Preface

“Your Fearless Lotus Feet”
Vyāsa Pūjā offering for His Divine Grace
Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣak Śrīdhar Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj
written by
His Divine Grace
Śrīla Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj
in 1957.

1) They come from such faraway lands

Bearing gifts of worship in their outstretched hands,

Fervently they hasten — your kinsmen in bands

To greet you on this, your holy birthday.

2) At your fearless lotus feet they happily rejoice

With streaming eyes and stuttering voice,

Horripilating body and a love that’s choice —

Considering themselves most fortunate.

3) O most magnanimous master, gracefully forgiving,

On this holy day to offer I have practically nothing,

What little I have is sullied and trifling,

Not worthy of offering to thee.

4) Burning in repentance

for my one time thoughtlessness,

Your feet’s shelter I beg in all repentance

May I not ever lose you from inadvertence,

Please grant only fearlessness to me.

5) Having lost myself in Māyā’s delusion

I’ve found only flickering pleasure and convulsion

On the giant wheel of virtue and indiscretion —

And a garland of cradles and sepulchers.

6) Absorbed in a great purposeless search

Away I have pushed the true wealth of this birth,

And tossed between heaven and earth,

I’ve gotten only a burning fever.

7) An abysmal hellfire ignites all around

Projecting its snout while flames leap and bound,

Expanding a huge cavernous mouth —

Intending only to devour me.

8) World-engulfing and world-scorching flames

Cause me to run hither and thither in torment

And wearied I drop into a slumbering suspense

In Mahāmāyā’s dense trickery.

9) This great sinner, this fallen outcaste

Infatuated by the six enemies is aghast

As lust and greed propel him fast —

To the shore of the ocean of death.

10) My uncontrolled mind — a will o’ the wisp

Takes no good counsel, though I give it the whip

Carrying its burden in a subconscious grip —

Hastens me to doom’s doorstep.

11) Please save me Lord!

Out of your own kind goodness

Your glance alone defeats Māyā’s madness

O shelter of all the poor and helpless

May the world behold your grace.

12) Māyā’s bonds I cannot break

Your lotus foot dust for to take

Do sever these bonds and forever make

Your holy lotus feet my serving place.

13) Many a helpless wretch has found

Shade and shelter ’neath your ground

But this fallen soul by Māyā bound —

Can only heave long sighs.

14) The nectar Ganges Name you brought

Saved many helpless souls distraught

And yet this worthless slave is caught —

Deceived by day and night.

15) My self-surrender is just a farce

To call my own, my wealth is sparse

O redeemer Lord! Do make me yours

And call me your very own.

16) Your lotus feet I humbly entreat

May forever be my object sweet Lord,

Bind and nourish me with daily service

And the rope of your kind compassion.