Sri Cauragraganya Ashtakam
Kirtan, Sreela Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj
This prayer has been written by Vallabhacharya describing the sweet stealing pastimes of Sri Krishna in Vrindavana. This ashtakam is daily sung by the devotees during Purushottama-month praying at the lotus feet of the chief among the thieves, Sri Nandanandan, who can steal the myriad mountains of our sins.
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vraje prasiddhaḿ navanīta-cauraḿ
gopāńganānāḿ ca dukūla-cauram
aneka-janmārjita-pāpa-cauraḿ
caurāgragaṇyaḿ puruṣaḿ namāmiI offer pranama to that foremost of thieves -- who is famous in Vraja as the butterthief and He who steals the gopis' clothes, and who, for those who take shelter of Him, steals the sins which have accrued over many lifetimes.
śrī rādhikāyā hṛdayasya cauraḿ
navāmbuda-śyāmala-kānti-cauram
padāśritānāḿ ca samasta-cauraḿ
caurāgragaṇyaḿ puruṣaḿ namāmiI offer pranama to the foremost of thieves -- who steals Srimati Radhika's heart, who steals the dark luster of a fresh raincloud, and who steals all the sins and sufferings of those who take shelter of His feet.
akiñcanī-kṛtya padāśritaḿ yaḥ
karoti bhikṣuḿ pathi geha-hīnam
kenāpy aho bhīṣaṇa-caura īdṛg
dṛṣṭaḥ-śruto vā na jagat-traye ’piHe turns His surrendered devotees into paupers and wandering, homeless beggars -- aho! such a fearsome thief has never been seen or heard of in all the three worlds.
yadīya nāmāpi haraty aśeṣaḿ
giri-prasārān api pāpa-rāśīn
āścarya-rūpo nanu caura īdṛg
dṛṣṭaḥ śruto vā na mayā kadāpiMere utterance of His name purges one of a mountain of sins -- such an astonishingly wonderful thief I have never seen or heard of anywhere!
dhanaḿ ca mānaḿ ca tathendriyāṇi
prāṇāḿś ca hṛtvā mama sarvam eva
palāyase kutra dhṛto ’dya caura
tvaḿ bhakti-dāmnāsi mayā niruddhaḥO Thief! Having stolen my wealth, my honour, my senses, my life and my everything, where can You run to? I have caught You with the rope of my devotion.
chinatsi ghoraḿ yama-pāśa-bandhaḿ
bhinatsi bhīmaḿ bhava-pāśa-bandham
chinatsi sarvasya samasta-bandhaḿ
naivātmano bhakta-kṛtaḿ tu bandhamYou cut the terrible noose of Yamaraja, You sever the dreadful noose of material existence, and You slash everyone's material bondage, but You are unable to cut the knot fastened by Your own loving devotees.
man-mānase tāmasa-rāśi-ghore
kārāgṛhe duḥkha-maye nibaddhaḥ
labhasva he caura! hare! Cirāya
sva-caurya-doṣocitam eva daṇḍamO stealer of my everything! O Thief! Today I have imprisoned You in the miserable prison-house of my heart which is very fearful due to the terrible darkness of my ignorance, and there for a very long time You will remain, receiving appropriate punishment for Your crimes of thievery!
kārāgṛhe vasa sadā hṛdaye madīye
mad-bhakti-pāśa-dṛḍha-bandhana-niścalaḥ san
tvāḿ kṛṣṇa he! pralaya-koṭi-śatāntare ’pi
sarvasva-caura! hṛdayān na hi mocayāmiO Krsna, thief of my everything! The noose of my devotion remaining forever tight, You will continue to reside in the prison-house of my heart because I will not release You for millions of aeons.
Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya
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