Sri Rupa Manjari pada commentary by Srila B R Sridhar Maharaj

govinda das · June 3, 2001

Sri Rupa Manjari Pada

by

Srila Narottama Thakur

Commentary by

Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Maharaj

Founder-Acharya of the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math

Sri-rupa-manjari-pada, sei mora sampada,

sei mor bhajana-pujana

sei mora prana-dhana, sei mora abharana,

sei mor jivanera jivana

sei mora rasa-nidhi, sei mor vancha-siddhi,

sei mor vedera dharama

sei brata, sei tapa, sei mora mantra-japa,

sei mor dharama-karama

anukula habe viddhi, se-pade hoibe siddhi,

nirakhibo e dui nayane

se rupa-madhuri-rasi, prana-kuvalaya-sasi,

praphullita habe nisi-dine

tuya adarsana-ahi, garale jaralo dehi,

ciro-dina tapita jivana

ha ha rupa koro doya, deho more pada-chaya,

narottama loilo sarana

Commentary by Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami:

Sri-rupa-manjari-pada, sei mora sampada, sei mor bhajana-pujana- my everything is Sri Rupa Goswami’s holy feet. We are to discuss so many classifications and positions of rasa: santa, dasya, sakhya, vatsalya, madhura. And in madhura-rasa Radharani’s camp is special. Then again there are so many gradations of sakhis. Then there is the class of the manjaris, the younger girls, and they have more freedom to approach: when Radha and Govinda are in union in a private environment, the manjaris can still approach. They have such freedom to visit Them. If any materials of service are necessary, the sakhis send the manjaris to that place. The sakhis do not approach there. In that way the manjaris enjoy the best confidence. The most secret service of both can be supplied through the manjaris. In the highest position they have free entrance, and their leader is Rupa Manjari. She is understood to be the leader of the whole group of younger girls, the manjaris, therefore in madhura-bhajan she is all-in-all. This has been taught to us by Narottama Thakur. For us - and the younger batch - she is our highest resort.

Sei mora sampada- my wealth is there in her feet. Sei mor bhajana-pujana - my worship and service is also in her. Sei mora prana-dhana, sei mora abharana- the very wealth and gist of my life is there; and the ornaments of my life, if any there may be, that is within her grace. Sei mor jivanera jivana - indeed, the very life of my life, if there is anything, that is also her. I am for her pleasure.

Sei mora rasa-nidhi - if there is anything, the source of any and all desirable ecstasy is only to be found there. The mine, source, and fountainhead of all rasa is there in her feet. Sei mora vancha-siddhi - and if I am to expect any other fulfilment in life, that is also there in her feet. Sei mor vedera dharama - if any duty is recommended by the Vedas for me, I would like that such duty be at her feet.

Sei brata, sei tapa - if at all there is any desired accumulation from any penance or observance of vows, that is also to be found there - sei mora mantra-japa - and the continuous repetition of a mantra in japa all ends there: all things have only one end in my case, and that is that they all meet in different phases in the feet of Rupa Manjari. If she is satisfied then the variegated nature of all sorts of my devotional practices are satisfied. Sei mor dharama-karama - and any of my conceptions of duty or activity of any phases or form all have one end and meet in one point: the holy feet of Rupa Manjari.

Anukula habe viddhi, se-pade hoibe siddhi - I only pray to the controller who is at the root of all these arrangements of affairs in this world, "Please connect me there. Oh Absolute Manager, may you grant my prayer that all my tendencies may go to attain her favour. Nirakhibo e dui nayane - and it will be so very intense and concrete as if I can see it with these eyes. It will not be vague, abstract, or imagination, but I want the most concrete realisation by the grace of the Absolute Manager."

Se rupa-madhuri-rasi, prana-kuvalaya-sasi - what sort of high class beauty is there in her holy feet! I want to jump. Let my heart be a lotus. There are two classes of lotus: the white lotus came from the sun and the red from the moon. The kuvalaya is a mixture of the two. The lustre of her body will feed me day and night as the life of my life which is compared to a kuvalaya. The kuvalaya is fed and nourished by the lustre of the moon, and her holy feet are the moon, and my very vitality is likened to the lotus. May the lustre of her beauty maintain and nourish my heart of hearts. Praphullita habe nisi-dine - and the lotus of my heart will grow by that ray, and dance.

Tuya adarsana-ahi - this is my prayer, but what is my present condition? My present condition is in the negative side, my Mistress. My present position is such that without having a sight of you, Your Grace, my heart will burn into ashes. That is my present position. Garale jaralo dehi - this is just like the poison of a cobra which produces pain within my heart. I have been bitten by a snake, and what is that snake? It is that I am not getting any direct contact with you, Your Grace. The serpent’s poison has captured my heart and I am going to die. Ciro-dina tapita jivana - and this is not a sudden thing, but from the beginning I have been suffering this sort of pain of separation from such a beautiful and hopeful life of fulfilment.

Ha ha rupa koro doya, deho more pada-chaya, narottama loilo sarana - but I have now reached the extreme position and for the last time I am begging for your favour; otherwise I am going to be finished.

This was composed by Narottama Thakur in praise of Srila Rupa Goswami. In this way he has given us light of the higher quarter of bhajan life. This sampradaya is named as the Rupanuga-sampradaya, and our Guru-parampara and all these things are adjusted according to that. He wrote many songs and they are of very substantive firmament, very ecstatic, and of deep faith.

dasanudas · June 3, 2001

Srimad Rupa-pada-rajah Prarthana Dasakam

Aspiring for the Dust of Srimad Rupa Goswami's Lotus Feet

Paramahamsa Srila Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Dev Goswami Maharaj

1

srimac-caitanyapadau cara-kamalayugau netra-bhrngau madhu dyau

gaude tau payayantau vraja-vipina-gatau vyajayuktau samutkau

bhatau sabhratrkasya svajana-gana-pater yasya saubhagya-bhumnah

sa sri-rupah kada mam nija-pada-rajasa bhusitam samvidhatte

Srila Rupa Goswami is the mine of the most precious treasure, the leader of the associates of Lord Caitanya (the Divine Succession being known as the Rupanuga Sampradaya, 'the followers of Sri Rupa'). In the company of his brothers, he was resplendent in (the province of) Gauda, causing the fervent twin bumblebees in the form of the lotus eyes of Sri Caitanyadeva to drink nectar, as the Lord's lotus feet moved on the pretext of visiting Vrndavana. When will that Srimad Rupa Prabhu grace me with the dust of his holy feet?

2

pita-sri-gaura-padambuja-madhu-madironmatta-hrd-bhrnga-rajo

rajyaisvaryam jahau yo jana-nivaha-hitadatta-citto nijagryam

vijnapya svanujena vraja-gamana-ratam canvagat gauracandram

sa sri-rupah kada mam nija-pada-rajasa bhusitam samvidhatte

At Sri Ramakeli Dhama, the king of bees - the heart of Sri Rupa - became intoxicated drinking the honey-wine of the lotus feet of Sri Gauracandra, and sacrificed its life (in Hari-kirtana) for the benefit of all the people of the world, summarily abandoning a life of kingly opulence. After informing his elder brother Sri Sanatana, Sri Rupa and his younger brother Sri Vallabha followed the footsteps of Sri Caitanyadeva, whose heart was absorbed in going (from Nilacala) to Sri Vrndavana. When will that Sri Rupa Prabhu grace me with the dust of his holy lotus feet?

3

vrndaranyat prayage hari-rasa-natanair nama-sankirtanais ca

lebhe yo madhavagre jana-gahana-gatam prema-mattam janams ca

bhavaih svair madayantam hrta-nidhir iva tam krsna-caitanyacandram

sa sri-rupah kada mam nija-pada-rajasa bhusitam samvidhatte

Sri Caitanyadeva returned from Vrndavana to Prayaga Dhama and performed Nama-sankirtana, surrounded by crowds of hundreds of thousands. Intoxicated with divine love, dancing, He melted the hearts of hundreds of faithful souls with His astonishing transcendental ecstasies. Sri Rupa, as though regaining his most precious treasure, thus found Sri Caitanyadeva in the direct presence of the Deity Sri Bindu Madhava. When will that Sri Rupa Prabhu grace me with the dust of his holy lotus feet?

4

ekantam labdha-padambuja-nija-hrdaya-prestha-patro mahartir

dainyair-duhkhasru-purnair dasana-dhrta-trnaih pujayamasa gauram

svantah krsnan ca ganga-dinamani-tanaya-sangame sanujo yah

sa sri-rupah kada mam nija-pada-rajasa bhusitam samvidhatte

At the sacred spot on the confluence of the Ganga and the Yamuna, Sri Rupa achieved intimate union with the lotus feet of the dearmost Lord of his life - the Lord who is Krsna within and Gaura without. In grave humility, with straw in mouth and with tears of sorrow, he along with his younger brother worshiped Sri Gaura-Krsna in intense love. When will that Sri Rupa Prabhu grace me with the dust of his holy lotus feet?

5

svasya prema-svarupam priya-dayita-vilasanurupaika-rupam

dure bhu-lunthitam yam sahaja-sumadhura-sriyutam sanujan ca

drstva devo 'titurnam stuti-bahu-mukham aslisya gadham raranje

sa sri-rupah kada mam nija-pada-rajasa bhusitam samvidhatte

Sri Caitanyadeva saw Sri Rupa and his younger brother rolling on the ground some distance away. Seeing His endeared one, His favorite, His love divine personified in natural beauty and charm, His exclusive alter ego in divine pastimes, the Lord swiftly approached Sri Rupa, profusely singing his glories, and embraced him in ecstasy. When will that Sri Rupa Prabhu grace me with the dust of his holy lotus feet?

6

kaivalya-prema-bhumav-akhila-rasa-sudha-sindhu-sancara-daksam

jnatvapy evan ca radha-pada-bhajana-sudham lilayapayayad yam

saktim sancarya gauro nija-bhajana-sudha-dana-daksam cakara

sa sri-rupah kada mam nija-pada-rajasa bhusitam samvidhatte

Sri Gaurahari knew that (as an eternal associate of the Lord) Sri Rupa was already proficient in wandering throughout the ambrosial ocean of all mellows, in the land of unalloyed love (in Vraja-rasa). Nonetheless, to expand His own pastimes, the Lord enabled him to drink the sweet ecstasy of servitude unto Sri Radha, and empowered him with the skill to distribute the nectar of His personal devotional service. When will that Srimad Rupa Prabhu grace me with the dust of his lotus feet?

7

gauradesac ca vrnda-vipinam iha parikramya nilacalam yo

gatva kavyamrtaih svair vraja-yuva-yugala-kridanarthaih prakamam

ramananda-svarupadibhir api kavibhis tarpayamasa gauram

sa sri-rupah kada mam nija-pada-rajasa bhusitam samvidhatte

When on the order of Sri Gauranga, Sri Rupa visited Sri Purusottama Ksetra after completing the circumambulation of Sri Vraja Mandala, He highly gratified Sri Caitanyadeva and the sagacious devotee assembly headed by Sri Svarupa Damodara and Sri Ramananda Raya by his ambrosial poetry on the pastimes of the Divine Couple of Vraja. When will that Srimad Rupa Prabhu grace me with the dust of his lotus feet?

8

lila-samgopane sri-bhagavata iha vai jangame sthavare 'pi

sammugdhe sagrajatah prabhu-viraha-hrta-praya-jivendriyanam

yas casid asrayaika-sthalam iva raghu-gopala-jivadi-varge

sa sri-rupah kada mam nija-pada-rajasa bhusitam samvidhatte

When the manifest lila of the Supreme Lord Sri Caitanyadeva was withdrawn, all beings including the immobile entities were mortified, deeply afflicted in sorrow. Sri Rupa and his elder brother were the only shelter for even the intimate devotees of the Lord, headed by Raghunatha, Gopal Bhatta, and Sri Jiva, who had almost lost their lives in the Lord's separation. When will that Srimad Rupa Prabhu grace me with the dust of his lotus feet?

9

sri-murteh sadhu-vrtteh prakatanam api tal-lupta-tirthadikanam

sri-radha-krsna-padambuja-bhajanamayam raga-margam visuddham

granthair yena pradattam nikhilam iha nijabhista-devepsitan ca

sa sri rupah kada mam nija-pada-rajasa bhusitam samvidhatte

By writing many, many books, he gave the world all the most cherished desires of his worshipful Lord Sri Caitanyadeva, principally - revealing the service of the Deity, establishing the pure code of conduct in devotion, revealing the lost holy places, and revealing the path of spontaneous devotion (Raga-marga) in transcendental loving service to Sri Radha-Govinda. When will that Srimad Rupa Prabhu grace me with the dust of his holy lotus feet?

10

lila-samgopa-kale nirupadhi-karuna-karina svaminaham

yat padabje 'rpito yat pada-bhajanamayam gayayitva tu gitam

yogyayogyatva-bhavam mama khalu sakalam dusta-buddher agrhnan

sa sri-rupah kada mam nija-pada-rajasa bhusitam samvidhatte

Just prior to the withdrawal of his manifest lila, my causelessly merciful Divine Master, Srila Saraswati Thakura, handed me over to the holy feet of that Divine Personality by having me sing the glorious prayer unto his lotus feet (Sri Rupa-manjari-pada). Despite my lowliness, when will - disregarding all my various qualifications and disqualifications - Srimad Rupa Prabhu grace me with the dust of his holy lotus feet?