Sri Mahaprabhor astakam
Eight Prayers Glorifying Sri Mahaprabhu
Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti
2 svarupa mama hrd-vranam bata viveda rupah katham
lilekha yad ayam patha tvam api tala-patre ‘ksaram
iti pranaya-vellitam vidadhad asu rupantaram
virajatu ciraya me hrdi sa gauracandrah prabhuh
“Svarupa Damodara, how did Rupa Gosvami understand the wound in My heart? Read this verse he wrote about it on this palm leaf.” Speaking these words, the Lord made Rupa Gosvami’s heart tremble with ecstatic love. May Lord Gauracandra eternally shine in my heart.
3 svarupa parakiya-sat-pravara-vastunasecchatam
dadhaj jana iha tvaya paricito na vetiksayan
sanatanam uditya vismita-mukham maha-vismitam
virajatu ciraya me hrdi sa gaurancandrah prabhuh
“Svarupa Damodara, among these aspiring devotees you have not selected one worthy to explain the most exalted parakiya-rasa.” With a glance the Lord then singled out the astonished Sanatana Gosvami. May Lord Gauracandra eternally shine in my heart.
4 svarupa hari-nama yaj jagad aghosayam tena kim
na vacayitum apy athasakam imam sivanandajam
iti sva-pada-lehanaih sisum acikarad yah kavim
virajatu ciraya me hrdi sa gauracandrah prabhuh
“Svarupa Damodara, I made the entire universe chant Lord Hari’s name. Why can I not make this son of Sivananda Sena chant?” By speaking these words the Lord transformed that child into a great poet. May Lord Gauracandra eternally shine in my heart.
5 svarupa rasa-ritir ambuja-drsam vraje bhanyatam
ghana-pranaya-mana-ja sruti-yugam mamotkanthyate
rama yad iha manini tad api lokayeti bruvan
virajatu ciraya me hrdi sa gauracadrah prabhuh
“Svarupa Damodara, let the lotus-eyed gopis describe the nectar stream that flows in Vraja. My ears yearn for that stream, which is born from intense jealous love. Here is the jealous goddess of fortune! Look!” Speaking in this way, may Lord Gauracandra eternally shine in my heart.
6 svarupa rasa-mandiram bhavasi man-mudam aspadam
tvam atra purusottame vraja-bhuviva me vartase
iti sva-parirambhanaih pulakinam vyadhat tam ca yo
virajatu ciraya me hrdi sa gauracandrah prabhuh
“Svarupa Damodara, you are a temple of nectar! You are the home of My happiness! Here in Jagannatha Puri you are My Vraja!” Speaking these words and embracing him, the Lord overwhelmed Svarupa Damodara, making the hairs of his body stand up in ecstasy. May Lord Gauracandra eternally shine in my heart.
7 svarupa kim apiksitam kva nu vibho nisi svapnatah
prabho kathaya kim nu tam nava-yuva varambhodharah
vyadhat kim ayam iksyate kim u na hity agat tam dasam
virajatu ciraya me hrdi sa gauracandrah prabhuh
“Svarupa Damodara, what did I see?”
“Where, my Lord?”
“In a dream at night.”
“Tell me, what was it, my Lord.”
“It was a youth that was a monsoon cloud.”
“What did He do? Do You see Him now?”
“He has not left My sight.”
May Lord Gauracandra eternally shine in my heart.
8 svarupa mama netrayoh purata eva krsno hasann
apaiti na kara-graham bata dadati ha kim sakhe
iti skhalati dhavati svasiti ghurnate yah sada
virajatu ciraya me hrdi sa gauracandrah prabhuh
“Svarupa Damodara, why does smiling Krsna not come before My eyes? O Friend, why does He not extend His hand to Me?” Again and again He runs, stumbles, sighs, and trembles. May Lord Gauracandra eternally shine in my heart.
9 svarupa-caritamrtam kila mahaprabhor astakam
rahasyatamam adbhutam pathati yah krti praty-aham
svarupa-parivaratam nayati tam saci-nandano
ghana-pranaya-madhurim sva-padayoh samasvadayan
Lord Caitanya makes a saintly devotee who daily reads these eight wonderful and confidential verses glorifying Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and filled with the nectar pastimes of the Lord with Svarupa Damodara Gosvami taste the sweetness of deep love for His lotus feet. He makes him a personal associate of Svarupa Damodara.
Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti
1 svarupa bhavato bhavatv ayam iti smita-snigdhaya
giraiva raghunatham utpulika-gatram ullasayan
rahasy upadisan nija-pranaya-gudha-mudram svayam
virajatu ciraya me hrdi sa gauracandrah prabhuh
“Svarupa Damodara, he is yours.” With these words affectionately marked with a smile and making Raghunatha dasa so happy the hairs of his body stood erect, Lord Gauracandra gave a sign of His deep love in that secluded place. May Lord Gauracandra eternally shine in my heart.
giraiva raghunatham utpulika-gatram ullasayan
rahasy upadisan nija-pranaya-gudha-mudram svayam
virajatu ciraya me hrdi sa gauracandrah prabhuh
“Svarupa Damodara, he is yours.” With these words affectionately marked with a smile and making Raghunatha dasa so happy the hairs of his body stood erect, Lord Gauracandra gave a sign of His deep love in that secluded place. May Lord Gauracandra eternally shine in my heart.
2 svarupa mama hrd-vranam bata viveda rupah katham
lilekha yad ayam patha tvam api tala-patre ‘ksaram
iti pranaya-vellitam vidadhad asu rupantaram
virajatu ciraya me hrdi sa gauracandrah prabhuh
“Svarupa Damodara, how did Rupa Gosvami understand the wound in My heart? Read this verse he wrote about it on this palm leaf.” Speaking these words, the Lord made Rupa Gosvami’s heart tremble with ecstatic love. May Lord Gauracandra eternally shine in my heart.
3 svarupa parakiya-sat-pravara-vastunasecchatam
dadhaj jana iha tvaya paricito na vetiksayan
sanatanam uditya vismita-mukham maha-vismitam
virajatu ciraya me hrdi sa gaurancandrah prabhuh
“Svarupa Damodara, among these aspiring devotees you have not selected one worthy to explain the most exalted parakiya-rasa.” With a glance the Lord then singled out the astonished Sanatana Gosvami. May Lord Gauracandra eternally shine in my heart.
4 svarupa hari-nama yaj jagad aghosayam tena kim
na vacayitum apy athasakam imam sivanandajam
iti sva-pada-lehanaih sisum acikarad yah kavim
virajatu ciraya me hrdi sa gauracandrah prabhuh
“Svarupa Damodara, I made the entire universe chant Lord Hari’s name. Why can I not make this son of Sivananda Sena chant?” By speaking these words the Lord transformed that child into a great poet. May Lord Gauracandra eternally shine in my heart.
5 svarupa rasa-ritir ambuja-drsam vraje bhanyatam
ghana-pranaya-mana-ja sruti-yugam mamotkanthyate
rama yad iha manini tad api lokayeti bruvan
virajatu ciraya me hrdi sa gauracadrah prabhuh
“Svarupa Damodara, let the lotus-eyed gopis describe the nectar stream that flows in Vraja. My ears yearn for that stream, which is born from intense jealous love. Here is the jealous goddess of fortune! Look!” Speaking in this way, may Lord Gauracandra eternally shine in my heart.
6 svarupa rasa-mandiram bhavasi man-mudam aspadam
tvam atra purusottame vraja-bhuviva me vartase
iti sva-parirambhanaih pulakinam vyadhat tam ca yo
virajatu ciraya me hrdi sa gauracandrah prabhuh
“Svarupa Damodara, you are a temple of nectar! You are the home of My happiness! Here in Jagannatha Puri you are My Vraja!” Speaking these words and embracing him, the Lord overwhelmed Svarupa Damodara, making the hairs of his body stand up in ecstasy. May Lord Gauracandra eternally shine in my heart.
7 svarupa kim apiksitam kva nu vibho nisi svapnatah
prabho kathaya kim nu tam nava-yuva varambhodharah
vyadhat kim ayam iksyate kim u na hity agat tam dasam
virajatu ciraya me hrdi sa gauracandrah prabhuh
“Svarupa Damodara, what did I see?”
“Where, my Lord?”
“In a dream at night.”
“Tell me, what was it, my Lord.”
“It was a youth that was a monsoon cloud.”
“What did He do? Do You see Him now?”
“He has not left My sight.”
May Lord Gauracandra eternally shine in my heart.
8 svarupa mama netrayoh purata eva krsno hasann
apaiti na kara-graham bata dadati ha kim sakhe
iti skhalati dhavati svasiti ghurnate yah sada
virajatu ciraya me hrdi sa gauracandrah prabhuh
“Svarupa Damodara, why does smiling Krsna not come before My eyes? O Friend, why does He not extend His hand to Me?” Again and again He runs, stumbles, sighs, and trembles. May Lord Gauracandra eternally shine in my heart.
9 svarupa-caritamrtam kila mahaprabhor astakam
rahasyatamam adbhutam pathati yah krti praty-aham
svarupa-parivaratam nayati tam saci-nandano
ghana-pranaya-madhurim sva-padayoh samasvadayan
Lord Caitanya makes a saintly devotee who daily reads these eight wonderful and confidential verses glorifying Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and filled with the nectar pastimes of the Lord with Svarupa Damodara Gosvami taste the sweetness of deep love for His lotus feet. He makes him a personal associate of Svarupa Damodara.
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