Ten Prayers to the Foot-Dust of Śrīmad Rūpa Gosvāmī (Śrīmad Rūpa Pada Rajaḥ Prārthanā Daśakam)

With the forthcoming observance of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmi’s disappearance, we present ‘Śrīmad Rūpa Pada Rajaḥ Prārthanā Daśakam’ (Ten Prayers to the Foot-Dust of Śrīmad Rūpa Gosvāmī), a Sanskrit composition by Śrīla Śrīdhara Deva Gosvāmī Mahārāja. first published in Śrī Gauḍīya Darśana magazine, Vol.11, Issue 1 in 1965.

(1)

*śrīmac-caitanya-pādau cara-kamala-yugau netra-bhṛṅgau madhu dyau

**gauḍe tau pāyayantau vraja-vipina-gatau vyāja-yuktau samutkau

**bhātau sa-bhrātṛkasya svajana-gaṇa-pater yasya saubhāgya-bhūmnaḥ

*sa śrī-rūpaḥ kadā māṁ nija-pada-rajasā bhūṣitaṁ samvidhatte

*śrīmac-caitanya – *Śrī Caitanya; pādau – feet; cara – moving; *kamala – *lotus; *yugau – *both; *netra – *eyes; *bhṛṅgau – bumblebees; madhu – nectar; dyau – *divine; *gauḍe – *Bengal; *tau – those; pāyayantau – drink; vraja-vipina – *the forest of Vraja; *gatau – go; vyāja – *pretence; *yuktau – with; samutkau – *eager; bhātau – brilliant; sa – with; *bhrātṛkasya – of his brothers; svajana-gaṇa – His associates; pateḥ – leader; yasya – *whose; *saubhāgya – *fortune; *bhūmnaḥ – *exalted; *sa – that; śrī-rūpaḥ – Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī; kadā – *when; *māṁ – me; nija-pada – his own feet; rajasā – *dust; *bhūṣitaṁ – decorate; samvidhatte – *give.

Śrī Caitanya’s lotus feet moved through Bengal on the pretext of travelling to the forests of Vraja, and His restless eyes were like bumblebees eagerly drinking divine nectar. At that time, He met the most fortunate and venerable Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, who was radiant in the association of his brothers and is the leader amongst the Lord’s associates. When will that Śrī Rūpa decorate me with the dust of his feet?

(2)

*pīta-śrī-gaura-pādāmbuja-madhu-madironmatta-hṛd-bhṛṅga-rājo

**rājyaiśvaryaṁ jahau yo jana-nivaha-hitādatta-citto-nijāgryam

**vijñāpya svānujena vraja-gamana-rataṁ cānvagāt gaura-candraṁ

*sa śrī-rūpaḥ kadā māṁ nija-pada-rajasā bhūṣitaṁ samvidhatte

*rājya – royal; aiśvarya – *opulence; * jahau – *relinquish; * yo – *he who; *jana – *people; *nivaha – all; hita – welfare; adatta – accepted; citta – conception; nija – *own; *agryam – most excellent; vijñāpya – *inform; sva-anujena – by his elder brother; vraja – Vraja-dhāma; gamana – go; rata – absorbed; ca – and; anvagāt – follow; *gaura-candra – Śrī Gaura-candra; sa – that; śrī-rūpaḥ – Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī; kadā – *when; *māṁ – me; nija-pada – his own feet; rajasā – *dust; *bhūṣitaṁ – decorate; samvidhatte – *give.

The heart of Śrī Rūpa was like the king of bees which became intoxicated in drinking the nectarean wine of the lotus feet of Śrī Gaura. He relinquished royal opulence for the welfare of all people, and accepted the Lord’s most exalted philosophy. Informing his elder brother (Sanātana Gosvāmī), he followed Śrī Gaura-candra who was absorbed in thoughts of going to Vraja. When will that Śrī Rūpa decorate me with the dust of his feet?

(3)

*vṛndāraṇyāt prayāge hari-rasa-naṭanair nāma-saṅkīrtanaiś ca

**lebhe yo mādhavāgre jana-gahana-gataṁ prema-mattaṁ janāṁś ca

**bhāvaiḥ svair mādayantaṁ hṛta-nidhir iva taṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanya-candraṁ

*sa śrī-rūpaḥ kadā māṁ nija-pada-rajasā bhūṣitaṁ samvidhatte

vṛndāraṇyāt – from Vṛndāvana; *prayāge – *in Prayāga; * hari-rasa – mellows of Hari; naṭanair – with dancing; nāma-saṅkīrtanaiḥ – by the congregational chanting of the Holy Names; ca – and; lebhe – achieved; yaḥ – who; mādhava – *Bindu Mādhava; *agre – *in front of; * jana – *people; *gahana – *crowds; *gataṁ – *surrounded; *prema – *divine love; *mattaṁ – *intoxicated; * janāṁś – residents; ca – *and; *bhāvaiḥ – divine sentiments; svair – own; māda – intoxicated; ayantaṁ – came; hṛta – *heart; nidhir – ocean; iva – as; taṁ – unto him; kṛṣṇa caitanya-candraṁ – the moon-like Kṛṣṇa Caitanya; *sa – that; śrī-rūpaḥ – Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī; kadā – *when; *māṁ – me; nija-pada – his own feet; rajasā – *dust; *bhūṣitaṁ – decorate; samvidhatte – *give.

**Returning from Vṛndāvana, Mahāprabhu came to Prayaga and, absorbed in the mellows of Hari, engaged in nāma-saṅkīrtana. Śrī Rūpa saw the Lord in front of Bindu Mādhava, surrounded by crowds of people and thus the residents of Prayāga became intoxicated with prema. Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya-candra’s own divine sentiments came and flooded his heart like an ocean. When will that Śrī Rūpa decorate me with the dust of his feet?

(4)

*ekantaṁ labdha-pādāmbuja-nija-hṛdaya-preṣṭha-pātro mahārtir

**dainyair-duḥkhāśru-pūrṇair daśana-dhṛta-tṛṇaiḥ pūjayāmāsa gauram

**svāntaḥ kṛṣṇañca gaṅgā-dinamaṇi-tanayā-saṅgame sānujo yaḥ

*sa śrī-rūpaḥ kadā māṁ nija-pada-rajasā bhūṣitaṁ samvidhatte

ekantaṁ – exclusive devotion; labdha – attain; *pāda-ambuja – *lotus feet; *nija – *own; *hṛdaya – *heart; *preṣṭha – *greatest; *pātra – receptacle; mahā-arti – great distress; dainyaih – humility; duḥkha – sadness; aśru – *tears; pūrṇaiḥ – full; * daśana – teeth; dhṛta – clutching; tṛṇaiḥ – straw; pūjayāmāsa – worshipped; gauram – *Śrī Gaura; *svāntaḥ – within Him; kṛṣṇam – *Śrī Kṛṣṇa; ca – and; *gaṅgā – *the Gaṅgā; *dinamaṇi-tanayā – the Yamunā, the daughter of the sun; saṅgame – *at the confluence; *sa – with; anuja – younger brother; yaḥ – *who; *sa – that; śrī-rūpaḥ – Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī; kadā – *when; *māṁ – me; nija-pada – his own feet; rajasā – *dust; *bhūṣitaṁ – decorate; samvidhatte – *give.

At the confluence of the Gaṅgā and the Yamunā, Śrī Rūpa and his younger brother Anupama, feeling much distress, humility and sadness, with their eyes full of tears and a straw between their teeth, worshipped that Golden Lord who is Kṛṣṇa within. In this way, Śrī Rūpa attained exclusive devotion and his heart became the greatest receptacle for the Lord’s lotus feet. When will that Śrī Rūpa decorate me with the dust of his feet?

(5)

*svasya prema-svarūpam priya-dayita-vilāsānurūpaika-rūpaṁ

**dūre bhū-luṇṭhitaṁ yaṁ sahaja-sumadhura-śrīyutaṁ sānujañ ca

**dṛṣṭvā devo’titūrnaṁ stuti-bahu-mukham āśliṣya gāḍham rarañje

*sa śrī-rūpaḥ kadā māṁ nija-pada-rajasā bhūṣitaṁ samvidhatte

*svasya – *of His own; *prema-svarūpam – the embodiment of prema; priya – *dear; *dayita – *servant; *vilāsa – pastimes; anurūpa – equal; aika-rūpaṁ – *one form; *dūre – at a distance; bhū – *ground; *luṇṭhitaṁ – roll; yaṁ – this; sahaja – natural; sumadhura – sweetness; śrīyutaṁ – *endowed with greatness; * sa – with; anujaṁ – younger brother; ca – *and; *dṛṣṭvā – *seeing; *deva – the Lord; atitūrnaṁ – quickly; stuti – *praise; *bahu-mukham – speaking in many ways; āśliṣya – embraced; gāḍham – with feeling; rarañje – *in bliss; *sa – that; śrī-rūpaḥ – Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī; kadā – *when; *māṁ – me; nija-pada – his own feet; rajasā – *dust; *bhūṣitaṁ – decorate; samvidhatte – *give.

**Śrī Rūpa and his younger brother rolled on the ground at a distance. Seeing the embodiment of His own prema, His dear servant, who is like His own self in loving pastimes, endowed with natural sweetness, the Lord quickly came to him and, singing his glories in many ways, embraced him with great bliss. When will that Śrī Rūpa decorate me with the dust of his feet?

(6)

*kaivalya-prema-bhūmāv-akhila-rasa-sudhā-sindhu-sañcāra-dakṣaṁ

**jñatvāpy evañ ca rādhā-pada-bhajana-sudhaṁ līlayāpāyayad yam

**śaktiṁ sañcārya gauro nija-bhajana-sudhā-dāna-dakṣaṁ cakāra

*sa śrī-rūpaḥ kadā māṁ nija-pada-rajasā bhūṣitaṁ samvidhatte

*kaivalya – *exclusive; *prema – *divine love; *bhūmau – *land; *akhila – *all; *rasa – *devotional mellows; *sudhā – *nectar: *sindhu – *ocean: *sañcāra – wander; dakṣaṁ – *expert; *jñatvā – knowing well: api – *also; *evaṁ – *in this way; *ca – *and; *rādhā – *Śrī Rādhā; *pada – *feet; *bhajana – worship; sudhaṁ – nectar; līlayā – pastimes; apāyayad – *drink; *yam – *this; śaktiṁ – potency; *sañcārya – empowered; gaura – *Śrī Gaura; *nija – *own; *bhajana – *worship; sudhā – nectar; dāna – distribute; *dakṣaṁ – *expert; *cakāra – *execute; *sa – that; śrī-rūpaḥ – Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī; kadā – *when; *māṁ – me; nija-pada – his own feet; rajasā – *dust; *bhūṣitaṁ – decorate; samvidhatte – *give.

The Lord was aware that Śrī Rūpa was proficient in wandering throughout the nectarean ocean of all kinds of mellows within the realm of exclusive prema. In this way, he drank the ambrosial worship of the divine feet of Śrī Rādhikā. Thus, Śrī Gaura empowered him with the potency to expertly distribute the nectar of His own worship (gaura-bhajana). When will that Śrī Rūpa decorate me with the dust of his feet?

(7)

*gaurādeśāc ca vṛndā-vipinam iha parikramya nīlācalam yo

**gatvā kāvyāmṛtaiḥ svair vraja-yuva-yugala-krīḍanārthaiḥ prakāmam

**rāmānanda-svarūpadibhir api kavibhis tarpayāmāsa gauraṁ

*sa śrī-rūpaḥ kadā māṁ nija-pada-rajasā bhūṣitaṁ samvidhatte

*gaura – Śrī Gaura; adeśa – instruction; ca – *and; *vṛndā-vipinam – forest of Vṛndāvana; iha – *in this; *parikramya – circumambulation; nīlācalam – Jagannātha Purī; ya – *which; *gatvā – *going; *kāvya – *poetry; *amṛtaiḥ – nectar; svaiḥ – own; vraja – *Vraja; *yuva – youthful; yugala – *Divine Couple; krīḍana – play; *a**rthaiḥ – fulfil; prakāmam – desires; rāmānanda – *Rāmānada Rāya; *svarūpa – Svarūpa Dāmodara; adibhiḥ – others; api – *even; *kavibhiḥ – learned assembly; tarpayāmāsa – *satisfied; *gauraṁ – *Śrī Gaura; *sa – that; śrī-rūpaḥ – Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī; kadā – *when; *māṁ – me; nija-pada – his own feet; rajasā – *dust; *bhūṣitaṁ – decorate; samvidhatte – *give.

Upon the order of Lord Gaurāṅga, Śrī Rūpa travelled to Nīlācala (Jagannātha Purī) after circumambulating the forest of Vṛndāvana. His own nectarean poetry concerning the love-dalliances of the youthful Divine Couple fulfilled the desires of the Lord. He thus satisfied Śrī Gaura and the learned assembly of devotees headed by Rāmānanda Rāya and Svarūpa Dāmodara. When will that Śrī Rūpa decorate me with the dust of his feet?

(8)

*līlā-saṁgopane śrī-bhagavata iha vai jaṅgame sthāvare ‘pi

**saṁmugdhe sāgrajātaḥ prabhu-viraha-hṛta-prāya-jīvendriyāṇām

**yaś cāsīd āśrayaika-sthalam iva raghu-gopāla-jīvādi-varge

*sa śrī-rūpaḥ kadā māṁ nija-pada-rajasā bhūṣitaṁ samvidhatte

*līlā – *pastimes; *saṁgopane – concealed; śrī-bhagavata – the Lord; iha – in this; vai – actually; jaṅgame – moving; sthāvare – immovable; api – *even; *saṁmugdhe – mortified; sa – with; agrajātaḥ – elder brother; prabhu – the Lord; viraha – separation; hṛta – *deprived; *prāya – *almost; *jīva-indriyāṇām – life and senses; yaḥ – who; ca – *and; *asīd – *became; * āśraya – *shelter; *eka – only; sthalam – *place; *iva – as; raghu – Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmī; gopāla – Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī; jīva – Jīva Gosvāmī; adi – *and others; *varge – *assembly; *sa – that; śrī-rūpaḥ – Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī; kadā – *when; *māṁ – me; nija-pada – his own feet; rajasā – *dust; *bhūṣitaṁ – decorate; samvidhatte – *give.

When the Lord’s pastimes became concealed, both moving and non-moving living beings became perturbed. Śrī Rūpa and his elder brother were almost deprived of their lives and senses due to separation from the Lord. They became the only place of refuge for devotees such as Raghunātha Dāsa, Gopāla Bhaṭṭa and Śrī Jīva. When will that Śrī Rūpa decorate me with the dust of his feet?

(9)

*śrī-mūrteḥ sādhu-vṛtteḥ prakaṭanam api tal-lupta-tīrthādikānāṁ

**śrī-rādhā-kṛṣṇa-pādāmbuja-bhajanamayaṁ rāga-mārgaṁ viśuddham

**granthair yena pradattaṁ nikhilam iha nijābhīṣṭa-devepsitañ ca

*sa śrī-rūpaḥ kadā māṁ nija-pada-rajasā bhūṣitaṁ samvidhatte

śrī-mūrteḥ – the Deity; sādhu-vṛtteḥ – the conduct of devotees; prakaṭanam – reveal; api – also;* tat – *those; *lupta – *hidden; *tīrthādikānāṁ – holy places; śrī-rādhā-kṛṣṇa – Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa; pāda-ambuja – lotus feet; bhajana-mayaṁ – complete worship; rāga-mārgaṁ – *the path of spontaneous divine love; viśuddham – transcendental; *granthaiḥ – literature; yena – *by which; * pradattaṁ – give; nikhilam – all; iha – in the world; nija – own; abhīṣṭa – *cherished; *deva – the Lord; ipsitam – *desire; *ca – *and; *sa – that; śrī-rūpaḥ – Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī; kadā – *when; *māṁ – me; nija-pada – his own feet; rajasā – *dust; *bhūṣitaṁ – decorate; samvidhatte – *give.

By contributing transcendental literature, Śrī Rūpa communicated the most cherished desires of the Lord to the world – revealing service of the Deity, the proper conduct for devotees, **discovering the lost holy places, and establishing rāga-mārga (the path of spontaneous divine love), the complete worship of the lotus feet of Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. When will that Śrī Rūpa decorate me with the dust of his feet?

(10)

*līlā-saṁgopa-kāle nirupadhi-karuṇā-kāriṇā svāmīnāhaṁ

**yat pādābje ‘rpito yat pada-bhajanamayaṁ gāyayitvā tu gītam

**yogyāyogyatva-bhāvām mama khalu sakalaṁ duṣṭa-buddher agṛhṇan

*sa śrī-rūpaḥ kadā māṁ nija-pada-rajasā bhūṣitaṁ samvidhatte

*līlā – *pastimes; *saṁgopa – *withdrawing; *kāle – time; nirupadhi – *unconditional; *karuṇā – *merciful; *kāriṇā – *doing; svāmīn – master; *āhaṁ – *I; *yat – *which; *pādābje – lotus feet; arpita – *offer; *yat – *which; *pada – feet; bhajanamayaṁ – exclusive worship; gāyayitvā – sing; tu – indeed; gītam –*song; yogyāyogyatva – qualifications and disqualifications; bhāvām – considering; mama – my; *khalu – *nevertheless; *sakalaṁ – all; duṣṭa – *faulty; *buddhi – *intellect; * agṛhṇan – *without accepting; *sa – that; śrī-rūpaḥ – Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī; kadā – *when; *māṁ – me; nija-pada – his own feet; rajasā – *dust; *bhūṣitaṁ – decorate; samvidhatte – *give.

At the time of withdrawing his līlā, my unconditionally merciful master (Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura) offered me unto the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa by having me sing a song (Śrī Rūpa Mañjarī Pada) concerning exclusive service to his feet. Despite my possessing faulty intellect, when will that Śrī Rūpa decorate me with the dust of his feet, disregarding all my qualifications and disqualifications?

Read or Listen to Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja’s Illuminations on Rūpa Gosvāmī’s Upadeśāmṛta

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