Stotras - vedic sanskrit prayers to the Lord

ŚRĪ GADĀDHARĀṢṬAKAM -- A Sanskrit Prayer glorifying Gadādhara Paṇḍit, written by Mahāprabhu's associate, Svarūp Dāmodara Gosvāmī.

|| श्री गदाधराष्टकम् ||
Śrī Gadādharāṣṭakam

Eight Prayers Glorifying Gadādhara Prabhu
by Śrīla Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī

[Translated from Śrī Gauḍīya-stotra-ratna-mālā]
- English with word-to-word translation -

 

Text 1
sva-bhaktiyoga-lāsinaṁ sadā vraje vihāriṇaṁ
hari-priyā-gaṇāgragaṁ śacī-suta-priyeśvaram
sa-rādhā-kṛṣṇa-sevana-prakāśakaṁ mahāśayaṁ
bhajāmy ahaṁ gadādharaṁ supaṇḍitaṁ guruṁ prabhum

sadā—always; lāsinam—sporting; bhakti-yoga—in loving devotional service; sva—(Her) own; vihāriṇaṁ—(as She) wanders; vraje—in Vraja; agra-gam—the leader; gaṇa—of the associates; hari-priyā—(damsels) beloved to Śrī Hari; īśvaram—the master; śacī-suta-priya—of those dear to the son of Śacī; sevana-prakāśakam—the manifester of the service; sa-rādhā-kṛṣṇa—to Śrī Kṛṣṇa together with Śrī Rādhā; mahāśayam—magnanimous; ahaṁ bhajāmi—I worship; gadādharaṁ—Śrī Gadādhara; su—the excellent; paṇḍitam—paṇḍita (one who is well-versed in the essence of the śāstras); gurum—the dispeller of ignorance; prabhum—worshipable.

That personality who eternally wanders in Vraja while playfully performing Her own loving devotional service, (in other words, Śrī Rādhā, who is non-different from Śrī Gadādhara Prabhu) is the chief among the beloved damsels of Śrī Hari. As the foremost of the beloved associates of the son of Śacī (in other words, Śrī Gadādhara Prabhu), he reveals the process of service to Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. I worship that magnanimous, exalted paṇḍita and guru, Śrī Gadādhara Prabhu. (1)

Text 2
navojjvalādi-bhāvanā-vidhāna-karma-pāragaṁ
vicitra-gaura-bhakti-sindhu-rasabhaṅga-lāsinam
su-rāga-mārga-darśakaṁ vrajādi-vāsa-dāyakaṁ
bhajāmy ahaṁ gadādharaṁ supaṇḍitaṁ guruṁ prabhum

pāragam—fully conversant; vidhāna-karma—in the process of manifesting; bhāvanā—the conceptions and moods of; nava—on the ever-new; ujjvalādi rasa—the brilliantly effulgent madhura and other (sakhya, vātsalya) rasas; lāsinam—playing; rasabhaṅga—in the waves of devotion to Śrī Gaurahari; darsakam—revealer; su-rāga-mārga—of the foremost path of spontaneous devotion; dāyakam—bestower; vāsa—of residence; vraja-ādi—within the dhāmas such as Śrī Vraja and Navadvīpa; ahaṁ bhajāmi—I worship; gadādharaṁ—Śrī Gadādhara; su—the excellent; paṇḍitam—paṇḍita (one who is well-versed in the essence of the śāstras); gurum—the dispeller of ignorance; prabhum—worshipable.

He is fully conversant with the process of manifesting the conceptions and moods of ever-fresh ujjvala-madhura and other rasas. He is fully absorbed in sporting in the waves of rasa within the ocean of astonishingly variegated loving devotion to Śrī Gaurahari. He is the revealer of the foremost path of rāga-bhakti, and the bestower of residence in Śrī Hari’s holy abodes, headed by Vraja. I worship that exalted paṇḍita and guru, Śrī Gadādhara Prabhu. (2)

Text 3
śacī-sutāṅghri-sāra-bhakta-vṛnda-vandya-gauravaṁ
gaura-bhāva-citta-padma-madhya-kṛṣṇa-suvallabham
mukunda-gaura-rūpiṇaṁ sva-bhāva-dharma-dāyakaṁ
bhajāmy ahaṁ gadādharaṁ supaṇḍitaṁ guruṁ prabhum

gauravam—venerated; vandya—and worshipable; bhakta-vṛnda—by the multitude of devotees; sāra—the very essence of whose life; śacīsuta-aṅghri—is (their service) to the lotus feet of Śacī-suta; kṛṣṇa—Kṛṣṇa (who is situated); madhya—in the midst; citta-padma—of the lotus heart; gaura—of Śrī Gaura; bhāva—which is saturated with bhāva; suvallabham—is his most beloved and his very life; mukunda—to Mukunda; gaura-rūpiṇam—in His golden form; dāyakam—bestower; sva bhāva-dharma—the nature of his own moods (loving devotion to Kṛṣṇa); ahaṁ bhajāmi—I worship; gadādharaṁ—Śrī Gadādhara; su—the excellent; paṇḍitam—paṇḍita (one who is well-versed in the essence of the śāstras); gurum—the dispeller of ignorance; prabhum—worshipable.

He is venerated and worshipped by the multitude of devotees who have taken exclusive shelter of the lotus feet of the son of Mother Śacī. Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is splendidly situated within Śrī Gaurahari’s lotus heart, which is saturated with bhāva, is alone his dearmost beloved and very life. Śrī Gadādhara Prabhu has bestowed upon Mukunda, in His golden form as Śrī Gaurahari, the nature of the moods of his own heart—in other words, Śrī Rādhā’s loving devotion to Śrī Kṛṣṇa. I worship that exalted paṇḍita and guru, Śrī Gadādhara Prabhu. (3)

Text 4
nikuñja-sevanādika-prakāśanaika-kāraṇaṁ
sadā sakhī-rati-pradaṁ mahā-rasa-svarūpakaṁ
sadāśritāṅghri-paṅkajaṁ śarīri-sad-guruṁ varaṁ
bhajāmy ahaṁ gadādharaṁ supaṇḍitaṁ guruṁ prabhum

eka-kāraṇam—whose sole purpose; prakāśana—is to manifest; nikuñja-sevana-ādika—the rendering of sevā and so forth to Yugala-Kiśora in the nikuñja; sadā—(who) always; sakhī-rati-pradam—bestows rati according to the moods and services of Śrīmatī Rādhikā’s sakhīs; mahā-rasa-svarūpakam—who is the original form of the mahā-rasa; aṅghri-paṅkajam—whose lotus feet; āśrita—are taken shelter of; sadā—always; śarīri-sad-gurum—who is the embodi-ment of the sad-guru; varam—most exalted; ahaṁ bhajāmi—I worship; gadādharaṁ—Śrī Gadādhara; su—the excellent; paṇḍitam—paṇḍita (one who is wellversed in the essence of the śāstras); gurum—the dispeller of ignorance; prabhum—worshipable.

His sole purpose is to manifest the nature of service (to Śrī Śrī Yugala-Kiśora) within the secret forest groves. He always bestows rati for the moods and services of Śrīmatī Rādhikā’s sakhīs. He is the original form of the foremost madhura-rasa. As the best of perfected gurus, he always provides the protection of his lotus feet to those who take his shelter. I worship that exalted paṇḍita and guru, Śrī Gadādhara Prabhu. (4)

Text 5
mahāprabhor mahā-rasa-prakāśanāṅkuraṁ priyaṁ
sadā mahā-rasāṅkura-prakāśanādi-vāsanāṁ
mahāprabhor vrajāṅganādi-bhāva-moda-kārakaṁ
bhajāmy ahaṁ gadādharaṁ supaṇḍitaṁ guruṁ prabhum

priyam—beloved; mahāprabhoḥ—of Mahāprabhu; aṅkuram—sprout; mahā-rasa-prakāśana—which manifests the topmost amorous rasa; sadā vāsanām—always desirous of; prakāśana-ādi—manifesting, etc.; aṅkura—(the svarūpa of) the sprout; mahā-rasa—of the foremost mādhura-rasa; kārakam—whose purpose (is to); bhāva-moda—approve the delight of conjugal moods; vrajāṅganā-ādi—of the wives of the Vraja gopas; mahāprabhoḥ—as relished by Mahāprabhu; ahaṁ bhajāmi—I worship; gadādharaṁ—Śrī Gadādhara; su—the excellent; paṇḍitam—paṇḍita (one who is well-versed in the essence of the śāstras); gurum—the dispeller of ignorance; prabhum—worshipable.

He is dear to Mahāprabhu for having become the sprout that burgeoned into [the tree of] mahā-rasa—the topmost madhura-rasa. At the same time, he always desires to assist in nourishing the sprout of that mahā-rasa [in the heart of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu], and he therefore gives pleasure to Him by assisting Him in relishing the bhāvas of the vraja-gopīs. I worship that exalted paṇḍita and guru, Śrī Gadādhara Prabhu. (5)

Text 6
dvijendra-vṛnda-vandya-pāda-yugma-bhakti-vardhakaṁ
nijeṣu rādhikātmatā-vapuḥ-prakāśanāgraham
aśeṣa-bhakti-śāstra-śikṣayojjvalāmṛta-pradaṁ
bhajāmy ahaṁ gadādharaṁ supaṇḍitaṁ guruṁ prabhum

vandya—worshipable; dvijendra-vṛnda—by the host of exalted brāhmaṇas; vardhakam—who increases; bhakti—devotion; pāda-yugma—unto the two feet (of Śrī Hari); nijeṣu—to those dear to him; āgraham—(he is) determined; prakāśana—to reveal; vapuḥ—his form; rādhikā-ātmatā—as the personification of (as non-different from) Śrī Rādhikā; aśeṣa-bhakti-śāstra—out of the limitless bhakti-śāstra; pradam—who bestows; amṛta—the immortal nectar; śikṣayā—of the instructions; ujjvala—on the ujjvala-rasa (the blazing mellow of amorous love); ahaṁ bhajāmi—I worship; gadādharaṁ—Śrī Gadādhara; su—the excellent; paṇḍitam—paṇḍita (one who is well-versed in the essence of the śāstras); gurum—the dispeller of ignorance; prabhum—worshipable.

He promotes bhakti unto Śrī Gaurahari’s lotus feet, which are always worshipped by the host of exalted brāhmaṇas. He is eager to reveal his own form as non-different from Śrīmatī Rādhikā to those who are dear to him (his personal associates). He bestows the immortal nectar of ujjvalarasa through his instructions, which are extracted from the limitless bhakti-śāstras. I worship that exalted paṇḍita and guru, Śrī Gadādhara Prabhu. (6)

Text 7
mudā nija-priyādika-sva-pāda-padma-sīdhubhir
mahārasārṇavāmṛta-pradeṣṭa-gaura-bhaktidam
sadāṣṭa-sāttvikānvitaṁ nijeṣṭa-bhakti-dāyakaṁ
bhajāmy ahaṁ gadādharaṁ supaṇḍitaṁ guruṁ prabhum

mudā—out of gladness; nija-priya-ādika—unto those who are dear to his heart; sva-pāda-padma—of his lotus feet; sīdhubhiḥ—by the nectar; mahārasa-arṇava—of the great ocean of rasa; amṛta—nectar; prada—to be bestowed; iṣṭa—that which is dearly desired; gaura—unto Śrī Gaurahari; bhaktidam—bestows devotion; sadā—always; aṣṭa-sāttvika—of the eight sāttvika-bhāvas; anvitaṁ—together with; nija-iṣṭa—unto His iṣṭa-deva (Śrī Gopīnātha); bhakti-dāyakam—He is the bestower of devotion; ahaṁ bhajāmi—I worship; gadādharaṁ—Śrī Gadādhara; su—the excellent; paṇḍitam—paṇḍita (one who is well-versed in the essence of the śāstras); gurum—the dispeller of ignorance; prabhum—worshipable.

He joyfully bestows upon his dear associates the ambrosia of his lotus feet, together with the nectar emanating from the great ocean of madhura-rasa and his own cherished devotion (gaura-bhakti) to Śrī Gaurahari. He is always ornamented with the eight transformations of ecstacy (aṣṭa-sāttvika-vikāras), and he awards devotion to his iṣṭadeva (Śrī Gopīnātha). I worship that exalted paṇḍita and guru, Śrī Gadādhara Prabhu. (7)

Text 8
yadīya-rīti-rāga-raṅga-bhaṅga-digdha-mānaso
naro ’pi yāti tūrṇam eva nāryabhāva-bhājanam
tam ujjvalākta-cittam etu citta-matta-ṣaṭpado
bhajāmy ahaṁ gadādharaṁ supaṇḍitaṁ guruṁ prabhum

naraḥ api—even a man; mānasaḥ—mind; digdha—is immersed; raṅga-bhaṅga—in the pleasurable waves; yadīya—of his; rīti—practices; rāga—of rāga; tūrṇam—quickly; eva—certainly; yāti—attains; bhājanam—becoming recipient (of qualification to worship Hari); nārya-bhāva—imbued with the bhāva of the vraja-nārīs (gopīs); citta—his mind; matta—(thus becoming like) an intoxicated; ṣaṭ-padaḥ—bumble-bee; etu—certainly attains; tam—that (state); cittam—of heart; ujjvala-akta—imbued with madhura-rasa; ahaṁ bhajāmi—I worship; gadādharaṁ—Śrī Gadādhara; su—the excellent; paṇḍitam—paṇḍita (one who is well-versed in the essence of the śāstras); gurum—the dispeller of ignorance; prabhum—worshipable.

One who drowns in the waves of His practices of rāga-bhakti quickly attains the qualification for the moods of the Vraja damsels, whose minds are like intoxicated bumblebees. Thus, the state of his mind also becomes saturated with ujjvala-rasa. I worship that exalted paṇḍita and guru, Śrī Gadādhara Prabhu. (8)

Text 9
mahā-rasāmṛta-pradaṁ sadā gadādharāṣṭakaṁ
paṭhet tu yaḥ subhaktito vrajāṅganā-gaṇotsavam
śacī-tanūja-pāda-padma-bhakti-ratna-yogyatāṁ
labheta rādhikā-gadādharāṅghri-padma-sevayā

tu—indeed; yaḥ—(he) who; sadā—regularly; paṭhet—recites; subhaktitaḥ—with pure devotion; gadādhara-aṣṭakam—these eight verses in praise of Śrī Gadādhara; amṛta-pradam—which bestow the nectar; mahārasa—of the great madhura-rasa; labheta—can achieve; yogyatām—eligiblity; bhakti-ratna—for the jewel of bhakti; pāda-padma—to the lotus feet; śacī-tanūja—of the son of Śacī; sevayā—(and) through service; aṅghri-padma—to the lotus feet; rādhikā-gadādhara—of Śrī Gadādhara who is non-different from Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī; utsavam—the festival; vraja-aṅganā-gaṇa—of the multitude of vraja-gopīs; ahaṁ bhajāmi—I worship; gadādharaṁ—Śrī Gadādhara; su—the excellent; paṇḍitam—paṇḍita (one who is well-versed in the essence of the śāstras); gurum—the dispeller of ignorance; prabhum—worshipable.

These eight verses in praise of Śrī Gadādhara bestow the nectar of that great madhura-rasa, which is the festival relished by the host of vraja-gopīs. Indeed, one who regularly recites these verses with pure devotion attains the service of the lotus feet of Śrī Gadādhara, who is none other than Śrīmatī Rādhikā. Through this service, he can achieve eligibility for the jewel of bhakti to the lotus feet of the son of Śacī. (9)

|| iti śrī-svarūpa-dāmodara-gosvāmī viracitaṁ gadādharāṣṭakaṁ sampūrṇam ||
Thus ends the Gadādharāṣṭakaṁ compiled by Svarūpa-dāmodara-gosvāmī

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