20 Important Instructions for Worshiping Lord Caitanya

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Sri Godruma - Candra - Bhajana - Upadesa

 

Instructions for Worshiping Lord Caitanya,

the Moon of the Island of Godruma-dvipa

 

by Srila Thakura Bhaktivinoda (1893)

 

Translation by Dasaratha-suta dasa

 

(1)

yadi te hari-pada-saroja-sudha-

rasa-pana-param hrdayam satatam

parihrtya grham kali-bhava-mayam

bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

 

1) If your heart wishes to be always absorbed in drinking the ambrosial

mellows of the lotus feet of Lord Hari, then give up mundane household life,

full of Kali-yuga quarrels and strife, and just worship the beautiful Moon

of Godruma's forest bowers.

 

(2)

dhana-yauvana-jivana-rajya-sukham

na hi nityam anuksana-nasa-param

tyaja gramya-katha-sakalam viphalam

bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

 

2) Material riches, youth, a long life, and royal happiness-none of these

are certain; at every moment they are being destroyed. Give up all useless

mundane conversations and just worship the beautiful Moon of Godruma's

forest bowers.

 

(3)

ramani-jana-sanga-sukham ca sakhe

carame bhayadam purusartha-haram

hari-nama-sudha-rasa-matta-matir

bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

 

3) O friend! The pleasure to be had in the company of beautiful young women

ultimately turns to fearfulness, and distracts one from the true goal of

human life. With your mind intoxicated by the nectarean mellows of the holy

name of Lord Hari, just worship the beautiful Moon of Godruma's forest

bowers.

 

(4)

jada-kavya-raso na hi kavya-rasah

kali-pavana-gaura-raso hi rasah

alam anya-kathady anusilanaya

bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

 

4) The taste of mundane poetry never provides the sweet taste of actual

poetry. The sweet mellows of true poetry are verily found in descriptions

of Lord Gaura, the savior of all souls in the Kali-yuga. The diligent study

of all other topics is useless! Just worship the beautiful Moon of

Godruma's forest bowers.

 

(5)

vrsabhanu-sutanvita-vama-tanum

yamuna-tata-nagara-nanda-sutam

murali-kala-gita-vinoda-param

bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

 

5) His left side enhanced by the daughter of Vrsabhanu, Nanda-Suta the

transcendental paramour stands on the bank of the Yamuna river absorbed in

the pleasure-giving pastime of playing soft, melodious songs on His flute.

Just worship Him, the beautiful Moon of Godruma's forest bowers.

 

(6)

hari-kirtana-madhya-gatam sva-janaih

parivestita-jambunadabha-harim

nija-gauda-janaika-krpa-jaladhim

bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

 

6) In the midst of Hari-kirtana, surrounded by His loving associates He is

the same dark Lord Hari, but now shining with the luster of molten gold.

He is the exclusive ocean of mercy for His own Gaudiya devotees. Just

worship the beautiful Moon of Godruma's forest bowers.

 

(7)

giriraja-suta-parivita-grham

nava-khanda-patim yati-citta-haram

sura-sangha-nutam priyaya sahitam

bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

 

7) His island home is surrounded by the river Ganga, daughter of the king

of mountains. He is the Lord of the nine-fold islands of Navadvipa and the

stealer of the hearts of the renunciates. Along with His beloved wife

Visnu-priya He is glorified by demigods and saintly persons. Just worship

the beautiful Moon of Godruma's forest bowers.

 

(8)

kali-kukkura-mudgara-bhava-dharam

hari-nama-mahausadha-dana-param

patitarta-dayardra-su-murti-dharam

bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

 

8) His mood is that of wielding a stick for chasing away the mad dog of

Kali-yuga. He is absorbed in distributing the holy name of Hari, the great

remedy for material existence. His heart is melted with compassion for the

fallen souls who are suffering, and His transcendental form is very

beautiful. Just worship the beautiful Moon of Godruma's forest bowers.

 

(9)

ripu-bandhava-bheda-vihina-daya

yad-abhiksnam udeti mukhabja-tatau

tam akrsnam iha vraja-raja-sutam

bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

 

9) Continually beaming from His lotus face is causeless mercy that makes no

distinction between so-called `friends' or `enemies.' Although the son of

Maharaja Nanda, He appears here in a form unlike that of Krishna's dark

complexion. Just worship the beautiful Moon of Godruma's forest bowers.

 

(10)

iha copanisat-parigita-vibhur

dvija-raja-sutah puratabha-harih

nija-dhamani khelati bandhu-yuto

bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

 

10) In this world and in the Upanisads He is celebrated as the all-pervading

Supreme Lord. He appears now as the son of the king of brahmanas and is Lord

Hari Himself, with a shining golden complexion. In His own abode He plays

eternally with His cowherd boyfriends. Just worship the beautiful Moon of

Godruma's forest bowers.

 

(11)

avatara-varam paripurna-kalam

para-tattvam ihatma-vilasa-mayam

vraja-dhama-rasambudhi-gupta-rasam

bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

 

11) He is the most excellent of avataras, and within Him exists the

consummate expansions of Godhead. He is the Supreme Truth, enjoying Himself

here in great playfulness. He embodies the most confidential mellows flowing

within the ocean of rasa in Vraja-dhama. Just worship the beautiful Moon

of Godruma's forest bowers.

 

(12)

sruti-varna-dhanadi na yasya krpa-

janane balavad-bhajanena vina

tam ahaituka-bhava-patha hi sakhe

bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

 

12) O friend! Without the devotional performance of purely intense bhajan,

your vast scholarship, noble family lineage, wealth, and so on are complete

ly ineffective for invoking the mercy of the Lord. With a service attitude

that is unmotivated, just worship the beautiful Moon of Godruma's forest

bowers.

 

(13)

api nakra-gatau hrada-madhya-gatam

kam amocayad-arta-janam tam ajam

avicintya-balam siva-kalpa-tarum

bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

 

13) This same Lord once liberated the elephant Gajendra from the crocodile's

grasp within the lake. He is the unborn one, possessing inconceivable power,

and is truly a desire-tree of pure auspiciousness. Just worship the

beautiful Moon of Godruma's forest bowers.

 

(14)

surabhindra-tapah-paritusta-mana

vara-varna-dharo harir avirabhut

tam ajasra-sukham muni-dhairya-haram

bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

 

14) Being pleased with the penances of Indra and the surabhi cow, Lord Hari

has appeared again in this world possessing a superexcellent complexion. He

is endless happiness, and He plunders the patience of the learned sages.

Just worship the beautiful Moon of Godruma's forest bowers.

 

(15)

abhilasa-cayam tad-abheda-dhiyam

asubham ca subham tyaja sarvam idam

anukulataya priya-sevanaya

bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

 

15) The multitude of worldly desires, philosophical meditations on the

impersonal oneness of all beings, as well as the relative conceptions of

what is auspicious or inauspicious-utterly renounce all of these things. In

a favorable mood while rendering loving devotional service, just worship the

beautiful Moon of Godruma's forest bowers.

 

(16)

hari-sevaka-sevana-dharma-paro

hari-nama-rasamrta-pana-ratah

nati-dainya-daya-para-mana-yuto

bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

 

16) Remaining fixed in the service of Hari's servants, being addicted to

drinking the sweet nectar of the holy name of Hari, and endowed with

modesty, humility and compassion, offering all respect unto others, just

worship the beautiful Moon of Godruma's forest bowers.

 

(17)

vada yadava madhava krsna hare

vada rama janardana kesava he

vrsabhanu-suta-priya-natha sada

bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

 

17) Incessantly call out to the Lord, "O Yadava! O Madhava! O Krsna! O

Hari!"

Chant, "O Rama! O Janardana! O Kesava!O beloved Lord of Vrsabhanu's

daughter!"-and just worship the beautiful Moon of Godruma's forest bowers.

 

(18)

vada yamuna-tira-vanadri-pate

vada gokula-kanana-punja-rave

vada rasa-rasayana gaura-hare

bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

 

18) Please chant, "O Lord of the forests and hills along the banks of the

river Yamuna!" Chant, "O brilliant sun of the groves of Gokula!" Chant, "O

elixir of life for the rasa dance!O Gaura-hari!"-and just worship the

beautiful Moon of Godruma's forest bowers.

 

(19)

cala gaura-vanam nava-khanda-mayam

patha gaura-hares caritani muda

lutha gaura-padankita-ganga-tatam

bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

 

19) Please go to the forest of Lord Gaura, divided into nine islands.

Please read and recite with great joy the pastimes of Lord Gaura-hari.

Please roll about in ecstasy on the bank of the river Ganga marked with the

footprints of Lord Gaura-and just worship the beautiful Moon of Godruma's

forest bowers.

 

(20)

smara gaura-gadadhara-keli-kalam

bhava gaura-gadadhara-paksa-carah

srnu gaura-gadadhara-caru-katham

bhaja godruma-kanana-kunja-vidhum

 

20) Just remember the artistically playful pastimes of Gaura and Gadadhara.

Just become a loyal follower of Gaura and Gadadhara's camp. Just listen to

the captivating stories of Gaura and Gadadhara-and just worship the

beautiful Moon of Godruma's forest bowers.