We present Śrī Babaji’s translation of the famous eight instructions by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

(1)

ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaṁ śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaṁ vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaṁ prati-padaṁ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaṁ sarvātma-snapanaṁ paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam 

Śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtana is supremely glorious. It cleanses the mirror-like heart of all dust. It extinguishes the terrible forest-fire of material existence. It spreads moon-like rays that make the white lotus of supreme auspiciousness bloom. It is the very life of bride-like wisdom. It increases the ocean of bliss at every moment, and is completely relishable like ambrosia that drenches one’s whole being. 

(2)

nāmnām akāri bahudhā nija-sarva-śaktis tatrārpitā niyamitaḥ smaraṇe na kālaḥ etādṛśī tava kṛpā bhagavan mamāpi durdaivam īdṛśam ihājani nānurāgaḥ

O Bhagavān! You manifest many names, invest all Your potency in each of them, and place no restrictions on accessing them. Despite this kindness, I have no interest in Your names. How unfortunate! 

(3)

tṛṇād api sunīcena taror api sahiṣṇunā amāninā mānadena kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ 

One should always sing the names of Hari while considering oneself to be lower than grass, more tolerant than a tree, not desiring any honor for oneself and being respectful to others. 

(4)

na dhanaṁ na janaṁ na sundarīṁ kavitāṁ vā jagad-īśa kāmaye mama janmani janmanīśvare bhavatād bhaktir ahaitukī tvayi 

O Master of the Universe! I do not desire anything for myself: neither wealth, nor followers, nor a beautiful woman, nor poetry. All I desire, birth after birth, is causeless devotion for You, O Master. 

(5)

ayi nanda-tanuja kiṅkaraṁ patitaṁ māṁ viṣame bhavāmbudhau kṛpayā tava pāda-paṅkaja-sthita-dhūlī-sadṛśaṁ vicintaya 

O Son of Nanda! I am Your servant, fallen into the terrible ocean of worldli-ness. Please think of me as a speck of dust at Your lotus feet. 

(6)

nayanaṁ galad-aśru-dhārayā vadanaṁ gadgada-ruddhayā girā pulakair nicitaṁ vapuḥ kadā tava-nāma-grahaṇe bhaviṣyati 

When will rivers of tears flow from my eyes, my voice choke up, and the hairs on my body stand on end as I call Your Name? 

(7)

yugāyitaṁ nimeṣeṇa cakṣuṣā prāvṛṣāyitam śūnyāyitaṁ jagat sarvaṁ govinda-viraheṇa me

O Govinda! Without You, a blink of an eye seems to last for an age, tears flow like rain from my eyes, and the whole world seems empty. 

(8)

āśliṣya vā pāda-ratāṁ pinaṣṭu mām adarśanān marma-hatāṁ karotu vā yathā tathā vā vidadhātu lampaṭo mat-prāṇa-nāthas tu sa eva nāparaḥ 

Embrace me or crush me beneath the feet that I adore, or break my heart by ignoring me altogether. He is a debauchee who can treat me however He likes, but He alone and no one else is the Lord of my heart.