Prayer- Chaurastakam
Composer- Bilva Mangal Thakur
Language- Sanskrit
Diety- Krishna
Shri Chaurastakam is written by Bilva Mangal Thakur , an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna. The prayer glorifies the qualities of Lord Krishna as a child and a cowherd of Vrindavan.
Chaurastakam Lyrics and Meaning
1.Vraje prasiddham navanita-cauram gopańgananam ca dukula-cauram Aneka-janmarjita-papa-cauram cauragraganyam purusam namami व्रजेप्रसिद्धं नवनीत चौरम, गोपंगानानाम च दुकुल चौरम| अनेक जन्मार्जित पाप चौरम, चौराग्रगण्यं पुरुषम नमामि || Transliteration: I offer pranama to that foremost of thieves – who is famous in Vraja as the butter-thief and He who steals the gopis’ clothes, and who, for those who take shelter of Him, steals the sins which have accrued over many lifetimes. ============================ 2.Shri Radhikaya hrdayasya cauram navambuda-syamala-kanti-cauram Padasritanam ca samasta-cauram cauragraganyam purusam namami श्री राधिकाया हृदयस्य चौरम, नम्बुदा श्यामलकांति चौरम पदाश्रीतानाम च समस्त चौरम, चौराग्रगण्यं पुरुषम नमामि || Transliteration: I offer pranama to the foremost of thieves – who steals Srimati Radhika’s heart, who steals the dark luster of a fresh raincloud, and who steals all the sins and sufferings of those who take shelter of His feet. ============================ 3.akishcani-krtya padasritam yah karoti bhiksum pathi geha-hinam kenapy aho bhisana-caura idrg drstah-sruto va na jagat-traye ’pi अकिंचिनी कृत्य पदाश्रीतम य:, करोति भिक्षुम पथि गेह हिनं केन्यपो हो भीषण चौर इद्र्ग, दृष्ट: श्रुतो व न जगत त्रय Sपि|| Transliteration: He turns His surrendered devotees into paupers and wandering, homeless beggars – aha! such a fearsome thief has never been seen or heard of in all the three worlds. ============================ 4.yadiya namapi haraty asesam giri-prasaran api papa-rasin ascarya-rupo nanu caura idrg drstah sruto va na maya kadapi यदीय नमापी हरत्यशेषं, गिरि प्रसराण Sपि पाप राशी आश्चर्य रूपों ननु चौर इद्र्ग, दृष्ट: श्रुतो व न मया कदापि Transliteration: The mere utterance of His name purges one of a mountain of sins – such an astonishingly wonderful thief I have never seen or heard of anywhere! ============================ 5.Dhanam ca manam ca tathendriyani pranams ca hrtva mama sarvam eva Palayase kutra dhrto ’dya caura tvam bhakti-damnasi maya niruddhah धनं च मानं च तथेन्द्रियाणि, प्राणमश्च हृत्वा मम सर्व मेव| पलायसे कुत्र ध्रतSद्या चौर, त्वं भक्तिदाम्नाशी मया निरुद्ध: || Transliteration: O Thief! Having stolen my wealth, my honor, my senses, my life and my everything, where can You run to? I have caught You with the rope of my devotion. ============================ 6.Chinatsi ghoram yama-pasa-bandham bhinatsi bhimam bhava-pasa-bandham chinatsi sarvasya samasta-bandham naivatmano bhakta-krtam tu bandham छिनत्सी घोरं यम पाश बन्धं, भिनस्ती भीमं भव पाश बन्धं || छिनत्सी सर्वस्य समस्त बन्धं, नैवात्मनो भक्त क्र्तं तू बन्धं || Transliteration: You cut the terrible noose of Yamaraja, You sever the dreadful noose of material existence, and You slash everyone’s material bondage, but You are unable to cut the knot fastened by Your own loving devotees. ============================ 7.Man-manase tamasa-rasi-ghore karagrhe duhkha-maye nibaddhah Labhasva he caura! hare! ciraya sva-caurya-dosocitam eva dandam मन्मानसे तामस राशी घोरे, कारागृहे दुःख मये निबद्ध: | लभस्व हे चौर! हरे ! चिराय, स्व चौर्य दोसो चित मे व दण्डं || Transliteration: O stealer of my everything! O Thief! Today I have imprisoned You in the miserable prison-house of my heart which is very fearful due to the terrible darkness of my ignorance, and You will remain there for a very long time, receiving appropriate punishment for Your crimes of thievery! ============================ 8.Karagrhe vasa sada hrdaye madiye mad-bhakti-pasa-drdha-bandhana-niscalah san Tvam krsna he! pralaya-koti-satantare ’pi sarvasva-caura! hrdayan na hi mocayami कारागृहे वस् सदा हृदये मदीये, मद भक्ति पाश दृढ बंधन निश्च्ल:सन त्वां कृष्ण हे प्रलय कोटिशतान्त रे Sपि, सर्वस्य चौर! हृदय न ही मोचयामी || Transliteration: O Krsna, thief of my everything! The noose of my devotion remaining forever tight, therefore You will continue to reside in the prison-house of my heart because I will not release You for millions of eon.