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Srimad Bhaktivinoda-viraha Dasakam
Prayer in Separation of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
By Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Maharaj
This prayer to Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura (1838-1914), the pioneer of pure
devotion in the recent age, was composed within the lifetime of Srila Bhakti
Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura Goswami Prabhupada. Prabhupada Srila Saraswati
Thakur, upon reading the original Sanskrit verse of this poem by Srila Sridhar
Dev Goswami Maharaj, commented, "Now I am confident that we have one man who is
qualified to uphold the standard of our Sampradaya.
1 ha ha bhaktivinoda-thakura! guroh! dvavimsatis te sama
dirghad-duhkha-bharad-asesa-virahad-duhsthikrta bhuriyam
jivanam bahu-janma-punya-nivahakrsto mahi-mandale
avirbhava-krpam cakara ca bhavan sri-gaura-saktih svayam
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.
2 dino 'ham cira-duskrtir na hi bhavat-padabja-dhuli-kana-
snanananda-nidhim prapanna-subhadam labdhum samartho 'bhavam
kintv audarya-gunat-tavati-yasasah karunya-saktih svayam
sri-sri-gaura-mahaprabhoh prakatita visvam samanvagrahit
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 supereminence as the personification of the mercy potency of Sri Gauranga. (That is, by
coming into this world, I received his grace.)
3 he deva! stavane tavakhila-gunanam te virincadayo
deva vyartha-mano-rathah kim u vayam martyadhamah kurmahe
etan no vibudhaih kadapy atisayalankara ity ucyatam
sastresv eva "na paraye 'ham" iti yad gatam mukundena tat
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 eulogizing this
statement, since even the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krsna Himself, has sung in the
Scriptures His celebrated confession "na paraye 'ham" - "I am unable (to reciprocate your devotion)."
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4 dharmas-carma-gato 'jnataiva satata yogas ca bhogatmako
jnane sunya-gatir japena tapasa khyatir jighamsaiva ca
dane dambhikata 'nuraga-bhajane dustapacaro yada
buddhim buddhi-matam vibheda hi tada dhatra bhavan presitah
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.
5 visve 'smin kiranair yatha hima-karah sanjivayann osadhir
naksatrani ca ranjayan nija-sudham vistarayan rajate
sac-chastrani ca tosayan budha-ganam sammodayams te tatha
nunam bhumi-tale subhodaya iti hlado bahuh satvatam
As the universally cooling moon is beautified by diffusing its nectarean 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.
6 lokanam hita-kamyaya bhagavato bhakti-pracaras tvaya
granthanam racanaih satam abhimatair nana-vidhair darsitah
acaryaih krta-purvam eva kila tad ramanujadyair budhaih
premambho-nidhi-vigrahasya bhavato mahatmya-sima na tat
By writing many books and by multifarious methods recognized 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 Acaryas; but the glory of you - the very embodiment of the nectar of divine
love - does not end (cannot be confined) here.
7 yad dhamnah khalu dhama caiva nigame brahmeti samjnayate
yasyamsasya kalaiva duhkha-nikarair yogesvarair mrgyate
vaikunthe para-mukta-bhrnga-carano narayano yah svayam
tasyamsi bhagavan svayam rasa-vapuh krsno bhavan tat pradah
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 Krsna - and He is the one that you give.
8 sarvacintyamaye paratpara-pure goloka-vrndavane
cil-lila-rasa-rangini parivrta sa radhika sri-hareh
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vatsalyadi-rasais ca sevita-tanor-madhurya-seva-sukham
nityam yatra muda tanoti hi bhavan tad dhama-seva-pradah
Situated in the topmost region of the absolutely inconceivable spiritual sky is the holy abode of
Sri Vrndavana 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 Krsnacandra, who is otherwise served in four relationships up to
parenthood. You, O Thakura Bhaktivinoda, can give us the service of that holy Dhama.
9 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
The internal purport is known to Sri Svarupa Damodara by the sanction of Sri Gauracandra, of
that which is adored by Sri Sanatana Goswami and distributed by the preceptors realized 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.
10 kvaham manda-matis tv ativa-patitah kva tvam jagat-pavanah
bho svamin krpayaparadha-nicayo nunam tvaya ksamyatam
yace 'ham karuna-nidhe! varam imam padabja-mule bhavat-
sarvasvavadhi-radhika-dayita-dasanam gane ganyatam
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 offenses. 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.
