Prayer by Bilvamangal Thakura

Bilvamangal Strotra:

Kararavinden padaravindam
Mukharavinde viniveshayantam
Vatasya patrasya pute shayanam
Balam mukundam manasa smarami ||1.||

I meditate upon Bal-Mukund (baby Krishna), lying on a Bargad leaf. His hands, his feet, his face…all beautiful, delicate and pure like a lotus flower.

Vikretukama-khil gop-kanya
Murari-paadarpit-citta-vruttih
Dadhyadikam mohavashad-vochad
Govinda damodara madhaveti ||2.||

Krishna so mesmerized the gopis of Vrindavan, that when they went to sell their dairy produce, they called out the names of Krishna – Govind, Damodar, Madhav, instead of the milk, butter or yoghurt that they had taken to sell. (Gopis are the acharyas of devotion/Bhakti.)

Gruhe gruhe gopa-vadhu-kadambah
Sarve militva samavapya-yogam
Punyaani naamani pathanti nityam
Govinda damodara madhaveti ||3.||

When gopis get together in their homes, they always sing and talk about Krishna - Govind, Damodar, Madhav.

Sukham sayanam nilaye nijepi
Naamani vishno pravadanti martya
Te nischitam tanmayatam vrajanti
Govinda damodara madhaveti ||4.||

Always chant the names of Govind, Damodar, and Madhav...

Jihve sadaivam bhaja sundarani
Naamani krsnasya manoharani
Samasta-bhaktarti-vinasanani
Govinda damodara madhaveti ||5.||

O my tongue, by reciting Krishna's names – Govind, Damodar, Madhav; names that help the mind to focus, which otherwise is prone to distractions every second. By reciting the names of Krishna, a devotee's pains (aart) arising from a distracted, blundering, blustering mind dissolve.

Sukhavasaane idamev saaram
Duhkhavasaane idamev geyam
Dehavasaane idamev jaapyam
Govinda damodara madhaveti ||6.||

The essence of bliss is revealed on reciting Krishna's names. Krishna's names when sung during a sorrowful phase in life, remove the sadness. The last thought, the last word before death claims should also be the name of Krishna.

Sri krsna radha-var gokulesa
Gopal govardhan-natha vishno
Jihve pibasvamrut-metad-eva
Govinda damodara madhaveti ||7.||

O my tongue, I request only this: drink these blissful names - Sri Krsna, dearmost of Sri Radha, Lord of Gokul, Gopal, Lord of Govardhan, Vishnu, Govind, Damodar, and Madhav...

Tvaamev yache mam dehi jihve
Samaagate dand-dhare krutaante
Vaktavyam evam madhuram su-bhaktya
Govinda damodara madhaveti ||8.||

O my tongue, I request: Please remember the sweet names of Krishna, when it is time to leave this body and Yamraaj comes for me.

Jihve rasagne madhur-priya-tvam
Satyam hitam tvaam paramam vadaami
Avarnayetha madhuraksharaani
Govind damodara madhaveti ||9.||

O my tongue, you appreciate sweet things, let me tell you your highest good: recite these sweet words Govind, Damodar, and Madhav.