Your Fearless Lotus Feet ~ Śrīla Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj

Preface

Your Fearless Lotus Feet

Vyāsa-pūjā offering for His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣak Śrīdhar Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj written by His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj, in 1957.

1} They come from such faraway lands
Bearing gifts of worship in their outstretched hands,
Fervently they hasten—your kinsmen in bands
To greet you on this, your Holy Birthday.

2} At your Fearless Lotus Feet they happily rejoice
With streaming eyes and stuttering voice,
Horripilating body and a love that’s choice—
Considering themselves most fortunate.

3} O most Magnanimous Master, gracefully forgiving,
On this Holy Day to offer I have practically nothing,
What little I have is sullied and trifling,
Not worthy of offering to thee.

4} Burning in repentance
for my one time thoughtlessness,
Your feet’s shelter I beg in all repentance
May I not ever lose you from inadvertence,
Please grant only fearlessness to me.

5} Having lost myself in Māyā’s delusion
I’ve found only flickering pleasure and convulsion
On the giant wheel of virtue and indiscretion—
And a garland of cradles and sepulchers.

6} Absorbed in a great purposeless search
Away I have pushed the true wealth of this birth,
And tossed between heaven and earth,
I’ve gotten only a burning fever.

7} An abysmal hellfire ignites all around
Projecting its snout while flames leap and bound,
Expanding a huge cavernous mouth—
Intending only to devour me.

8} World-engulfing and world-scorching flames
Cause me to run hither and thither in torment
And wearied I drop into a slumbering suspense
In Mahāmāyā’s dense trickery.

9} This great sinner, this fallen outcaste
Infatuated by the six enemies is aghast
As lust and greed propel him fast—
To the shore of the ocean of death.

10} My uncontrolled mind—a will o’ the wisp
Takes no good counsel, though I give it the whip
Carrying its burden in a subconscious grip—
Hastens me to doom’s doorstep.

11} Please save me Lord¡
Out of your own kind goodness
Your glance alone defeats Māyā’s madness
O shelter of all the poor and helpless
May the world behold your grace.

12} Māyā’s bonds I cannot break
Your Lotus Foot Dust for to take
Do sever these bonds and forever make
Your Holy Lotus Feet my serving place.

13} Many a helpless wretch has found
Shade and shelter ’neath your ground
But this fallen soul by Māyā bound—
Can only heave long sighs.

14} The Nectar Ganges Name you brought
Saved many helpless souls distraught
And yet this worthless slave is caught—
Deceived by day and night.

15} My self-surrender is just a farce
To call my own, my wealth is sparse
O Redeemer Lord¡ Do make me yours
And call me your very own.

16} Your Lotus Feet I humbly entreat
May Forever be my Object Sweet Lord,
Bind and nourish me with daily service
And the rope of your kind compassion.

Contents
Introduction
Preface ~ Your Fearless Lotus Feet
Part One
Chapter 1 The Service of Vṛndāvan
Chapter 2 The Lord is not Impersonal
Chapter 3 Evidence of the Conception of a Personal God in the Scriptures of India
Chapter 4 Preparing to Understand Kṛṣṇa’s Transcendental Pastimes

Part Two
Kṛṣṇa’s Four Super-excellent Qualities
Chapter 1 Kṛṣṇa’s Sweet Pastimes
Chapter 2 Kṛṣṇa’s Wonderful Associates
Chapter 3 Kṛṣṇa’s Transcendental Flute
Chapter 4 Kṛṣṇa’s Unparalleled Beauty and Opulence

All glories to Śrī Guru and Śrī Gaurāńga

Religion of the Heart ~ His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj
© 2006—Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math