by Draviḍa Dāsa
(inspired by a Sanskrit poem by Śrīmān Kuśakratha dāsa)
1) śrī-śrī-navadvīpa-para-pradīpaḥ
sandīpyamānah satato bhuvīha
cetas-tamo hanti hi yasya yatnān
namāmi taṁ śrī-prabhupādadevam
The transcendental lamp of Navadvīp, Gaurāṅgadev,
He took with great endeavor ’round the world the souls to save
Who long had dwelt in darkness, never chanting Kṛṣṇa’s name—
To Śrīla Prabhupāda I bow, his glories I proclaim.
2) śrī-bhaktisiddhānta-pracoditaḥ śrī-
vyāsādya-kośaṁ kuśalaṁ kṛpāluḥ
san mleccha-vāg-deśa-caye ‘dadhad yan
namāmi taṁ śrī-prabhupādadevam
The sacred treasure left by Vyās and other learned saints
He rendered into English free of speculation’s taints,
And thus he mercif’lly fulfilled Śrī Sarasvatī’s aim—
To Śrīla Prabhupāda I bow, his glories I proclaim.
3) ācchadyate yat-para-tarka-dṛśya-
govinda-mūrty-ujjvala-bhāskareṇa
advaiti-khadyota-kulaṁ jagatyāṁ
namāmi taṁ śrī-prabhupādadevam
The brilliant sun of Lord Govinda’s form is shining bright
Throughout this world because of his sharp logic’s awesome might.
That sun makes all the Māyāvādī glowworms hide in shame—
To Śrīla Prabhupāda I bow, his glories I proclaim.
4) yasyaiva yatnena purāṇa-rāja-
gaṅgāmalā keśava-keli-haṁsā
sat-stotra-ratnā vahatīha loke
namāmi taṁ śrī-prabhupādadevam
The pristine Ganges of the Bhāgavat flows everywhere
Because of his great effort. In that stream, the sages’ prayers
Are gems, and Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes are swans sporting unrestrained—
To Śrīla Prabhupāda I bow, his glories I proclaim.
5) śrī-rādhikā-kṛṣṇa-padāravinde
sahasra-hṛtsu śata-mandireṣu
aropayad yo madhure pṛthivyāṁ
namāmi taṁ śrī-prabhupādadevam
Ensuring that his mission’s victory would be complete,
He planted Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa’s charming lotus feet
In temples by the dozen and in countless hearts unchained—
To Śrīla Prabhupāda I bow, his glories I proclaim.
6) kauśalyadair yasya sahasra-śāstra-
śastrātivarṣaiḥ pratihanyate hi
caṇḍā kaler moha-camūr haṭhena
namāmi taṁ śrī-prabhupādadevam
The fierce and formidable army led by wicked Kali
Is being slain by arrow showers, volley upon volley.
Those arrows are his all-auspicious books of spotless fame—
To Śrīla Prabhupāda I bow, his glories I proclaim.
7) nānā-lasad-gaura-sudhā-prakāśa-
phalaḥ kṣitau sthāpita eva yena
kṛṣṇānucintā-jana-saṅgha-vṛkṣo
namāmi taṁ śrī-prabhupādadevam
The Hare Kṛṣṇa movement’s a desire tree, whose fruits
Are all the splendid ways Lord Gaura’s army wins recruits.
To plant that tree upon the earth, from Kṛṣṇa’s realm he came—
To Śrīla Prabhupāda I bow, his glories I proclaim.
8) yo nityadā jīvati daivikīṣu
nijāsu śikṣāsu sahānugāmi
kṛpāmbudhir nanda-sutāśritātmā
namāmi taṁ śrī-prabhupādadevam
An ocean of compassion, he has taken shelter of
Śrī Nanda’s Son with all his being in everlasting love.
He lives on by his words, whose followers with him remain—
To Śrīla Prabhupāda I bow, his glories I proclaim.
9) I pray that those who read this hymn, which shines the brilliant light
Of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s renown in Kali-yuga’s night,
Will soon attain firm faith in his instructions so that they
May one day join him in Golok, and there with Kṛṣṇa stay.