Sri Siksastakam Lyrics — Eight Instructions on the Holy Names
Daily Meditations
Śrī Śikṣāṣṭakam
By Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
Read Sri Siksastakam from Krishna Meditations, with Sanskrit transliteration and an English rendition by Kalakantha das.
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Original lyrics · Sanskrit transliteration
1) ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaṁ śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaṁ vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaṁ prati-padaṁ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaṁ sarvātma-snapanaṁ paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam
2) nāmnām akāri bahudhā nija-sarva-śaktis tatrārpitā niyamitaḥ smaraṇe na kālaḥ etādṛśī tava kṛpā bhagavan mamāpi durdaivam īdṛśam ihājani nānurāgaḥ
3) tṛṇād api sunīcena taror api sahiṣṇunā amāninā mānadena kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ
4) na dhanaṁ na janaṁ na sundarīṁ kavitāṁ vā jagad-īśa kāmaye mama janmani janmanīśvare bhavatād bhaktir ahaitukī tvayi
5) ayi nanda-tanuja kiṅkaraṁ patitaṁ māṁ viṣame bhavāmbudhau kṛpayā tava pāda-paṅkaja- sthita-dhūlī-sadṛśaṁ vicintaya
6) nayanaṁ galad-aśru-dhārayā vadanaṁ gadgada-ruddhayā girā pulakair nicitaṁ vapuḥ kadā tava nāma-grahaṇe bhaviṣyati
7) yugāyitaṁ nimeṣeṇa cakṣuṣā prāvṛṣāyitam śūnyāyitaṁ jagat sarvaṁ govinda-viraheṇa me
8) āśliṣya vā pāda-ratāṁ pinaṣṭu mām adarśanān marma-hatāṁ karotu vā yathā tathā vā vidadhātu lampaṭo mat-prāṇa-nāthas tu sa eva nāparaḥ
English rendition
1) Cleaning the mirror of consciousness, dousing the fire of birth and death, fortune’s lotus white moonbeams glow, giving life to the truths we know. Swelling oceans of kīrtan bliss fill each step with the taste we’ve missed, cleansing spirits for everyone. All glories to Śri Krishna saṅkīrtan.
2) My Lord, You have more Names than anyone could ever say, and You empower every Name to bless us every way. We’re free to chant at any hour, circumstance, or place, yet I am so unfortunate, I still don’t have a taste.
3) One who chants in humble mood, and keeps the tolerant attitude of trampled straw or patient trees, can chant Your names incessantly.
4) No money, supporters, or paramours, no vested interests for me, My Lord. Through every birth, I only pray to serve You in a selfless way.
5) Oh Nanda’s son, I’m Your servant, yet I’ve fallen in the sea of birth and death. By Your causeless mercy, make me a speck of dust on Your lotus feet.
6) When will a shower of tears fill my eyes? When will my bodily hairs start to rise? When will my voice choke and throat constrain as I feel ecstasy chanting Your names?
7) A moment’s like a thousand years, my eyes begin to flood with tears, the cosmos is an empty sphere, Govinda, when You disappear.
8) Let Krishna fasten me to His lotus feet. Let Krishna trample, or go away from me, or play like a man who cheats on his wife. Still, only Krishna remains my life.