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Bhakti Ratnakar : Chapter of the Praises

    Bhakti-Ratnakar is a Guhartha Granth (Extensive devotional book),probably the only Sanskrit book of Srimanta Sankardeva ; Sankardeva summarized more than thirty two Vedic scriptures to preach the Eka-Sarana Bhakti or the Single-minded devotion to Sri Krishna .Among those texts ,some important texts are : Srimad Bhagavata,Bhagavat Gita,Pandavi Gita,Padma Puran,Naradiya Puran,Matsya puran,Vishnu Puran,Skandh Puran,Suta Samhita,Bhavartha Deepika,Santi Satak,Bhujanga prayat ,Nirsimha puran,Vishnu-dharamotara ,Yoga-sara,Vaishnavanada,Prabodh Chandrodaya. Here I'm presenting the traditional Assamese poetry trans-creation of  the same book in transliteration. Sri Ramacharan Thakur ,Third in the Disciplic succession from Sankardeva translated the book into Assamese in the late 16th century .This Particular Chapter has the glorification of Bhakatas or the pure devotees of Krsna . I'm trying to render the verses in a simple meaning.


                    


                           Bhaktar amga Prasan'sa  


1. Idaniku karu amga prasanasa bhaktar ,Sabadhana mane suniyuka sabe nare 


    Now, I will glorify the limbs of devotees, listen to it carefully .


 2.Chaturtha skandhe ase Navam addhaye,Sukara bachan parikshitara agata 


 It's written in the ninth chapter of the fourth canto Bhagavatam, the dialogue between Sukadeva and King Pariksheeta  . 


3.Indriyaka Safala kare Hari bhakati,Eteke janiya ambarisha mahamati,arpilanta mana krshna-charaan-padmat,Varnaila Bacane Hari Gunak satat 


           After knowing the principle of  how to make the senses prosperous ,King Ambarisha dedicated his mind to the lotus feet of Sri Krsna ; With his speech ,he glorified the qualities of Krshna.


   4. Karilanta haate Hari-Mandira Marjhana


    With both His hands,he cleaned the floors of the temple of the Lord  .


   5.  Karne Krsna Katha matro karila Sravan


Through His ears,he only performed the Sravana (means ,listening to the deeds of Sri Krsna)


  6.  Mukundar Than Sahi asila nayan


  His eyes are just fixed on the palace of Mukunda (means, the place where Krshna is glorified ).


 7. Sarire karila bhakatak alingana


  He hugged (embraced ) the devotees  (through his body)


 8. Srimanta Tulashi Krsna-charan-padmar,nasikaye ghrana tara loiya nripvara


        King Ambarish then took the smell of the wealthy (spiritual) Tulsi leaves ,which was first offered to the Lotus feet of Lord Krsna.


 9.  Ishvara Krshna t Nivedita anna jata, tare matro swada loila jivhaye satat 


        By his tongue,he only tasted the food offerings (remaining )of the Lord.


 10.Karilanta pave Hari-khestraku gamana, Sire Hari Charana karila vandana


  By his feet,he went to the holy places of the Lord , and by his head ,he offered respect to Lord's holy feet .


 11. Dasa vabe Ishvarar prasad mane mani ,Arpanadi bhog karilanta mahagyani.


The extremely learnt  Ambarisha took everything material only as the prasada (remaining of the Lord) ,considering himself a servant of Sri Hari.


 12 Itu indriyar bhoga nahi hena mati , Sadaye Bhakatat matra karilanta rati 


Considering that the remaining(s) of the Lord Can't bind oneself in worldly bonds,he took pleasures only in the association of the devotees .


  13. Asila parama bhava bhaktat keval, taharese deh-indri sakale safal 


As he had a great feeling only for the pure devotees,hence ,His Senses and the human body together was successful .


 14.Sukara Bachana itu thoilu ehimane,Pariksheeta vakya kahu suna sabdhane ,Dasama skandhe ase Asi adhayat,Bulanta bachana suka devar agata


Now,after the dialogues of Suka, I will narrate the dialogue of Pariksheeta ,written in chapter number eighty of the tenth canto Bhagavatam ,Listen to it carefully,what he said to sage Suka.


  15.sehise Bachana maha safal ho-wayo,Jitu vakye Krsna guna kirtana karayah


Only those speeches are successful ,which contain the glorification of Krishna's qualities . 


16.Sehi hasta safal harir karma kare,Sehi man dhnaya krsna kese matra smare


Those hands and minds are successful ,through which one can perform the action related to krsna and think only of krsna respectively.


17.Madhavara punya katha sadaye sunaya,Sehi Karna safala janiba mahasaya


O respectable one,His ears are really blessed,through which he listens to the holy narration of the Husband of Lakhxmi. 


18.Sthabaa-janghama save rupa Madhavar, tahake pranama mathe sise Sresthtar,sthavara janghamae jitu Harik dekhaya,takese uttam chakshu bolaya nitshaya


He who sees the potency of the Lord in all moving and non-moving and then offer his respect to all, is indeed a high grade person .As observing Hari's glory in all the Sthavar-jangham by his eyes,those eyes are really successful !


  19.Hari seva santoshar nirmal amrit jal,Lawe nite jitu sehi sarir safal 


His body is indeed prosperous-ed as he took the ambrosia like water of worship (service) daily.                                                         


  20.Sehi Jiva safala Harik stuti kare, Sehi suddha citta hari cinte nirantare


Those tongues are blessed, via which a devotee sing the glory of Hari and those minds are extremely pure,in which the devotees meditate on Sri Hari repeatedly . 


  21.Kevale sehise Kar slaghani howaya, jitu jane Hari Puja sada karaya


He whose hands are engaged in the worship of Sri Hari Daily,only those hands are beneficial .


22.  Krshnata kariya eka sarana nitshaya,kunu seva matroke mukti paboyo


Doing Eka-Sarana( Single minded surrender) to Krsna ,certainly with any of  kind of service ,one will achieve liberation.


 23. Samasta indriya jitu seve Madhavaka, ki kahibo paiebe jitu mukuti padaka


He who engages all his senses in the service of Madhava ,He will even achieve a higher blessing (above liberation ), I can't even express that joy fully !


  24, Jani hena nirnaya samaste indrigana,kariyuka seva shaavae Krsnar charanar


Knowing the above passages ,the decision is to engage all the senses in the feet of Sri Krishna.


 25.Kariluhu Samapata itu mahatmyamak ,Prasangsa karilu Visnu Bhaktar Amgak 


The chapter of glorification is over , I've praised the Limbs of Vishnu's Devotees . 


                                           Hari Rama Rama Rama


                                          












(Painting Courtesy : Citra-Bhagavata,page 40,Assamese-wikisource)

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