31, Suddha-bhakata charana-renu - Accepting the Favourable | Saranagati

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SARANAGATI (SURRENDER) | Sri Laghu-chandrika-bhasya

Anukulyatmika: Accepting the Favourable

(Song 31)

suddha-bhakata charana-renu,
bhajana-anukula
bhakata-seva, parama-siddhi,
prema-latikara mula [1]

suddha–pure; bhakata–of devotees; charana–of the feet; renu–dust; bhajana–devotion; anukula–favourable; bhakata–to the devotees; seva–service; parama–supreme; siddhi–fulfilment; prema–divine love; latikara–of the creeper; mula–the root. [1]

(1) Pure devotees' foot-dust is favourable to devotion. Service to the devotees is the supreme fulfilment and the root of the creeper of prema.

(1) suddha-bhakata charana-renu: "Pure devotees' foot-dust." In Srimad Bhagavatam (5.12.12), Jada Bharat advises:

rahuganaitat tapasa na yati
na chejyaya nirvapanad grhad va
na chchhandasa naiva jalagni-suryair
vina mahat-pada-rajo 'bhisekam

"O Maharaj Rahugan, regardless of whether one engages in austerities, performs worship according to scriptural guidelines, takes sannyas, follows the religious principles of household life, studies the Vedas, or worships the deities of the natural elements, one can never attain devotion without bathing in the foot-dust of pure devotees."

Additionally, in Sri Chaitanya-charitamrta (Antya-lila, 16.60), it is explained:

bhakta-pada-dhuli ara bhakta-pada-jala
bhakta-bhukta-sesa—ei tina sadhanera bala

"The dust of the devotees' feet, the water that has washed the devotees' feet, and the devotees' food remnants—honouring these gives one strength to engage in devotional practices."

madhava-tithi, bhakti-janani,
yatane palana kari
krsna-vasati, vasati bali',
parama adare bari [2]

madhava-tithi–holy days which are especially related to Hari, such as Sri Harivasar (Ekadasi), the appearance day of Krishna, and so on; bhakti–of devotion; janani–the mother; yatane–with care; palana–observe; kari–I do; krsna–of Krishna; vasati (sri dhama)–holy abode; vasati–my dwelling place; bali'–considering; parama–great; adare–with adoration; bari (varana kari)–I choose, accept. [2]

(2) I carefully observe the holy days related to Madhava; they are the mother of devotion. With great adoration, I embrace Krishna's abode as my own.

gaura amara, ye saba sthane,
karala bhramana range
se saba sthana, heriba ami,
pranayi-bhakata-sange [3]

gaura–Gaurasundar; amara–my; ye–which; saba–all; sthane–in the places; karala–did; bhramana–tour; range (lilaya)–during Pastimes; se–those; saba–all; sthana–places; heriba–will behold ami–I; pranayi–loving; bhakata–of devotees; sange–in the company. [3]

(3) In the company of loving devotees, I behold all the places my Gaurasundar visited during His Pastimes.

mrdanga-vadya, sunite mana,
avasara sada yache
gaura-vihita, kirtana suni',
anande hrdaya nache [4]

mrdanga–of the clay drum; vadya–sound; sunite–to hear; mana–heart; avasara (suyoga)–opportunity; sada–always; yache–begs; gaura–by Sri Gaurasundar; vihita (anumata)–prescribed; kirtana–the musical glorification; suni'–hearing; anande–with joy; hrdaya–heart; nache–dances. [4]

(4) My heart always begs for the opportunity to hear the sound of the mrdanga. Hearing the kirtan prescribed by Sri Gaurasundar, my heart dances with joy.

yugala-murti, dekhiya mora,
parama-ananda haya
prasada-seva karite haya,
sakala prapancha jaya [5]

yugala–of the Divine Couple; murti–Deity form; dekhiya–beholding; mora–my; parama–great; ananda–joy; haya–happens; prasada–of the remnants of food offerings; seva–service; karite–in doing; haya–happens; sakala–all; prapancha (pancha-bhuta nirmita jagat)–the universe made of the five material elements; jaya–conquest. [5]

(5) Beholding the Deity forms of the Divine Couple, I feel great joy. By honouring prasad, I overcome the entire material creation.

ye dina grhe, bhajana dekhi,
grhete goloka bhaya
charana-sidhu, dekhiya ganga,
sukha na sima paya [6]

ye–which; dina–days; grhe–in house; bhajana–devotional service; dekhi–I see; grhete–within house; goloka—the spiritual abode of Krishna; bhaya (anubhuta haya)–is experienced; charana-sidhu (sri-charanamrta)–the nectar of the feet of the Lord; dekhiya–seeing; ganga–river Ganges; sukha–happiness; na–no; sima–limit; paya–obtains. [6]

(6) On days when I see devotional service going on within my home, I feel that Goloka has manifested there. Seeing the Ganges, the river of nectar that emanates from the Lord's feet, my happiness has no limit.

tulasi dekhi' judaya prana,
madhava-tosani jani'
gaura-priya saka sevane,
jivana sarthaka mani [7]

tulasi–the dearmost plant of Krishna; dekhi'–seeing; judaya–relieves; prana–my heart; madhava-tosani (Gaura-krsna-priya)–pleasing to Madhava (pleasing to Sri Gaura Krishna); jani'–knowing; gaura–of Sri Gaurasundar; priya–dear, favourite; saka–preparations of leafy greens; sevane–by serving; jivana–my life; sarthaka (saphala)–successful; mani–I consider. [7]

(7) Seeing Tulasi Devi relieves my heart, for I know she is pleasing to Madhava. By honouring sak, a favourite of Sri Gaurasundar, I consider my life successful.

(7) gaura-priya saka: "Sak, a favourite of Sri Gaurasundar."

ai jane—prabhura santosa bada sake

(Sri Chaitanya-bhagavat: Antya-lila, 4.279)

"Sachi Devi knows the Lord is greatly pleased by sak, preparations of leafy greens."

bhakati-vinoda, krsna-bhajane,
anukula paya yaha
prati-divase, parama-sukhe,
svikara karaye taha [8]

bhakati-vinoda–Bhakti Vinod; krsna–of Krishna; bhajane–for the service; anukula–favourable; paya–obtains; yaha–whatever; prati–every; divase–on the day; parama–great; sukhe–with happiness; svikara (angikara)–acceptance; karaye–does; taha–that. [8]