Watch out for the great thief!

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Shri Chauragraganya-purusha-asthakam

vraje prasiddham navanita-cauram, gopa-angananam ca dukula-cauram

aneka-janmarjita-papa-cauram, caura-agraganyam purusham namami (1)

Who is famous in Vraja as the butter-thief and He who steals the gopis¡¯

clothes, and who,

for those who take shelter of Him, steals the sins which have accrued over

many lifetimes.

offer pranama to the foremost of thieves.

 

shri-radhikaya hrdayasya cauram, navambuda-syaamala-kanti-cauram

padaashritanam ca samasta-cauram, caura-agraganyam purusham namami (2)

Who steals Srimati Radhika's heart, who steals the dark lustre of a fresh

raincloud, and who

steals all the sins and sufferings of those who take shelter of His feet.I

offer pranama to the

foremost of thieves.

akincani-kritya padashritam yah, karoti bhikshum pathi geha-hinam

kenapy aho bhikshana-caura idrg, drishtah-shruto va na jagat-traye 'pi (3)

Who turns His surrendered devotees into paupers and wandering, homeless

beggars. aho!

Such a fearsome thief has never been seen or heard of in all the three

worlds.

yadiya namapi haraty-ashesham, giri praasaaran-api papa-raashin

ashcarya-rupo nanu caura idrg, drishtah shruto va na maya kadapi (4)

Even the shortest utterance of His name purges one of even a mountain of

sins.such an

astonishingly wonderful thief I have never seen or heard of anywhere.

dhanam ca manam ca tathendriyani, praanaamsh cha hrtva mama sarvam eva

palayase kutra dhrto 'dya caura, tvam bhakti-damnasi maya niruddhah (5)

Hey Thief! Having stolen my wealth, my honour, my senses, and my very life,

to where can

You run? I have caught You with the rope of my devotion.

chinatsi ghoram yama-paca-bandham, bhinatsi bhimam bhava-paasha-bandham

chinatsi sarvasya samasta-bandham, naivatmano bhakta-krtam tu bandham (6)

You cut the terrible noose of Yamaraja, You sever the dreadful noose of

material existence,

and You slash everyone's material bondage, but You are unable to cut the

knot fastened by Your own loving devotees.

man-maanase taamasa-raashi-ghore, kaaraagrhee dukha-maye nibaddhah

labhasva he caura! hare! chiraya, sva-caurya-doshocitam eva dandam (7)

O stealer of my everything! Hey Thief! Today I have imprisoned You in the

miserable prison-house of my heart which is very fearful due to the darkness

of my ignorance, and there for a very long time You will remain, receiving

appropriate punishment for Your crimes of thievery!

kaaraagrhe vasa sada hrdaye madiye

mad-bhakti-pasha-drdha-bandhana-niccalah san

tvam krsna he! pralaya-koti-catantare 'pi

sarvasva-caura! hrdayan-nahi mocayami (8)

O Krsna, thief of my everything! The noose of my devotion remaining forever

tight, You will continue to reside in the prison-house of my heart because I

will not release You for millions of aeons. This ashtaka is sung in the

melody known as Upajati.