Eight Seminal Verses of Instruction
composed by Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Verse 1
TRANSLATION
“The Holy Name of Krishna cleanses the mirror of the heart and extinguishes the fire of misery in the forest of birth and death.
As the evening lotus blooms in the moon’s cooling rays, the heart begins to blossom in the nectar of the Name.
And at last the soul awakens to its real inner treasure—a life of love with Krishna.
Again and again tasting nectar, the soul dives and surfaces in the ever-increasing ocean of ecstatic joy.
All phases of the self of which we may conceive are fully satisfied and purified, and at last conquered by the all-auspicious influence of the Holy Name of Krishna.”
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Verse 2
TRANSLATION
“O my Lord, Your Holy Name bestows auspiciousness upon all. And You have unlimited names such as Krishna and Govinda by which You reveal Yourself.
In Your many Holy Names You have kindly invested all Your transcendental potency. And in chanting these names, there are no strict rules concerning time or place.
Out of Your causeless mercy, You have descended in the form of divine sound, but my great misfortune is that I have no love for Your Holy Name.”
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Verse 3
TRANSLATION
“One who is humbler than a blade of grass, more forbearing than a tree who gives due honour to others without desiring honour for himself is qualified to always chant the Holy Name of Krishna.”
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Verse 4
TRANSLATION
“O Lord, I have no desires to accumulate wealth, followers, beautiful women, or salvation. My only prayer is for Your causeless devotional service, birth after birth.”
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Verse 5
TRANSLATION
“O son of Nanda Maharaja, I am Your eternal servant, yet because of my own karma, I have fallen into this terrible ocean of birth and death. Accept this fallen soul and consider me a particle of dust at Your Holy Lotus Feet.”
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Verse 6
TRANSLATION
“O Lord, when will tears flow from my eyes like waves? And my voice tremble in ecstasy. When will the hairs of my body stand on end while chanting Your Holy Name?”
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Verse 7
TRANSLATION
“O Govinda! Without You, the world is empty. Tears are flooding my eyes like rain, and a moment seems like forever.”
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Verse 8
TRANSLATION
“Krishna may embrace me in love or trample me under His feet. He may break my heart by hiding Himself from me. Let that debauchee do whatever He likes, but He will always be the only Lord of my life.”
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