Caitanyastaka by Raghunatha Dasa Gosvamin

Translation by Neal Delmonico (Nitai Das)

Verse One

Hari, after seeing his incomparable self in a mirror in Vraja
was born in Gauda in order to taste his own sweetness
like the most dear of his sweethearts, Sri Radha,
the lord taking one body with the golden hue of the other.
Alas! Will that Son of Saci come into the path of my eyes again?

Verse Two

His was a sweetness bathed
in the honey-love of the Lord of Puri;
His feet were repeatedly worshipped
by the pure service revealed by Govinda;
His face was illumined
with the countless lotus-
life breaths of Svarupa;
Alas! will that Son of Saci come
into the path of my eyes again?

Verse Three

Putting on a loin-cloth and over that a saffron wrap,
his huge body surrounded all about as if by rays of the golden mount,
singing loudly and joyfully his own sweet names;
Alas! will that Son of Saci come
into the path of my eyes again?

Verse Four

The vine of bhakti,
that has the shining rasa of love as its fruit,
unknown even to previous sages expert in bhakti
and hidden away by the Veda,
the merciful lord
out of great compassion
revealed in Gauda
Alas! will that Son of Saci come again
into the path of my vision?

Verse Five

The Lord, accepting these Gaudiya
as his own in the world,
gave them an instruction like a father:
“Hey there! Chant ‘Hare Krsna’
regulating your count!”
Alas! will that Son of Saci come again
into the path of my sight?

Verse Six

Always standing behind the Garuda pillar
gazing before him at the Lord of the Blue Mountain
his own long, shining body drenched
by tears flowing from his eyes through great love;
Alas! will that Son of Saci come again
into the path of my sight?

Verse Seven

Having bit with his teeth in ecstasy
his lip, defeating bandhuka flowers in hue,
having placed his left hand on his hip and raised his other high,
the dancing enthusiast was radiant
with countless goose-bumps induced by love.
Alas! will that Son of Saci come again
into the path of my sight?

Verse Eight

In a grove on the bank of the river
overwhelmed by separation
from the Moon of Gokula
he made another river
with the streams of his tears;
fainting repeatedly he made
the world appear to be dead.
Alas! will that Son of Saci come again
into the path of my sight?

Verse Nine

For one who reads (recites) regularly the astaka,
fulfilling one’s desires, of the Son of Saci
with a pure intellect and deep humility,
Lord Caitanya, overwhelmed by absorption in great mercy,
submerges him in a vast ocean of love
that grants the proclaimed rasa.