Samsara Davanala Lidha Loka
Sri Guru Devastakam; Sri Gurvastakam
saṁsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka-
trāṇāya kāruṇya-ghanāghanatvam
prāptasya kalyāṇa-guṇārṇavasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
Word for word
saḿsāra - (of) material existence; dāvā-anala - (by) the forest fire; līḍha - afflicted; loka - the people; trāṇāya - to deliver; kāruṇya - of mercy; ghanāghana-tvam - the quality of a cloud; prāptasya - who has obtained; kalyāṇa - auspicious; guṇa - (of) qualities; arṇavasya - who is an ocean; vande - I offer obeisances; guroḥ - of my spiritual master; śrī - auspicious; caraṇa - aravindam - unto the lotus feet.
The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities.
mahāprabhoḥ
kīrtana-nṛtya-gīta- vāditra-mādyan-manaso rasena romāñca -kampāśru-taraṅga-bhājo vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
Word for word
mahāprabhoḥ - of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kīrtana - (by) chanting; nṛtya - dancing; gīta - singing; vāditra - playing musical instruments; mādyat - gladdened; manasaḥ - whose mind; rasena - due to the mellows of pure devotion; roma-añca - standing of the hair; kampa - quivering of the body, aśru-tarańga - torrents of tears; bhājaḥ - who feels; vande - I offer obeisances; guroḥ - of my spiritual master; śrī - auspicious; caraṇa-aravindam - unto the lotus feet.
Chanting the holy name, dancing in ecstasy, singing, and playing musical instruments, the spiritual master is always gladdened by the sankirtana movement of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Because he is relishing the mellows of pure devotion within his mind, sometimes his hair stands on end, he feels quivering in his body, and tears flow from his eyes like waves. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
śrī-vigrahārādhana-nitya-nānā-
śṛṅgāra-tan-mandira-mārjanādau
yuktasya bhaktāṁś ca niyuñjato
'pi vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
Word for word
śrī-vigraha - (of) the arcā-vigraha (Deities), ārādhana - the worship; nitya - daily; nānā - (with) various; śṛńgāra - clothing and ornaments; tat - of the Lord; mandira - (of) the temple; mārjana-ādau - in the cleaning, etc.; yuktasya - who is engaged; bhaktān - his disciples; ca - and; niyuñjataḥ - who engages; api - also; vande - I offer obeisances; guroḥ - of my spiritual master; śrī - auspicious; caraṇa-aravindam - unto the lotus feet.
The spiritual master is always engaged in the temple worship of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. He also engages his disciples in such worship. They dress the Deities in beautiful clothes and ornaments, clean Their temple, and perform other similar worship of the Lord. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
catur-vidha-śrī-bhagavat-prasāda-
svādv-anna-tṛptān hari-bhakta-saṅghān
kṛtvaiva tṛptiṁ bhajataḥ sadaiva
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
Word for word
catuḥ - four; vidha - kinds; śrī - holy, bhagavat-prasāda - which have been offered to Kṛṣṇa; svādu - palatable; anna - (by) foods; tṛptān - spiritually satisfied; hari - (of) Kṛṣṇa; bhakta - sańghān - the devotees; kṛtvā - having made; eva - thus; tṛptim - satisfaction; bhajataḥ - who feels; sada - always; eva - certainly; vande - I offer obeisances; guroḥ - of my spiritual master; śrī - auspicious; caraṇa-aravindam - unto the lotus feet.
The spiritual master is always offering Krsna four kinds of delicious food [analyzed as that which is licked, chewed, drunk, and sucked]. When the spiritual master sees that the devotees are satisfied by eating bhagavat-prasada, he is satisfied. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
śrī-rādhikā-mādhavayor
apāra- mādhurya-līlā guṇa-rūpa-nāmnām prati-kṣaṇāsvādana-lolupasya vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
Word for word
śrī-rādhikā - (of) Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī; mādhavayoḥ - of Lord Mādhava (Kṛṣṇa); apāra - unlimited; mādhurya - conjugal; līlā - pastimes; guṇa - qualities; rūpa - forms; nāmnām - of the holy names; prati-kṣaṇa - at every moment; āsvādana - relishing; lolupasya - who aspires after; vande - I offer obeisances; guroḥ - of my spiritual master; śrī - auspicious; caraṇa-aravindam - unto the lotus feet.
The spiritual master is always eager to hear and chant about the unlimited conjugal pastimes of Radhika and Madhava, and Their qualities, names, and forms. The spiritual master aspires to relish these at every moment. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
nikuñja-yūno
rati-keli-siddhyai yā yālibhir yuktir apekṣaṇīyā tatrāti-dākṣyād ati-vallabhasya vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
Word for word
nikuñja-yūnaḥ - of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa; rati - (of) conjugal love; keli - (of) pastimes; siddhyai - for the perfection; yā yā - whatever; ālibhiḥ - by the gopīs; yuktiḥ - arrangements; apekṣaṇīyā - desirable; tatra - in that connection; ati-dākṣyāt - because of being very expert; ati-vallabhasya - who is very dear; vande - I offer obeisances; guroḥ - of my spiritual master; śrī - auspicious; caraṇa-aravindam - unto the lotus feet.
The spiritual master is very dear, because he is expert in assisting the gopis, who at different times make different tasteful arrangements for the perfection of Radha and Krsna's conjugal loving affairs within the groves of Vrndavana. I offer my most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
sākṣād-dharitvena
samasta-śāstrair uktas tathā bhāvyata eva sadbhiḥ kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
Word for word
sākṣāt - directly; hari-tvena - with the quality of Hari; samasta - all; śāstraiḥ - by scriptures; uktaḥ - acknowledged; tathā - thus bhāvyate - is considered; eva - also; sadbhiḥ - by great saintly persons; kintu - however; prabhoḥ - to the Lord; yaḥ - who; priyaḥ - dear; eva - certainly; tasya - of him (the guru); vande - I offer obeisances; guroḥ - of my spiritual master; śrī - auspicious; caraṇa-aravindam - unto the lotus feet.
The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord, because he is the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a bona fide representative of Sri Hari [Krsna].
yasya
prasādād bhagavat-prasādo yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto 'pi dhyāyan stuvaṁs tasya yaśas tri-sandhyaṁ vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
Word for word
yasya - of whom (the spiritual master); prasādāt - by the grace; bhagavat - (of) Kṛṣṇa; prasādaḥ - the mercy; yasya - of whom; aprasādāt - without the grace; na - not; gatiḥ - means of advancement; kutaḥ api - from anywhere; dhyāyan - meditating upon; stuvan - praising; tasya - of him (the spiritual master); yaśaḥ - the glory; tri-sandhyam - three times a day (sunrise, noon, and sunset); vande - I offer obeisances; guroḥ - of my spiritual master; śrī - auspicious; caraṇa-aravindam - unto the lotus feet
By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Krsna. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.
śrīmad-guror
aṣṭakam etad uccair brāhme
muhūrte paṭhati prayatnāt yas
tena vṛndāvana-nātha sākṣāt sevaiva
labhyā januṣo'nta eva
Word for word
śrīmad-guror aṣṭakam - the eight verses glorifying the spiritual master; etad - like this; uccaiḥ - very loudly; brāhme muhūrte - at the auspicious time of Brahma Muhurta; paṭhati - recites; prayatnāt - in great care; yaḥ tena - by that person; vṛndāvana-nātha - the Lord of Vrndavana; sākṣāt - personally; sevaiva - service; labhyā - gain; januṣo'nta - at the end of life; eva - certainly
One who, with great care and alteration, 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.
Translation
The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities.
Chanting the holy name, dancing in ecstasy, singing, and playing musical instruments, the spiritual master is always gladdened by the sankirtana movement of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Because he is relishing the mellows of pure devotion within his mind, sometimes his hair stands on end, he feels quivering in his body, and tears flow from his eyes like waves. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
The spiritual master is always engaged in the temple worship of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. He also engages his disciples in such worship. They dress the Deities in beautiful clothes and ornaments, clean Their temple, and perform other similar worship of the Lord. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
The spiritual master is always offering Krsna four kinds of delicious food [analyzed as that which is licked, chewed, drunk, and sucked]. When the spiritual master sees that the devotees are satisfied by eating bhagavat-prasada, he is satisfied. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
The spiritual master is always eager to hear and chant about the unlimited conjugal pastimes of Radhika and Madhava, and Their qualities, names, and forms. The spiritual master aspires to relish these at every moment. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
The spiritual master is very dear, because he is expert in assisting the gopis, who at different times make different tasteful arrangements for the perfection of Radha and Krsna's conjugal loving affairs within the groves of Vrndavana. I offer my most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
Notes
This is the song sung in Mangala Arotik in Gauidya Vaisnava organizations. It is sung in Kaherva Tala in the morning Bengali raga. PURPORT: By A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Prabhupada commentary
2This is a prayer to Lord Caitanya. The devotee is saying, "O Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, kindly show me Your causeless mercy." Śrī-kṛṣṅa-caitanya prabhu doyā koro more.
"Because You have come to deliver fallen souls, so You will not find the most fallen soul like me." This is the humble prayer. We should be conscious of our fallen condition and pray to the Lord in that way, that "My dear Lord, somehow or other I am fallen. Now kindly pick me up."
The substance of this song is like this. Of course, the language, Sanskrit, you may understand..., you may not understand, but the vibration will act. [end]
saṁsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka-
trāṅāya kāruṅya-ghanāghanatvam
prāptasya kalyāṅa-guṅārṅavasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṅāravindam
This song is offering obeisances particularly to the spiritual master, and the symptoms of the spiritual master are described in this prayer. The spiritual master has two kinds of symptoms in his activities. One kind is called constant, and other kind is called temporary.
So the first verse says that the constant symptom of the spiritual master is that he can deliver his disciple from the blazing fire of this material existence. That is the eternal qualification of spiritual master.
[break] Trāṅāya kāruṅya-ghanāghanatvam. Trāṅāya means for deliverance; kāruṅya means compassionate, very merciful. The spiritual master comes to the deliverance of the fallen souls out of his causeless mercy.
Nobody has any business for the sufferings of others. The best example is Lord Jesus Christ, that he suffered for others. And it is the principle, in the Bible, that he accepted all the sins of others. This is the sign of spiritual master, that he voluntarily accepts the sinful activities of others and delivers them. That is the qualification of spiritual master.