Shri Chaurastakam

 

Shri Chaurastakam

व्रजेप्रसिद्धं नवनीत चौरम,  गोपंगानानाम च दुकुल चौरम|
अनेक जन्मार्जित पाप चौरम, चौराग्रगण्यं पुरुषम नमामि ||

I offer pranama to that foremost of thieves – who is famous in Vraja as the butter-thief and He who steals the gopis’ clothes, and who, for those who take shelter of Him, steals the sins which have accrued over many lifetimes.

श्री राधिकाया हृदयस्य चौरम, नम्बुदा श्यामलकांति चौरम
पदाश्रीतानाम च समस्त चौरम, चौराग्रगण्यं पुरुषम नमामि ||

I offer pranama to the foremost of thieves – who steals Srimati Radhika’s heart, who steals the dark luster of a fresh raincloud, and who steals all the sins and sufferings of those who take shelter of His feet.

अकिंचिनी कृत्य पदाश्रीतम य:, करोति भिक्षुम पथि गेह हिनं
केन्यपो हो भीषण चौर इद्र्ग, दृष्ट: श्रुतो व न जगत त्रय Sपि

He turns His surrendered devotees into paupers and wandering, homeless beggars – aha! such a fearsome thief has never been seen or heard of in all the three worlds.

यदीय नमापी हरत्यशेषं, गिरि प्रसराण Sपि पाप राशी
आश्चर्य रूपों ननु चौर इद्र्ग, दृष्ट: श्रुतो व न मया कदापि

The mere utterance of His name purges one of a mountain of sins – such an astonishingly wonderful thief I have never seen or heard of anywhere!

धनं च मानं च तथेन्द्रियाणि, प्राणमश्च हृत्वा मम सर्व मेव|
पलायसे कुत्र ध्रतSद्या चौर, त्वं भक्तिदाम्नाशी मया निरुद्ध: ||

O Thief! Having stolen my wealth, my honor, my senses, my life and my everything, where can You run to? I have caught You with the rope of my devotion.

छिनत्सी घोरं यम पाश बन्धं, भिनस्ती भीमं भव पाश बन्धं ||
छिनत्सी सर्वस्य समस्त बन्धं, नैवात्मनो भक्त क्र्तं तू बन्धं ||

You cut the terrible noose of Yamaraja, You sever the dreadful noose of material existence, and You slash everyone’s material bondage, but You are unable to cut the knot fastened by Your own loving devotees.

मन्मानसे तामस राशी घोरे, कारागृहे दुःख मये निबद्ध: |
लभस्व हे चौर! हरे ! चिराय, स्व चौर्य दोसो चित मे व दण्डं ||

O stealer of my everything! O Thief! Today I have imprisoned You in the miserable prison-house of my heart which is very fearful due to the terrible darkness of my ignorance, and You will remain there for a very long time, receiving appropriate punishment for Your crimes of thievery!

कारागृहे वस् सदा हृदये मदीये, मद भक्ति पाश दृढ बंधन निश्च्ल:सन
त्वां कृष्ण हे प्रलय कोटिशतान्त रे Sपि, सर्वस्य चौर! हृदय न ही मोचयामी ||

O Krsna, thief of my everything! The noose of my devotion remaining forever tight, therefore You will continue to reside in the prison-house of my heart because  I will not release You for millions of eon