Śrī Vṛndādevy-aṣṭakam
"Eight Prayers Glorifying Śrī Vṛndā Devī",
by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Translation by Bābā Mādhava Dāsa.
Printed in Back To GodHead Magazine, 1993
श्री वृन्दा-देव्यष्टकम्
Śrī Vṛndādevy-aṣṭakam
TEXT 1
गाङ्गेय-चाम्पेय-तडिद्-विनिन्दि-
रोचिः-प्रवाह-स्नपितात्म-वृन्दे ।
बन्धूक-बन्धु-द्युति-दिव्य-वासो
वृन्दे नमस् ते चरणारविन्दम् ॥ १॥
gāṅgeya-cāmpeya-taḍid-vinindi-
rociḥ-pravāha-snapitātma-vṛnde
bandhūka-bandhu-dyuti-divya-vāso
vṛnde namas te caraṇāravindam (1)
gangeya -- golden; campeya -- campaka flower; tadit -- lightning; vinindi -- chastising; rocih --splendor; pravaha -- with rivers; snapita -- bathed; atma -- own; vrnde -- multitude; bandhuka -- of the bandhuka flower; bandhu -- friend; dyuti -- splendor; divya -- transcendental; vasah -- garments; vrnde -- O Vrnda-devi; namah -- I offer respectful obeisances; te -- to your; carana -- feet; aravindam - the lotus flower.
O Vṛnda Devī, I offer my respectful obeisances to your lotus feet. You are bathed in your own splendour, which defeats the effulgence of lightning and the golden champaka flower. The luster of your transcendental garments is the friend of the leandhilia flower. (bandhūka flower)
TEXT 2
बिम्बाधरोदित्वर-मन्द-हास्य-
नासाग्र-मुक्ता-द्युति-दीपितास्ये ।
विचित्र-रत्नाभरण-श्रीयाढ्ये
वृन्दे नमस् ते चरणारविन्दम् ॥ २॥
bimbādharoditvara-manda-hāsya-
nāsāgra-muktā-dyuti-dīpitāsye
vicitra-ratnābharaṇa-śrīyāḍhye
vṛnde namas te caraṇāravindam (2)
bimba -- bimba fruits; adhara -- lips; uditvara -- extraordinary; manda -- gentle; hasya -- smile; nasa -- of the nose; agra --on the tip; mukta -- pearl; dyuti -- by the splendor; dipita -- illuminated; asye -- face; vicitra -- amazing and colorful; ratna -- jewels; abharana -- and ornaments; sriya -- with the beauty; adhye -- enriched.
O Vṛnda Devī, I offer my respectful obeisances to your lotus feet. Your face is illuminated by the splendour of the pearl decorating the tip of your nose, and by the extraordinary gentle smile on the two bimba fruits which are your lips. You are enriched by the beauty of the amazing and colourful jewels and ornaments you wear.
TEXT 3
समस्त-वैकुण्ठ-शिरोमणौ श्री-
कृष्णस्य वृन्दावन-धन्य-धाम्नि ।
दत्ताधिकारे वृषभानु-पुत्र्या
वृन्दे नमस् ते चरणारविन्दम् ॥ ३॥
samasta-vaikuṇṭha-śiromaṇau śrī-
kṛṣṇasya vṛndāvana-dhanya-dhāmni
dattādhikāre vṛṣabhānu-putryā
vṛnde namas te caraṇāravindam (3)
samasta -- all; vaikuntha -- of the Vaikuntha worlds; sirah-manau -- the crown jewel; Sri Krishna -- of Sri Krishna vrndavana -- Vrndavana; dhanya -- opulent and auspicious; dhamni -- in the abode; datta -- given; adhikare -- dominion; vrsabhanu -- of King Vrsabhanu; putrya --by the daughter (Srimati Radharani)
O Vṛnda Devī, I offer my respectful obeisances to your lotus feet. Srīmatī Rādhārāṇī, the daugther of King Vṛṣabhānu, has made you the ruling monarch of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s opulent and auspicious abode of Vṛndāvana, which is the crest jewel of all the Vaikunṭh planets.
TEXT 4
त्वद्-आज्ञया पल्लव-पुष्प-भृङ्ग-
मृगादिभिर् माधव-केलि-कुञ्जः ।
मध्वादिभिर् भान्ति विभूष्यमाणा
वृन्दे नमस् ते चरणारविन्दम् ॥ ४॥
tvad-ājñayā pallava-puṣpa-bhṛṅga-
mṛgādibhir
mādhava-keli-kuñjaḥ
madhv-ādibhir bhānti vibhūṣyamāṇā
vṛnde namas te caraṇāravindam (4)
tvat -- your; ajnaya -- by the order; pallava -- blossoming; puspa -- by flowers; bhrnga -- by bumble-bees; mrga -- by deer; adibhih -- and others; Madhava -- of Lord Madhava; keli -- for performing pastimes; kunjah -- groves; madhu -- with springtime; adibhih -- and the other seasons; bhanti -- appears very splendid; vibhusyamanah -- being decorated.
O Vṛnda Devī, I offer my respectful obeisances to your lotus feet. Because of your order, the groves where Lord Mādhava performs His pastimes appear very splendid, decorated with blossoming flowers, bumblebees, deer, and other auspicious animals, flowers, and birds.
TEXT 5
त्वदीय-दूत्येन निकुञ्ज-यूनोर्
अत्युत्कयोः केलि-विलास-सिद्धिः ।
त्वत्-सौभगं केन निरुच्यतां तद्
वृन्दे नमस् ते चरणारविन्दम् ॥ ५॥
tvadīya-dūtyena nikuñja-yūnor
atyutkayoḥ keli-vilāsa-siddhiḥ
tvat-saubhagaṁ kena nirucyatāṁ tad
vṛnde namas te caraṇāravindam (5)
tvadiya -- your; dutyena -- because of the message; nikunja-yunoh -- of Radha and Krishna who perform pastimes in the groves (of Vrndavana); ati-utkayoh -- very enthusiastic (to perform pastimes); keli -- amorous; vilasa -- pastimes; siddhih -- perfection; tvat -- your; saubhajam -- good fortune; kena -- by whom?; nirucyatam -- may be described; tat -- therefore.
O Vṛnda Devī, I offer my respectful obeisances to your lotus feet. Who can describe your good fortune? You were the messenger who brought about the perfection of the amorous pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, the youthful couple, who enthusiastically sport in the groves of Vṛndāvana.
TEXT 6
रासाभिलाषो वसतिश् च वृन्दा
वने त्वद्-ईशाङ्घ्रि-सरोज-सेवा ।
लभ्या च पुंसां कृपया तवैव
वृन्दे नमस् ते चरणारविन्दम् ॥ ६॥
rāsābhilāṣo vasatiś ca vṛndā
vane tvad-īśāṅghri-saroja-sevā
labhyā ca puṁsāṁ kṛpayā tavaiva
vṛnde namas te caraṇāravindam (6)
rasa -- the rasa dance; abhilasah -- the desire; vasatih -- residence; ca -- and; vrndavane -- in Vrndavana; tvat -- your; isa -- of the Lord (Krishna); anghri -- feet; saroja -- of the lotus flower; seva -- service; labhya -- is attainable; ca -- and; pumsam -- by the living entities; krpaya -- by the mercy; tava -- your; eva -- indeed.
O Vṛnda Devī, I offer my respectful obeisances to your lotus feet. The living entities who attain the service of the lotus feet of your Lord reside in Vṛndāvana. And the desire to understand the Lord’s amazing pastimes of the rasa dance is only by your mercy.
TEXT 7
त्वं कीर्त्यसे सात्वत-तन्त्र-विद्भिर्
लीलाभिधाना किल कृष्ण-शक्तिः ।
तवैव मूर्तिस् तुलसी नृ-लोके
वृन्दे नमस् ते चरणारविन्दम् ॥ ७॥
tvaṁ kīrtyase sātvata-tantra-vidbhir
līlābhidhānā kila kṛṣṇa-śaktiḥ
tavaiva mūrtis tulasī nṛ-loke
vṛnde namas te caraṇāravindam (7)
tvam -- you; kirtyase -- are glorified; satvata-tantra-vidbhih -- by those who know the Satvata-tantra; lila -- pastimes; abhidhana -- by the name; kila -- indeed; Krishna -- of Lord Krishna; saktih -- the potency; tava -- your; eva -- indeed; murtih -- form; tulasi -- Tulasi; nrloke --in human society.
O Vṛnda Devī, I offer my respectful obeisances to your lotus feet. Those who have studied the Sātvata-tantra glorify you. You are Lord Kṛṣṇa’s potency for performing pastimes, and you are known as Tulasī Devī in the human society.
TEXT 8
भक्त्या विहीना अपराध-लक्षैः
क्षिप्ताश् च कामादि-तरङ्ग-मध्ये ।
कृपामयि त्वाम् शरणं प्रपन्ना
वृन्दे नमस् ते चरणारविन्दम् ॥ ८॥
bhaktyā vihīnā aparādha-lakṣaiḥ
kṣiptāś ca kāmādi-taraṅga-madhye
kṛpāmayi tvām śaraṇaṁ prapannā
vṛnde namas te caraṇāravindam (8)
bhaktya -- of devotional service; vihinah -- devoid; aparadha -- of offenses; laksaih -- with thousands; ksiptah -- thrown; ca -- and; kama -- of lust; adi -- and other inauspicious qualities; taranga -- of the waves; madhye -- in the midst; krpamayi -- O merciful one; tvam -- you; saranam -- shelter; prapannah -- attain.
O Vṛnda Devī, I offer my respectful obeisances to your lotus feet. Those who are devoid of devotion to Lord Hari, and who are thrown by their offenses into the waves of lust and other inauspicious qualities, may take shelter of you.
TEXT 9
वृन्दाष्टकं यः शृणुयात् पठेद् वा
वृन्दावनाधीश-पदाब्ज-भृङ्गः ।
स प्राप्य वृन्दावन-नित्य-वासं
तत्-प्रेम-सेवां लभते कृतार्थः ॥ ९॥
vṛndāṣṭakaṁ yaḥ śṛṇuyāt paṭhed vā
vṛndāvanādhīśa-padābja-bhṛṅgaḥ
sa prāpya vṛndāvana-nitya-vāsaṁ
tat-prema-sevāṁ labhate kṛtārthaḥ (9)
vrinda -- glorifying Vrnda-devi; astakam -- eight verses; yah -- who; srnuyat -- may hear; pathet -- may read; va -- or; vrndavana -- of Vrndavana; adhisa -- of the monarchs (Radha and Krishna); pada -- feet; abja -- at the lotus flowers; bhrngah -- a bumble-bee; sah -- he; prapya -- attaining; vrndavana -- at Vrindavana; nitya -- eternal; vasam -- residence; tat -- of Lord Krishna; prema -- in pure love of Godhead; sevam -- devotional service; labhate -- attains; krita-arhah -- and his spiritual desires are satisfied.
O Vṛnda Devī, I offer my respectful obeisances to your lotus feet. Let a person who becomes like a bumblebee at the lotus feet of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, and who reads or hears these eight verses describing the glories of Vṛndā Devī, eternally reside at Goloka Vṛndāvana. He attains devotional service in pure love of Godhead, and all his spiritual aspirations become fulfilled.
Vṛndā-kuṇḍa in Vṛndāvan, India, the eternal home of Vṛndā-Devī in this world
Bābā Mādhava Dāsa - Caretaker of Vṛndā-kuṇḍa Temple in Vṛndāvan
Different English translation by Dasaratha Suta Das
1) Oh Vṛndā, You are adorned with an extremely brilliant translucent dress that is as red as a banduka flower. By your own beautiful bodily luster, you put to shame the combined effulgence of pure gold, champaka flowers, and lightening bolts, and by that luster bathing your associates. We offer obeisance to your lotus-feet.
2) Oh Vṛndā, the countenance of your face is especially radiant, being decorated by your gentile sweet smile (which has sprouted from your reddish lips resembling bimba fruits), as well as being embellished by your pearl nose ornament. You are also endowed with loveliness by your body decorated with mulitifarious jeweled ornaments. We offer obeisance to your lotus feet.
3) Oh Vṛndā, the supremely pure abode of Kṛṣṇa known as Vṛndāvana, which is the crest jewel of all planets in the spiritual sky, is presided over by the charming daughter of King Vṛṣabhānu, Rādhā. But she has awarded you with the power and authority to maintain this divine realm as your service to her. We offer obeisance to your lotus-feet.
4) Oh Vṛndā, all the multitudes of Mādhava’s love-sporting bowers become supremely beautified by being decorated under your direction with fresh leaves, sprouts, flowers, bees, deer, peacocks, talking parrots, all types of animals and birds, as well as with wonderful seasons headed by Spring. We offer our obeisance to your lotus feet.
5) Oh Vṛndā, by your expertly intelligent service as a messenger for the amorous couple of the bower, their transcendental love-sports become successful. Who in this world can speak to your great fortune? We offer obeisance to your lotus-feet.
6) Oh Vṛndā, devotees who have the desire to participate in the rāsa-dance, who long to live eternally in Vṛndāvana, and who seek service to the lotus feet of your lords, easily attain ever lasting fulfillment of all their desires by your mercy. We offer obeisance to your lotus-feet.
7) Oh Vṛndā, Highly qualified sages who are well-versed in the sātvata-tantras have praised your as the energy of Kṛṣṇa known as līlā-śakti. You are also very famous in the world of men for your appearance in the form of a tree, known as Tulasī. We offer obeisance at your lotus feet.
8) Oh Vṛnda we are bereft of devotion, due to committing much offence we have been cast deeply into the ocean of desires. We are being tossed about on waves of lust and so fourth. Surrendered to you we pray. We offer obeisance to your lotus-feet.
9) Whoever hears or recites these eight prayers in glorification of Vṛndā-devī becoming just like a bumble bee that is always anxious to taste the sweet lotus feet of the lord of Vṛndāvana, such a person attains eternal residence there. Having achieved that loving service one remains situated.
Vrinda-Kunda
History of Vrinda Kunda
Tulasī Devī- beloved of Kṛṣṇa