bbtirtha - Audio

Radha Kunda Tata Kunja Kutir

Kirtan, Sreela Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

This kīrtana holds a special place in the heart of Śrīla Gurumahārāja. He would often recite it on various occasions, such as once on the banks of Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa at the Maṭha in Iśodyāna Mayapur on the appearance day of Śrī Rādhā Kuṇḍa, and at other times in his bhajana kutīra. Tears would roll down from the eyes of Śrīla Gurudev as he listened to the kīrtanas sung by devotees. He chose to enter into the eternal service of Śrī Śrī Rādhākṛṣṇa while this particular kīrtana was being sung by the devotees for his pleasure.

rādhā-kunḍa-taṭa-kuñja-kuṭīr
govardhana-parvata, jāmuna-tīr

kusuma-sarovara, mānasa-gańgā
kalinda-nandinī vipula-tarańga

vaḿśī-vaṭa, gokula, dhīra-samīr
bṛndābana-taru-latikā-kanīr

khaga-mṛga-kula, malaya-bātās
mayūra, bhramara, muralī-vilās

venu, śṛńga, pada-cihna, megha-mālā
vasanta, śaśańka, śańkha, karatāla

yugala-vilāse anukūla jāni
līlā-vilāse-uddīpaka māni

e saba choḍato kańhi nāhi jāu
e saba choḍato parāna hārāu

bhakativinoda kohe, śuno kān!
tuwā uddīpaka hāmārā parān

In this kirtan, Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur remembers the following transcendental places and the paraphernalia which are conductive for the pastimes of Sri Sri Radha Krishna.

The cottage in the grove on the banks of Radha-kunda, the great Govardhana Hill, the banks of the Yamuna, Kusuma-sarovara, Manasa-ganga, the daughter of Kalinda (the Yamuna) with her many waves, the Vamsi-vat, Gokula, Dhira-samira, the trees and creepers and reeds of Vrindavana, the different varieties of colorful birds, the deer, the cooling breeze from the Malaya Mountains, the peacocks, the bumblebees, the pastimes with the flute, the flute itself, the buffalo horn bugle, the footprints of cows in the dust of Vraja, the rows of blackish rain clouds, springtime, the moon, the conch-shell, and the karatalas.

At the end he says, “Please hear me, O Kana! Your entourage and paraphernalia stimulate remembrance of You and are the very source of my life.”