[Śrī Vilāpa-kusumāñjaliḥ, as published in Gauḍīya magazine on the disappearance of Śrīla Prabhupāda Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Ṭhākura]
kimidaṁ śrutimūlamāgataṁ hṛdayāntastalaghātivajra-vat |
prabhupāda-supuṇya-vigrahaḥ prakaṭaṁ loka-dṛśā na lakṣyate ॥1॥
What is this thunderbolt-like shock that has descended through the ears, striking the very core of the heart? — The supremely auspicious form of Śrīla Prabhupāda, the living embodiment of divine virtue, is no longer visible to the eyes of the world.
kimayaṁ hatadaiva-dāruṇa-parihāsaḥ khalu marmma-dāraṇaḥ |
jana-duṣkṛti-puñja duḥsaha-paripākaḥ kimayaṁ bhavennu vā ॥2॥
Could this cruel jest of relentless fate be true, tearing apart the innermost recesses of the heart? Is this unbearable affliction the bitter fruit of the accumulated misdeeds of humankind, ripened to full torment, or could it be otherwise?
ayī gauḍa-nabhaḥ-prabhākara dhṛta-satyojjvala-dīpti-bhāsura |
vada kutra gatastvad-āśritāṁś-cira-duḥkhe timire vihāya naḥ ॥3॥
O radiant sun in Gauḍa Sky(leader of devotees of Gaura), resplendent with the brilliance of eternal truth, we pray to you, tell us — where have you gone, forsaking those who have sought your shelter and leaving us to languish in the suffocating darkness of prolonged sorrow?
na ca satyamidaṁ na varttase na hi kālaḥ kalayed bhavādṛśam |
api ceha na dṛśyase sphuṭaṁ bhaṇa tathyaṁ prabhu-varya yad bhavet ॥4॥
It cannot be true that you no longer manifest before us; for time itself has no power to diminish one as glorious as you. Yet, why do you remain unseen here in this realm? Speak clearly, O exalted Master, and reveal the truth of what has come to pass. O Prabhu, reveal — what is the mystery behind your absence?
tvayi bhakti-dhurā pratiṣṭhitā tvad-adhīnāḥ khalu sat-pravṛttayaḥ |
tvayi sajjana-saṅgha-pālanaṁ sarvametad vivaśaṁ vinā tvayā ॥5॥
Upon you rests the weight of all devotion; all virtuous deeds find their sustenance in your grace. In your absence, the assembly of noble souls falters, and all auspiciousness becomes powerless, unable to manifest without you.
tava puṇya-mukhāmbuja-kṣarada-upadeśāmṛta-jīvinaḥ sadā |
iha sādhu-janāḥ samāsate dayayā teṣu samāgamaṁ kuru ॥6॥
O fountain of sanctity, whose lotus face pours forth the immortal nectar of divine teachings which eternally sustains life force of devotees, the saintly souls, sustained by your mercy, forever dwell in its ambrosial light. We implore you — bestow your compassion and again grant us the fortune of your sacred association.
ayī vaiṣṇava-rāja-saṁsadaḥ pati-varya tvam-ananya-saṁśrayām |
niravadya-guṇaiś-ca tāṁ satīṁ parihāyādya gataḥ kathaṁ punaḥ ॥7॥
O sovereign lord of the assembly of Vaiṣṇavas, supreme protector of the one-pointed surrendered devotees, how could you abandon such a virtuous consort of Vaiṣṇava sabhā — flawless in her noble qualities — and withdraw from her association, leaving us bereft of your divine presence, when will again we get this divine union?
jagad-adya prapūritaṁ mahā-bhaya-nāstikya-tamobhir-ākulam |
ayī sātvatā-śuddha-dīdhitīr-dadhad-ācārya-rave ka varttase ॥8॥
Behold, today the world is engulfed by the terrible shadows of fear and the tumult of atheistic darkness. O Ācārya, bearer of the pure effulgent wisdom of the Sātvatās’ divine light (transcendental knowledge ), where are you now, O sun of transcendental wisdom? Why do you not rise to dispel this dreadful gloom, without you how can this darkness will be dispelled?
harināma-sudhaiva jīvanaṁ kali-hālāhala-lupta-cetasām |
iti niścita-dhīḥ sadā bhavān karuṇā-sindhur-itaḥ kutogataḥ ॥9॥
The ambrosial nectar of Harināma is the very life of those whose minds have been scorched by the hālāhala-poison of Kali-yuga. O ocean of mercy, who made this truth established with conviction within the intelligence of souls, where have you gone, leaving this abode behind?
mriyate tava bhakta-cātakair-adhunaiva āgatayā pipāsayā |
iha viṣṇu-padaṁ prakāśayann-ayi devāmbuda dehi darśanam ॥10॥
Your devotees, like cātaka birds, are perishing in thirst, awaiting the refreshing rain of your grace. O divine cloud-like Lord, who reveals the realm of Viṣṇu here, bestow upon us your darśana who is personification of lotus feet of Viṣṇu, revealing the lotus feet of Viṣṇu and quenching this unbearable longing.
kalitaṁ kali-kalmaṣair-jagad-dalitaṁ marma satāṁ durātmabhiḥ |
skhalitaṁ nija-dharmato nṛṇāmayi deva kva punas-tvayā gatam ॥11॥
The world, weighed down by the sins of Kali-yuga, has become shattered, and the hearts of the pious tormented by the deeds of the wicked. As people are stumbling away from their true dharma, we cry out: O Deva, O Gurudeva, where have you gone, leaving them in such dire straits?
daśatīha parīkṣitaṁ yathā jana-vṛndaṁ nanu pāpa-takṣakaḥ |
ayi bhāgavatāmṛta-prada śuka-deva kva punar-gato bhavān ॥12॥
Just as King Parīkṣit once faced the venom of Takṣaka, threatening to engulf all as personification of all sin, O Śukadeva, bestower of the immortal nectar of the Bhāgavata, where have you disappeared, leaving us bereft of your life-giving words? Because without your immortal nectar of Bhāgavata-Kathā surely sin-personified Takṣaka will devour us.
bhavatā bhava-tāpa-śāntaye bahudhā bhakta-gaṇair-vicēṣṭitam |
ayi samprati-sāmprataṁ na tad yad-akāṇḍe prabhu-varya gamyate ॥13॥
For the deliverance of the souls afflicted by the burning miseries of saṁsāra, your personal associates have endeavoured in countless ways to deliver them. O foremost master, why does your divine presence remain absent at this critical juncture when your grace is most desperately needed?
apanetum-aśeṣa-jīvake bhavatā māyika-dāsya-bandhanam |
vijitaṁ garuḍānukāriṇā khalu vaikuṇṭha-sudhāṁ pravarṣatā ॥14॥
O Master, to liberate innumerable living beings from the bonds of māyā's servitude, you, emulating Garuḍa, have triumphantly poured forth the nectar of Vaikuṇṭha and led them to eternal freedom and victory over māyā and grant entrance in Vaikuṇṭha.
priya-gaurahareśca mānasa-cira-vāñchā bhavatā prapūritā |
bhuvi nāma pracārya tasya tad-adhunā nāma-guro kva gamyate ॥15॥
The cherished desire of Śrī Gaurahari’s heart, long held, has been fulfilled by you, as you spread His holy name across this earth. O preceptor of the Name, where have you now disappeared?
ya iha-akṣara-labdhaye nṛṇāṁ para-vidyā-prada-pīṭha eṣa te |
sa kathaṁ rahitas-tvatyā bhavet para-vidyā-guru-varya tad vada ॥16॥
This exalted seat of transcendental knowledge(para-vidyā-pīṭha), which you established to grant the ultimate transcendental-knowledge(para-vidyā) to mankind, how can it stand bereft of presence of para-vidyā-guru (master of transcendental knowledge)? O preceptor of supreme enlightenment, we pray please tell us, where have you gone?
bhuvi gaurapurojjvala-prabhāṁ bhavatā prāpayatā nṛṇāṁ dṛśam |
ayi bhakti-vinoda-vaibhava svayam-adya kva gataṁ punaḥ prabho ॥17॥
You revealed to the eyes of humanity the effulgence of Gaurapura’s (Lord Gaurāṅga’s Divine abode Śrī Navadvīpa dhāma’s) divine glory, O manifestation of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda’s grandeur! O master, where have you now departed?
bhuvane jayati śriyojjvala-stava gauḍīya-maṭhaḥ sadāśrayaḥ |
ayi gauḍajanaika-nāyaka svayam-eva kva punar-gatas-tataḥ ॥18॥
In this world, ever victorious is your glorious, resplendent Gauḍīya Maṭha, the eternal refuge of all. O Singular leader of the Gauḍīya people, have you yourself departed from us — how can this be? Where have you now departed, leaving this sanctuary, when will you come again?
athavā nija-deva eva kim-anubhūyottama-pārṣadasya te |
virahaṁ cira-martavāsajaṁ svapadaṁ tvām-anayatvarānvitaḥ ॥19॥
Or perhaps your divine Lord, perceiving the anguish of separation endured during your earthly sojourn, swiftly summoned you back to His lotus feet, escorted by the highest of His eternal associates.
vraja bho vṛṣabhānu-nandinī-dayitātman-nija-nātha-mandiram |
kuru deva jane tvad-āśrite karuṇāṁ dīnatame namo 'stu te ॥20॥
O Divine Lord of Vraja, you who are the beloved life and soul of Vṛṣabhānu-nandinī (Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī), and who eternally reside in the transcendental temple of Your supreme pastimes, We, the most fallen and destitute souls, take shelter at Your lotus feet. Now that our beloved Gurudeva who is intimate servant of Rādhārāṇī (vṛṣabhānu-nandinī-dayitā) and a radiant embodiment of Your compassion, went(vraja) into the eternal embrace of his beloved divine couple(nija-nātha-mandiram), we pray that his mercy continues to flow upon us who is the shelter of the surrendered, I offer my deepest obeisances, time and again.
