Bhagavan Manasa Puja

भगवन्मानसपूजा

Bhagavanmānasapūjā

All 11 verses

Verse 1

हृदम्भोजे कृष्णः सजलजलदश्यामलतनुः सरोजाक्षः स्रग्वी मुकुटकटकाद्याभरणवान्। शरद्राकानाथप्रतिमवदनः श्रीमुरलिकां वहन् ध्येयोगोपीगणपरिवृतः कुङ्कुमचितः ॥१॥

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हृदम्भोजे कृष्णः सजलजलदश्यामलतनुः सरोजाक्षः स्रग्वी मुकुटकटकाद्याभरणवान् । शरद्राकानाथप्रतिमवदनः श्रीमुरलिकां वहन् ध्येयो गोपीगणपरिवृतः कुङ्कुमचितः ॥१॥: In the heart-lotus, Krishna of dark raincloud hue, lotus-eyed, garlanded, adorned with crown, bracelets, and other ornaments. With face like the autumn full moon, bearing the blessed flute, to be meditated upon, surrounded by gopis, smeared with kunkuma.

Mental worship begins by envisioning Krishna in the heart-lotus, the inner seat of consciousness. The form meditated upon in the mind is the Lord made present where the devotee truly lives.

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Verse 2

पयोऽम्भोधेर्द्वीपान्ममहृदयमायाहि भगवन्म णिव्रातभ्राजत्कनकवरपीठं भज हरे। सुचिह्नौ ते पादौ यदुकुलजनेनेज्मिसुजलैः गृहाणेदं दूर्वाफलजलवदर्घ्यं मुररिपो ॥२॥

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पयोऽम्भोधेर्द्वीपान्ममहृदयमायाहि भगवन् मणिव्रातभ्राजत्कनकवरपीठं भज हरे । सुचिह्नौ ते पादौ यदुकुलजनेनेज्मि सुजलैः गृहाणेदं दूर्वाफलजलवदर्घ्यं मुररिपो ॥२॥: From the milk-ocean isle, come to my heart, O Lord; ascend the golden throne bright with clusters of jewels, O Hari. Your auspicious-marked feet I wash with pure water as the Yadus do; accept this arghya of durva, fruit, and water, O foe of Mura.

The Lord is invited from the milk-ocean to the golden seat in the heart. Washing his feet and offering arghya in the mind transforms the inner chamber into a temple of devotion.

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Verse 3

त्वमाचामोपेन्द्र त्रिदशसरिदम्भोऽतिशिशिरं भजस्वेमं पञ्चामृतरचितमाप्लावमघहन्। द्युनद्याः कालिन्द्या अपि कनककुम्भस्थितमिदं जलं तेन स्नानं कुरु कुरु कुरुष्वाचमनकम् ॥३॥

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त्वमाचामोपेन्द्र त्रिदशसरिदम्भोऽतिशिशिरं भजस्वेमं पञ्चामृतरचितमाप्लावमघहन् । द्युनद्याः कालिन्द्या अपि कनककुम्भस्थितमिदं जलं तेन स्नानं कुरु कुरु कुरुष्वाचमनकम् ॥३॥: Sip, O Upendra; enjoy this bath made of panchamrita, exceedingly cool as the celestial river's foam, O destroyer of sin. This water too, placed in a golden pot from the heavenly river Kalindi; with it perform bathing, again and again perform ceremonial sipping.

Cool celestial water and panchamrita offered in the mind purify the devotee's intention. Outer ritual performed inwardly becomes the cleansing of the heart that prepares it for the Lord's presence.

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Verse 4

तडिद्वर्णे वस्त्रे भज विजयकान्ताधिहरण प्रलम्बारिभ्रातर्मृदुलमुपवीतं कुरु गले । ललाटे पाटीरं मृगमदयुतं धारय हरे गृहाणेदं माल्यं शतदलतुलस्यादिरचितम् ॥४॥

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तडिद्वर्णे वस्त्रे भज विजयकान्ताधिहरण प्रलम्बारिभ्रातर्मृदुलमुपवीतं कुरु गले । ललाटे पाटीरं मृगमदयुतं धारय हरे गृहाणेदं माल्यं शतदलतुलस्यादिरचितम् ॥४॥: Put on yellow garments, O brother of the long-armed one who stole Vijaya's Kanta; place the soft sacred thread on the neck. On the brow wear sandal mixed with musk, O Hari; accept this garland made of hundred-petalled lotus, tulasi, and the rest.

Garments, sacred thread, sandal, and garland are offered to adorn the Lord within. Dressing the deity in the mind is the devotee's act of making the inner vision beautiful and complete.

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Verse 5

दशाङ्गं धूपं सद्वरदचरणाग्रेऽर्पितमये मुखं दीपेनेन्दुप्रभवरजसा देव कलये। इमौ पाणी वाणीपतिनुत सकर्पूररजसा विशोध्याग्रे दत्तं सलिलमिदमाचाम नृहरे ॥५॥

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दशाङ्गं धूपं सद्वरदचरणाग्रेऽर्पितमये मुखं दीपेनेन्दुप्रभवरजसा देव कलये । इमौ पाणी वाणीपतिनुत सकर्पूररजसा विशोध्याग्रे दत्तं सलिलमिदमाचाम नृहरे ॥५॥: Tenfold incense I offer before your gracious feet; with a lamp of moon-born camphor dust I illumine your face, O God. These two hands, praised by the Lord of speech, I purify with camphor dust; accept this water offered before you and sip, O Nrihari.

Incense and lamp offered at the Lord's feet illumine the face of the inner deity. Purifying the hands and offering water for sipping sanctifies the worshipper's own instruments of devotion.

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Verse 6

सदा तृप्तान्नं षड्रसवदखिलव्यञ्जनयुतं सुवर्णामत्रे गोघृतचषकयुक्ते स्थितमिदम्। यशोदासूनो तत्परमदययाऽशान सखिभिः प्रसादं वांछद्भिः सह तदनु नीरं पिब विभो ॥६॥

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सदा तृप्तान्नं षड्रसवदखिलव्यञ्जनयुतं सुवर्णामत्रे गोघृतचषकयुक्ते स्थितमिदम् । यशोदासूनो तत्परमदययाऽशान सखिभिः प्रसादं वांछद्भिः सह तदनु नीरं पिब विभो ॥६॥: Ever-satisfying food of six flavours with all condiments, placed in a golden vessel with a cup of cow-ghee. O son of Yashoda, eat that with supreme compassion, with friends desiring your grace; then drink water, O all-pervading Lord.

Six-flavoured food in a golden bowl is offered as to Yashoda's son with his friends. Feeding the Lord in the mind is offering every experience back to the source from which all enjoyment springs.

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Verse 7

सचन्द्रं ताम्बूलं मुखरुचिकरं भक्षय हरे फलं स्वादु प्रीत्या परिमलवदास्वादय चिरम्। सपर्यापर्याप्त्यै कनकमणिजातं स्थितमिदं प्रदीपैरारात्रिं जलधितनयाऽऽश्लिष्ट रचये ॥७॥

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सचन्द्रं ताम्बूलं मुखरुचिकरं भक्षय हरे फलं स्वादु प्रीत्या परिमलवदास्वादय चिरम् । सपर्यापर्याप्त्यै कनकमणिजातं स्थितमिदं प्रदीपैरारात्रिं जलधितनयाऽऽश्लिष्ट रचये ॥७॥: Betel with moon-pearl, beautifying the mouth, eat, O Hari; sweet fruit, taste long with love, fragrant and delightful. For completion of worship, this gold and jewels are placed; with lamps at night, embraced by the daughter of the ocean, I arrange.

Betel, fruit, jewelled gifts, and lamps complete the offerings of worship. Lakshmi's embrace with the lamps signifies that prosperity and light attend the mind devoted to the Lord.

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Verse 8

विजातीयैः पुष्पैरभिसुरभिभिर्बिल्वतुलसी-युतैश्चेमं पुष्पाञ्जलिमजित ते मूर्ध्नि निदधे। तव प्रादक्षिण्यक्रमणमघविध्वंसिरचितं चतुर्वारं विष्णो जनिपथगतिश्रान्तविदुषा ॥८॥

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विजातीयैः पुष्पैरभिसुरभिभिर्बिल्वतुलसी-युतैश्चेमं पुष्पाञ्जलिमजित ते मूर्ध्नि निदधे । तव प्रादक्षिण्यक्रमणमघविध्वंसिरचितं चतुर्वारं विष्णो जनिपथगतिश्रान्तविदुषा ॥८॥: With varied fragrant flowers joined with bilva and tulasi, O unconquered one, I place this handful of flowers on your head. Your circumambulation, O destroyer of sin, I perform four times, O Vishnu, weary from walking the path of birth.

Fragrant flowers with bilva and tulasi crown the Lord's head; circumambulation is performed four times. Honouring the deity in the mind is the soul's turning from the weary round of birth toward its centre.

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Verse 9

नमस्कारोऽष्टाङ्गः सकलदुरितध्वंसनपटुः कृतं नृत्यं गीतं स्तुतिरपि रमाकान्त त इमम्। तव प्रीत्यै भूयादहमपि च दासस्तव च दासस्तव विभो कृतं छिद्रं पूर्णं कुरु कुरु नमस्तेऽस्तु भगवन् ॥९॥

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नमस्कारोऽष्टाङ्गः सकलदुरितध्वंसनपटुः कृतं नृत्यं गीतं स्तुतिरपि रमाकान्त त इमम् । तव प्रीत्यै भूयादहमपि च दासस्तव च दासस्तव विभो कृतं छिद्रं पूर्णं कुरु कुरु नमस्तेऽस्तु भगवन् ॥९॥: Eight-limbed prostration, skilled at destroying all evil, is done; dance, song, and hymn of praise also, O beloved of Rama, this. For your pleasure may I be your servant, and servant of your servant, O all-pervading Lord; fill the gap in what was done; salutation to you, O God.

Prostration, dance, song, and praise are offered; the devotee asks forgiveness for any lapse. Becoming servant of the Lord's servant is the humility in which true worship finds completion.

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Verse 10

सदा सेव्यः कृष्णः सजलघननीलः करतले दधानो दध्यन्नं तदनु नवनीतं मुरलिकाम्। कदाचित्कान्तानां कुचकलशपत्रालिरचना-समासक्तं स्निग्धैः सह शिशुविहारं विरचयन् ॥१०॥

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सदा सेव्यः कृष्णः सजलघननीलः करतले दधानो दध्यन्नं तदनु नवनीतं मुरलिकाम् । कदाचित्कान्तानां कुचकलशपत्रालिरचना-समासक्तं स्निग्धैः सह शिशुविहारं विरचयन् ॥१०॥: Ever to be served, Krishna dark as a rain-laden cloud, holding in his palm curd-rice, then fresh butter and the flute. Sometimes absorbed in drawing leaf-designs on the pitcher-breasts of the beloved gopis, sporting as a child with his dear friends.

The vision closes with Krishna ever to be served, holding curd-rice and flute, sporting as a child. The playful Lord in the heart is the joy of the Self known through loving meditation.

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Verse 11

मणिकर्णीच्छया जातमिदं मानसपूजनम् । यः कुर्वीतोषसि प्राज्ञस्तस्य कृष्णः प्रसीदति ॥११॥

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मणिकर्णीच्छया जातमिदं मानसपूजनम् । यः कुर्वीतोषसि प्राज्ञस्तस्य कृष्णः प्रसीदति ॥११॥: Born from the wish of Manikarnika, this mental worship. Whoever performs it at dawn, being wise, to him Krishna shows favour.

Born from the wish of Manikarnika, this mental worship pleases Krishna when performed at dawn by the wise. The highest puja needs no outer materials: a purified mind at daybreak is the temple.

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