ãrÈ GaurÄËga-stava-kalpa-vÅkßa
“The Desire Tree of Prayers to Lord GaurÄËga”
by ãrÈla RaghunÄtha dÄsa GosvÄmÈ
Translated by ãrÈla PrabhupÄda and KuÃakratha dÄsa
(Note: Translations followed by an asterisk are ãrÈla PrabhupÄda’s.)
TEXT 1
gatiÞ dÅ߯vÄ yasya pramada-gaja-varye ’khila-janÄ
mukhaÞ ca ÃrÈ-candropari dadhati thÝtkÄra-nivaham
sva-kÄntyÄ yaÛ svarÊÄcalam adharayac chÈdhu ca vacas-
taraËgair gaurÄËgo hÅdaya udayan mÄÞ madayati
gatiÞ—gait; dÅ߯vÄ—seeing; yasya—of whom; pramada—in rut; gaja—elephant; varye—the best, or most graceful; akhila-janÄ—everyone; mukhaÞ—face; ca—also; ÃrÈ-candra-upari—the moon above; dadhati—places; thÝtkÄra-nivaham—spitting profusely; sva-kÄntyÄ—His splendid complexion; yaÛ—of Him; svarÊa-acalam—a golden mountain; adharayat—lips; ÃÈdhu—nectar; ca—and; vacaÛ—of words; taraËgaiÛ—with waves; gaurÄËgaÛ—Lord Caitanya; hÅdaye—in the heart; udayan—rising; mÄÞ—me; madayati—maddens.
Whoever sees His gait and beautiful face enthusiastically spits on the grace of the most graceful elephant in rut and on the beauty of the moon. His complexion makes Him resemble a splendid golden mountain, and His words come from His lips like waves of nectar. That golden-limbed ãrÈ Caitanya MahÄprabhu rises within my heart and maddens me.
TEXT 2
alaËkÅtyÄtmÄnÄÞ nava-vividha-ratnair iva valad-
vivarÊatva-stambhÄsphuÆa-vacana-kampÄÃru-pulakaiÛ
hasan svidyan nÅtyan Ãiti-giri-pater nirbhara-mude
puraÛ ÃrÈ-gaurÄËgo hÅdaya udayan mÄÞ madayati
alaËkÅti—decorating; ÄtmÄnÄÞ—Himself; nava-vividha-ratnaiÛ—with nine jewels; iva—like; valad-vivarÊatva—paleness; stambha—being stunned; asphuÆa-vacana—stuttering; kampÄ—trembling; aÃru—shedding tears; pulakaiÛ—bodily hairs standing up; hasan—laughing; svidyan—perspiring; nÅtyan—dancing; Ãiti-giri-pateÛ—of Lord JagannÄtha (the master of the dark mountian); nirbhara—great; mude—for the pleasure; puraÛ—in front of; ÃrÈ-gaurÄËgaÛ—Lord Caitanya; hÅdaye—in the heart; udayan—rising; mÄÞ—me; madayati—maddens.
As He danced before the Ratha-yÄtrÄ chariot, Caitanya MahÄprabhu pleased Lord JagannÄtha by decorating Himself with the nine jewels of the sÄttvika-bhÄva ecstasies, namely paleness, becoming stunned, stuttering, trembling, shedding tears, horripilation, laughing, perspiring, and dancing. That golden-limbed ãrÈ Caitanya MahÄprabhu rises within my heart and maddens me.
TEXT 3
rasollÄsais tiryag-gatibhir abhito vÄribhir alaÞ
dÅÃoÛ siÎcal lokÄn aruÊa-jala-yantratva-mitayoÛ
mudÄ dantair da߯vÄ madhuram adharaÞ kampa-calitair
naÆan ÃrÈ-gaurÄËgo hÅdaya udayan mÄÞ madayati
rasa—of the mellows of ecstatic love of KÅßÊa; ullÄsaiÛ—with the jubilation; tiryak—tilted; gatibhiÛ—gait (i.e., staggering); abhitaÛ—everywhere; vÄribhiÛ—with water; alaÞ—greatly; dÅÃoÛ—of eyes; siÎcan—sprinkling; lokÄn—the people; aruÊa—red; jala—water; yantratva-mitayoÛ—like an instrument; mudÄ—happily; dantaiÛ—teeth; da߯vÄ—biting; madhuram—sweetly beautiful; adharaÞ—lips; kampa-calitaiÛ—with trembling; naÆan—dancing; ÃrÈ-gaurÄËgaÛ—Lord Caitanya; hÅdaye—in the heart; udayan—rising; mÄÞ—me; madayati—maddens.
trembling as He danced before Lord JagannÄtha’s chariot, Lord Caitanya staggered about in ecstasy, sprinkling everyone with water from the reddish syringes of His eyes and joyfully biting His charming lips with His teeth. That golden-limbed ãrÈ Caitanya MahÄprabhu rises within my heart and maddens me.
TEXT 4
kvacin miÃrÄvÄse vraja-pati-sutasyoru-virahÄt
ÃlathÄc chrÈ-sandhitvÄd dadhad adhika-dairghyaÞ bhuja-padoÛ
luÆhan bhÝmau kÄkvÄ vikala-vikalaÞ gadgada-vacÄ
rudan ÃrÈ-gaurÄËgo hÅdaya udayan mÄÞ madayati
kvacin—sometimes; miÃrÄvÄse—in the house of KÄÃÈ MiÃra; vraja-pati-sutasya—of the son of Nanda MahÄrÄja; uru-virahÄt—because of strong feelings of separation; ÃlathÄt—being slackened; ÃrÈ-sandhitvÄt—from the joints of His transcendental body; dadhat—obtaining; adhika-dairghyaÞ—extraordinary longness; bhuja-padoÛ—of the arms and legs; luÆhan—rolling; bhÝmau—on the ground; kÄkvÄ—with a cry of lamentation; vikala-vikalaÞ—very sorrowfully; gadgada-vacÄ—with a faltering voice; rudan—crying; ÃrÈ-gaurÄËgaÛ—Lord Caitanya; hÅdaye—in the heart; udayan—rising; mÄÞ—me; madayati—maddens.
Sometimes ãri Caitanya MahÄprabhu would go to the house of KÄÃÈ MiÃra. There He would be greatly aggrieved, feeling separation from KÅßÊa. The joints of His transcendental body would slacken, and His arms and legs would become elongated. Rolling on the ground, the Lord would cry out in distress in a faltering voice and weep very sorrowfully. The appearance of ãrÈ Caitanya MahÄprabhu, awakening in my heart, maddens me.*
TEXT 5
anudghÄÆya dvÄra-trayam uru ca bhitti-trayam aho
vilaËghyoccaiÛ kÄliËgika-surabhi-madhye nipatitaÛ
tanÝdyat-saËkocÄt kamaÆha iva kÅßÊoru-virahÄd
virÄjan gaurÄËgo hÅdaya udayan mÄÞ madayati
anudghÄÆya—without opening; dvÄra-trayam—the three doors; uru—strong; ca—and; bhitti-trayam—three walls; ahaÛ—how wonderful; vilaËghya—crossing over; uccaiÛ—very high; kÄliËgika—of KÄliËga-deÃa, which is a district of TailaËga; surabhi-madhye—among the cows; nipatitaÛ—fallen down; tanÝdyat-saËkocÄt—by contracting within the body; kamaÆha—a tortoise; iva—like; kÅßÊa-uru-virahÄt—because of strong feelings of separation from KÅßÊa; virÄjan—appearing; gaurÄËgaÛ—Lord Caitanya; hÅdaye—in the heart; udayan—rising; mÄÞ—me; madayati—maddens.
How wonderful it is! ãrÈ Caitanya MahÄprabhu left His residence without opening the three strongly bolted doors. Then He crossed over three high walls, and later, because of strong feelings of separation from KÅßÊa, He fell down amidst the cows of the TailaËga district and retracted all the limbs of His body like a tortoise. ãrÈ Caitanya MahÄprabhu, who appeared in that way, rises in my heart and maddens me. *
TEXT 6
svakÈyasya prÄÊÄrbuda-sadÅÃa-go߯hasya virahÄt
pralÄpaÊ unmÄdÄt satatam ati kurvan vikala-dhÈÛ
dadhad bhittau ÃaÃvad vadana-vidhu-gharßeÊa rudhiraÞ
kßatotthaÞ gaurÄËgo hÅdaya udayan mÄÞ madayati
svakÈyasya—His own; prÄÊÄrbuda—uncountable breaths of life; sadÅÃa—like; go߯hasya—of VÅndÄvana; virahÄt—because of separation; pralÄpaÊ—crazy talks; unmÄdÄt—because of madness; satatam—always; ati—very much; kurvan—doing; vikala-dhÈÛ—whose intelligence was distrubed; dadhat—oozing forth; bhittau—on the walls; ÃaÃvat—always; vadana-vidhu—of His moonlike face; gharßeÊa—by rubbing; rudhiraÞ—blood; kßatotthaÞ—coming forth from injuries; gaurÄËgaÛ—Lord Caitanya; hÅdaye—in the heart; udayan—rising; mÄÞ—me; madayati—maddens.
Because of separation from His many friends in VÅndÄvana, who were like His own life, ãrÈ Caitanya MahÄprabhu spoke like a madman. His intelligence was transformed. Day and night He rubbed His moonlike face against the walls, and blood flowed from the injuries. May that ãrÈ Caitanya MahÄprabhu rise in my heart and make me mad with love.*
TEXT 7
kva me kÄntaÛ kÅßÊas tvaritam iha taÞ lokaya sakhe
tvam eveti dvÄrÄdhipam abhivadann unmada iva
drutaÞ gaccha dra߯uÞ priyam iti tad-uktena dhÅta-tad-
bhujÄntar gaurÄËgo hÅdaya udayan mÄÞ madayati
kva—where; me—my; kÄntaÛ—beloved; kÅßÊaÛ—Lord KÅßÊa; tvaritam—quickly; iha—here; taÞ—Him; lokaya—show; sakhe—O friend; tvam—you; eva—certainly; iti—thus; dvÄrÄdhipam—the doorkeeper; abhivadan—requesting; unmada—a madman; iva—like; drutaÞ—very quickly; gaccha—come; dra߯uÞ—to see; priyam—beloved; iti—thus; tat—of him; uktena—with the words; dhÅta—caught; tat—His; bhujÄntar—hand, i.e., the end of the arm; gaurÄËgaÛ—Lord Caitanya; hÅdaye—in the heart; udayan—rising; mÄÞ—me; madayati—maddens.
“My dear friend the doorkeeper, where is KÅßÊa, the Lord of My heart? Kindly show Him to Me quickly.” With these words Lord ãri Caitanya MahÄprabhu addressed the doorkeeper like a madman. The doorkeeper grasped His hand and replied very hastily, “Come, see Your beloved!” May that Lord ãrÈ Caitanya MahÄprabhu rise within my heart and thus make me mad also.*
TEXT 8
samÈpe nÈlÄdreà caÆaka-giri-rÄjasya kalanÄd
aye go߯he govardhana-giri-patiÞ lokitum itaÛ
vrajann asmÈty uktvÄ pramada iva dhÄvann avadhÅto
gaÊaiÛ svair gaurÄËgo hÅdaya udayan mÄÞ madayati
samÈpe—near; nÈlÄdreÛ—Jagannatha Puri; caÆaka—named CaÆaka; giri-rÄjasya—the king of sand dunes; kalanÄt—on account of seeing; aye—oh; go߯he—to the place of pasturing cows; govardhana-giri-patiÞ—Govardhana, the king of hills; lokitum—to see; itaÛ—from here; vrajan—going; asmi—I am; iti—thus; uktvÄ—saying; pramadaÛ—maddened; iva—as if; dhÄvan—running; avadhÅtaÛ—being followed; gaÊaiÛ—by the devotees; svaiÛ—His own; gaurÄËgaÛ—Lord Caitanya; hÅdaye—in the heart; udayan—rising; mÄÞ—me; madayati—maddens.
Near JagannÄtha PurÈ was a great sand dune known as CaÆaka-parvata. Seeing that hill, ãrÈ Caitanya MahÄprabhu said, “Oh, I shall go to the land of Vraja to see Govardhana Hill.” Then He began running madly to it, and all the VaißÊavas ran after Him. This scene awakens in my heart and maddens me.*
TEXT 9
alaÞ dolÄ-khelÄ-mahasi vara-tan-maÊÐapa-tale
svarÝpeÊa svenÄpara-nija-gaÊenÄpi militaÛ
svayaÞ kurvan nÄmnÄm ati-madhura-gÄnaÞ murabhidaÛ
sa-raËgo gaurÄËgo hÅdaya udayan mÄÞ madayati
alaÞ—greatly; dolÄ-khelÄ-mahasi—in the swing festival; vara-tan-maÊÐapa-tale—under a beautifully constructed pavilion; svarÝpeÊa—with SvarÝpa DÄmodara; svena—own; apara-nija-gaÊena—with other devotees of His; api—and; militaÛ—met; svayaÞ—personally; kurvan—doing; nÄmnÄm—of names; ati-madhura-gÄnam—very sweet singing; murabhidaÛ—of Lord KÅßÊa, The enemy of Mura; sa-raËgaÛ—with joy; gaurÄËgaÛ—Lord Caitanya; hÅdaye—in the heart; udayan—rising; mÄÞ—me; madayati—maddens.
During Dola-yÄtrÄ, the swing festival of ãrÈ ãrÈ RÄdhÄ and KÅßÊa, Lord Caitanya stayed under a charming pavilion and sweetly and jubilantly sang the holy names in the company of SvarÝpa DÄmodara and His other intimate devotees. That golden-limbed ãrÈ Caitanya MahÄprabhu rises within my heart and maddens me.
TEXT 10
dayaÞ yo govinde garuÐa iva lakßmÈ-patir alaÞ
purÈ-deve bhaktiÞ ya iva guru-varye yaduvaraÛ
svarÝpe yaÛ snehaÞ giridhara iva ÃrÈla-subale
vidhatte gaurÄËgo hÅdaya udayan mÄÞ madayati
dayaÞ—mercy; yaÛ—who; govinde—to Govinda dÄsa; garuÐe—to Garuda; iva—as; lakßmÈ-patiÛ—the Lord of the goddess of fortune; alaÞ—greatly; purÈ-deve—to õÃvara PurÈ; bhaktiÞ—devotion; yaÛ—who; iva—as; guru-varye—great spiritual master (SÄndÈpani Muni); yaduvaraÛ—the best of the Yadus (Lord KÅßÊa as a brahmacÄrÈ); svarÝpe—to SvarÝpa DÄmodara; yaÛ—who; snehaÞ—love; giridhara—Lord GiridhÄrÈ; iva—as; ÃrÈla-subale—to Subala; vidhatte—places; gaurÄËgaÛ—Lord Caitanya; hÅdaye—in the heart; udayan—rising; mÄÞ—me; madayati—maddens.
Lord Caitanya was as kind to Govinda dÄsa as Lord NÄrÄyaÊa is to GaruÐa. He was as devoted to èÃvara PurÈ as Lord KÅßÊa was to His guru, SÄndÈpani Muni, the best of ÄcÄryas. And He was as affectionate toward SvarÝpa DÄmodara GosvÄmÈ as Lord GiridhÄrÈ was toward Subala. That golden-limbed ãrÈ Caitanya MahÄprabhu rises within my heart and maddens me.
TEXT 11
mahÄ-sampad-dÄvÄd api patitam uddhÅtya kÅpayÄ
svarÝpe yaÛ svÈye kujanam api mÄÞ nyasya muditaÛ
uro-guÎjÄ-hÄraÞ priyam api ca govardhana-ÃilaÞ
dadau me gaurÄËgo hÅdaya udayan mÄÞ madayati
mahÄ-sampat—of profuse material opulence; dÄvÄt—from the forest ÷re; api—although; patitam—fallen; uddhÅtya—delivering; kÅpayÄ—by mercy; svarÝpe—unto SvarÝpa DÄmodara GosvÄmÈ; yaÛ—He who (Lord ãrÈ Caitanya MahÄprabhu); svÈye—His personal associate; kujanam—low person; api—although; mÄÞ—me; nyasya—having delivered; muditaÛ—pleased; uraÛ—of the chest; guÎjÄ-hÄraÞ—garland of guÎjÄ; priyam—dear; api—although; ca—and; govardhana-ÃilaÞ—a stone from Govardhana Hill; dadau—delivered; me—to me; gaurÄËgaÛ—Lord Caitanya; hÅdaye—in the heart; udayan—rising; mÄÞ—me; madayati—maddens.
Although I am a fallen soul, the lowest of men, ãrÈ Caitanya MahÄprabhu delivered me from the blazing forest fire of great material opulence by His mercy. He handed me over in great pleasure to SvarÝpa DÄmodara, His personal associate. The Lord also gave me the garland of guÎjÄ that He wore on His chest and a stone from Govardhana Hill, although they were very dear to Him. That same Lord ãrÈ Caitanya MahÄprabhu awakens within my heart and makes me mad after Him.*
TEXT 12
iti ÃrÈ-gaurÄËgodgata-vividha-sad-bhÄva-kusuma-
prabhÄ-bhrÄjat-padyÄvali-lalita-ÃÄkhaÞ sura-tarum
muhur yo ‘ti-Ãraddhaußadhi-vara-balat-pÄÆha-salilair
alaÞ siÎced vindet sarasa-guru-tal-lokana-phalam
iti—thus; ÃrÈ-gaurÄËga—Lord Caitanya MahÄprabhu; udgata—manifested; vividha—various; sad-bhÄva—of ecstatic love; kusuma—flowers; prabhÄ—splender; bhrÄjat—shining; padyÄvali—verses; lalita—charming; ÃÄkhaÞ—branch; sura-tarum—desire tree; muhuÛ—constantly; yaÛ—who; ati-Ãraddha—of great faith; außadhi-vara—of the great plant food; balat—from the power; pÄÆha—of recitation; salilaiÛ—with the water; alaÞ—greatly; siÎcet—waters; vindet—will ÷nd; sarasa—sweet; guru—heavy; tat—of Him; lokana—the sight; phalam—the fruit.
This poem is like a celestial desire tree whose charming branches are its verses. Those branches appear very splendid because of the blossoming flowers of variegated expressions of ecstatic love for Lord GaurÄËga that grow there. If a person regularly waters this tree with lots of the water of careful and pure reading mixed with the powerful plant food of great faith, he will certainly be able to taste that tree’s heavy, nectarean fruit—the personal audience of Lord GaurÄËga.