Srila Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura, who appeared in the middle of the seventeenth century, is a great spiritual master in the Krsna conscious chain of gurus and disciples. He says, "One who, with great care and alteration, loudly recites this beautiful prayer to the spiritual master during the Brahma-muhurta obtains direct service to Krsna, the Lord of Vrndavana, at the time of his death."
samsara-davanala-lidha-loka-
tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatwam
praptasya kalyana-gunarnavasya
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam
The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities.
WORD FOR WORD
samsara--(of) material existence; dava-anala--(by) the forest fire; lidha--afflicted; loka--the people; tranaya--to deliver; karunya--of mercy; ghanaghana-tvam--the quality of a cloud; praptasya--who has obtained; kalyana--auspicious; guna--(of) qualities; arnavasya--who is an ocean; vande--I offer obeisances; guroh--of my spiritual master; Sri--auspicious; carana-aravindam--unto the lotus feet.
mahapraboh kirtana-nritya-gita-
vaditra-madyan-manaso rasena
romancha-kampashru-taranga-bhajo
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam
Chanting the holy name, dancing in ecstasy, singing, and playing musical instruments, the spiritual master is always gladdened by the sankirtana movement of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Because he is relishing the mellows of pure devotion within his mind, sometimes his hair stands on end, he feels quivering in his body, and tears flow from his eyes like waves. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
WORD FOR WORD
mahaprabhoh--of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kirtana--(by) chanting; nrtya--dancing; gita--singing; vaditra--playing musical instruments, madyat--gladdened; manasah--whose mind; rasena--due to the mellows of pure devotion; roma-anca-- standing of the hair; kampa--quivering of the body; asru- taranga--torrents of tears; bhajah--who feels; vande--I offer my obeisances; guroh--of my spiritual master; sri-carana-aravindam--unto the lotus feet.
sri- vigraharadhana-nitya-nana
shringaira-tan-mandira-marjanadau
yuktasya bhaktamsh cha niyunjato pi
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam
The spiritual master is always engaged in the temple worship of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. He also engages his disciples in such worship. They dress the Deities in beautiful clothes and ornaments, clean Their temple, and perform other similar worship of the Lord. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
WORD FOR WORD
sri-vigraha--(of) the arca-vigraha (Deities); aradhana--the worship; nitya--daily; nana--(with) various; srngara--clothing and ornaments; tat--of the Lord; mandira--(of) the temple, marjana-adau--in the cleaning, etc.; yuktasya--who is engaged; bhaktan-- his disciples; ca--and; niyunjatah--who engages; api--also; vande--I offer my obeisances; guroh--of my spiritual master, sri-carana-aravindam--unto the lotus feet.
chatur-vidha-sri-bhagavat-prasada-
swadv-anna-triptan hari-bhakta-sanghan
kritwaiva triptim bhajatah sadaiva
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam
The spiritual master is always offering Krsna four kinds of delicious food [analyzed as that which is licked, chewed, drunk, and sucked]. When the spiritual master sees that the devotees are satisfied by eating bhagavat-prasada, he is satisfied. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
WORD FOR WORD
earth--four; vidha--kinds; Sri--holy; bhagavat-prasada--which have been offered to Krsna; svadu--palatable; anna--(by) foods; trptan--spiritually satisfied; hari--(of) Krsna; bhakta-sanghan-- the devotees; krtva---having made; eva--thus; trptim-- satisfaction; bhajatah--who feels; sada--always; eve--certainly; vande--I offer my obeisances; guroh--of my spiritual master, sri-carana-aravindam--unto the lotus feet.
sri-radhika-madhavayor apara-
madhurya-lila-guna-rupa-namnam
prati-kshanaswadana-lolupasya
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam
The spiritual master is always eager to hear and chant about the unlimited conjugal pastimes of Radhika and Madhava, and Their qualities, names, and forms. The spiritual master aspires to relish these at every moment. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
WORD FOR WORD
sri-radhika--(of) Srimati Radharani; madhavayoh--of Lord Madhava (Krsna); apara--unlimited; madhurya--conjugal; lila-- pastimes; guna--qualities; rupa--forms, namnam--of the holy names; prati-ksana--at every moment; asvadana--relishing; lolupasya--who aspires after; vande--I offer obeisances; guroh--of my spiritual master; sri-carana-aravindam--unto the lotus feet.
nikunja-yuno rati-keli-siddhyai
ya yalibhir yuktir apekshaniya
tatrati-dakshyad ati-vallabhasya
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam
The spiritual master is very dear, because he is expert in assisting the gopis, who at different times make different tasteful arrangements for the perfection of Radha and Krsna's conjugal loving affairs within the groves of Vrndavana. I offer my most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
WORD FOR WORD
nikunja-yunah--of Radha and Krsna; rati-- (of) conjugal love; keli--(of) pastimes; siddhyai--for the perfection; ya ya-- whatever, alibhih--by the gopis; yuktih--arrangements; apeksanya--desirable; tatra--in that connection; ati-daksyat--because of being very expert; ati-vallabhasya--who is very dear; vande--I offer obeisances; guroh--of my spiritual master; sri-carana-aravindam--unto the lotus feet.
sakshad-dharitvena samasta-shastrair
uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhihi
kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam
The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord, because he is the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a bonafide representative of Sri Hari [Krsna].
WORD FOR WORD
Saksat--directly; hari-tvena--with the quality of Hari; samasta-- all; sastraih--by scriptures; uktah--acknowledged, tatha--thus; bhavyate--is considered; eva--also; sadbhih--by great saintly persons; kintu--however; prabhoh--to the Lord; yah--who; priyah-- dear; eva--certainly; tasya--of him (the guru); vande--I offer obeisances; guroh--of my spiritual master; sri-carana-aravindam--unto the lotus feet.
yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado
yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto 'pi
dhyayan stuvams tasya yashas trisandhyam
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam
By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Krsna. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.
WORD FOR WORD
yasya--of whom (the spiritual master); prasadat--by the grace; bhagavat--(of) Krsna; prasadah--the mercy; yasya--of whom; aprasadat--without the grace; na--not; gatih--means of advancement ; kutah api--from anywhere; dhyayan--meditating upon; stuvan--praising; tasya--of him (the spiritual master); yasah--the glory; tri-sandhyam--three times a day (sunrise, noon, and sunset); vande--I offer obeisances; guroh--of my spiritual master; sri-carana-aravindam--unto the lotus feet.