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The Characteristics of an Unalloyed Devotee

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1
rādhā-kṛṣṇa karoṅ dhyāna swapane nā bala āna prema binā āna nāhi cāṅu jūgala-kiśora-prema lakṣa-bāṇa jena hema ārati-pirīti-rase dhyāña
Word for word
rādhā-kṛṣṇa—Śrī Rādhā and Śrī Kṛṣṇa. karoṅ dhyāna—meditate; swapane—in the dream; nā—do not; bala—speak; āna—mundane topics; prema—love of God; binā—without; āna—anything else; nāhi—not; cāṅu—hanker; jūgala-kiśora—the Divine Couple; prema—love; lakṣa-bāṇa—refined a million times; jena hema—like gold; ārati—eagerly; pirīti-rase—in transcendental mellows; dhyāña—meditate
Translation

I will meditate on Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. I will not speak about any other topics even in my dreams. I will not hanker for anything else except loving service to the Divine Youthful Couple. The loving sentiments of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are like gold refined a million times. Therefore, O my mind, please constantly meditate on Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa as your only loveable object.

2
jala binū jena mīna dūḥkha pāya āyū hīna prema binū sei-mata bhakta cātaka jalada-gati e-mati ekānta-rāti jāne jei sei anūrakta
Word for word
jala binū—without water; jena—as; mīna—the fish; dūḥkha pāya—suffers; āyū hīna—dies; prema—love; binū—without; sei-mata—like that; bhakta—the devotee; cātaka—cātaka bird; jalada—rain; gati—solace; e-mati—such; ekānta-rāti—unalloyed devotional service; jāne jei—one who knows; sei—he; anūrakta—pure devotee
Translation

Just as a fish out of water feels great distress and dies, similarly the devotee feels distressed without love of God. As a cātaka bird drinks only rain water, similarly unalloyed devotees relish only love of God.

3
maranda-bhramara jena cakora-candrikā tena pati-bratā janera yena pati anyatra nā cale mana jena daridrera dhana ei-mata prema-bhakti-rīti
Word for word
maranda—honey; bhramara—bumblebee; jena—is for; cakora—a patridge; candrikā—rays of the moon; tena—just like; pati-bratā janera—of a chaste wife; yena—just like; pati—husband; anyatra nā cale—does not deviate; mana—the mind; jena—like; daridrera dhana—the wealth of a poor man; ei—this; mata—way; prema-bhakti—loving devotional service; rīti—characteristics
Translation

Just as a bumblebee is attached to honey, a cakora bird is attached to the nectar of the moon, a chaste wife is attached to her husband, and a poor man is attached to wealth, similarly the minds of devotees are attached to the loving service of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.

4
viṣaya garala-maya tāhe māna sūkha-caya se nā sūkha dūḥkha kari māna gobinda-biṣaya-rasa saṅga kara tāṅra dāsa prema-bhakti satya kari jāna
Word for word
viṣaya—material sense objects; garala-maya—poisonous; tāhe—in that; māna—consider; sūkha-caya—happiness; se—that; nā—not; sūkha—happiness; dūḥkha—misery; kari māna—accept; gobinda-biṣaya-rasa—the nectarean topics of Govinda; saṅga kara—associate; tāṅra—his; dāsa—servant; prema-bhakti—loving devotional service; satya kari—eternal and factual; jāna—accept
Translation

Material enjoyments are full of poison, but you consider them pleasing. Do not think of them as a source of happiness, but understand them as distress. Be absorbed in full thought of Govinda, associate with His devotees and conclude that loving devotional service is the goal of life.

5
madhye madhye āche dūṣṭa dṛṣṭi kari haya rūṣṭa gūṇake biguṇa kari māne gobinda-bimūkha-jane sphūrti nahe hena dhane laukika kariyā saba jāne
Word for word
madhye madhye—sometimes; āche—there are; dūṣṭa—mischievous people; dṛṣṭi kari—by seeing; haya—is; rūṣṭa—annoyed; gūṇake—the qualities; biguṇa—disqualification; kari māne—consider; gobinda—Lord Govinda; bimūkha—averse; jane—persons; sphūrti—inspiration; nahe—not; hena—such; dhane—wealth; laukika—worldly; kariyā—as; saba—all; jāne—knows
Translation

Sometimes the mischievous people become angry by seeing the dealings of devotees. They accept the good qualities of devotees as bad qualities. The wealth of loving devotional service does not manifest in the hearts of those who are averse to Govinda because they consider this wealth as mundane.

6
ajñāna abhāgyā jata nāhi laya sata-mata ahaṅkare nā jāne āpanā abhimānī bhakti-hīna jaga-mājhe sei dīna bṛthā tāra aśeṣa bhābanā
Word for word
ajñāna—ignorant; abhāgyā—unfortunate; jata—all; nāhi—do not; laya—take; sata-mata—the path of the devotees; ahaṅkare—with false ego; nā jāne—do not know; āpanā—themselves; abhimānī—proud; bhakti-hīna—devoid of devotional service; jaga-mājhe—in this world; sei—he; dīna—poor; bṛthā—useless; tāra—his; aśeṣa—unlimited; bhābanā—desires
Translation

Those who are overwhelmed with nescience do not take to the path of devotion. Such persons are full of false ego, pride and innumerable useless desires. They are most fallen in this world and are devoid of devotional service.

7
āra saba parihari parama īśwara hari seva mana kari prema-āśa eka-braja-rāja-pūra gobinda rasika-bara karaha sadāi abhilāṣa
Word for word
āra saba—everything else; parihari—giving up; parama—supreme; īśwara—the controller; hari—Lord Hari; seva—serve; mana—O mind; kari—having; prema-āśa—the desire to achieve love of God; eka-braja-rāja-pūra—only in Braja; gobinda—Lord Govinda; rasika-bara—He who is expert in conjugal pastimes; karaha—do; sadāi—constantly; abhilāṣa—desire
Translation

O my mind, abandon everything and serve the Supreme Controller Lord Hari, with a desire to attain love of God. Only hanker for the service of Govinda, the reservoir of all pleasure in Braja.

8
narottama dāsa kahe sadā mora prāṇa dahe hena bhakta-saṅga nā pāiyā abhāgyera nāhi ora michāja-hailū bhora dūḥkha rahe antare jāgiyā
Word for word
narottama dāsa—Narottama dāsa; kahe—says; sadā—always; mora—mine; prāṇa—life; dahe—burning; hena—such; bhakta—devotee; saṅga—association; nā—not; pāiyā—receiving; abhāgyera—misfortune; nāhi—there is not; ora—limit; michāja—false conception; hailū—became; bhora—absorbed; dūḥkha—distress; rahe—remains; aṅtare—in the heart; jāgiyā—awakened
Translation

Narottama dāsa says, “My mind is constantly burning without the association of pure devotees. There is no end to my misfortune as I am absorbed in misconceptions and my heart is filled with distress.”

Frequently asked

Who wrote The Characteristics of an Unalloyed Devotee?

The Characteristics of an Unalloyed Devotee was composed by Narottama Dasa Thakura. It appears in Prema Bhakti Chandrika.

What is the meaning of The Characteristics of an Unalloyed Devotee?

I will meditate on Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. I will not speak about any other topics even in my dreams. I will not hanker for anything else except loving service to the Divine Youthful Couple. The loving sentiments of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are like gold refined a million times. Therefore, O my mind, please constantly meditate on Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa as your only loveable object.

How many verses does The Characteristics of an Unalloyed Devotee have?

The Characteristics of an Unalloyed Devotee has 8 verses.

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