Shikshashtakam
The Shikshashtakam is an eight-verse prayer written in Sanskrit by the Indian mystic Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1534) in the 16th century .
etymology
The Sanskrit word Shikshashtakam - शिक्षाष्टकं (Śikṣāṣṭakaṁ) - is a combination of Shiksha ( शिक्षा - Śikṣā) and ashtakam ( अष्टकं aṣṭakaṁ). Shiksha means instruction and ashtakam eightfold, eight-part (from अष्ट aṣṭa - eight). Shikshashtakam can therefore be translated as eightfold instruction .
introduction
The eight verse prayer of Gaudiya Vaishnava is written in Sanskrit. It is the only remaining literary evidence of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and is in the from Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami written Chaitanya Charitamrita - one in Bengali written Hagiographie led - Chaitanya. The teachings contained in the eight verses of Shikshashtakam explain in a concise manner the essence of Bhakti-Yoga within the Gaudiya tradition.
Most of Sri Chaitanya's philosophy was later codified by his disciples, the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan .
Text content
The following eight verses, written in Sanskrit by Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, form the integral part of Shikshashtakam. They were translated into English by AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in the 20th century .
The verses are in the Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita of Krishnadasa Kaviraja, namely in Antya-līlā, chapter 20, verses 12, 16, 21, 29, 32, 36, 39 and 47. The ninth verse in Bengali (Antya-līlā 20.65) strictly speaking does not belong to Shikshashtakam. Rather, it points to the spiritual result that will come from faithfully reciting all eight verses.
meaning
In Shikshashtakam, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu emphasizes the importance of bhajan (singing) and japa (reciting) the names of God. These two practices are of the utmost importance as sadhana under Gaudiya Vaishnava. This is clearly emphasized in the first three verses of Shikshashtakam.
Verse 1 gives several reasons why Sankirtana - the common chanting / reciting of the holy names of God - under Gaudiya Vaishnava Hare Krishna - should be emphasized in spiritual practices:
“The first reason lies in the fact that Sankirtana sweeps away all the dust that has accumulated in our hearts over many years. This is accompanied by an internal cleaning process. If we don't clean a room for a long time, dust inevitably builds up on the furniture and under the bed. The filth that chanting removes from Hare Krishna is made up of material desires in the heart. For when we strive for something without thinking of the pleasure of the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we are granting a "dirty" desire. Basically, there is neither good nor bad. However, if our desired nature is directed towards something without wanting to satisfy God, then it is under a very bad omen. "
Verses
Verse 1
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" चेतोदर्पणमार्जनं भव-महादावाग्नि-निर्वापणम् श्रेयः-कैरवचन्द्रिकावितरणं विद्यावधू-जीवनम् ।
आनंदाम्बुधिवर्धनं प्रतिपदं पूर्णामृतास्वादनम् सर्वात्मस्नपनं परं विजयते श्रीकृष्ण-संकीर्तनम् ॥१॥ "
"Ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaḿ śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaṁ vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam
ānandāmbudhi-vardhana prāń- kadaṁ-vardhana prati-kadaṁ pūūsarate ārtītīt-sajvītam paraijvītā"
“All glory goes to Shri Krishna Sankirtana, who frees the heart from all the dust accumulated over the years and suffocates the steppe fire of dependent existence with all its repeated births and deaths. The movement of Sankirtana represents the greatest benefit for all of humanity, as it spreads the beneficial rays of the moon.
Sankirtana is the spark of life of all transcendental knowledge. It deepens the ocean of transcendental bliss and enables us to fully savor the nectar we have hoped for. "
Verse 2
" नाम्नामकारि बहुधा निज सर्व शक्तिस्तत्रार्पिता नियमितः स्मरणे न कालः।
एतादृशी तव कृपा भगवन्ममापि दुर्दैवमीदृश-मिहाजनि नानुरागः ॥२॥ "
"Nāmnām akāri bahudhā nija-sarva-śaktis tatrārpitā niyamitaḥ smaraṇe na kālaḥ
etādṛśī tava kṛpā bhagavan mamāpi durdaivam īdṛśam ihājani nānurāgaḥ"
“My God, only your holy name can promise real happiness to living beings, for this reason you have hundreds and millions of names like Krishna or Govinda. In these transcendental names reside all of your transcendental energies. How they should be presented is up to you.
My God, thanks to your mercy you allow us to reach you by saying your names. Unfortunately, I'm so unhappy not to be drawn to them. "
Verse 3
" तृणादपि सुनीचेन तरोरपि सहिष्णुना।
अमानिना मानदेन कीर्तनीयः सदा हरिः ॥३॥ "
"Tṛṇād api sunīcena taror api sahiṣṇunā
amāninā mānadena kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ"
“The holy name of God should be recited with humility, in a frame of mind that feels lower than the straw on the street and is more tolerant than a tree.
Without a false sense of validity and always ready to give others full credit, Shri Hari can be recited constantly. "
Verse 4
" न धनं न जनं न सुन्दरीं कवितां वा जगदीश कामये।
मम जन्मनि जन्मनीश्वरे भवताद् भक्तिरहैतुकी त्वयि ॥४॥ "
"Na dhanaṁ na janaṁ na sundarīṁ kavitāṁ vā jagad-īśa kāmaye
mama janmani janmanīśvare bhavatād bhaktir ahaitukī tvayi"
“Almighty, I do not long for wealth, beautiful women, or students.
Rather, my whole striving is directed towards devotional service to you, birth after birth. "
Verse 5
" अयि नन्दतनुज किंकरं पतितं मां विषमे भवाम्बुधौ।
कृपया तव पादपंकज- स्थितधूलिसदृशं विचिन्तय ॥५॥ "
"Ayi nanda-tanūja kińkaraṁ patitaṁ māḿ viṣame bhavāmbudhau
kṛpayā tava pāda-pańkaja-sthita-dhūlī-sadṛśaṁ vicintaya"
“Oh son of Maharaja Nanda, I will be your servant forever. Unfortunately, now I've somehow gotten into the ocean of birth and death.
Please be so kind, rescue me from this sea of ignorance and put me as a little speck of dust on your lotus feet. "
Verse 6
" नयनं गलदश्रुधारया वदनं गदगदरुद्धया गिरा।
पुलकैर्निचितं वपुः कदा तव नाम-ग्रहणे भविष्यति ॥६॥ "
"Nayanaṁ galad-aśru-dhārayā vadanaṁ gadgada-ruddhayā girā
pulakair nicitaṁ vapuḥ kadā tava nāma-grahaṇe bhaviṣyati"
“Sir, when will my eyes fill with free-flowing tears while I sing your name? When will my voice fail and give me goose bumps when reciting your name? "
Verse 7
" युगायितं निमेषेण चक्षुषा प्रावृषायितम्।
शून्यायितं जगत् सर्वं गोविन्द विरहेण मे ॥७॥ "
"Yugāyitaṁ nimeṣeṇa cakṣuṣā prāvṛṣāyitam
śūnyāyitaṁ jagat sarvaṁ govinda-viraheṇa me"
“Oh Govinda! In your absence I feel like twelve years old. Tears run from my eyes like torrents.
Since you are not present, everything seems empty and void to me. "
Verse 8
" आश्लिष्य वा पादरतां पिनष्टु मामदर्शनान्-मर्महतां करोतु वा।
यथा तथा वा विदधातु लम्पटो मत्प्राणनाथस्-तु स एव नापरः ॥८॥ "
"Āśliṣya vā pāda-ratāṁ pinaṣṭu mām adarśanān marma-hatāṁ karotu vā
yathā tathā vā vidadhātu lampaṭo mat-prāṇa-nāthas tu sa eva nāparaḥ"
“Besides Krishna, I have no one as a master, even if He should hug me roughly or break my heart through his absence.
He can act and act as He wants, because He will always be my admirable Lord without reservation. "
Additional ninth verse in Bengali
"Prabhura 'śikṣāṣṭaka'-śloka yei paḍe, śune
kṛṣṇe prema-bhakti tāra bāḍe dine-dine"
"Whoever recites or listens to these eight teachings of Shri Chaitanya will experience a daily increase in his ecstatic love and devotion to Shri Krishna"
Individual evidence
- ↑ Satsvarupa, Dasa Goswami: Gaura Purnima - Sri Siksastakam - Reflections . 2005.