Mangalacharana: Invocation of Auspiciousness of Saranagati
(১)
(1)
শ্রীকৃষ্ণচৈতন্য প্রভু জীবে দয়া করি’ ।
স্বপার্ষদ স্বীয় ধাম সহ অবতরি’ ॥১॥
śrī-kṛṣṇa-chaitanya prabhu jīve dayā kari’
sva-pārṣada svīya dhāma saha avatari’ [1]
sri-krsna-chaitanya–Sri Gaurasundar; prabhu–Lord; jive–to the conditioned souls; daya–mercy; kari’–doing; sva-parsada–His own associates; sviya–His own; dhama–abode; saha–with; avatari’–descending. [1]
Translation:
(1) Being merciful to the souls, Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu descends with His associates and abode.
(1) sri-krsna-chaitanya: ‘Sri Krishna Chaitanya’ is the sannyas name of Sri Gaurasundar. Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya uses this name in his prayers to the Lord:
kālān naṣṭaṁ bhakti-yogaṁ nijaṁ yaḥ
prāduṣkartuṁ kṛṣṇa-chaitanya-nāmā
āvirbhūtas tasya pādāravinde
gāḍhaṁ gāḍhaṁ līyatāṁ chitta-bhṛṅgaḥ
«May the honeybee of my heart be ever more deeply attached to the lotus feet of He who has now appeared as Sri Krishna Chaitanya to revive the practice of devotion to Himself, which had become lost due to the influence of time.»
In Sri Chaitanya-bhagavat (Madhya-lila, 28.175–176, 181), Sri Gaurasundar’s sannyas ceremony is described:
yata jagatere tumi ‘kṛṣṇa’ bolāilā
karāilā chaitanya — kīrtana prakāśilā
eteke tomāra nāma śrī kṛṣṇa chaitanya
sarvaloka tomā’ haite yāte haila dhanya
[Sri Kesava Bharati said:] «You have induced the whole world to chant Krishna’s Name and brought everyone to life (chaitanya) by inaugurating the sankirtan movement. Therefore Your name will be ‘Sri Krishna Chaitanya’. Because of You, everyone in the whole universe has become fortunate.»
hena mate sannyāsa kariyā prabhu dhanya
prakāśila ātma-nāma «śrī kṛṣṇa chaitanya»
«In this way, the Lord gloriously accepted sannyas and revealed His name ‘Sri Krishna Chaitanya’.»
sva-parsada: «His associates.» This means His servants, as is implied in Srimad Bhagavad-gita (9.25):
yānti deva-vratā devān pitṝn yānti pitṛ-vratāḥ
bhūtāni yānti bhūtejyā yānti mad-yājino ’pi mām
«Those who are devoted to the demigods go to the realm of the demigods; those who are devoted to the ancestors go to the realm of their ancestors; those who are devoted to ghosts and spirits go to the realm of such beings; and those who are devoted to Me come to Me (reside in My abode).»
dhama: «Abode.» This means the spiritual domain of the Lord. Krishna describes His abode in Srimad Bhagavad-gita (15.6):
na tad bhāsayate sūryo na śaśāṅko na pāvakaḥ
yad gatvā na nivartante tad dhāma paramaṁ mama
«Having reached My supreme abode, which cannot be illuminated by the sun, the moon, or fire (anything material), the surrendered souls never return to this mundane world.»
অত্যন্ত দুর্ল্লভ প্রেম করিবারে দান ।
শিখায় শরণাগতি ভকতের প্রাণ ॥২॥
atyanta durlabha prema karibāre dāna
śikhāya śaraṇāgati bhakatera prāṇa [2]
atyanta–extremely; durlabha–rare, precious, difficult to obtain; prema–divine love; karibare–in order to do; dana–distribution; sikhaya–teaches; saranagati–surrender; bhakatera–of the devotees; prana–the life. [2]
Translation:
(2) To distribute the most rare form of prema, He teaches saranagati, which is the life of the devotees.
(2) atyanta durlabha prema: «The most rare form of prema.» This refers to the fifth (ultimate) end of human life: Sri Krishna-prema. The rarity of Sri Krishna-prema has been noted by Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu in his Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.1.36):
jñānataḥ sulabhā muktir bhuktir yajñādi-puṇyataḥ
seyaṁ sādhana-sāhasrair hari-bhaktiḥ sudurlabhā
[Siva says:] «Liberation (moksa) is easily attained by cultivating knowledge of Brahma (jnan). Heavenly enjoyment (bhukti) is easily attained by performing various types of pious activities (karma), such as sacrifices. However, even by following thousands of different spiritual practices, Hari-bhakti is extremely difficult to attain (as it requires: servitude to the Lord’s pure devotees; a proper conception of the Lord’s divine nature; firmly fixed loving attachment for the Lord devoid of any impurities (asakti); and the Lord’s merciful acceptance of the practitioner).»
In Sri Chaitanya-charitamrta (Adi-lila, 1.4), this most rare form of prema, which Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to distribute, is described as follows:
anarpita-charīṁ chirāt karuṇayāvatīrṇaḥ kalau
samarpayitum unnatojjvala-rasāṁ sva-bhakti-śriyam
hariḥ puraṭa-sundara-dyuti-kadamba-sandīpitaḥ
sadā hṛdaya-kandare sphuratu vaḥ śachī-nandanaḥ
«May the radiant, golden Lord, Sri Sachi Nandan, always be manifest in the core of your heart. He mercifully descended in the Age of Kali to give the wealth devotion to Himself — supremely exalted madhura-rasa — which had never been given before.»
saranagati: «Surrender.» This means to take shelter of the Lord in all respects. Saranagati is defined in essence in Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamrtam (1.35):
bhagavad-bhaktitaḥ sarvam ity utsṛjya vidher api
kaiṅkaryaṁ kṛṣṇa-pādaikāśrayatvaṁ śaraṇāgatiḥ
«Having faith that everything is attained by serving the Supreme Lord, abandoning subservience to even scriptural injunctions, and taking shelter of Sri Krishna’s feet exclusively, is known as saranagati.»
দৈন্য, আত্মনিবেদন, গোপ্তৃত্বে বরণ ।
‘অবশ্য রক্ষিবে কৃষ্ণ’ — বিশ্বাস পালন ॥৩॥
ভক্তি-অনুকূল মাত্র কার্য্যের স্বীকার ।
ভক্তি-প্রতিকূল-ভাব বর্জ্জনাঙ্গীকার ॥৪॥
ষড়অঙ্গ শরণাগতি হইবে যাঁহার ।
তাঁহার প্রার্থনা শুনে শ্রীনন্দকুমার ॥৫॥
dainya, ātma-nivedana, goptṛtve varaṇa
‘avaśya rakṣibe kṛṣṇa’ — viśvāsa pālana [3] bhakti-anukūla-mātra kāryera svīkāra
bhakti-pratikūla-bhāva varjanāṅgīkāra [4] ṣaḍ-aṅga śaraṇāgati ha-ibe yā̐hāra
tā̐hāra prārthanā śune śrī-nanda-kumāra [5]
dainya–humility; atma–self; nivedana — submission; goptrtve–of guardianship; varana–acceptance; avasya–certainly; raksibe–will protect; krsna–the Supreme Personality of Godhead; visvasa–faith; palana–maintenance; bhakti–to devotion; anukula–favourable; matra–only; karyera–of actions; svikara–acceptance; bhakti–to devotion; pratikula–unfavourable; bhava–nature, disposition; varjana–rejection; angikara–acceptance. [3–4]
sad–six; anga (prakara angera dvara)–aspects (by way of these); saranagati (prapatti)–surrender; ha-ibe–will be; ya̐hara–whose; ta̐hara–his; prarthana–prayers; sune–hears; sri-nanda-kumara–Krishna, the son of Nanda Maharaj. [5]
Translation:
(3–5) Humility, self-submission, embracing the Lord’s guardianship, maintaining the faith that ‘Krishna will certainly protect me’, engaging only in activities which are favourable to devotion, and rejecting everything unfavourable to devotion — Sri Nanda Kumar hears the prayers of one who surrenders in this six-fold way.
(3) dainya: «Humility.» This is also known as karpanya, experience of one’s lamentable condition. Dainya has been defined in Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamrtam (8.1–2):
bhagavan rakṣa rakṣaivam ārta-bhāvena sarvataḥ
asamorddhva-dayā-sindhor hareḥ kāruṇya-vaibhavam
smaratāṁś cha viśeṣeṇa nijāti-śochya-nīchatām
bhaktānām ārti-bhāvas tu kārpaṇyaṁ kathyate budhaiḥ
«‘O Lord, please protect me, protect me …’ Praying thus in a mood of distress, while remembering in all respects the greatness of the mercy of the Supreme Lord, the unparalleled ocean of compassion, and remembering in particular one’s own most lamentable lowliness — this condition of the devotees is described by the learned as karpanya.»
atma-nivedana: «Self-submission.» This is also known as atmotsarga, self-dedication, and has been defined in Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamrtam (7.4):
kṛṣṇāyārpita-dehasya nirmamasyānahaṅkrteḥ
manasas tat svarūpatvaṁ smṛtam ātmā-nivedanam
«Atma-nivedan is known as the condition of having offered one’s self to Krishna (solely to satisfy Him), while being devoid of possessiveness and false egotism.»
goptrtve varana: «Embracing the Lord’s guardianship.» This is also referred to as accepting the Lord as one’s maintainer and has been defined in Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamrtam (6.1–2):
he kṛṣṇa! pāhi māṁ nātha kṛpayātmagataṁ kuru
ity evaṁ prārthanaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ prāptuṁ svāmi-svarūpataḥ
goptṛtve varaṇam jñeyaṁ bhaktair hṛdyataraṁ param
prapatty ekārthakatvena tad aṅgitvena tat smṛtam
«‘O Krishna, please protect me! O Lord, kindly accept me as Your own.’ This prayer to attain Sri Krishna as one’s master is supremely pleasing to the hearts of the devotees and is known as goptrtve varanam, ‘embracing the Lord’s guardianship’. Goptrtve varanam expresses the very ideal of surrender and is thus considered to be its complete embodiment (angi). (The other five aspects of surrender are considered limbs (angas).)»
‘avasya raksibe krsna’: «Krishna will certainly protect me.» This refers to faith that ‘Sri Krishna will assuredly grant His protection’ and has been defined in Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamrtam (5.1):
rakṣiṣyati hi mām kṛṣṇo bhaktānāṁ bāndhavaś cha saḥ
kṣemam vidhāsyatīti yad viśvāso ’traiva gṛhyate
«‘Certainly Krishna will protect me, because He is the true friend of the devotees. He will definitely bless me with all good fortune.’ Herein, such faith is sustained.»
(4) anukula: «Favourable.» This refers to anything helpful for attaining Krishna and has been defined in Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamrtam (3.1):
kṛṣṇa-kārṣṇaga-sad-bhakti prapannatvānukūlake
kṛtyatva-niśchayaś chānukūlya-saṅkalpa uchyate
«Resolute conviction to do everything that is favourable to the service of Krishna, to the service of His devotees, and to surrender, is called anukulyasya-sankalpah, acceptance of the favourable.»
pratikula: «Unfavourable.» This refers to anything that is an obstacle to attaining Krishna, and has been defined in Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamrtam (4.1):
bhagavad-bhaktayor bhakteḥ prapatteḥ pratikūlake
varjyatve niśchayaḥ prātikūlya-varjanam uchyate
«Resolute conviction to abandon everything that is opposed to the service of the Lord, to the service of His devotees, and to surrender, is called pratikulya-varjanam, rejection of the unfavourable.»
(5) sad-anga saranagati: «Surrenders in this six-fold way.» The six aspects of surrender are defined within Sri Vayu-purana and the Vaisnava-tantra:
ānukūlyasya saṅkalpaḥ prātikūlya-vivarjanam
rakṣiṣyatīti viśvāso goptṛtve varaṇaṁ tathā
ātma-nikṣepa kārpaṇye ṣaḍ-vidhā śaraṇāgatiḥ
«Accepting everything favourable, rejecting everything unfavourable, being confident that Krishna will grant His protection, embracing Krishna’s guardianship, fully offering one’s self to Krishna, and feeling oneself to be lowly are the six aspects of saranagati.»
prarthana sune: «Sri Nanda Kumar hears their prayers.» This means Krishna reciprocates with the surrendered souls in accordance with their prayers.
sakṛd eva prapanno yas tavāsmīti cha yāchate
abhayaṁ sarvadā tasmai dadāmy etad vrataṁ mama
[Ramchandra proclaims:] «Anyone who even once sincerely surrenders unto Me, declaring, ‘I am Yours’, and prays for fearlessness — it is My vow that I will always grant that to them.»
রূপ-সনাতন-পদে দন্তে তৃণ করি’ ।
ভকতিবিনোদ পডড় দুহুঁ পদ ধরি’ ॥৬॥
rūpa-sanātana-pade dante tṛṇa kari’
bhakati-vinoda paḍe duhu̐ pada dhari’ [6]
rupa–Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu; sanatana–Srila Sanatan Goswami Prabhu; pade–at the feet of; dante–in the teeth; trna–piece of straw; kari’–doing; bhakati-vinoda–Bhakti Vinod; pade–falls; duhu̐–both; pada–feet; dhari’–clasping. [6]
Translation:
(6) Bhakti Vinod places a straw between his teeth and falls before Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu and Srila Sanatan Goswami Prabhu, clasping their feet.
(6) sri-rupa-sanatana: Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu and Srila Sanatan Goswami Prabhu are the two Acharyas who teach saranagati.
কাঁদিয়া কাঁদিয়া বলে আমি ত’ অধম ।
শিখায়ে শরণাগতি করহে উত্তম ॥৭॥
kā̐diyā kā̐diyā bale āmi ta’ adhama
śikhāye śaraṇāgati karahe uttama [7]
ka̐diya–crying; ka̐diya–and crying; bale–says; ami–I; ta’–certainly; adhama–fallen, lowest; sikhaye–by teaching; saranagati–surrender; karahe–please make; uttama–elevated, beyond the darkness of illusion. [7]
Translation:
(7) Crying incessantly, he prays, «I am so lowly! Please elevate me by teaching me saranagati.»
(7) uttama: «Elevated.» This refers to one who is qualified for the topmost form of devotion, prema-bhakti. In Srimad Bhagavatam (11.11.32), Krishna says:
ājñāyaivaṁ guṇān doṣān mayādiṣṭān api svakān
dharmān santyajya yaḥ sarvān māṁ bhajet sa cha sattamaḥ
«Realising the qualities and faults of the socio-religious system (varnasram-dharma) which I have instituted, one who completely abandons it and serves Me is the best of all sadhus.»