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A Glimpse Into the Path of Loving Attachment

Bhajan | Narottama Dasa Thakura

Verses

Verse 1

rāgera bhajana-patha kahi ebe abhimata

loka-beda-sāra ei bānī

sakhīra anūgā hañā braje siddha-deha pāñā

ei bhābe jūḍābe parānī

Verse 2

śrī rādhikāra sakhī jata tāhā bā kahiba kata

mūkhya sakhī kariye gaṇana

lalitā biśākhā tathā sūcitrā campakalatā

raṅgadevī sūdevī kathana

Verse 3

tūṅgabidyā indūrekhā ei aṣṭa-sakhī lekhā

ebe kahi narma–sakhī gaṇa

ihoṅ sebā saha carī priya-preṣṭha nāma dhari

prema sebā kare anūkṣaṇa

Verse 4

sama snehā biṣama snehā nā kariha dūi lekha

kahi mātra adhika snehā gaṇa

nirantara thāke sange kṛṣṇa kathā līlā range

narma sakhī ei sāba jana

Verse 5

śrī-rūpa-mañjarī sāra śrī-rati-mañjarī āra

labaṅga-mañjarī mañjūlalī

śrī-rasa-mañjarī-saṅge kasturikā-ādi raṅge

prema-sebā kare kūtūhalī

Verse 6

e-sabhara anūgā haiñā prema-sebā niba cāñā

iṅgite būjhiba saba kāje

rūpa gūṇa dagamagi sadā haba anūrāgī

basati kariba sakhī mājhe

Verse 7

bṛndābane dui jana cari-dike sakhī-gaṇa

samayera sebā rasa sūkhe

sakhīra iṅgita habe camara dhūlāba tabe

tāmbūla jogāba cāṅda-mūkhe

Verse 8

jūgala-caraṇa sebi niraṇtara ei bhābi

aṇūrāge thākiba sadāya

sādhane bhābiba jāhā siddha-dehe pāba tāhā

rāga pathera ei se upāya

Verse 9

sādhane je dhana cāi siddha-dehe tāhā pāi

pakwa pakwa mātra se bicāra

pākile se prema-bhakti apakwe sādhana rīti

bhakati-lakṣaṇa-tattva sāra

Verse 10

narottama dāse kahe ei jena mora haye

braja-pūre aṇūrage bāsa

sakhī-gaṇa-gaṇanāte āmāre gaṇibe tāte

tabahuṅ pūriba abhilāṣa

Verse 11

tathā hi-

sakhīnaṁ saṅginī-rūpām

atmānaṁ vāsanā-mayīm

ājñā-sevā-paraṁ tat-tat-

kṛpalankāra-bhusitām

Verse 12

kṛṣṇa smaran janaṁ cāsya

preṣṭhaṁ nija-samīhitam

tat-tat-kathā-rataś cāsau

kuryād vāsaṁ vraje sadā

Translation

Verse 1

Now, I will explain the process of worshipping the Supreme Lord through the path of attachment (rāgānugā bhakti). These statements are the essence and in accordance with the Vedas and the pure devotees. * One should serve the Lord in Braja following in the footsteps of the sakhīs with a suitable spiritual body. In this way, one’s soul will be cooled and satisfied.

Verse 2

The different types of sakhīs of Śrī Rādhikā are countless. Therefore, I will only describe the principal ones. Lalitā, Viśākhā, Sūcitrā, Champakalatā,Raṅgadevī, Sūdevī...

Verse 3

...Tuṅgavidyā, Indūrekhā are the eight principal sakhīs. They are the most beloved companions of Śrī Rādhikā and are constantly serving Their Lordships with profound love. They are most intimately associated with Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.

Verse 4

Leave aside the sakhīs of equal affection (sama-snehā) and of unequal affection (viṣama-snehā); here I speak only of those whose affection is greater (adhika-snehā). They remain always with Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, absorbed in talks of Kṛṣṇa and the joy of Their pastimes. All of them are called narma-sakhīs, the most confidential sakhīs.

Verse 5

The most beloved Śrī Rūpa Mañjarī along with Śrī Rasa Mañjarī, Labaṅga Mañjarī, Maṅjūlalī, Śrī Rati Mañjarī and Kasturikā Mañjarī, eagerly perform loving service to Their Lordships.

Verse 6

I will beg from these sakhīs the loving service to the Lord and understand the various required services simply by their gestures. I will be overwhelmed by the beauty and qualities of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, be always attached to Them and live amongst the sakhīs.

Verse 7

By the indication of the sakhīs, I will offer camara and betelnuts in the lotus mouths of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. The sakhīs, with Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa in their midst, are totally aware of the different services to be rendered at appropriate times.

Verse 8

I will constantly desire to serve the lotus feet of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa with loving attachment. Whatever I contemplate during the practice of devotional service, will certainly be achieved upon perfection in a spiritual body. This is the method on the path of attachment.

Verse 9

Whatever I aspire as a practitioner, I will surely receive in my spiritual body. It is only a consideration of immaturity or maturity. In the immature stage, it is called sādhana-bhakti or regulated devotional service. In the mature stage, it is called prema-bhakti or loving devotional service. This is the essence and truth of pure devotional service.

Verse 10

Narottama dāsa prays, “O my Lord, please allow me to live in Braja and count me as one of the sakhīs. Then only my desires will be fulfilled.”

Verse 11

Furthermore, one should meditate in this way: “I am a companion of the sakhīs and always absorbed in loving devotional service under their guidance. My body is decorated with various ornaments to please the mind of Kṛṣṇa”

Verse 12

The devotee should always think of Kṛṣṇa within himself, and one should choose a very dear devotee who is a servitor of Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana. One should constantly engage in topics about that servitor and his loving relationship to Kṛṣṇa, and one should live in Vṛndāvana. However, if one is physically unable to go to Vṛndāvana, he should mentally live there. (Bhakti-rāsāmṛta-sindhu 1.2.294)

TraditionBhajan
ComposerNarottama Dasa Thakura
SourcePrema Bhakti Chandrika
LanguagesEnglish, Hindi
Verses12 verses

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