Chapter 2

The Siksastaka Prayers

The following summary study of the Twentieth Chapter is given by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu passed His nights tasting the meaning of Siksastaka in the company of Svarupa Damodara Gosvami and Ramananda Raya. Sometimes He recited verses from Jayadeva Gosvami's Gita-govinda, from Srimad-Bhagavatam, from Sri Ramananda Raya's jagannatha-vallabha-nataka or from Sri Bilvamangala Thakura's Krsna-karnamrta. In this way, He became absorbed in ecstatic emotions. For the twelve years Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu lived at Jagannatha Puri, He relished the taste of reciting such transcendental verses. The Lord was present in this mortal world for forty-eight years altogether. After hinting about the Lord's disappearance, the author of Caitanya-caritamrta gives a short description of the entire Antya-lila and then ends his book.

TEXT 1

TEXT

premodbhavita-harsersyod- vega-dainyarti-misritam lapitam gauracandrasya bhagyavadbhir nisevyate

TRANSLATION

Only the most fortunate will relish the mad words of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, which mixed with jubilation, envy, agitation, submissiveness and grief, all produced by ecstatic loving emotions.

TEXT 2

TEXT

jaya jaya gauracandra jaya nityananda jayadvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda

TRANSLATION

All glories to Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityananda! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu!

TEXT 3

TEXT

ei-mata mahaprabhu vaise nilacale rajani-divase krsna-virahe vihvale

TRANSLATION

While Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu thus resided at Jagannatha Puri [Nilacala], He was continuously overwhelmed, night and day, by separation from Krsna.

TEXT 4

TEXT

svarupa, ramananda,----ei duijana-sane ratri-dine rasa-gita-sloka asvadane

TRANSLATION

Day and night He tasted transcendental blissful songs and verses with two associates, namely Svarupa Damodara Gosvami and Ramananda Raya.

TEXT 5

TEXT

nana-bhava uthe prabhura harsa, soka, rosa dainyodvega-arti utkantha, santosa

TRANSLATION

He relished the symptoms of various transcendental emotions such as jubilation, lamentation, anger, humility, anxiety, grief, eagerness and satisfaction.

TEXT 6

TEXT

sei sei bhave nija-sloka padiya slokera artha asvadaye dui-bandhu lana

TRANSLATION

He would recite His own verses, expressing their meanings and emotions, and thus enjoy tasting them with these two friends.

TEXT 7

TEXT

kona dine kona bhave sloka-pathana sei sloka asvadite ratri-jagarana

TRANSLATION

Sometimes the Lord would be absorbed in a particular emotion and would stay awake all night reciting related verses and relishing their taste.

TEXT 8

TEXT

harse prabhu kahena,----"suna svarupa-rama-raya nama-sankirtana----kalau parama upaya

TRANSLATION

In great jubilation, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "My dear Svarupa Damodara and Ramananda Raya, know from Me that chanting of the holy names is the most feasible means of salvation in this age of Kali.

TEXT 9

TEXT

sankirtana-yajne kalau krsna-aradhana sei ta' sumedha paya krsnera carana

TRANSLATION

"In this age of Kali, the process of worshiping Krsna is to perform sacrifice by chanting the holy name of the Lord. One who does so is certainly very intelligent, and he attains shelter at the lotus feet of Krsna.

TEXT 10

TEXT

krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam sangopangastra-parsadam yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi sumedhasah

TRANSLATION

" 'In the age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the name of Krsna. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Krsna Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.'

TEXT 11

TEXT

nama-sankirtana haite sarvanartha-nasa sarva-subhodaya, krsna-premera ullasa

TRANSLATION

"Simply by chanting the holy name of Lord Krsna, one can be freed from all undesirable habits. This is the means of awakening all good fortune and initiating the flow of waves of love for Krsna.

TEXT 12

TEXT

ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam sreyah-kairava-candrika-vitaranam vidya-vadhu-jivanam anandambudhi-vardhanam prati-padam purnamrtasvadanam sarvatma-snapanam param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam

TRANSLATION

"Let there be all victory for the chanting of the holy name of Lord Krsna, which can cleanse the mirror of the heart and stop the miseries of the blazing fire of material existence. That chanting is the waxing moon that spreads the white lotus of good fortune for all living entities. It is the life and soul of all education. The chanting of the holy name of Krsna expands the blissful ocean of transcendental life. It gives a cooling effect to everyone and enables one to taste full nectar at every step.

TEXT 13

TEXT

sankirtana haite papa-samsara-nasana citta-suddhi, sarva-bhakti-sadhana-udgama

TRANSLATION

"By performing congregational chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra, one can destroy the sinful condition of material existence, purify the unclean heart and awaken all varieties of devotional service.

TEXT 14

TEXT

krsna-premodgama, premamrta-asvadana krsna-prapti, sevamrta-samudre majjana

TRANSLATION

"The result of chanting is that one awakens his love for Krsna and tastes transcendental bliss. Ultimately, one attains the association of Krsna and engages in His devotional service, as if immersing himself in a great ocean of love."

TEXT 15

TEXT

uthila visada, dainya,----pade apana-sloka yahara artha suni' saba yaya duhkha-soka

TRANSLATION

Lamentation and humility awoke within Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and He began reciting another of His own verses. By hearing the meaning of that verse, one can forget all unhappiness and lamentation.

TEXT 16

TEXT

namnam akari bahudha nija-sarva-saktis tatrarpita niyamitah smarane na kalah etadrsi tava krpa bhagavan mamapi durdaivam idrsam ihajani nanuragah

TRANSLATION

"My Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, in Your holy name there is all good fortune for the living entity, and therefore You have many names, such as Krsna and Govinda, by which You expand Yourself. You have invested all Your potencies in those names, and there are no hard and fast rules for remembering them. My dear Lord, although You bestow such mercy upon the fallen, conditioned souls by liberally teaching Your holy names, I am so unfortunate that I commit offenses while chanting the holy name, and therefore I do not achieve attachment for chanting.

TEXT 17

TEXT

aneka-lokera vancha----aneka-prakara krpate karila aneka-namera pracara

TRANSLATION

"Because people vary in their desires, You have distributed various holy names by Your mercy.

TEXT 18

TEXT

khaite suite yatha tatha nama laya kala-desa-niyama nahi, sarva siddhi haya

TRANSLATION

"Regardless of time or place, one who chants the holy name, even while eating or sleeping, attains all perfection.

TEXT 19

TEXT

"sarva-sakti name dila kariya vibhaga amara durdaiva,----name nahi anuraga!!"

TRANSLATION

"You have invested Your full potencies in each individual holy name, but I am so unfortunate that I have no attachment for chanting Your holy names."

TEXT 20

TEXT

ye-rupe la-ile nama prema upajaya tahara laksana suna, svarupa-rama-raya

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued, "O Svarupa Damodara Gosvami and Ramananda Raya, hear from Me the symptoms of how one should chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra to awaken very easily one's dormant love for Krsna.

TEXT 21

TEXT

trnad api sunicena taror iva sahisnuna amanina manadena kirtaniyah sada harih

TRANSLATION

"One who thinks himself lower than the grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who does not expect personal honor but is always prepared to give all respect to others can very easily always chant the holy name of the Lord.

TEXT 22

TEXT

uttama hana apanake mane trnadhama dui-prakare sahisnuta kare vrksa-sama

TRANSLATION

"These are the symptoms of one who chants the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. Although he is very exalted, he thinks himself lower than the grass on the ground, and like a tree, he tolerates everything in two ways.

TEXT 23

TEXT

vrksa yena katileha kichu na bolaya sukana maileha kare pani na magaya

TRANSLATION

"When a tree is cut down, it does not protest, and even when drying up, it does not ask anyone for water.

TEXT 24

TEXT

yei ye magaye, tare deya apana-dhana gharma-vrsti sahe, anera karaye raksana

TRANSLATION

"The tree delivers its fruits, flowers and whatever it possesses to anyone and everyone. It tolerates scorching heat and torrents of rain, yet it still gives shelter to others.

TEXT 25

TEXT

uttama hana vaisnava habe nirabhimana jive sammana dibe jani' 'krsna'-adhisthana

TRANSLATION

"Although a Vaisnava is the most exalted person, he is prideless and gives all respect to everyone, knowing everyone to be the resting place of Krsna.

TEXT 26

TEXT

ei-mata hana yei krsna-nama laya sri-krsna-carane tanra prema upajaya

TRANSLATION

"If one chants the holy name of Lord Krsna in this manner, he will certainly awaken his dormant love for Krsna's lotus feet."

TEXT 27

TEXT

kahite kahite prabhura dainya badila 'suddha-bhakti' krsna-thani magite lagila

TRANSLATION

As Lord Caitanya spoke in this way, His humility increased, and He began praying to Krsna that He could discharge pure devotional service.

TEXT 28

TEXT

premera svabhava----yahan premera sambandha sei mane,----'krsne mora nahi prema-gandha'

TRANSLATION

Wherever there is a relationship of love of Godhead, its natural symptom is that the devotee does not think himself a devotee. Instead, he always thinks that he has not even a drop of love for Krsna.

TEXT 29

TEXT

na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagadisa kamaye mama janmani jamanisvare bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi

TRANSLATION

"O Lord of the universe, I do not desire material wealth, materialistic followers, a beautiful wife or fruitive activities described in flowery language. All I want, life after life, is unmotivated devotional service to You.

TEXT 30

TEXT

dhana, jana nahi magon, kavita sundari 'suddha-bhakti' deha' more, krsna krpa kari'

TRANSLATION

"My dear Lord Krsna, I do not want material wealth from You, nor do I want followers, a beautiful wife or the results of fruitive activities. I only pray that by Your causeless mercy You give Me pure devotional service to You, life after life.

TEXT 31

TEXT

ati-dainye punah mage dasya-bhakti-dana apanare kare samsari jiva-abhimana

TRANSLATION

In great humility, considering Himself a conditioned soul of the material world, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu again expressed His desire to be endowed with service to the Lord.

TEXT 32

TEXT

ayi nanda-tanuja kinkaram patitam mam visame bhavambudhau krpaya tava pada-pankaja- sthita-dhuli-sadrsam vicintaya

TRANSLATION

"Oh, My Lord, O Krsna, son of Maharaja Nanda, I am Your eternal servant, but because of My own fruitive acts, I have fallen in this horrible ocean of nescience. Now please be causelessly merciful to Me. Consider Me a particle of dust at Your lotus feet.

TEXT 33

TEXT

"tomara nitya-dasa mui, toma pasariya padiyachon bhavarnave maya-baddha hana

TRANSLATION

"I am Your eternal servant, but I forgot Your Lordship. Now I have fallen in the ocean of nescience and have been conditioned by the external energy.

TEXT 34

TEXT

krpa kari' kara more pada-dhuli-sama tomara sevaka karon tomara sevana"

TRANSLATION

"Be causelessly merciful to Me by giving Me a place with the particles of dust at Your lotus feet so that I may engage in the service of Your Lordship as Your eternal servant."

TEXT 35

TEXT

punah ati-utkantha, dainya ha-ila udgama krsna-thani mage prema-nama-sankirtana

TRANSLATION

Natural humility and eagerness then awoke in Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He prayed to Krsna to be able to chant the maha-mantra in ecstatic love.

TEXT 36

TEXT

nayanam galad-asru-dharaya vadanam gadgada-ruddhaya gira pulakair nicitam vapuh kada, tava nama-grahane bhavisyati

TRANSLATION

"My dear Lord, when will My eyes be beautified by filling with tears that constantly glide down as I chant Your holy name? When will My voice falter and all the hairs on My body stand erect in transcendental happiness as I chant Your holy name?

TEXT 37

TEXT

"prema-dhana vina vyartha daridra jivana 'dasa' kari' vetana more deha prema-dhana"

TRANSLATION

"Without love of Godhead, My life is useless. Therefore I pray that You accept Me as Your servant and give Me the salary of ecstatic love of God."

TEXT 38

TEXT

rasantaravese ha-ila viyoga-sphurana udvega, visada, dainye kare pralapana

TRANSLATION

Separation from Krsna awoke various mellows of distress, lamentation and humility. Thus Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu spoke like a crazy man.

TEXT 39

TEXT

yugayitam nimesena caksusa pravrsayitam sunyayitam jagat sarvam govinda-virahena me

TRANSLATION

"My Lord Govinda, because of separation from You, I consider even a moment a great millennium. Tears flow from My eyes like torrents of rain, and I see the entire world as void.

TEXT 40

TEXT

udvege divasa na yaya 'ksana' haila 'yuga'-sama varsara megha-praya asru varise nayana

TRANSLATION

"In My agitation, a day never ends, for every moment seems like a millennium. Pouring incessant tears, My eyes are like clouds in the rainy season.

TEXT 41

TEXT

govinda-virahe sunya ha-ila tribhuvana tusanale pode,----yena na yaya jivana

TRANSLATION

"The three worlds have become void because of separation from Govinda. I feel as if I were burning alive in a slow fire.

TEXT 42

TEXT

krsna udasina ha-ila karite pariksana sakhi saba kahe,----'krsne kara upeksana'

TRANSLATION

"Lord Krsna has become indifferent to Me just to test My love, and My friends say,'Better to disregard Him.' "

TEXT 43

TEXT

eteka cintite radhara nirmala hrdaya svabhavika premara svabhava karila udaya

TRANSLATION

While Srimati Radharani was thinking in this way, the characteristics of natural love became manifest because of Her pure heart.

TEXT 44

TEXT

irsya, utkantha, dainya, praudhi, vinaya eta bhava eka-thani karila udaya

TRANSLATION

The ecstatic symptoms of envy, great eagerness, humility, zeal and supplication all became manifest at once.

TEXT 45

TEXT

eta bhave radhara mana asthira ha-ila sakhi-gana-age praudhi-sloka ye padila

TRANSLATION

In that mood, the mind of Srimati Radharani was agitated, and therefore She spoke a verse of advanced devotion to Her gopi friends.

TEXT 46

TEXT

sei bhave prabhu sei sloka uccarila sloka uccarite tad-rupa apane ha-ila

TRANSLATION

In the same spirit of ecstasy, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu recited that verse, and as soon as He did so, He felt like Srimati Radharani.

TEXT 47

TEXT

aslisya va pada-ratam pinastu mam adarsanan marma-hatam karotu va yatha tatha va vidadhatu lampato mat-prana-nathas tu sa eva naparah

TRANSLATION

"Let Krsna tightly embrace this maidservant, who has fallen at His lotus feet. Let Him trample Me or break My heart by never being visible to Me. He is a debauchee, after all, and can do whatever He likes, but He is still no one other than the worshipable Lord of My heart.

HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada