SRI NAMASTAKA of Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada with the Sanskrit commentary of Srila Baladeva Vidyabhisana, and the Bengali translation and explanation of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura TRANSLITERATION, TRANSLATION AND NOTES www.ruparaghunathavani.com Digital edition Version 2017-02-O1bINTRODUCTION From the Caitanya-caritammta, we understand that Srila Rapa Gosvami was recognized by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates for his ability to understand the Lord’s confidential teachings on various topics, one of them being, the spiritual sweetness of the holy name (ndma-madhurya) when chanted by perfect pure devotees of Lord Krsna. On. the Lord’s order, Srila Ripa Gosvami composed extraordinary works such as Bhakti-rasampta-sindhu and Laghu- Bhagavatdmyta establishing the scriptural basis of the Lord's teachings on the spiritual mellows of the perfection of pure devotional service to Sri Sr¥ Radha Krsna and Their intimate associates. He also wrote several prayers that were later compiled and published by his intimate disciple Srila Jiva Gosvamt under the name of Stava-mala (“Prayers”). It appears that following the logic of madhurena samapayet, “One should end a meal with a sweet”, Srila Jiva Gosvi placed the Namastaka, eight verses on the glories of the holy name, at the very end of Stava-mala. A few generations after the disappearance of the six Gosvamis, when the study of Acdrya Rupa’s writings were being neglected, Srila Vivanatha Cakravartt Thakura commented on several of his major works, while his powerful student Srila Baladeva Vidyabhisana commented on his remaining major works, one of them being Stava-mdla. Srila Vidyabhisana’s commentary reveals deep insights into the power, significance and method of offenselessly chanting the holy names of Lord Krsna. It was around a century later that Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura started summarizing the teachings of the Gosvamis and highlighting theirkey preceptsthrough his own several writings. Some of hispublications were translations andversified paraphrases of selected prayers of Srila Ripa and Srila Raghundtha dasa Gosvamiin Bengali. One of those prayers is this very Namésfaka. With his characteristic penetrating intelligence, Stila Bhaktivinoda clatified in simple language some of the complicated concepts presented in Srila Baladeva Vidyabhasana’s Sanskrit commentary through a versified paraphrase in Bengali. When the Thakura organized his Nama Hatta preaching, he published the Namdsiaka with his Bengali translation and this versified paraphrase in pamphlets, and had them distributed in great numbers. In this edition, we have transliterated Srila Ripa Gosvami’s Namdstaka along with Srila Baladeva Vidyabhiisana’s commentary and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s translation and versified paraphrase (which we refer to here as “explanation”), For the sake of clarity, we have added various footnotes and added two appendices containing Srila Prabhupada's statements. We are also separately publishing the Sanskrittexts of Namdstaka with the commentary, along with the Bengali translation and explanation. These will be available separately as digital editions free for download from www suparaghunathavani com and together in the form of a printed book available for purchase. In this digital edition, the transliteration is provided in red for easy reading; the annotations contain hyperlinks to quotes from scriptures explained by Srila Prabhupada. Learned criticisms of the annotated translation along with suggestions for correction are welcome. I also take this ‘opportunity to seek the kind blessings of the Vaignava community. (On behalf of Ripa Raghunatha Vani Publications, Vidvan Gauranga dasa vidvan.gauranga@ gmail.comTABLE OF CONTENTS.of Srila Ripa Gosvami Prabhupada with the Sanskrit commentary of Srila Baladeva Vidyabhasana, and the Bengali translation and explanation of Stila Bhaktivinoda Thakura SRILA-BALADEVA-VIDYABHUSANA- KRTAM BHASYAM SrPkrgna-namne namo namah, namabhasenapi te yogi-mrgya muktih syad ity ahur amnaya-vacah J tad-vyakhyatre mahyam ia pradadyah svasmin bhaktirin nadhikarntvat prayce. bhagavan-nama stauti “nikhila” ity-adibhib. ‘SRILA-BHAKTIVINODA-THAKURA- KRTA VYAKHYA kali-yugapvandvatira ——aplra-krpi Srimad-godruma-candra sannysa Kariya jagate sarvatra hari-ndima pracdra kariyachilena, prabhu svayarh Sr-purusottama-ksetre basiya utkala 0 daksinatya-vasidigake —paramartha —_vitarana karena, banga-dese stiman-nityananda-prabhu 0 Srimad-advaite-prabhuke nama o bhagavat-tattva pradana karena. 'yarbhiimite Suddhabhakti o ndma-mahima pracdra karibara janya srimad-ripa-sandtanadi gosvami-vmdake —prerana karena, Sr-raipa gosvami prabhura ajna labha kariya sr-dhama vmndavane avasthita haiya Suddha-nama, Suddha- bhakti o Sténdma-mahima pracdra kariyachilena. ni-pravara ye nama istaka racana Karena, tahd adya apanddera nikata ami gana karitechi; kypa-pirvaka Sravana karata s-hari-ndmera mahima anubhava karina, SRILA BALADEVA VIDYABHUSANA’S COMMENTARY Repeated obeisances unto Sri Krsna’s holy name. The statements of the Vedas affirm that the liberation sought by the yogis can be had even by a reflection of Your holy name. O Lord, please bestow upon me, a propounder of that teaching, devotional service unto Yourself. I do not beg anything else from You.! Srila Ripa Gosvami now: glorifies the holy name of Bhagavan with texts beginning nikhila. SRILA BHAKTIVINODA THAKURA’S EXPLANATION After taking sannyasa, Srimad Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the moon of Godruma, the incarnation purifying the Age of Kali and an ‘ocean of boundless compassion, preached the holy name of Hari all over the world? Residing in Sri Purusottamaksetra’, the Lord personally distributed the supreme wealth of spiritual life to the residents of Odisha and South India. He granted the authority to reveal the holy name and the truths concerning the Supreme Personality of Godhead in Bengal to Sriman Nityananda Prabhu and Sriman Advaita Prabhu, He sent the Gosvamis headed by Sriman Rupa and Sanatana to propagate pure devotional service and the glory of the holy name in the lands to the west of Bengal. Upon receiving the order of the Lord, Sri Ripa Gosvami, settling in Sridhama Vmdavana, preached the pure chanting of the holy name, pure devotional service and the glory of the holy name. Today I will sing to you those eight verses on the glory of the holy name that that Acarya of the rasa of the holy name’, the best of the Gosvamis, composed; please hear them and experience the glory of the holy name of Sti Hari, "This prayer teaches us the mood with which to chant the holy names of Lord Krsna. It also indicates the qualification of chanter: absolute faith in the teachings of the Vedas that the holy name can speak of lower goals such as dharma, artha and kama). ly give the chanter liberation from birth and rebirth (what 10 2 How did Lord Caitanya preach the holy name of Hari all over the work? Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura explsins it inthe next ksetra is Jagannatha Pur, “Caitanys-caritimma, Aniyitll, Chapter | describes how Sra Rapa Gosvdmi’s postion as th Arya of the rasa of the holy name was recognizedby Lord Caitanya, Haridasa’Thakura and other associates when they heard a verse composed by him on the sweetness of the holy name (Ce Antya 1.99),SRILA-RUPA-GOSVAMI- KRTAM NAMASTAKAM 1 nikhila-Sruti-mauli-ratna-mala- dyuti-nirajita-pada-pafkajanta / ayi_mukt-kulair upasyamananh paritas —tvarh_——_harinama sarsrayami, SRILA-BALADEVA- VIDYABHiS: BHASYAM he hari-nama tvam aharh paritah sarva- bhavena sarisrayéimi. nikhilaly sruti- maulaya upanigadas t& eva ratna-malis dyutibhir —nirajitah pada paikajayor anto nakha-rapa sima yasyeti vacyena sahabhedad idarh bodhyam. “yatra mirti-dharah kalah” iti smarandn martanarn—nikhilanarn—_Srutinaiin vedandri maulisu Sirahsu ya ratna-malas tabhir ity apare. srutayas ca “sarve veda yatpadam — dmananti” —_ ity-adyab. tatparyena punrartha-bhavena tabhih pratipadyeti bhavah. tvari kim-bhatam ity aha. mukte-kulair apy updsyamanam iti, “etat sama gayann aste”, “nivrtta- targir —upagiyamanat’, —“etan nirvidyamananam iechatam akutobhayam / yoginarin nrpa nimitarh harer namanukirtanam” ity-ddi-sruti- smptibhyah. yoginarn bhagavad-yoga- bhajan muktandm ity arthah. "This is Sr7la Prabhupada’s translation of this verse, its entirety in Appendix 1, ? They are themselves the jewels of the Srutis, “The original text has nikhila can mean “chief Srutis” or “heads of the personi Srimad-Bhagavatam LL17.5 SRILA RUPA GOSVAMI’S NAMASTAKA 1 © Hari-nama! The tips of the toes of Your lotus feet are constantly being worshiped by the glowing radiance emanating from the string of gems known as the Upanisads, the crown jewels of all the Vedas. You are eternally adored by liberated souls such as Narada and Sukadeva. O Hari-nama! I take complete shelter of You.! SRILA BALADEVA VIDYABHUSANA’S COMMENTARY O holy name of Hari, Itake full shelter of You in every way. All chief Srutis refer to the Upanisgads. They are themselves the jewels? O holy name, the tips of whose lotus feet in the form of the nails of Your lotus feet are worshipped by their radiances! This should be understood in terms of the nondifference of the holy name and the person referred to by the holy name. Others understand this to be: O holy name, the tips of whose lous feet are worshipped by the radiances of jewels on the heads of all personified Vedas? in accordance with the Smuti text, “wherein reside the personified Vedas”.* And the Srutis are the ones such as “All the Vedas glorify whose position in hymns”. The implied meaning is that they do so having established His position as their final intent of description and as the highest goal of human existence. J take full shelter of You of what nature? He states that now: You are worshipped even by the liberated souls.5 He states this on the basis of Sruti and Smti texts such as, “He continues singing this Sama hymn”, “Glorification of the Lord’s activities are sung by those released from material thirsts", “O King, constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord after the ways of the great authorities is the doubtless and fearless way of success for all, including those who are free from all material desires, those who are desirous of all material enjoyment, and also those who are self-satisfied by dint of transcendental knowledge [yogis].” “Yogis” in this verse means “those found in his purport o Caitanys-caritamyta Antya 4.71 which can be found in ila Prabhupada on Namastaka. Sruti-mauli. The word maulican mean either “chief” or “head”. Correspondingly, nikhila-srutimauli Srutis (Vedas)”, Tt appears that the version of Namastaka commented by Stila Baladeva Vidyabhisana Prabhu has api mukta-kulair upasyamanam instead of the popular reading ayi mukta-kulair upasyamanam, © Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14, 7 Srimad-Bhigavatam 2.1.11 21