Sri Bhagavata Astakam of Sri Rasikananda

sri-govinda-padaaravinda-madhupaananyaabhilaasojjhitaan

purna-prema-rasottsavojjvalamano-vrtti-prasannaananaan |

shashvat krsna-kathaa-mahaamrtapayoraashau mudaa khelato

vande bhaagavataan-imaan-anulavam murddhaa nipatya kshitau || 1

Who, bee-like, quaff the fragrant honey sweet

Distilled from Sri Govinda's lotus-feet;

They have forsaken all other desires,

To relish festive joy that love inspires;

Their faces pleasant expressions display;

Who relish the accounts of Krishna's play;

To the Lord’s devotees, with faith profound,

I bow, placing my head upon the ground. 1

paadaabjekrta satkrtaavapi caturvarge ghrnaam kurvato

drkpaate'pi gatavyathaan vrajapati-premaamrtaasvadakaan |

man-naanaa-atidustaram bhavamahaapaathonidhim gospadam

vande bhaagavataan-imaananulavam murddhnaa nipatya kshitau || 2

The four-fold aims the service seek to gain

Of the devotees feet, but with disdain,

They look on worldly pleasure as worthless,

And are thereby free from all sore distress;

They are by love of Vraja's Master graced,

And delectable ambrosia taste.

The impassable sea of miseries

They cross as o'er a calf's hoofprint with ease.

To the Lord's devotees, with faith profound,

I bow, placing my head upon the ground. 2

mrgyaam brahma-bhavaadibhir-vrajavadhu-naathaanghri kanjadvayim

svaatantyaat pranayoru-rajjubhir-aho badhhaa balaan-nirbharam |

svacchandam pibatastadaasavararasam prasyanamaanam mudaa

vande bhaagavataan-imanulavam murddhnaa nipatya ksitau ||3

Those lotus-feet of Vraja's darling Lord,

Exclusively by Vraja's dames adored,

Brahma, Bhava and others cannot gain,

Although the earnest search they still maintain;

And yet, ah me, due to their love refined,

The ropes of fond affection firmly bind,

And freely relish high beatitude,

And drink the honey wine of servitude.

To the Lord's devotees, with faith profound,

I bow, and place my head upon the ground. 3

visvesaam hrdayotsavaan svasukhadaan maayaamanusyaakrtim

krsnenaadhyavataritaan janasamudhaaraaya prthiveetale |

samsaaraabdhivahitrapaadakamalamstrailokabhaagyodayaan

vande bhaagavataanimaananulavam murdhnaa nipatya ksitau ||4

To all the world immense joy they impart,

And grant a festive pleasure to the heart;

They assume semblance of the human form,

And assist souls fallen low to reform;

As Krishna himself has it so ordained,

In order that their souls might be reclaimed,

Their lotus-feet upraise from misery,

Like a boat on this existential sea;

And thus with all blessing and fortune stored,

Beatitude to the three worlds afford.

To the Lord's devotees, with faith profound,

I bow, and place my head upon the ground. 4

aalokyaamrtadaanato bhavamahaabandham nrnaam chindatah

sparshaat paadasarojasaucapayasaam taapatrayam bhidatah |

aalaapaad-vrajanaagarasya padayoh premaanamaatanvato

vande bhaagavataanimananulavam murdhnaa nipatya ksitau ||5

Their sight cuts loose mankind from worldly chains,

The touch of their foot-wash removes three pains;

Their speech the Lord of Vraja's deeds rehearse,

Fraught with the loving sentiments of verse.

To the Lord's devotees, with faith profound,

I bow, and place my head upon the ground. 5

bhaavaavesha samujjvalaan pulakino harsaashru-dhaaraavalee

nirdhautaananapankajaananavananadaad bhrsham nrtyati |

premocchaishcayayitam sa gadgadapadam gopeepatir-gaayato

vande bhaagavataanimananulavam murdhnaa nipatya ksitau | 6

When they are wrought up in high emotion,

With tears are thrilled and horripilation;

Tears wash their lotus-faces to enhance

Their beauty as in ecstasy they dance;

Their voices are choked with loving delight

When songs of the Gopi's Lord they recite.

To the Lord's devotees, in faith profound,

I bow, and place my head upon the ground. 6

premaasvaadaparaayanaan haripadashurtisphuranmaanasaan

Aanandaikapayonidheen rasasamullaasismita srimukhaan |

Dhanyaan saccaritaughananditajanaan kaarunya puraashrayaan

Vande bhaagavatanimaananulavam murdhnaa nipatya ksitau || 7

In fond relish of love they are resigned,

And behold Hari’s feet within the mind;

Sunk in the ocean of pure bliss divine,

In joy’s rapture their smiling faces shine;

They are of blessed deeds and character,

And happiness on the people confer;

They are compassionate toward the meek,

And gracious upon those who refuge seek.

To the Lord’s devotees, in faith profound,

I bow, and place my head upon the ground. 7

krsnaadanyamajaanatah ksanamapi svapne’pi vishveshvare

tasmin bhaktimahaitukeem vidadhato hrtkaayavaagbhih sadaa |

shreelaan sadgunapunjakelinilayaan premaavataaraanaham

vande bhaagavataanimananulavam murdhnaa nipatya ksitau || 8

They know nothing but Krishna as beseems,

And ne’er forsake him even in their dreams;

The universal Lord of lords is he,

Whom they fondly adore, from motive free,

Always with body, heart and speech and mind,

To render loving service are inclined;

They are endued with all virtues sublime,

And incarnations of pure love divine.

To the Lord’s devotees, in faith profound,

I bow, and place my head upon the ground. 8

Etadbhaagavatastakam pathati yah sraddhaanvitah ksemadam

Bhatyudreka vivardhanam prati padam prema pramoda pradam |

Premaanam paramam dhruvam sa labhate vrndaavaneshaatmasu

Ksipram bhaagavatesu yena vashago gopanganaavallabhah || 9

Who this Bhagavatastakam recites,

With fond regard, attains to all delights;

It confers all well-being and augments

The bliss of divine loving sentiments;

Each foot in every line doth joy afford,

And steadiness in pure love for the Lord.

The Master of Vrindavan soon attains,

Where bound by love the Gopi’s Lord remains. 9