Sri Bhakti Ratnavali, Strand One, 1-9

Verses from Srimad Bhagavatam, selected and arranged by Vishnu Puri. (15th Century (?))

Sri Bhatki Ratnavali First Strand, verses 1-9

An anthology of Bhagavatam verses selected and arranged by Vishnu Puri. Sri Jiva mentions it in his Tattva Sandarbha (There are also extant a variety of Nibhandhas composed by distinguished authors, well known for their interpretations, such as the Muktaphala, Harilila and Bhaktiratnavali. Anuched 23)

Invocation

jayati jana-nivāso devakī-janma-vādo

yadu-vara-pariṣat svair dorbhir asyann adharmam

sthira-cara-vṛjina-ghnaḥ su-smita-śrī-mukhena

vraja-pura-vanitānāṁ vardhayan kāma-devam

All hail to him in whom all creatures dwell!

Said to be born of Devaki as well;

Attended by chiefs of the Yadu clan,

Whose mighty arm subdues unrighteous man;

Who terminates the miserable lot

Of all creatures that move or that move not.

And when his smiling countenance is shown

The women of the pasture and the town

Feel augmentation of the soft desires,

That Cupid, God of Love, in them inspires. 1

(10.90.48)

yat-kīrtanaṁ yat-smaraṇaṁ yad-īkṣaṇaṁ

yad-vandanaṁ yac-chravaṇaṁ yad-arhaṇam

lokasya sadyo vidhunoti kalmaṣaṁ

tasmai subhadra-śravase namo namaḥ

Whose praise, whose recollection and whose sight,

Bowing to whom in homage and delight;

Hearing of whom and worshipping with love,

Doth straightway mans' iniquity remove;

All hail to him of pure hallowed renown,

To him in salutation I bow down. 2

(2.4.15)

bhūyo namaḥ sad-vṛjina-cchide ’satām

asambhavāyākhila-sattva-mūrtaye

puṁsāṁ punaḥ pāramahaṁsya āśrame

vyavasthitānām anumṛgya-dāśuṣe

All hail to him again of puissant grace!

Who doth the sorrows of the good efface;

Who of the wicked quells the influence,

Whose form is eviternal existence;

Who endows truth seekers with wisdom pure;

And swan-like saints their cherished state secure. 3

(2.4.13)

śriyaḥ patir yajña-patiḥ prajā-patir

dhiyāṁ patir loka-patir dharā-patiḥ

patir gatiś cāndhaka-vṛṣṇi-sātvatāṁ

prasīdatāṁ me bhagavān satāṁ patiḥ

Husband of Shree, of sacrifice the Lord,

Of subject creatures the Master adored;

The ruler of thought and the intellect,

Who doth the masters of the world direct;

Lord of the Earth, the Master and the guide

Of dynasties by firm friendship allied,

The clans of Andhaka and of Vrishni,

And Yadus of Satvata pedigree.

May that Almighty Illustrious One,

Lord of devotees, grant his benison. 4

(2.4.20)

yaḥ svānubhāvam akhila-śruti-sāram ekam

adhyātma-dīpam atititīrṣatāṁ tamo ’ndham

saṁsāriṇāṁ karuṇayāha purāṇa-guhyaṁ

taṁ vyāsa-sūnum upayāmi guruṁ munīnām

I bow to Vyasa’s son of vast insight,

Who bears of scriptures’ essence the torch light;

Who sublime knowledge of the self bestows,

Whereby the soul can overcome all woes.

For those in the transmigratory state,

This text, compassionate, did iterate;

The secret Purana that sanctifies,

I bow to him, the teacher of the wise. 5

(1.2.3)

Verses 6-9 are the anthologists own compositions.

duraannishamya mahimaanamupetya paarsvam

antah pravishya shubha-bhaagavataamrtaabdhe

pashyaami krshna-karunaanjananirmalena

hrl-locanena bhagavad-bhajanam hi ratnam 6

Hearing from a distance of its great fame,

To the sea of the Bhagavat I came,

And plunged into ambrosia profound,

And by Krishna's grace I could see, and found

Glistering gems in vast abundance stored;

Of verses treating worship of the Lord. 6

tadidam-atimahaardham bhakti-ratnam muraarer-

ahamadhikasa-yatnatnah preetaye vaishnavaanaam

hrdigatajagadeeshaadeshamaadyamaadyan-

nidhivaram-iva tasmaad-vaaridheruddharaami 7

With scrutiny I have collected these,

Chiefly for pleasure of the devotees;

Verses which the articles of love show,

In adoration pure of Mura's foe.

And as the Lord in my heart may direct,

I shall these gems from that ocean collect. 7

kanthe krtaa kulamasheshamalankaroti

veshmasthitaa nikhilam-eva tamo'pahanti

taamujjvalaam gunavatim jagadeesha-bhakti-

ratnaavaleem sukrtinahparisheelayantu 8

These verses upon a fine necklace strung,

Worn around the neck, which is to say, sung;

Kept in the house which represents the heart,

All gloom will vanish and darkness depart;

May this gem necklace by the good be worn,

Called Bhakti Ratnavali and adorn;

Replete with sentiments of love sublime,

Directed to the Supreme Lord divine. 8

nikhila-bhaagavatashravanaalasaa

bahukathaabhirathaanavakaashinah

ayamayam nanu taananu saarthako

bhavatu vishnu-puri-grathanagrahah 9

There many are indeed that would incline

To learn the Bhagavat, but have not time;

May this attempt for such devotees be,

Of verses gathered by Vishnu Puri,

Disposed in order and in sequence due,

Of benefit and easy to ensue. 9