Gurvastakam

Cintamani-dhama dasi: My husband Krishna Dharma das is working on a project to render many of our popular bhajans into English verse that can be sung to the traditional ragas. We find that they help us better enter the mood of the song when they are sung in accompaniment with the original Sanskrit or Bengali lyrics, i.e. first sing the original verse and then the English.

Here is a sample, the Gurvastakam

More will be added in time

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Cintamani-dhama dasi

samsara-davanala-lidha-loka-
tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatwam
praptasya kalyana-gunarnavasya
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam

Within this fire of worldly existence,
the guru’s mercy falls like a cooling rain,
drawn from the Lord to extinguish all our pain,
To his auspicious feet I pay obeisance.

mahapraboh kirtana-nritya-gita-
vaditra-madyan-manaso rasena
romancha-kampashru-taranga-bhajo
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam

In divine bliss he trembles, chants and dances,
with streams of tears and instruments in hand.
Enthused by Lord Chaitanya’s sankirtan,
to his auspicious feet I pay obeisance.

sri- vigraharadhana-nitya-nana
shringaira-tan-mandira-marjanadau
yuktasya bhaktamsh cha niyunjato pi
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam

Dressing the deities in full resplendence,
He cleans their temple in total reverence.
Engaging us in such subservience.
To his auspicious feet I pay obeisance.

chatur-vidha-sri-bhagavat-prasada-
swadv-anna-triptan hari-bhakta-sanghan
kritwaiva triptim bhajatah sadaiva
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam

Offering Krishna foodstuff in abundance,
of every type and taste ambrosial.
Pleased when the prasadam is placed before all.
To his auspicious feet I pay obeisance.

sri-radhika-madhavayor apara-
madhurya-lila-guna-rupa-namnam
prati-kshanaswadana-lolupasya
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam

Eager to hear of Radha Krishna’s romance,
and ever speak of their supreme splendour.
Aspiring to be in this always absorbed.
To his auspicious feet I pay obeisance.

nikunja-yuno rati-keli-siddhyai
ya yalibhir yuktir apekshaniya
tatrati-dakshyad ati-vallabhasya
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam

Dear to the Lord for his expert assistance,
shown to the gopis in their affairs of love,
with Radha Krishna within Vrindavan’s groves.
To his auspicious feet I pay obeisance.

sakshad-dharitvena samasta-shastrair
uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhihi
kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam

Worthy of worship in highest exultance.
Declared divine by all authority.
Due to the Lord’s loving proximity.
To his auspicious feet I pay obeisance.

yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado
yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto ‘pi
dhyayan stuvams tasya yashas trisandhyam
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam

By his grace we gain divine benevolence.
Without his grace no progress can be made.
Always I offer him all accolade.
To his auspicious feet I pay obeisance.

Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakur says, ‘One who, with great care and attention, loudly recites this beautiful prayer to the spiritual master during the Brahma-muhurta obtains direct service to Krsna, the Lord of Vrndavana, at the time of his death.’