In Memoriam - Bhakti Charu Swami
The Gopīs’ Songs of Separation
tava kathāmṛtaḿ tapta-jīvanaḿ
kavibhir īḍitaḿ kalmaṣāpaham
śravaṇa-mańgalaḿ śrīmad ātataḿ
bhuvi gṛṇanti ye bhūri-dā janāḥ
jayati te 'dhikaḿ janmanā vrajaḥ
śrayata indirā śaśvad atra hi
dayita dṛśyatāḿ dikṣu tāvakās
tvayi dhṛtāsavas tvāḿ vicinvate
śarad-udāśaye sādhu-jāta-sat-
sarasijodara-śrī-muṣā dṛśā
surata-nātha te 'śulka-dāsikā
vara-da nighnato neha kiḿ vadhaḥ
viṣa-jalāpyayād vyāla-rākṣasād
varṣa-mārutād vaidyutānalāt
vṛṣa-mayātmajād viśvato bhayād
ṛṣabha te vayaḿ rakṣitā muhuḥ
na khalu gopīkā-nandano bhavān
akhila-dehinām antarātma-dṛk
vikhanasārthito viśva-guptaye
sakha udeyivān sātvatāḿ kule
TRANSLATION
1) The nectar of Your words and the descriptions of Your activities are the life and soul of those suffering in this material world. These narrations, transmitted by learned sages, eradicate one's sinful reactions and bestow good fortune upon whoever hears them. These narrations are broadcast all over the world and are filled with spiritual power. Certainly those who spread the message of Godhead are most munificent. [9]
2) The gopis said: O beloved, Your birth in the land of Vraja has made it exceedingly glorious, and thus Indira, the goddess of fortune, always resides here. It is only for Your sake that we, Your devoted servants, maintain our lives. We have been searching everywhere for You, so please show Yourself to us. [1]
3) O Lord of love, in beauty Your glance excels the whorl of the finest, most perfectly formed lotus within the autumn pond. O bestower of benedictions, You are killing the maidservants who have given themselves to You freely, without any price. Isn't this murder? [2]
4) O greatest of personalities, You have repeatedly saved us from all kinds of danger - from poisoned water, from the terrible man-eater Agha, from the great rains, from the wind demon, from the fiery thunderbolt of Indra, from the bull demon and from the son of Maya Danava. [3]
5) You are not actually the son of the gopi Yasoda, O friend, but rather the indwelling witness in the hearts of all embodied souls. Because Lord Brahma prayed for You to come and protect the universe, You have now appeared in the Satvata dynasty. [4]
This song is featured in Bhakti Caru Swami’s album “Krsna Bhavamrta Vol.1”.
July 4, 2020
My dear Bhakti Charu Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
When you first met Srila Prabhupada he recognized you as a special soul, so much so that within a short time he accepted you as a sannyasi disciple. For the next 45 years you faithfully kept your difficult vows, travelling constantly, promoting Krishna consciousness in service to Srila Prabhupada. Your astonishing, flawless legacy will forever inspire all of Srila Prabhupada’s followers. Today, hearing the devastating news of your departure, I remember your unbroken loyalty and determination.
When you first came to America in 1979 I picked you up at the LA airport and set up programs for you in New Dwaraka and other temples. One of the temple presidents asked if this new sannyasi spoke English. Thus began your preaching in America, where you touched so many hearts from coast to coast, just as you did in Europe, India, and everywhere. Today, hearing the devastating news of your departure, I remember you as a fearless, blissful preacher who saw the whole world as his family.
Your book, “Ocean of Mercy,” beautifully recounts your relationship with Srila Prabhupada. Your lectures reflected an understanding of Srila Prabhupada’s book with depth that could only come from translating all of them into Bengali. In your joyous kirtans and bhajans, your voice, unpretentious and pure, intoned the powerful vibration of selfless devotion. In the last of your bhajans I had the privilege to attend you sang the Damodarastakam in a lilting melody that has engrained itself in my heart forever. When you kindly invited me to lunch with you, your disciples served simple but exquisite dishes prepared under your watchful guidance. Today, hearing the devastating news of your departure, I remember you as the unassuming master of all the Vaishnava arts.
“ISKCON is constipated,” you once told me, lamenting the slow delegation of spiritual leadership in our sanga. Capturing the mood of Lord Caitanya, you wanted as many devotees as possible to serve as spiritual masters. Despite your profound personal spiritual advancement you said that ISKCON is Srila Prabhupada’s ashram and that every initiating guru in ISKCON, including yourself, was empowered only under his authority via the GBC. You set the standard for taking great responsibility and accomplishing great things in your guru’s service without becoming proud. Today, hearing the devastating news of your departure, I remember your natural humility.
“My true disciple is a perfect gentleman,” Srila Prabhupada said. No one exemplified this quality more than you. Whomever spoke to you felt like the most important person in the world. Regardless of the problem or question they would bring to you, you would listen carefully and reply with wisdom, compassion and tact. In the sometimes heated GBC meetings your voice was always measured, thoughtful, calm and loving. You never offended anyone, but if you thought you had, you would beg their forgiveness. Now that Lord Krishna has taken you, who will we turn to for a living example of perfect Vaishnava behavior? Today, hearing the devastating news of your departure, I remember you as the impeccable Vaishnava gentleman, a disciple of whom Srila Prabhupada was truly proud.
Lord Krishna has blessed us with your association. Now, for His own sweet reasons, He has taken it away. With tears in our eyes and broken hearts, we simply pray to Lord Krishna to bless us to once again have your association when we leave this world.
Your servant, Kalakantha das ACBSP
Comments
Post a Comment