Sri Sri Gurvastakam

...

 

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada "This song is offering obeisances particularly to the spiritual master, and the symptoms of the spiritual master are described in this prayer. The spiritual master has two kind of symptoms in his activities. One kind is called constant, and other kind is called temporary. So the first verse says that the constant symptom of the spiritual master is that he can deliver his disciples from the blazing fire of this material existence. That is the eternal qualification of spiritual master. Tranaya means for deliverance, and karunya means compassionate, very merciful. The spiritual master comes to the deliverance of the fallen souls out of his causeless mercy. Nobody has any business for the sufferings of others."
Sri Sri Gurvastakam

Srila Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura, who appeared in the middle of the seventeenth century, is a great spiritual master in the Krsna conscious chain of gurus and disciples. He says, "One who, with great care and alteration, loudly recites this beautiful prayer to the spiritual master during the Brahma-muhurta obtains direct service to Krsna, the Lord of Vrndavana, at the time of his death."




 samsara-davanala-lidha-loka-
tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatwam
praptasya kalyana-gunarnavasya
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam
mahapraboh kirtana-nritya-gita-
vaditra-madyan-manaso rasena
romancha-kampashru-taranga-bhajo
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam
sri- vigraharadhana-nitya-nana
shringaira-tan-mandira-marjanadau
yuktasya bhaktamsh cha niyunjato pi
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam
chatur-vidha-sri-bhagavat-prasada-
swadv-anna-triptan hari-bhakta-sanghan
kritwaiva triptim bhajatah sadaiva
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam
sri-radhika-madhavayor apara-
madhurya-lila-guna-rupa-namnam
prati-kshanaswadana-lolupasya
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam
nikunja-yuno rati-keli-siddhyai
ya yalibhir yuktir apekshaniya
tatrati-dakshyad ati-vallabhasya
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam
sakshad-dharitvena samasta-shastrair
uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhihi
kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam

yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado
yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto 'pi
dhyayan stuvams tasya yashas trisandhyam
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada
Los Angeles, January 2, 1969

samsara-davanala-lidha-loka-
tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatvam
praptasya kalyana-gunarnavasya
vande guroh sri-caranaravindam

This song is offering obeisances particularly to the spiritual master, and the symptoms of the spiritual master are described in this prayer. The spiritual master has two kind of symptoms in his activities. One kind is called constant, and other kind is called temporary. So the first verse says that the constant symptom of the spiritual master is that he can deliver his disciples from the blazing fire of this material existence. That is the eternal qualification of spiritual master. Tranaya means for deliverance, and karunya means compassionate, very merciful. The spiritual master comes to the deliverance of the fallen souls out of his causeless mercy. Nobody has any business for the sufferings of others. The best example is Lord Jesus Christ, that he suffered for others. And it is the principle in the Bible that he accepted all the sins of others. This is the sign of spiritual master, that he voluntarily accepts the sinful activities of others and delivers them. That is the qualification of spiritual master. How it is? Just like ghanaghanatvam. Ghanaghanatvam means dense cloud in the sky. The first example has been said, that this material existence is just like forest blazing fire. Now, to extinguish the forest blazing fire, there is no use of sending fire brigade. The fire brigade cannot approach the forest fire; neither any man can go there to extinguish the fire. One has to depend completely on the mercy of nature. That means one has to completely depend on the cloud in the sky. Otherwise, there is no question of pouring water on that blazing fire. So the example is very appropriate. As man-made engine or fire brigade is unable to extinguish the forest blazing fire, similarly, the material existentional blazing fire cannot be extinguished by any man-made method.

They are planning to be very comfortable in this material existence, but they are still more being confused and failure. That peace movement, that United Nation movement, everything is failure. Why? These miseries of this material existence cannot be stopped by any material means. One has to take shelter of spiritual means. Just like the blazing fire in the forest has to wait for the cloud in the sky, similarly, one has to wait for the merciful cloud as the spiritual master. That is described. Tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatvam, praptasya kalyana-gunarnavasya. So the spiritual master is not self-made. It is not that if anyone comes before you and bluffs you that "I have attained spiritual perfection, and I have realized something by some method." No. The spiritual master, bona fide spiritual, means he has to receive the power from authority. Otherwise it is useless. No It is not that one can become spiritual master overnight. He has to take the power from his spiritual master. Therefore it is called praptasya. Praptasya means one who has obtained, one who has got the merciful blessings of his spiritual master.

We should always remember that the spiritual master is in the disciplic succession. The original spiritual master is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He blesses his next disciple, just like Brahma. Brahma blesses his next disciple, just like Narada. Narada blesses his next disciple, just like Vyasa. Vyasa blesses his next disciple, Madhvacarya. Similarly, the blessing is coming. Just like royal succession--the throne is inherited by disciplic or hereditary succession--similarly, this power from the Supreme Personality of Godhead has to receive. Nobody can preach, nobody can become a spiritual master, without obtaining power from the right source. Therefore the very word, it is stated here, praptasya. Praptasya means "one who has obtained." Praptasya kalyana. What he has obtained? Kalyana. Kalyana means auspicity. He has received something which is auspicious for all the human kind. Praptasya kalyana-gunarnavasya. Here is another example. Gunarnava. Arnava means ocean, and guna means spiritual qualities. Just like the same example is going on. It is very nice poetry. There is nice rhethorics and metaphor. The example is set, blazing fire, and it is to be extinguished with the cloud. And wherefrom the cloud comes? Similarly, wherefrom the spiritual master receives the mercy? The cloud receives his potency from the ocean. Therefore the spiritual master also receives his power from the ocean of spiritual quality, that is, from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So praptasya kalyana-gunarnavasya. Such kind of spiritual master, one has to accept, and vande guroh sri-caranaravindam, and one has to offer his respectful obeisances to such authorized spiritual master. (end)

http://www.harekrsna.com/practice/sadhana/morning/mangala-arati/gurvastaka.htm

samsara-davanala-lidha-loka- tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatwam praptasya kalyana-gunarnavasya vande guroh sri-charanaravindam The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities.	WORD FOR WORD samsara--(of) material existence; dava-anala--(by) the forest fire; lidha--afflicted; loka--the people; tranaya--to deliver; karunya--of mercy; ghanaghana-tvam--the quality of a cloud; praptasya--who has obtained; kalyana--auspicious; guna--(of) qualities; arnavasya--who is an ocean; vande--I offer obeisances; guroh--of my spiritual master; Sri--auspicious; carana-aravindam--unto the lotus feet.
mahapraboh kirtana-nritya-gita- vaditra-madyan-manaso rasena romancha-kampashru-taranga-bhajo vande guroh sri-charanaravindam Chanting the holy name, dancing in ecstasy, singing, and playing musical instruments, the spiritual master is always gladdened by the sankirtana movement of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Because he is relishing the mellows of pure devotion within his mind, sometimes his hair stands on end, he feels quivering in his body, and tears flow from his eyes like waves. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.	WORD FOR WORD mahaprabhoh--of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kirtana--(by) chanting; nrtya--dancing; gita--singing; vaditra--playing musical instruments, madyat--gladdened; manasah--whose mind; rasena--due to the mellows of pure devotion; roma-anca-- standing of the hair; kampa--quivering of the body; asru- taranga--torrents of tears; bhajah--who feels; vande--I offer my obeisances; guroh--of my spiritual master; sri-carana-aravindam--unto the lotus feet.
sri- vigraharadhana-nitya-nana shringaira-tan-mandira-marjanadau yuktasya bhaktamsh cha niyunjato pi vande guroh sri-charanaravindam The spiritual master is always engaged in the temple worship of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. He also engages his disciples in such worship. They dress the Deities in beautiful clothes and ornaments, clean Their temple, and perform other similar worship of the Lord. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.	WORD FOR WORD sri-vigraha--(of) the arca-vigraha (Deities); aradhana--the worship; nitya--daily; nana--(with) various; srngara--clothing and ornaments; tat--of the Lord; mandira--(of) the temple, marjana-adau--in the cleaning, etc.; yuktasya--who is engaged; bhaktan-- his disciples; ca--and; niyunjatah--who engages; api--also; vande--I offer my obeisances; guroh--of my spiritual master, sri-carana-aravindam--unto the lotus feet.
chatur-vidha-sri-bhagavat-prasada- swadv-anna-triptan hari-bhakta-sanghan kritwaiva triptim bhajatah sadaiva vande guroh sri-charanaravindam The spiritual master is always offering Krsna four kinds of delicious food [analyzed as that which is licked, chewed, drunk, and sucked]. When the spiritual master sees that the devotees are satisfied by eating bhagavat-prasada, he is satisfied. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.	WORD FOR WORD earth--four; vidha--kinds; Sri--holy; bhagavat-prasada--which have been offered to Krsna; svadu--palatable; anna--(by) foods; trptan--spiritually satisfied; hari--(of) Krsna; bhakta-sanghan-- the devotees; krtva---having made; eva--thus; trptim-- satisfaction; bhajatah--who feels; sada--always; eve--certainly; vande--I offer my obeisances; guroh--of my spiritual master, sri-carana-aravindam--unto the lotus feet.
sri-radhika-madhavayor apara- madhurya-lila-guna-rupa-namnam prati-kshanaswadana-lolupasya vande guroh sri-charanaravindam The spiritual master is always eager to hear and chant about the unlimited conjugal pastimes of Radhika and Madhava, and Their qualities, names, and forms. The spiritual master aspires to relish these at every moment. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.	WORD FOR WORD sri-radhika--(of) Srimati Radharani; madhavayoh--of Lord Madhava (Krsna); apara--unlimited; madhurya--conjugal; lila-- pastimes; guna--qualities; rupa--forms, namnam--of the holy names; prati-ksana--at every moment; asvadana--relishing; lolupasya--who aspires after; vande--I offer obeisances; guroh--of my spiritual master; sri-carana-aravindam--unto the lotus feet.
nikunja-yuno rati-keli-siddhyai ya yalibhir yuktir apekshaniya tatrati-dakshyad ati-vallabhasya vande guroh sri-charanaravindam The spiritual master is very dear, because he is expert in assisting the gopis, who at different times make different tasteful arrangements for the perfection of Radha and Krsna's conjugal loving affairs within the groves of Vrndavana. I offer my most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.	WORD FOR WORD nikunja-yunah--of Radha and Krsna; rati-- (of) conjugal love; keli--(of) pastimes; siddhyai--for the perfection; ya ya-- whatever, alibhih--by the gopis; yuktih--arrangements; apeksanya--desirable; tatra--in that connection; ati-daksyat--because of being very expert; ati-vallabhasya--who is very dear; vande--I offer obeisances; guroh--of my spiritual master; sri-carana-aravindam--unto the lotus feet.
sakshad-dharitvena samasta-shastrair uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhihi kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya vande guroh sri-charanaravindam The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord, because he is the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a bonafide representative of Sri Hari [Krsna].	WORD FOR WORD Saksat--directly; hari-tvena--with the quality of Hari; samasta-- all; sastraih--by scriptures; uktah--acknowledged, tatha--thus; bhavyate--is considered; eva--also; sadbhih--by great saintly persons; kintu--however; prabhoh--to the Lord; yah--who; priyah-- dear; eva--certainly; tasya--of him (the guru); vande--I offer obeisances; guroh--of my spiritual master; sri-carana-aravindam--unto the lotus feet.
yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto 'pi dhyayan stuvams tasya yashas trisandhyam vande guroh sri-charanaravindam By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Krsna. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.	WORD FOR WORD yasya--of whom (the spiritual master); prasadat--by the grace; bhagavat--(of) Krsna; prasadah--the mercy; yasya--of whom; aprasadat--without the grace; na--not; gatih--means of advancement ; kutah api--from anywhere; dhyayan--meditating upon; stuvan--praising; tasya--of him (the spiritual master); yasah--the glory; tri-sandhyam--three times a day (sunrise, noon, and sunset); vande--I offer obeisances; guroh--of my spiritual master; sri-carana-aravindam--unto the lotus feet.

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