Continuing our presentation of the upcoming release Sharanagati, in this song Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur describes the life of a surrendered soul in Godrumadwip.
Sharanagati
Song Thirty-One
godruma-dhāme bhajana-anukūle
māthura śrī-nandīśvara-sama-tule [1]
ta̐hi māha surabhi-kuñja-kuṭīre
vaiṭhabu̐ hāma surataṭinī-tīre [2]
gaura-bhakata-priya veśa dadhānā
tilaka-tulasī-mālā-śobhamānā [3]
godruma (abhinna nanda grām)–the island known as ‘Godrum’ (the non-different form of Śrī Nanda Grām of Vraja Dhām); dhāme–in the abode; bhajana–devotional service; anukūle–favourable to; māthura–of Mathurā (Vraja); śrī nandīśvara (parvata o tadupasthita grāma)–the mountain and village situated on top of the mountain where Nanda Mahārāj resides; sama–equal; tule–in comparison; ta̐hi (tāra)–there; māha (mājhe)–within; surabhi–known as ‘Surabhi’; kuñja–in the grove; kuṭīre–in a cottage; vaiṭhabu̐ (basiba)–will reside; hāma–I; surataṭinī (bhagīrathī)–of the Ganges; tīre–on the bank; gaura–of Śrīman Mahāprabhu; bhakata–to the devotees; priya–dear; veśa–appearance; dadhāna (dhāraṇa kariyā)–wearing; tilaka–markings made with gopī-chandan clay which signify the body to be a temple; tulasī–of tulasī; mālā–necklace; śobhamānā–beautiful. [1–3]
(1–3) In the abode of Godrum, which is most favourable to devotional service and non-different from Sri Nandishvar in Sri Mathura Mandal, I will reside in a small cottage in Surabhi Kunj on the bank of the Ganges, wearing tilak, a beautiful tulasi mala, and the garb most dear to the devotees of Sri Gaurasundar.
Sri Laghu-chandrika-bhashya
(2) surabhi-kuñja: The place where Markandeya Muni obtains the mercy of Sri Gaura. Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur made a bhajan-kutir here.
(3) gaura-bhakta-priya veśa: “Garb most dear to the devotees of Śrī Gauranga.” This refers to the twelve marks of gopi-chandan clay that signify the body to be a temple of the Supreme Lord (tilak), the necklace of tulasi beads worn around the neck, and so on.
champaka, bakula, kadamba, tamāla
ropata niramiba kuñja viśāla [4]
champaka–tree known as the ‘champak’ (Magnolia champaca or Michelia champaca); bakula–tree known as the ‘bakul’ (Mimusops elengi); kadamba–tree known as the ‘kadamba’ (Neolamarckia cadamba or Anthocephalus cadamba); tamāla–tree known as the ‘tamāl’ (Garcinia xanthochymus or Garcinia tinctoria); ropata (ropaṇa kariyā)–planting; niramiba–I will make; kuñja–a grove; viśāla–great. [4]
(4) Planting champak, bakul, kadamba, and tamal trees, I will establish a large grove.
mādhavī, mālatī, uṭhābu̐ tāhe
chhāyā-maṇḍapa karabu̐ tahi̐ māhe [5]
mādhavī–a flowering vine known as ‘mādhavī’ (Hiptage madablota or Hiptage benghalensis); mālatī–a flowering vine known as ‘mālatī’ (Aganosma dichotoma); uṭhābu̐–I will make to climb; tāhe–there; chhāyā–shade; maṇḍapa (nirmita pavitra āśraya sthāna)–pavilion (a pure, constructed, sheltered area); karabu̐–I will make; tahi̐–there; māhe–within. [5]
(5) I will plant madhavi and malati creepers to climb those trees, and in the middle of the grove I will make a shady pavilion.
ropabu̐ tatra kusuma-vana-rāji
yūthi, jāti, mallī virājaba sāji’ [6]
ropabu̐–I will plant; tatra–there; kusuma–flowers; vana–garden; rāji (śreṇī)–rows; yūthi–flower known as ‘jūthi’ (Jasminum molle or Jasminum auriculatum); jāti–flower known as ‘jāti’ (Jasminum officinale); mallī–flower known as ‘malli’ (Jasminum sambac); virājaba (virāja karibe)–I will situate; sāji’ (sajita ha-iyā)–decorating (being decorated). [6]
(6) I will plant rows of various forest flowers there and decoratively arrange yuthis, jatis, and mallis.
mañche basāobu̐ tulasī-mahārāṇī
kīrtana-sajja ta̐hi rākhaba āni’ [7]
mañche (vedī)–on a raised platform (altar); basāobu̐–I will place; tulasī-mahārāṇī–the great queen Tulasī Devī; kīrtana–for musical glorification; sajja (sāja-sarañjāma)–instruments (equipment—mṛdaṅgas, kartāls); ta̐hi–there; rākhaba–I will keep; āni’–bringing. [7]
(7) I will place Tulasi Maharani on a raised platform and keep instruments for kirtan there.
vaiṣṇava jana saha gāobu̐ nāma
jaya godruma jaya gaura ki dhāma [8]
vaiṣṇava–devotee; jana–persons; saha–with; gāobu̐ (gāhiba)–I will sing; nāma–the Name of the Lord; jaya–‘all glories’; godruma–to Godrumdwīp; jaya–‘all glories’; gaura–of Lord Gaurāṅga; ki–to; dhāma–the divine abode. [8]
(8) In the association of devotees, I will sing the Name. All glories to Godrumadwip! All glories to the abode of Sri Gauranga!
bhakati-vinoda bhakti-anukūla
jaya kuñja, muñja, suranadī-kūla [9]
bhakati-vinoda–Bhakti Vinod; bhakti–to devotion; anukūla–favourable; jaya–‘all glories’; kuñja–grove; muñja (tṛṇaviśeṣa, śara)–grass, reeds; suranadī (gaṅgā)–of the Ganges; kūla (taṭa)–the bank. [9]
(9) Bhakti Vinod glorifies all that is favourable to devotion. All glories to the groves, the grass, and the bank of the river Ganges!