Sri Sri Corastakam.
Painting by Vishnudas www.krishnaland.com
(The song about the Thief)
This song by Sri Bilvamangala Thakura expresses the sweet relationship between the devotee and Krsna, who purifies His devotee. It also highlights the special potency of Krsna’s holy name. (1) I offer my obeisances to that foremost of thieves – who is famous in Vraja as the butter-thief and who steals the gopis’ clothes, and who, for those who take shelter of Him, steals the sins which have accrued over many lifetimes. (2) I offer my obeisances to the foremost of thieves – who steals Srimati Radhika’s heart, who steals the dark luster of a fresh raincloud, and who steals all the sins and sufferings of those who take shelter of His feet. (3) He turns His surrendered devotees into paupers and wandering homeless beggars – Aho! Such a fearsome thief has never been seen or heard of in all the three worlds. (4) Mere utterance of His name purges one of a mountain of sins – such an astonishingly wonderful thief I have never seen or heard of anywhere!
(5) O Thief! Having stolen my wealth, my honor, my senses, my life and my everything, where can You run to? I have caught You with the rope of my devotion! (6) You cut the terrible noose of Yamaraja, You sever the dreadful noose of material existence, and You slash everyone’s material bondage, but You are unable to cut the knot fastened by Your own loving devotees. (7) O stealer of my everything! O Thief! Today I have imprisoned You in the miserable prison-house of my heart which is very fearful due to the terrible darkness of my ignorance. And there, for a very long time, You will remain, receiving appropriate punishment for Your crimes of thievery! (8) O Krsna, thief of my everything! The noose of my devotion remaining forever tight, You will continue to reside in the prison-house of my heart because I will not release You for millions of eons.