Sri Vrnda Devi Astakam (Visvanath Chakravarti Thakura)

Sri Vrinda-devi Ashtakam

Eight Prayers Glorifying Sri Vrinda-devi

by Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura

VERSE ONE

gangeya-campeya-tadid-vinindi-
rocih-pravaha-snapitatma-vrndeh!
bandhuka-bandhu-dhyuti-divya-vasi,
vrnde! numaste caranaravindam

Oh Vrinda! You are adorned with an extremely brilliant transcendental dress which is as red as a bandhuka flower. By your own supremely beautiful bodily luster, you put to shame the combined effulgence of pure gold, champaka flowers and lightning bolts. And also, by that same luster of yours, you are continuously bathing your own personal associates, namely all the moving and non-moving residents of the Vrindavan forest. We therefore offer our respectful obeisances unto your divine lotus feet.

VERSE TWO

bimbarharoditvara-manda-hasya-
nesagra-mukta-dyuti-dipitasye!
vicitra-ratnabharanasriyadhye!
vrnde! numaste caranaravindam

Oh Vrinda! The Countenance of your face is especially radiant, being decorated by your gentle sweet smile (which has sprouted from your reddish lips resembling bimba fruits), as well as by being embellished with your pearl nose ornament. You are also endowed with loveliness by your body being decorated with multifarious, wonderfully jewelled ornaments. We therefore prostrate ourselves at your beautiful lotus feet.

VERSE THREE

samasta-vaikuntha-siromanau sri
krsnasya,vrndavana-dhanya-dhamni
dattadhikare! vrsabhanu-putrya
vrnde! numaste caranaravindam

Oh Vrinda! The supremely pure abode of Sri Krishna known as Sri Vrindavan-dhama, which is the crest jewel amongst all the planets of the spiritual sky, is presided over by the charming daughter of King Vrishabhanu, Sri Radhika. But She has awarded YOU with the power and authority to maintain this divine realm as your service to Her. This is why we offerer most heartfelt obeisances unto your beautiful lotus-feet.

VERSE FOUR

tvadajnaya pallava-puspa-bhrnga-mrgadibhir madhava-keli-kunjah
madhvadibhir bhanti vibhusyamana
vrnde! numaste caranaravindam

Oh Vrinda! All the multitudes of Lord Madhava's love-sporting bowers become supremely beautified by being decorated under your direction with fresh leaves, sprouts, flowers, bees, deer, peacocks, talking parrots, all types of animals and birds, as well as with wonderful seasons headed by Spring. We therefore offer our respectful obeisances unto your divine lotus feet.

VERSE FIVE

tvadiya-dutyena nikunja-yuno-
ratyutkayoh keli-vilasa-siddhih
tvat-saubhagam kena nirucyatam tad
vrnde! numaste caranaravindam

Oh Vrinda! By your expertly intelligent service as a messenger for the Divinely Amorous Couple of the Bower, Their transcendental love-sports thereby become successfully fulfilled. Who in this world could possibly even speak of your great fortune? We therefore must simply bow down before your beautiful lotus feet.

VERSE SIX

rasabhilaso vasatis ca vrndi-
vane tvadisanghri-saroja-seva
labhya ca pumsam krpaya tavaiva
vrnde! numaste caranaravindas

Oh Vrinda! Devotees who have the desire to participate in the rasa dance, who long to live eternally in Vrindavan, and who hope only to achieve devotional service to the lotus feet of your most beloved Lords, easily attain the everlasting fulfillment of all their desires by your most gracious mercy. We therefore bow down to your divine
lotus feet.

VERSE SEVEN

tvam kirttyase satvata-tantra-vidbhir
lilabhidhana kila krsna-saktih
tavaiva murtis tulasi nr-loke
vrnde! numaste caranaravindam

Oh Vrinda! Highly qualified sages, who are well-versed in the Tantras of the mode of pure Goodness (the scriptures written by the Lord's pure devotees), have praised you as being the personified energy of Lord Krishna known as lila-sakti (the energy that helps perform His pastimes). You are also very famous in this world for your appearance here in the form of the tree known as Srimati Tulasi Devi. Therefore we offer our most respectful obeisances unto your beautiful lotus feet.

VERSE EIGHT

bhaktya vihina aparadha-laksaih
ksiptas ca kamadi-taranga-madhye
krpa-mayi! tvam saranam prapanna
vrnde! numaste caranaravindam

Unfortunately bereft of devotional service, and due to committing hundreds and thousands of offenses, we have been cast deep into the ocean of material existence; indeed, we are being tossed about by the terrible waves of lust, anger, greed, etc. Oh most merciful one! Our souls are surrendered unto you - and we offer our most respectful obeisances unto your divine lotus feet.

VERSE NINE

vrndastakam yah srnuyat pathed va
vrndavanadhisa-padabja-bhrngah
sa prapya vrndavana-nitya-vasam
tat-prema-sevam labhate krtarthah

Whoever hears or recites these eight prayers in glorification of Sri Vrinda Devi, becoming just like a bumble bee that is always anxious to taste the sweet nectarine lotus feet of the Divine Couple (the Lords of Vrindavan) - such a person verily attains eternal residence in Vrindavan. Having finally achieved the supreme goal of life, one thus remains situated in the ecstatic loving service of the Divine Couple Sri Sri Radha-Madhava.

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