|| शिक्षाष्टकम् ||
चेतोदर्पणमार्जनं भवमहादावाग्नी निर्वापणम्
श्रेयः कैरवचन्द्रिका वितरणं विद्यावधूजीवनम् |
आनंदंबुधीवर्धनं प्रतिपदं पूर्णांमृतस्वादनम्
सर्वात्मस्नपनं परं विजयते श्रीकृष्ण संकीर्तनम् ||
श्रेयः कैरवचन्द्रिका वितरणं विद्यावधूजीवनम् |
आनंदंबुधीवर्धनं प्रतिपदं पूर्णांमृतस्वादनम्
सर्वात्मस्नपनं परं विजयते श्रीकृष्ण संकीर्तनम् ||
Glory to the Śrī Kṛṣṇa sańkīrtana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. This sańkīrtana movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious. 1
नाम्नामकारी बहुधा निजसर्वशक्तीस्
तत्रार्पित नियमितः स्मरणे न कालः |
एतादृशी तव कृपा भगवन् ममापि
दुर्दैवं इदृशं इहजनि नानुरगः ||
तत्रार्पित नियमितः स्मरणे न कालः |
एतादृशी तव कृपा भगवन् ममापि
दुर्दैवं इदृशं इहजनि नानुरगः ||
O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction to living beings, and thus You have hundreds and millions of names like Kṛṣṇa and Govinda. In these transcendental names You have invested all Your transcendental energies. There are not even hard and fast rules for chanting these names. O my Lord, out of kindness You enable us to easily approach You by chanting Your holy names, but I am so unfortunate that I have no attraction for them. 2
तृणादपि सुनीचेन तरोरपि सहिष्णुना |
अमानिना मानदेन कीर्तनीयः सदा हरिः ||
अमानिना मानदेन कीर्तनीयः सदा हरिः ||
One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly. 3
न धनं न जनं न सुन्दरीम्
कवितां वा जगदीश कामये |
मम जन्मनी जन्मनीश्वरे
भवताद् भक्तिः अहैतुकी त्वयि ||
मम जन्मनी जन्मनीश्वरे
भवताद् भक्तिः अहैतुकी त्वयि ||
O almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor do I desire beautiful women, nor do I want any number of followers. I only want Your causeless devotional service birth after birth. 4
अयि नन्दतनुजा किंकरम्
पतितां मां विषमे भवाम्बुधौ |
कृपया तव पादपङ्कज
स्थित धूलिसदृशं विचिन्तय ||
पतितां मां विषमे भवाम्बुधौ |
कृपया तव पादपङ्कज
स्थित धूलिसदृशं विचिन्तय ||
O son of Mahārāja Nanda, Kṛṣṇa, I am Your eternal servitor, yet somehow or other I have fallen into the ocean of birth and death. Please pick me up from this ocean of death and place me as one of the atoms of Your lotus feet. 5
नयनं गलदश्रूधारया
वदनं गद्गद रुधया गिरा |
पुलकैर्निचितं वपुः कदा
तवनामग्रहणे भविष्यति ||
वदनं गद्गद रुधया गिरा |
पुलकैर्निचितं वपुः कदा
तवनामग्रहणे भविष्यति ||
O my Lord, when will my eyes be decorated with tears of love flowing constantly when I chant Your holy name? When will my voice choke up, and when will the hairs of my body stand on end at the recitation of Your name? 6
युगायितं निमिषेण
चक्षुषा प्रावृशायितं |
शून्यायितं जगत् सर्वम्
गोविन्द विरहेण मे ||
O Govinda! Feeling Your separation, I am considering a moment to be like twelve years or more. Tears are flowing from my eyes like torrents of rain, and I am feeling all vacant in the world in Your absence. 7
आश्लिष्य वा पदरतं पिनष्टु मां
आदर्शनान् मर्महतां करोतु वा |
यथा तथा वा विदधातु लंपटो
मत्प्राण नाथस्तु स एव नापरः ||
आदर्शनान् मर्महतां करोतु वा |
यथा तथा वा विदधातु लंपटो
मत्प्राण नाथस्तु स एव नापरः ||
I know no one but Kṛṣṇa as my Lord, and He shall remain so even if He handles me roughly in His embrace or makes me brokenhearted by not being present before me. He is completely free to do anything and everything, for He is always my worshipful Lord unconditionally. 8
