by Draviḍa Dasa
Offered on Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance day, 1997, in Vrindavana
(Inspired verse-by-verse by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura’s Gurv-aṣṭaka)
1.
Trapped within saṁsāra’s all-devouring, blazing fire,
We had no hope of rescue till your guru’s strong desire
Inspired and empowered you to boldly cross the sea
And teach the truths of bhakti so some souls would be set free.
O Prabhupāda, your mercy is my only treasure now;
Unto your soothing lotus feet I bow.
2.
Patiently you taught us how to chant the Holy Name,
And how to dance, and how to sing, and what was life’s true aim.
And thus you gave us Lord Caitanya’s teachings unalloyed,
And saved us from the all-devouring Māyāvādī void.
O Prabhupāda, your mercy is my only treasure now;
Unto your soothing lotus feet I bow.
3.
When kṛṣṇa-bhakti spread and you had centers here and there,
You introduced the worship of the Deities so fair.
And soon throughout the world Their Lordships smiled upon your crew
And nourished strong devotion to Themselves, and unto you.
O Prabhupāda, your mercy is my only treasure now;
Unto your soothing lotus feet I bow.
4.
Prasādam was your special weapon, no one could resist;
Once the Sunday Feast had started, no one could desist.
Halvā, sweet rice, crisp pakorās, subjīs, purīs, rice—
With these and other preps you did our tongues and hearts entice.
O Prabhupāda, your mercy is my only treasure now;
Unto your soothing lotus feet I bow.
5.
The books you showered down upon the masses and on us
Taught scripture’s sacred essence: bhakti pure and nectarous.
And while you wrote you relished Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa’s name
And form and pastimes, qualities, and everlasting fame.
O Prabhupāda, your mercy is my only treasure now;
Unto your soothing lotus feet I bow.
6.
While managing your ISKCON, with the whole world as your stage,
Meeting, preaching, trav’ling like a person half your age,
You served Their Lordships Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa in your heart,
Arranging for Their pastimes in Vṛndāvan’s secret part.
O Prabhupāda, your mercy is my only treasure now;
Unto your soothing lotus feet I bow.
7.
“The guru is as good as God,” you said, and some were shocked.
But you had simply quoted scripture: you did not concoct.
And sure enough, for those who worship you as they would God,
The path of bhakti opens wide and joyfully is trod.
O Prabhupāda, your mercy is my only treasure now;
Unto your soothing lotus feet I bow.
8.
If you bestow your mercy, then Śrī Kṛṣṇa gives His too;
But if your mercy’s lacking, then there’s nothing we can do.
So every day we should reflect upon your life sublime
And vow to serve you always with our body, words, and mind.
O Prabhupāda, your mercy is my only treasure now;
Unto your soothing lotus feet I bow.
9.
I pray that my small hymn, though lacking literary worth,
Presented to remind us of your pastimes on this earth,
May find some favor both with you and with your devotees,
Who hover ’round your lovely lotus feet like maddened bees.
O Prabhupāda, I pray that you bestow your mercy now;
Unto your soothing lotus feet I bow.
Dravida Prabhu is a vaishnava scholar, musician and poet. He has edited Back to Godhead magazine and other books published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust for over 25 years. From 1983 to 1989 he was part of the team that produced the last six 1,000 page volumes of the magnum opus of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada: a commentated English translation of India’s jewel of Vedic wisdom, the 18,000 verse Srimad Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana). He also helped produce the revised version of Srila Prabhupada’s nine volume Caitanya caritamrita during 1995 – 1996 and his Krishna book from 1994 – 1995. In addition to his editing work, he teaches Bhakti Yoga classes at the Los Angeles and San Diego ISKCON centers. Throughout all this immersion in transcendental literature, Dravida dasa developed a love of the Sanskrit language, and especially the elaborate Sanskrit prosody of the Bhagavatam, portions of the Caitanya caritamrita, and other bhakti literature. His devotion and expertise in chanting form a marvelous combination He is a bramachari since many decades. He is Srila Prabhupada’s disciple.