चेतोदर्पणमार्जनं भवमहादावाग्निनिर्वापणं
श्रेयःकैरवचन्द्रिकावितरणं विद्यावधूजीवनम्।
आनन्दाम्बुधिवर्धनं प्रतिपदं पूर्णामृतास्वादनं
सर्वात्मस्नपनं परं विजयते श्रीकृष्णसङ्कीर्तनम्॥१॥
नाम्नामकारि बहुधा निजसर्वशक्ति-
स्तत्रार्पिता नियमितः स्मरणे न कालः।
एतादृशी तव कृपा भगवन्ममापि
दुर्दैवमीदृशमिहाजनि नानुरागः॥२॥
तृणादपि सुनीचेन तरोरिव सहिष्णुना।
अमानिना मानदेन कीर्तनीयः सदा हरिः॥३॥
न धनं न जनं न सुन्दरीं कवितां वा जगदीश कामये।
मम जन्मनि जन्मनीश्वरे भवताद्भक्तिरहैतुकी त्वयि॥४॥
अयि नन्दतनुज किङ्करं पतितं मां विषमे भवाम्बुधौ।
कृपया तव पादपङ्कज-स्थितधूलीसदृशं विचिन्तय॥५॥
नयनं गलदश्रुधारया वदनं गद्गदरुद्धया गिरा।
पुलकैर्निचितं वपुः कदा तव नामग्रहणे भविष्यति॥६॥
युगायितं निमेषेण चक्षुषा प्रावृषायितम्।
शून्यायितं जगत्सर्वं गोविन्दविरहेण मे॥७॥
आश्लिष्य वा पादरतां पिनष्टु मा-
मदर्शनान्मर्महतां करोतु वा।
यथा तथा वा विदधातु लम्पटो
मत्प्राणनाथस्तु स एव नापरः॥८॥
Ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam
shreyah-kairava-chandrika-vitaranam vidya-vadhu-jivanam,
anandambudhi-vardhanam prati-padam purnamritasvadanam
sarvatma-snapanam param vijayate Shri-Krishna-sankirtanam.
Namnam akari bahudha nija-sarva-shaktis
tatrarpita niyamitah smarane na kalah,
etadrishi tava kripa bhagavan mamapi
durdaivam idrisham ihajani nanuragah.
Trinad api sunichena taror iva sahishnuna,
amanina manadena kirtaniyah sada Harih.
Na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagadisha kamaye,
mama janmani janmanishvare bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi.
Ayi Nanda-tanuja kinkaram patitam mam vishame bhavambudhau,
kripaya tava pada-pankaja-sthita-dhuli-sadrisham vichintaya.
Nayanam galad-ashru-dharaya vadanam gadgada-ruddhaya gira,
pulakair nichitam vapuh kada tava nama-grahane bhavishyati.
Yugayitam nimeshena chakshusha pravrishayitam,
shunyayitam jagat sarvam Govinda-virahena me.
Ashlishya va pada-ratam pinashtu mam
adarshanan marma-hatam karotu va,
yatha tatha va vidadhatu lampato
mat-prana-nathas tu sa eva naparah.
Meaning
Supreme victory to the sankirtan of Shri Krishna’s name! It cleans the mirror of the heart and puts out the great forest fire of worldly life. It spreads the moonlight that opens the white lotus of the highest good; it is the life of the bride that is true knowledge. It swells the ocean of bliss, gives a taste of full nectar at every step, and bathes the whole self.
Lord, you have given yourself many names and placed all your power in each of them, and you have set no rules of time for remembering them. Such is your mercy, Bhagwan, and yet such is my misfortune that I have no love for them.
Humbler than a blade of grass, more patient than a tree, wanting no honour for oneself and giving honour to all: in this way one should always sing of Hari.
Lord of the world, I do not want wealth, followers, a beautiful wife or poetry. Birth after birth, my Lord, let me have only causeless devotion to you.
O son of Nanda, I am your servant, fallen into the fearful ocean of worldly life. In your mercy, think of me as a speck of dust at your lotus feet.
When will my eyes flow with streams of tears, my voice choke and falter, and my body thrill with joy as I take your name?
Without Govinda, a single moment seems an age, my eyes pour like the rains, and the whole world feels empty.
Let him embrace me, who am devoted to his feet, or crush me; let him break my heart by not appearing. Let that wayward lover do as he pleases; he and no other is the Lord of my life.
About this bhajan
Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu left only these eight verses in writing. The Chaitanya Charitamrita (Antya Lila 20) tells how, in his last years at Puri, he recited them to Svarupa Damodara and Ramananda Raya through the night, tasting each one. They hold the whole Gaudiya path: the power of the Name, humility in chanting (the third verse, “trinad api sunichena”, is the most quoted), desireless devotion, and finally the anguish and surrender of Radha’s love. Gaudiya Vaishnavas recite them daily, and on Gaura Purnima, his appearance day.
Shikshashtakam; Chaitanya Charitamrita, Antya Lila 20.12, 16, 21, 29, 32, 36, 39, 47 (checked against the BBT edition on Vedabase)