Śrī Jagannāthāṣṭakam | Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu

Category:
Religion:
Vaiṣṇavism
Darśana:
Vedānta
Sampradāya:
Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism
School:
Dvaita
Strict Dualism
Madhva school
Teaching:
A-Cintya-Bhedābheda
inconceivable one-ness and difference,
Bhakti
Founder:
Caitanya Mahāprabhu
Status:
Avatāra, Incarnation of God,
Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself
Birth:
18 February 1486
Viśvambhara Mishra (Nimāi)
Nadia, West Bengal
Samādhi:
1533(aged 46–47)
Puri, Odisha
Works:
Śikṣāṣṭakam
- 8 verses only
Theology:
devotional worship of Śrī Kṛṣṇa as Supreme Deity
Works Online:
1. Śrī Jagannāthāṣṭakam
Works About Him:
1. Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya
Carita Mahā Kāvya

Śrī Jagannāthāṣṭakam
by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu

Issued from the mouth of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu

The only 8 authentic verses known as written down from the words of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the spiritual head and foremost authority of Gauḍīya Vaishnavas, from which all their philosophy and inspiration issues.

1.

kadācit kālindī-taṭa-vipina-saṅgīta-taralo
mudābhīrī-nārī-vadana-kamalāsvāda-madhupaḥ
ramā-śambhu-brahmāmara-pati-gaṇeśārcita-pado
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me (1)

Who sometimes fervently plays His flute on the banks of the Yamunā river in Śrī Vṛndāvana, who is like a bumblebee that blissfully tastes the lotus faces of the Vraja-gopīs, and whose feet are worshipped by great personalities such as Lakṣmī, Śiva, Brahmā, Indra, and Gaṇeśa

—may that Śrī Jagannāthadeva be the object of my vision.

2.

bhuje savye veṇuṁ śirasi śikhi-picchaṁ kaṭitaṭe
dukūlaṁ netrānte sahacara-kaṭākṣaṁ ca vidadhat
sadā śrīmad-vṛndāvana-vasati-līlā-paricayo
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me (2)

Who holds a flute in His left hand, who wears a peacock feather on His head and a fine yellow silken cloth around His hips,

who from the corners of His eyes bestows loving sidelong glances upon His companions, and who is forever known as the one who performs wondrous pastimes in the divine abode of Śrī Vṛndāvana

—may that Śrī Jagannāthadeva be the object of my vision.

3.

mahāmbhodhes-tīre kanaka-rucire nīla-śikhare
vasan prāsādāntaḥ sahaja-valabhadreṇa balinā
subhadrā-madhyasthaḥ sakala-sura-sevāvasara-do
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me (3)

Who on the shore of the great ocean resides in a palace situated on the gold-like crest of Nīlācala Hill accompanied by His powerful brother Baladevajī and between Them, His sister Subhadrā, and who bestows the opportunity to serve Him upon all the demigods

—may that Śrī Jagannāthadeva be the object of my vision.

4.

kṛpā-pārāvāraḥ sajala-jalada-śreṇi-ruciro
ramā-vāṇī-rāmaḥ sphurad-amala-paṅkeruha-mukhaḥ
surendrair-ārādhyaḥ śruti-gaṇa-śikhā-gīta-carito
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me (4)

Who is an ocean of mercy, whose bodily complexion is as beautiful as a row of blackish rain-clouds, who sports with Lakṣmī-devī and Sarasvatī,

whose face is like a spotless fully-blossomed lotus, who is worshipped by the foremost demigods, and whose transcendental glories have been sung in the topmost scriptures

—may that Śrī Jagannāthadeva be the object of my vision.

5.

rathārūḍho gacchan pathi milita-bhūdeva paṭalaiḥ
stuti-prādurbhāvaṁ prati-padam-upākarṇya sadayaḥ
dayā-sindhur-bandhuḥ sakala-jagatāṁ sindhu-sutayā
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me (5)

When Jagannātha’s Ratha-yatra cart is moving along the road, at every step assemblies of brāhmaṇas sing His praises.

Upon hearing them, Jagannātha, being an ocean of mercy and the true friend of all the worlds, becomes favourably disposed towards them

- May that Śrī Jagannāthadeva be the object of my vision.

6.

param-brahmāpīḍaḥ kuvalaya-dalotphulla-nayano
nivāsī nīlādrau nihita-caraṇo ’nanta-śirasi
rasānandī rādhā-sarasa-vapur-āliṅgana-sukho
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me (6)

Who is the crown-jewel of transcendence, whose eyes are like the petals of a fully-opened blue lotus, who resides at Nīlācala,

whose feet are placed on the head of Śeṣa, who is blissfully immersed in bhakti-rasa, and who derives happiness from embracing the rasa-laden body of Śrīmatī Rādhikā

—may that Śrī Jagannāthadeva be the object of my vision.

7.

na vai yāce rājyaṁ na ca kanaka-māṇikya-vibhavaṁ
na yāce ’haṁ ramyāṁ sakala-jana-kāmyāṁ vara-vadhūm
sadā kāle kāle pramatha-patinā gīta-carito
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me (7)

I do not pray to Jagannātha for a kingdom, nor for gold, jewels, wealth, or even for a beautiful wife as desired by all men.

My only prayer is that Śrī Jagannāthadeva, whose splendid glories are always sung by Śiva, be the constant object of my vision.

8.

hara tvaṁ saṁsāraṁ drutataram-asāraṁ sura-pate!
hara tvaṁ pāpānāṁ vitatim-aparāṁ yādava-pate!
aho dīne ’nāthe nihita-caraṇo niścitam-idaṁ
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me (8)

O master of the demigods! Quickly deliver me from this worthless worldly existence.

O Lord of the Yadus! Purge me of my limitless host of sins. Aho! You have promised to bestow Your feet upon the fallen and shelterless

— O Jagannātha Swāmī, please be the object of my vision.

jagannāthāṣṭakaṁ puṇyaṁ yaḥ paṭhet prayataḥ śuci
sarva-pāpa-viśuddhātmā viṣṇulokaṁ sa gacchati (9)

One who carefully recites this sacred Jagannāthāṣṭakam, upon becoming sinless and pure-hearted, will attain entrance into Viṣṇuloka.