; वदनम्—mouth; गद्गद—faltering; रुद्धया—choked up; गिरा—with words; पुलकैः—with standing up of the hairs due to transcendental happiness; निचितम्—covered; वपुः—the body; कदा—when; तव—Your; नामग्रहणे—in chanting the name; भविष्यति—will be.
O My Lord, when will my eyes be decorated with tears of love flowing constantly when I chant Your holy name? When will my voice choke up, and when will the hairs of my body stand on end at the recitation of Your name.
Verse 7
yugāyitaṃ nimeṣeṇaयुगायितं निमेषेणcakṣuṣā prāvṛṣāyitamचक्षुषा प्रावृषायितम्śūnyāyitaṃ jagat sarvaṃशून्यायितं जगत् सर्वंgovinda-viraheṇa meगोविन्दविरहेण मे
Word for word
yugāyitam—appearing like a great millennium; nimeṣeṇa—by a moment; cakṣuṣā—from the eyes; prāvṛṣāyitam—tears falling like torrents of rain; śūnyāyitam—appearing void; jagat—the world; sarvam—all; govinda—from Lord Govinda, Kṛṣṇa; viraheṇa me—by my separation.युगायितम्—appearing like a great millennium; निमेषेण—by a moment; चक्षुषा—from the eyes; प्रावृषायितम्—tears falling like torrents of rain; शून्यायितम्—appearing void; जगत्—the world; सर्वम्—all; गोविन्द—from Lord Govinda, Kṛṣṇa; विरहेण मे—by my separation.
O Govinda! Feeling Your separation, I am considering a moment to be like twelve years or more. Tears are flowing from my eyes like torrents of rain, and I am feeling all vacant in the world in Your absence.
Verse 8
āśliṣya vā pāda-ratāṃ pinaṣṭu māmआश्लिष्य वा पादरतां पिनष्टु माम्adarśanān marma-hatāṃ karotu vāअदर्शनान् मर्महतां करोतु वाyathā tathā vā vidadhātu lampaṭoयथा तथा वा विदधातु लम्पटोmat-prāṇa-nāthas tu sa eva nāparaḥमत्प्राणनाथस् तु स एव नापरः
Word for word
āśliṣya—embracing with great pleasure; vā—or; pāda-ratām—who have fallen at the lotus feet; pinaṣṭu—let Him trample; mām—me; adarśanāt—by not being visible; marma-hatām—brokenhearted; karotu—let Him make; vā—or; yathā—as (He likes); tathā—so; va—or; vidadhātu—let Him do; lampaṭaḥ—a debauchee, who mixes with other women; mat-prāṇa-nāthaḥ—the Lord of My life; tu—but; saḥ—He; eva—only; na aparaḥ—not anyone else.आश्लिष्य—embracing with great pleasure; वा—or; पादरताम्—who have fallen at the lotus feet; पिनष्टु—let Him trample; माम्—me; अदर्शनात्—by not being visible; मर्महताम्—brokenhearted; करोतु—let Him make; वा—or; यथा—as (He likes); तथा—so; व—or; विदधातु—let Him do; लम्पटः—a debauchee, who mixes with other women; मत्प्राणनाथः—the Lord of My life; तु—but; सः—He; एव—only; न अपरः—not anyone else.
I know no one but Kṛṣṇa as my Lord, and He shall remain so even if He handles me roughly by His embrace or makes me brokenhearted by not being present before me. He is completely free to do anything and everything, for He is always my worshipful Lord, unconditionally.
Translations
Verse 1
Glory to the śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years together and thus extinguishes the blazing fire of conditioned life, of repeated birth and death. This saṅkīrtana movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge, it increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious.
Verse 2
O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction to living beings, and thus You have hundreds and millions of transcendental names, such as Kṛṣṇa and Govinda, in which You have invested all Your transcendental energies. There are no hard and fast rules for chanting these names. O My Lord, out of kindness You enable us to easily approach You by Your holy names, but I am so unfortunate that I have no attraction for them.
Verse 3
One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and should be ready to offer all respects to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.
Verse 4
O almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor do I desire beautiful women, nor do I want any number of followers. I only want Your causeless devotional service, birth after birth.
Verse 5
O son of Mahārāja Nanda [Kṛṣṇa], I am Your eternal servitor, yet somehow or other I have fallen into this horrible ocean of birth and death. Please pick me up from this ocean of death and place me as one of the atoms at Your lotus feet.
Verse 6
O My Lord, when will my eyes be decorated with tears of love flowing constantly when I chant Your holy name? When will my voice choke up, and when will the hairs of my body stand on end at the recitation of Your name.
Verse 7
O Govinda! Feeling Your separation, I am considering a moment to be like twelve years or more. Tears are flowing from my eyes like torrents of rain, and I am feeling all vacant in the world in Your absence.
Verse 8
I know no one but Kṛṣṇa as my Lord, and He shall remain so even if He handles me roughly by His embrace or makes me brokenhearted by not being present before me. He is completely free to do anything and everything, for He is always my worshipful Lord, unconditionally.
The word-for-word meanings and translations are by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, from Songs of the Vaiṣṇava Ācāryas, © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc. (www.krishna.com).