Bhajana-Rahasya
by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Mahasaya | 2010 | 123,965 words
The Bhajana-rahasya Text 13, English translation, including commentary (vritti). The Bhajana-rahasya is a compilation of verses describing the mercy of the eight pairs of names (Yugala-nama) of the Maha-mantra. This is text 13 belonging to the chapter “Caturtha-yama-sadhana (Madhyahna-kaliya-bhajana–ruci-bhajana)” representing from the second prahara until three-and-a-half praharas: approximately 11.00 a.m.–3.30 p.m.
Text 13
A prayer for obtaining the association of vraja-bhaktas is spoken by Lord Brahmā in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.14.30):
तद् अस्तु मे नाथ स भूरि-भागो भवे’त्र वान्यत्र तु वा तिरश्चाम्
येनाहम् एको’पि भवज्-जनानां भूत्वा निषेवे तव पाद-पल्लवम्tad astu me nātha sa bhūri-bhāgo bhave’tra vānyatra tu vā tiraścām
yenāham eko’pi bhavaj-janānāṃ bhūtvā niṣeve tava pāda-pallavamO Bhagavān, may I be so fortunate as to attain the association of Your devotees and, under their guidance, obtain service to Your lotus feet, be it in this or any other human birth, or in a birth such as an animal, bird, worm or moth.
एइ ब्रह्म जन्मेइ वा अन्य कोन भवे
पशु-पक्षी ह’ये जन्मि तोमार विभवेei brahma janmei vā anya kona bhave
paśu-pakṣī ha’ye janmi tomāra vibhaveएइ मात्र आशा तव भक्त-गण-सङ्गे
थाकि’ तव पद-सेवा करि नाना-रङ्गेei mātra āśā tava bhakta-gaṇa-saṅge
thāki’ tava pada-sevā kari nānā-raṅge
Commentary: Bhajana-rahasya-vṛtti:
Lord Brahmā became perplexed when he saw Śrī Kṛṣṇa playing with the other cowherd boys. So, in order to see more of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, he stole the cowherd boys and calves. Śrī Kṛṣṇa, however, assumed the forms of as many cows and cowherd boys as Brahmā stole, and for one year He continued His pastimes as before. Finally, He showed Brahmā His four-armed form. Upon seeing the Supreme Lord’s opulence, Brahmā deeply regretted his actions.
He praised Śrī Kṛṣṇa in various ways and begged forgiveness for his offence: “O Lord, I have directly received Your mercy. O fulfiller of all kinds of desires, my fortune is not in having obtained this post as Brahmā. Rather, if I take birth in Vraja from the womb of an animal, bird, worm, moth or any other sub-human species, I will consider myself most fortunate. Even the mercy available to the deer in Vraja is not easily obtained in this birth as Brahmā. The deer cleanse the dust from Your limbs with their tongues, and You caress them with Your hands. I want to take birth in any species, high or low, where I can serve Your lotus feet under the guidance of Your devotees. This is my earnest desire and will be my good fortune.”