Damodar Prayers (An English Version)
Dearest Vaishnavas,
During Kartik I greatly relish singing daily this English song glorifying Lord Damodar, and this year I thought I might humbly share this poem with others who might not be familiar with this superb rhymed verse originally penned in 1990 by my godbrother True Peace, and sung at New Vrindaban during Kartik for several years. I think you will enjoy the sensitively chosen word painting and the poetic skills of the author, as the meter, feet and accents fit very nicely to the traditional Vaishnava tune which begins: ” namamisvaram sac-cid-ananda-rupam.”
Sincerely Your Servant,
Hrishikesh (Henry Doktorski)
Oakdale, Pennsylvania
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Damodar Prayers
English Verses by True Peace
(1) Omnipotent, eternal, omniscient in bliss,
In Gokula manifest, with opulence kissed,
Yashoda’s sweet butter thief, fearful to subdue—
My Lord Supreme, Damodar, obeisance to You.
(2) Wide-eyed, You were terrified, tearful, breathing quick,
With ropes bound by Yashoda, for her whipping stick—
Bound by your devotee’s love, Your mercy is true,
My Lord Supreme, Damodar, obeisance to You.
(3) Pastimes full of ecstasy with Krishna thus show
Lord Narayan’s devotees an intimate glow.
What love in Your devotee, sweet Lord, you embue!
My Lord Supreme, Damodar, obeisance to You.
(4) O Lord, my great champion, no gift is more fair
Than Your childhood’s sweet pastimes remembered in prayer.
Not even the Supersoul complete from the start
Is sweeter than Your childhood replete in my heart.
(5) All mystical darkness in Your sweet lotus face
Rose blushed by the kisses of Yashoda’s embrace—
To hold You and love You, Lord, what treasure could find,
Your mystical presence, now, always in my mind?
(6) Unlimited Shri Vishnu! O Master! O Lord!
I’m drowning in sorrow here. Let me be restored.
Show mercy upon me, Lord! Uplift and protect
Your unworthy servitor with nectar’s confect.
(7) Bound to a great grinding stone caught between two trees
The little Lord Damodar crawling on His knees
Freed both of Kuvera’s sons to be devotees.
O sweet little Damodar, please likewise bless me.
(8) O Lord, as the universe was made by Brahma,
Sprung up from Your abdomen, bound by Yashoda,
So let me obeisances to You my sweet Lord
Bind me to Your services, forever adored.
Hare Krsna, this is an English version of that same Damodara Song that was used in the RCV Temple during the “Interfait Days” at New Vrindban, I sure you’ll remember it also, as it is sung with the same exact melody as the Bengali Damodarastakam. I have no idea who the author is however.
Damodara Song
0 Damodara Krishna!
In ropes You are wound,
Yet ropes do not bind You,
By love are You bound !
0 Damodara Krishna !
In ropes You are bound,
Child Prince of Braja
You shall be crowned!
0 Damodara Krishna!
Your mother in silk,
While You were-a-napping
Was churning the milk.
0 Damodara Krishna!
With necklace of pearls,
Your sweet lotus face
Encircled by curls.
0 Damodara Krishna!
Cheeks bimba-fruit red,
With bright peacock feathers
Adorning Your head.
0 Damodara Krishna!
On You the world rests,
Yet You rest on Yasoda
And suckle her breasts!
0 Damodara Krishna!
She left You alone-
The butter crock cracked,
Struck by Your stone!
0 Damodara Krishna!
You threw the rock,
Your lips pressed in anger
As You broke the crock!
0 Damodara Krishna!
How swiftly You fled!
The butter and yogurt
To monkeys You fed.
0 Damodara Krishna!
You ran off in fear,
Chased by Your mother,
Whose stick -was quite near!
0 Damodara Krishna !
With eyes full of tears,
Your lotus face darkened
With eye-ointment smears.
0 Damodara Krishna!
Lord of Gokula,
Bound by Your mother,
To a grinding tool.
0 Damodara Krishna !
With such childlike ease,
You broke into splinters
The twin arjuna trees.
O Damodara Krishna !
Bound up in rope,
Let me recall You,
That is my hope.
0 Damodara Krishna !
How I long to see
You feeding the monkeys
While they dance in glee!
0 Damodara Krishna!
Please hear my prayer!
By mercy You freed
The two sons of Kuvera.
0 Damodara Krishna!
Please smile upon me!
Grant me Your mercy,
So I may be free!
0 Damodara Krishna!
By Your childlike charm
You capture all hearts
In this eternal form!
O Damodara Krishna !
Please hear my praise!
You showed Your pastimes,
The world to amaze!
O Damodara Krishna!
The world rests on You,
Yet You are beyond it
And known by so few.
O Damodara Krishna!
Your childhood play
Is sweeter than nectar-
I’ll drink it each day!
O Damodara Krishna!
Please grant me a boon-
May I always remember?
To sing You this tune!
O Damodara Krishna!
In ropes You are wound,
Yet ropes do not bind
You By love are You bound!
O Damodara Krishna!
In ropes You are bound,
Child Prince of Braja
You shall be crowned!
HARE KRISHNA, HARE KRISHNA,
KRISHNA KRISHNA, HARE HARE
HARE RAMA, HARE RAMA,
RAMA RAMA, HARE HARE
HARE KRISHNA, HARE KRISHNA,
KRISHNA KRISHNA, HARE HARE
HARE RAMA, HARE RAMA,
RAMA RAMA, HARE HARE
HARE KRISHNA, HARE KRISHNA,
KRISHNA KRISHNA, HARE HARE
HARE RAMA, HARE RAMA,
RAMA RAMA, HARE HARE
HARE KRISHNA, HARE KRISHNA,
KRISHNA KRISHNA, HARE HARE
HARE RAMA, HARE RAMA,
RAMA RAMA, HARE HARE