Śrī Gurvāstakam - Poetic Rendition in English

(1)

The forest fire of birth and death brings anguish

my guru’s rain of mercy can extinguish.

It comes from seas of virtues deep within him.

vande guroḥ śrī caraṇa-aravindam

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(2)

Joyous in kirtan taught by Lord Caitanya,

my guru dances, sings and plays mrdanga.

He quakes and cries as hairs arise upon him.

vande guroḥ śrī caraṇa-aravindam 

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(3)

My guru daily teaches by example

to serve the Deities and clean the temple.

We bathe Their Lordships, decorate, and dress Them.

vande guroḥ śrī caraṇa-aravindam

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(4)

My guru offers four kinds of prasādam

and then invites his students to enjoy some.

When we are satisfied it satisfies him.

vande guroḥ śrī caraṇa-aravindam. 

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(5)

My guru always wants to chant and listen

about details of Rādhā’s love for Krishna.

Lord Krishna’s holy names and forms absorb him.

vande guroḥ śrī caraṇa-aravindam

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(6)

My guru helps the gopīs make arrangements

for Radha Krishna’s intimate exchanges.

He is so expert, everybody loves him.

vande guroḥ śrī caraṇa-aravindam

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(7)

All of the scriptures and the saintly persons

declare my guru very dear to Krishna.

To honor Krishna, I give honor to him.

vande guroḥ śrī caraṇa-aravindam

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(8)

My guru’s grace will lead Krishna to bless us.

Without his grace, we can’t make any progress.  

Three times a day I meditate upon him.

vande guroḥ śrī caraṇa-aravindam

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There is an extra benediction verse (9) which is not usually chanted in kirtan:

(9)

Chanting these verses carefully and loudly

before the sunrise will, without a doubt, be

my ticket to serve Krishna in Vrindavan

when this old body is dead and long forgotten.

(1)
saḿsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-lokatrāṇāya kāruṇya-ghanāghanatvam
prāptasya kalyāṇa-guṇārṇavasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

(2)
mahāprabhoḥ kīrtana-nṛtya-gītavāditra-mādyan-manaso rasena
romāñca -kampāśru-tarańga-bhājo
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

(3)
śrī-vigrahārādhana-nitya-nānāśṛńgāra-tan-mandira-mārjanādau
yuktasya bhaktāḿś ca niyuñjato ‘pi
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

(4)
catur-vidha-śrī-bhagavat-prasādasvādv-anna-tṛptān hari-bhakta-sańghān
kṛtvaiva tṛptiḿ bhajataḥ sadaiva
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

(5)
śrī-rādhikā-mādhavayor apāramādhurya-līlā guṇa-rūpa-nāmnām
prati-kṣaṇāsvādana-lolupasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

(6)
nikuñja-yūno rati-keli-siddhyai
yā yālibhir yuktir apekṣaṇīyā
tatrāti-dākṣyād ati-vallabhasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

(7) sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair
uktas tathā bhāvyata eva sadbhiḥ
kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

(8)
yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo
yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto ‘pi
dhyāyan stuvaḿs tasya yaśas tri-sandhyaḿ
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

There is an extra benediction verse (9) which is not usually chanted in kirtan:

(9)
śrīmad-guror aṣṭakam etad uccair
brāhme muhūrte paṭhati prayatnāt
yas tena vṛndāvana-nātha sākṣāt
sevaiva labhyā januṣo’nta eva