19810720 Gītāñjali Singers Mr.Rao - Śrī Jagannātha Aṣṭakam

The following is a South Indian Bhajan performance with the explanations given by H.H. Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāj on July 20th, 1981 in Madras (Chennai), India.

kadācit kālindī-taṭa-vipina-saṅgītaka-ravo 
mudābhīrī-nārī-vadana-kamalāsvāda-madhupaḥ 
ramā-śambhu-brahmāmara-pati-gaṇeśārcita-pado 
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me

bhuje savye veṇuṁ śirasi śikhi-piccham kaṭi-taṭe 
dukūlaṁ netrānte sahacara-kaṭākṣaṁ vidadhate 
sadā śrīmad-vṛndāvana-vasati-līlā-paricayo 
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me

mahāmbhodhes tīre kanaka-rucire nīla-śikhare 
vasan prāsādāntaḥ sahaja-balabhadreṇa balinā 
subhadrā-madhya-sthaḥ sakala-sura-sevāvasara-do 
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me

kṛpā-pārāvāraḥ sajala-jalada-śreṇi-ruciro 
ramā-vāṇī-rāmaḥ sphurad-amala-paṅkeruha-mukhaḥ 
surendrair ārādhyaḥ śruti-gaṇa-śikhā-gīta-carito 
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me

rathārūḍho gacchan pathi milita-bhūdeva-paṭalaiḥ 
stuti-prādurbhāvam prati-padam upākarṇya sadayaḥ 
dayā-sindhur bandhuḥ sakala jagatāṁ sindhu-sutayā 
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me

para-brahmāpīḍaḥ kuvalaya-dalotphulla-nayano
nivāsī nīlādrau nihita-caraṇo ’nanta-śirasi
rasānando rādhā-sarasa-vapur-āliṅgana-sukho 
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me

na vai yāce rājyaṁ na ca kanaka-māṇikya-vibhavaṁ 
na yāce ’haṁ ramyāṁ sakala jana-kāmyāṁ vara-vadhūm 
sadā kāle kāle pramatha-patinā gīta-carito 
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me

hara tvaṁ saṁsāraṁ druta-taram asāraṁ sura-pate 
hara tvaṁ pāpānāṁ vitatiṁ aparāṁ yādava-pate 
aho dīne ’nāthe nihita-caraṇo niścitam idaṁ 
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me

Explanation By Gurudeva: The mangalācaraṇa... Mangalācaraṇa is always chanted; the obeisances to the Personality of Godhead. Today, in mangalācaraṇa, the Jagannātha Stotram, worshipping Lord Jagannātha. The devotee is anxious that Jagannātha may see his service. When we pray "jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me" we do not think that we will see Jagannātha with these eyes, because material eyes cannot see the Lord who is "sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha", who is transcendental eternal blissful knowledge. These material eyes are flesh; they can see only flesh. But by the Lord's mercy, one is given "divya-dṛṣṭī," or "divine vision." And with that divine vision one is able to recognize his eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord. So the devotee is eager that he may be able to recognize and understand his relationship with the Lord, and especially that the Lord may recognize the devotee as His own servitor, as His own eternal dependent devotee. So we pray, "jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me" that we are eager that let Jagannātha see our service, let Jagannātha recognize our devotion. What does it matters in the whole world, if they think or speak nicely about us if Jagannātha is not pleased? We want to satisfy Jagannātha; therefore we pray to Him that our service may be recognized by Him. And when we are recognized by Jagannātha, naturally, we will be able to see Jagannātha with divine vision. And in that transcendental realization, we shall be filled with transcendental eternal blissful knowledge which has no comparison in this world.