09.08.07
Vaisnava bhajans
I am trying to convert Gaudiya Vaishnava bhajans into English songs that can be sung in their usual Bengali tunes. My hope is that this will better enable English speakers to enter the bhava of the song, which is quite difficult when you don’t really know what the words mean as you sing them.
Here’s one, the Guru Vandana, which is sung each morning to Srila Prabhupada in ISKCON temples.
sri-guru-carana-padma, kevala-bhakati-sadma,
bando mui savadhana mate
Dear Prabhupada, your lotus feet - are the only way to pure bhakti.
I bow to them with care and reverence.
jahara prasade bhai, e bhava toriya jai,
krsna-prapti hoy jaha ha’te
By your grace and great mercy - we cross the sea of misery.
Gaining Lord Krishna’s loving presence.
guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete koriya aikya,
ar na koriho mane asa
My only wish is that my heart - is purified by truths you impart;
releasing me from all ignorance.
sri-guru-carane-rati, ei se uttama-gati,
je prasade pure sarva asa
Attachment to your lotus feet - makes life’s perfection complete.
Granting my desires in abundance
cakhu-dan dilo jei, janme janme prabhu sei
divya-jnan hrde prokasito
You open wide my long closed eyes, making me divinely wise.
You are my lord birth after birth.
prema-bhakti jaha hoite, avidya vinasa jate,
vede gay jahara carito
You emanate pure ecstasy - and from my darkness I am freed.
The Vedas sing of your virtue and worth.
Sri-guru karuna-sindhu, adhama janara bandhu
lokanath lokera jivana
You are a sea of boundless grace -the poor and fallen you embrace.
O lord and master of the devotees.
ha ha prabhu kora doya, deho more pada chaya
ebe jasa ghusuk tribhuvana
(prabhupada patita pavana!)
My lord be merciful to me - at your feet pray let me be.
Let your fame be spread endlessly.
Prabhupada you set the fallen free
Prabhupada I sing of your glory.
