Sri Nityanandastakam

by

Srila Vrindavana dasa Thakura

sarac-candra-bhrantim sphurad-amala-kantim gaja-gatim
hari-premonmattam dhrta-parama-sattvam smita-mukham
sada ghurnan-netramkara-kalita-vetram kali-bhidam
bhaja nityanandambhajana-taru-kandam niravadhi



 I perpetually worship Sri Nityananda Prabhu, the root of the Krishna-bhakti tree, Whose
bright face mocks the full autumn moon, Whose pure complexion glistens, Whose gait is
like that of maddened elephant, Who is always intoxicated in Krishna-prema, Who
embodies pure spiritual energy, Whose face holds a gentle smile, Whose eyes are always
rolling due to His absorption in Krishna-prema, Whose lotus hand holds a glowing staff,
and Who by the performance of nama-sankirtana pierces the influence of Kali-yuga.



rasanam-agaram svajana-gana-sarvasvam-atulam

tadiyaika-prana-pratima-vasudha-jahnava-pati

sada premonmadam param-aviditam manda-manasam

bhaja nityanandambhajana-taru-kandam niravadhi



 I perpetually worship Sri Nityananda Prabhu, the root of the Krishna-bhakti tree, Who is
the mainstay of all the rasas, Who is everything to His devotees, Who is incomparable,
Who is the Master of both Vasudhu and Jahnava-devi, Who consider Him more dear than
Their own lives, Who is always maddened in Krishna-prema, and Who is unknown only to
those of meagre intelligence.



saci-sunu-presthamnikhila-jagadistam sukhamayam

kalau majjaj-jivoddharana-karanoddama-karunam

harer-adhyanad-va-bhava-jaladhi-garvonnati haram

bhaja nityanandambhajana-taru-kandam niravadhi



 I perpetually worship Sri Nityananda Prabhu, the root of the Krishna-bhakti tree, Who is
very dear to Sri Saci-nandana, Who is worshipped by the entire universe, Who is the
embodiment of happiness, Who possesses infinite mercy for delivering the souls who are
drowning in the age of Kali, and Who by the performance of Sri harinama-sankirtana
thwarts the progressing false pride of the ocean of repeated birth and death.



aye bhratar-nrnam kali-kalusinam kinnu bhavita

tatha prayascitam racaya yad-anayasata ime

varajanti tvam-ittham saha bhagavata mantrayati yo

bhaje nityanandambhajana-taru-kandam niravadhi



 I perpetually worship Sri Nityananda Prabhu, the root of the Krishna-bhakti tree, Who
said to Sri Krishna Caitanya, "Hey brother Gauranga!  What will be the destination of the
sinful souls of Kali-yuga, and how will they be redeemed?  Please devise a method by
which they will easily attain You."



yathestam re bhratah!  kuru hari-hari-dhvanam-anisam

tato vah samsarambudhi-tarana-dayo mayi laget

idambahu-sphotair-atati ratayan yah pratigrham

bhaja nityanandambhajana-taru-kandam niravadhi



  I perpetually worship Sri Nityananda Prabhu, the root of the Krishna-bhakti tree, Who
wandered around Bengal and, approaching the door of each and every home, threw open
His arms and exclaimed, "O brothers!  All of you should eternally perform
sri-harinama-sankirtana together.  By doing so, I will take the responsibility to deliver
you all from the ocean of material existence."



balat samsarambhonidhi-harana-kumbhodbhavam-aho

satam srayah-sindunnati-kumuda-bandhum samuditam

khala-sreni-sphurjat-timita-hara-surya-prabham-aham

bhaje nityanandambhajana-taru-kandam niravadhi



 I eternally worship Sri Nityananda Prabhu, the root of the Krishna-bhakti tree, Who is the
Agastya Muni Who forcibly swallows the ocean of repeated birth and death, Who is a
rising full moon which increases the ocean of the saintly persons' welfare, and Who is a
sun which dissipates the darkness of ignorance cast by the various classes of miscreants.

natantam gayantam harim-anuvadantam pathi pathi



vrajantam pasyantam svam-api na dayantam jana-ganam

prakurvantam santamsakaruna-drgantam prakalanad

bhaje nityanandambhajana-taru-kandam niravadhi



I eternally worship Sri Nityananda Prabhu, the root of the tree of Krishna-bhakti, Who
wandered on every path in Bengal dancing, singing, and calling our "Hari-bol!  Hari-bol!",
and Who lovingly bestowed merciful sidelong glances upon those who were not
compassionate to even their own selves.



subibhranam bhratuh kara-sarasi-jamkomlataram

mitho vaktralokocchalita-paramananda-hrdayam

bhramantam madhuryair-ahaha!  madayantam pura-janan

bhaje nityanandambhajana-taru-kundam niravadhi



 I eternally worship Sri Nityananda Prabhu, the root of the Krishna-bhakti tree, Who held
the supremely soft lotus-hand of His brother Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu, Whose heart
became filled with the highest bliss when the two brothers gazed into each other's faces,
and Who wandered here and there delighting the townspeople with His sweetness.



rasanam-adharam rasika-vara-saisnava-dhanam

rasagaram saram patita-tati-taram smaranatah

param nityanandastakam-idam-apurvam pathati yas-

tad-anghri-dvandvabjam sphuratu nitaramtasya hrdaye


 May Sri Nityananda Prabhu place His lotus feet in the heart of one who lovingly recites
this unprecedented Nityanandastake, which is the reservoir or rasa, the greatest treasure of
the most exalted of rasika Vaishnavas, and the storehouse of the essence of bhakti-rasa.
This astaka is sung in the melody known as 'Sikharini".