Sri Sri Nityanandastakam
Eight Prayers Glorifying Sri Nityananda Prabhu
by
Srila Vrndavan Das Thakur
sarach-chandra-bhrāntiṁ sphurad-amala-kāntiṁ gaja-gatiṁ
hari-premonmattaṁ dhṛta-parama-sattvaṁ smita-mukham
sadāghūrṇan-netraṁ kara-kalita-vetraṁ kali-bhidaṁ
bhaje nityānandaṁ bhajana-taru-kandaṁ niravadhi [1]
His face outshines the autumn moon. His spotless complexion glows. He moves like an elephant. He is always mad with divine love for the Lord. His body is made of pure spiritual energy. He smiles. His eyes always roll. He carries a staff and dispels Kali. I serve Sri Nityananda, the root of the tree of devotion, eternally.
rasānām āgāraṁ svajana-gaṇa-sarvasvam atulaṁ
tadīyaika-prāṇa-pramita-vasudhā-jāhnava-patim
sadā-premonmādaṁ param-aviditaṁ manda-manasām
bhaje nityānandaṁ bhajana-taru-kandaṁ niravadhi [2]
He is the basis of all rasas. He is everything to the devotees, and incomparable. He the husband of Vasudha and Jahnava, who consider Him more dear than life. He is always mad divine love. He is the subduer of the wicked. I serve Sri Nityananda, the root of the tree of devotion, eternally.
śachī-sūnu-preṣṭhaṁ nikhila-jagad-iṣṭaṁ sukha-mayaṁ
kalau majjaj-jivoddharaṇa-karaṇoddāma-karuṇam
harer ākhyānād vā bhava-jaladhi-garvonnati-haraṁ
bhaje nityānandaṁ bhajana-taru-kandaṁ niravadhi [3]
He is very dear to Sri Gaura, He uplifts the whole world, and He is filled with happiness. He bestows unlimited mercy to rescue souls from immersion in Kali. He crushes the swelling pride of the ocean of material existence by chanting the Name. I serve Sri Nityananda, the root of the tree of devotion, eternally.
aye bhrātar nīṇāṁ kali-kaluṣiṇāṁ kiṁ nu bhavitā
tathā prāyaśchittaṁ rachaya yad-anāyāsata ime
vrajanti tvām itthaṁ saha bhagavatā mantrayati yo
bhaje nityānandaṁ bhajana-taru-kandaṁ niravadhi [4]
«O Brother! What will be the fate of the souls contaminated by Kali? Mercifully establish a means for them to easily reach You.» I eternally serve Sri Nityananda, the root of the tree of devotion, who talks with the Lord in this way.
yatheṣṭhaṁ re bhrātaḥ kuru hari-hari-dhvānam aniśaṁ
tato vaḥ saṁsārāmbudhi-taraṇa-dāyo mayi laget
idaṁ bāhu-sphoṭair aṭati raṭayan yaḥ pratigṛham
bhaje nityānandaṁ bhajana-taru-kandaṁ niravadhi [5]
«O brothers! Continuously and properly chant the Lord’s Name. Then I will take responsibility for your deliverance from the ocean of material existence.» I eternally serve Sri Nityananda, the root of the tree of devotion, who walks from house to house loudly making this appeal.
balāt saṁsārāmbhonidhi-harana-kumbhodbhavam aho
satāṁ śreyaḥ-sindhūnnati-kumuda-bandhuṁ samuditaṁ
khala-śreṇī-sphūrjittimira-hara-sūrya-prabham ahaṁ
bhaje nityānandaṁ bhajana-taru-kandaṁ niravadhi [6]
Oh! He is a jug to dry up the ocean of material existence for the sadhus. He arises like the moon to flood the ocean of the souls’ good fortune. He is like the sun to destroy the darkness of the miscreants’ sins. I serve Sri Nityananda, the root of the tree of devotion, eternally.
naṭantaṁ gāyantaṁ harim anuvadantaṁ pathi pathi
vrajantaṁ paśyantaṁ svam api na dayantaṁ jana-gaṇam
prakurvantaṁ santaṁ sa-karuṇa-dṛg-antaṁ prakalanād
bhaje nityānandaṁ bhajana-taru-kandaṁ niravadhi [7]
He walks along the path dancing, chanting, calling the Name, and watching at His devotees. He glances upon good souls with merciful eyes. I serve Sri Nityananda, the root of the tree of devotion, eternally.
su-bibhrāṇaṁ bhrātuḥ kara-sarasijaṁ komalataraṁ
mitho vaktrālokochchhalita-paramānanda-hṛdayam
bhramantaṁ mādhuryair ahaha madayantaṁ pura-janān
bhaje nityānandaṁ bhajana-taru-kandaṁ niravadhi [8]
When He took hold of His brother’s soft lotus hand, His heart become filled with the greatest joy by the light from His brother’s face. He moves here and there maddening the townspeople with His sweetness. I serve Sri Nityananda, the root of the tree of devotion, eternally.
rasānāṁ ādhāraṁ rasika-vara-sad-vaiṣṇava-dhanaṁ
rasāgāraṁ sāraṁ patita-tati-tāraṁ smaraṇataḥ
paraṁ nityānandāṣṭakam idam apūrvaṁ pathati yaḥ
tad-aṅghri-dvandvābjaṁ sphuratu nitarāṁ tasya hṛdaye [9]
May the lotus feet of Sri Nityananda Prabhu appear in the heart of one who recites this unprecedented and topmost Nityanandastakam, which is an abode of rasa, the wealth of the highest devotees who relish rasa, and the best thing in this world. By remembering it, the fallen are delivered.