Prārthanā · Songs 1-9

Text 1

When will that opportune moment come to us when there will be shivering of the body as soon as we chant Lord Gauranga's name? While chanting Hare Krsna, when will there be tears in the eyes?

Text 2

When will I obtain the mercy of Lord Nityanandacandra? When, by His mercy, will the desire for material enjoyment become very insignificant?

Text 3

When the mind is completely purified, being freed from material anxieties and desires, then I shall be able to understand Vrndavana and the conjugal of Radha and Krsna, and then my spiritual life will be successful.

Text 4

When shall I be very much eager to study the books left by the Six Gosvamis, headed by Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami? By their instruction I shall be able to properly understand the loving affairs of Radha and Krsna.

Text 5

My only aspiration is to attain the lotus feet of the Six Gosvamis headed by Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. Narottama dasa constantly prays to attain their lotus feet.

Text 1

O Radha and Krsna, this person presents an appeal before you. You are both very chamring and full of nectar, and Your hearts are full of compassion. My Lords, please listen to my request.

Text 2

O dark-complexioned Krsna, O moon of Gokula, O lover of the gopis, O golden-complexioned Radha, O crest-jewel of the gopis who are so dear to Krsna, please hear my glorification of Your transcendental virtues, and please accept the offering of my entire life that I place before You. Please let my appeal touch Your ears.

Text 3

O My Lords, the narration of Your transcendental glories is like a ferryboat which enables the devotees to cross beyond the three material worlds. O my Lords, You are very merciful to this fallen and misdirected person. Please listen to this appeal from the mouth of Your devotee. Let his words touch Your ears. Please do not neglect me.

Text 4

O Radha, all glories to You. O Krsna all glories to You. O Radha and Krsna, all glories, all glories to You. O Krsna, O Krsna, all glories to You, O Radha, all glories to You. Narottama dasa places His folded hands upon his head, and falls to the ground before You. Please fulfill the desires of his heart.

Text 1

O Lord Hari, Lord Hari, how slow I am! I refuse to worship the lotus feet of Radha and Krsna in Vrajabhumi even for half a moment, and I am completely unable to understand the mellows of transcendental love.

Text 2

Even for half a moment I will not worship the lotus feet of Srila Svarupa Damodara Gosvami, Srila Sanatana Gosvami, Srila Rupa Gosvami, Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Srila Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, Srila Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, Srila Bhugarbha Gosvami, Srila Jiva Srila, and Srila Lokanatha Gosvami. How will it be possible for me to attain my desire?

Text 3

Among the devotees Krsnadasa Kaviraja is extremely expert at relishing the transcendental nectar of the mellows of love of God. When the stones hear his Caitanya-caritamrta and Govinda-lilamrta, they begin to melt in ecstasy. In spite of this, I cannot appreciate him within my heart.

Text 4

Furthermore, I refuse even to associate with the friends and companions of these great souls. How sad is my tale. I have spent my life uselessly. Fie, fie on this Narottama dasa.

Text 1

hari--O Lord Hari, Lord Hari, I have spent my life uselessly. Although I have obtained a human birth, I have refused to worship Radha and Krsna, and in this way I have knowingly drunk poison.

Text 2

The treasure of love of God has descended from the spiritual world of goloka Vrndavana, appearing in this world as the sankirtana movement of the chanting of Lord Hari's holy names. Why am I not attracted to it? Day and night I burn from the poison of material existance, but still I refuse to take the antidote.

Text 3

Lord Krsna, the prince of Vraja has appeared as Lord Caitanya, the son of Saci- devi, and Lord Balarama appeared as Lord Nityananda. Those who were most fallen and degraded have become lifted from their fallen condition by the chanting of the holy Name of Lord Hari. The story of Jagai and Madhai testifies to the truth of this.

Text 4

O Lord Krsna, O son of Maharaja Nanda, O companion of Srimati Radharani, the daughter of Maharaja Vrsabhanu, please be merciful to me. Now that I have finally attained Your reddish lotus feet, please do not push me away. Except for You, who is my shelter?

Text 1

O master of my life, this person places an appeal before You. O Govinda, O moon of Gokula, O source of all transcendental bliss, O beloved of the gopis, please cast Your glance upon me.

Text 2

O my Lord, You are an ocean of mercy, and the service of Your lotus feet are my constant treasure. Hearing Your supremely auspicious glories is the greatest nectar for the ears. If You bestow Your mercy, then what difficult task cannot be accomplished?

Text 3

I wander through this world of suffering, my mind fixed on the objects of the senses which bring only pain, and my chest pierced by the javelin of forgetfulness of You. My body and mind are withered and shattered, and from moment I become unconscious. Immersed in pain, I am like a living corpse.

Text 4

Please give me Your merciful glance. Make me Your servant, and allow me to stay in Vrndavana. That goledn-complexioned person who bears the name Sri Krsna Caitanya is my master, Narottama dasa takes shelter of Him.

Text 1

O Lord Hari, O Lord Hari, please give me shelter at Your feet. Lust and anger are the leaders of the group of six men who impell me to wander here and there in the attempt to enjoy varieties of sense-gratification.

Text 2

I am full of material desires and I have become the servant of material illusion. My memory of You has fled far asay. Disguised as a Vaisnava I wander from house to house, motivated by the desire to accumulate wealth.

Text 3

In this town of Vraja, which is situated beyond all these sufferings, You have tied me about the neck with your rope of mercy. Seeing this outrage, the illusory energy loosened those ropes and again threw my into the well of material existence.

Text 4

If You are again merciful You will grasp this person by the hair, rescue him from illusion's well, and place him in the abode of Vraja. Seeing that the Lord placed him in an auspicious condition of life, whereas otherwise his life would have perished, the poor and fallen Narottama dasa sings this song.

Text 1

O Lord Hari, O Lord Hari, a great javelin has pierced me in the core of the heart. Having attained this difficult to get human body, I have neglected the worship of Sri Krsna, and in this way my life has become useless.

Text 2

Although Lord Hari, the prince of Vraja, has descended in Navadvipa and filled the universe with pure love of God, I remain very sinful at heart, cruel, and merciless.

Text 3

My mind refuses to think of Srila Svarupa Damodara Gosvami, Srila Sanatana Gosvami, Srila Rupa Gosvami, Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Srila Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, Srila Gopala Bhatta Gosvami. I decline to make my residence in Vrndavana-dhama, the abode full of transcendental cintamani gems.

Text 4

My mind is absorbed in sense-gratification, and I do not take pleasure in the association of devotees. For this reason pain and regret arise within my heart. Narottama dasa says: It is not good to live without serving the spiritual master and the Vaisnavas.

Text 1

O Lord Hari, Lord Hari, everything that I do is inauspicious. I have uselessly wasted my life, and I have no love for You. It is as if my heart were pierced by a sharp javelin.

Text 2

Vedic sacrifices, charity, bathing in holy places of pilgrimage, pious deeds, mantra-chanting, and meditation, are all useless and illusory. When I think of these things laughter arises within my mind. Engaging in these activities without performing devotional service is like placing valuable ornaments on a body colthed in rags.

Text 3

Although I sometimes hear the nectarean message of Godhead from the mouths of the devotees, because I commit so many offenses, I do not become purified. I continually associate with non-devotees, and in this way all my spiritual advancement is broken apart. Furthermore, death will soon appear on my horizon.

Text 4

Although I have repeatedly heard the Sruti and Smrti scriptures' declaration that one should take shelter of the Lord Hari's lotus feet in order to become fearless, nevertheless I refuse to happily chant the holy name of Lord Krsna, and I decline to meditate on His transcendental form.

Text 5

I shall now concentrate my mind on the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna, and all my material desires will flee far away. Narottama dasa says---Now that I have fixed my mind on Sri Sri Radha and Krsna, I am no longer afraid of my future.

Text 1

O Lord Hari, O Lord Hari, when will this day be mine? When will I see Your lotus feet? When will I drectly serve Your lotus feet? When will I touch Your lotus feet?

Text 2

When, in the association of Lalita and Visakha, will I be able to directly serve You; When will I be albe to spend my days making garlands for You? When will I be able to fill a golden casket with camphor and betel-nuts, and then place these betel-nuts directly in Your mouth?

Text 3

Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, and Their abode of Vrndavana are the valuable treasure of my life. It is they who sustain me. O deliverer of the fallen, please give this treasure to me, for I have no one to turn to, except for You.

Text 4

O my spiritual master, O ocean of mercy, O friend of the fallen , O Lokanatha Gosvami, O life of the people, O master, please be merciful to me. Please give me the shade of your lotus feet. Narottama dasa takes shelter of you.