CD 10-4

The Mercy of Prasadam

This song is sung while the temple Deities are taking Their meal. After Krsna has enjoyed it, this specially prepared foodstuff is known as prasadam, or the mercy of the Lord, and the remnants are distributed to all present. The song which follows is sung during the arati or offering ceremony, which is performed immediately after the Deities have taken Their meal. Various commodities are offered to the Lord for His pleasure, such as glowing camphor, a ghee lamp, water in a conchshell, a fragrant flower, etc. This is performed to the joyful accompaniment of instruments, singing and dancing. As the song suggests, all the people of the world are invited to partake in this nice ceremony, which can be seen daily in Krsna consciousness temples.

(1)

bhaja bhakata-vatsala sri-gaurahari
sri-gaurahari sohi gostha-bihari
nanda-jasomati-citta-hari

[Just worship Sri Gaurahari, who is always affectionate toward His devotees. He is the same Supreme Godhead, Krsna, who sported in the cowherd pastures of Vraja and stole the hearts of Nanda and Yasoda.]

(2)

bela ho'lo damodara aisa ekhano
bhoga-mandire bosi' koraho bhojana

[Mother Yasoda calls to Krsna, "My dear Damodara, it is very late. Please come right now, sit down in the dining hall, and take Your lunch."]

(3)

nandera nidese baise giri-bara-dhari
baladeva-saha sakha baise sari sari

[On the direction of Nanda Maharaja, Krsna, the holder of Govardhana Hill, sits down, and then all the cowherd boys, along with Krsna's elder brother, Sri Baladeva, sit down in rows to take their lunch.]

(4)

sukta-sakadi bhaji nalita kusmanda
dali dalna dugdha-tumbi dadhi moca-khanda

[They are then served a feast of sukta and various kinds of green leafy vegetables, then nice fried things, and a salad made of the green leaves of the jute plant. They are also served pumpkin, baskets of fruit, small square cakes made of lentils and cooked-down milk, then thick yogurt, squash cooked in milk, and vegetable preparations made from the flower of the banana tree.]

(5)

luci cini sarpuri laddu rasabali
bhojana korena krsna ho'ye kutuhali

[There are puris made with white flour and sugar; puris filled with cream; laddus; and dahl patties boiled in sugared rice. Krsna eagerly eats all of the food.]

(6)

radhikara pakka anna vividha byanjana
parama anande krsna korena bhojana

[In great ecstasy and joy Krsna eats the rice, curried vegetables, sweets, and pastries cooked by Srimati Radharani.]

(7)

bhojanante piye krsna subasita bari
sabe mukha prakhaloy ho'ye sari sari

[After lunch, Krsna drinks rose-scented water. Then all of the boys, standing in lines, wash their mouths.]

(8)

bhaja govinda govinda gopala
giridhari gopinatha nanda dulala

[Worship Govinda, the cowerd boy, the lifter of Govardhana Hill, the Lord of the gopis, the darling of Nanda Maharaja.]