The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust has just published a book I helped edit: Srila Sanatana Gosvami’s Sri Krishna-lila-stava, translated, with a brief commentary, by Gopiparanadhana Dasa. Srila Sanatana Gosvami (circa 1488–1558) was the seniormost of the six Gosvamis who expounded and elaborated the teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Of Srila Sanatana’s four literary works, Sri Krishna-lila-stava is the shortest and simplest.
The book consists of 432 verses offering praise to Lord Krishna through prayers. In essence, the book is a summary of the pastimes (lilas) of Krishna found in the first half of Srimad-Bhagavatam’s Tenth Canto (up through Krishna’s vanquishing of King Kamsa). Also included are brief prayers in praise of Lord Jagannatha, of Srimad-Bhagavatam, and of other forms of the Lord.
Part of the pleasure of this book is that it offers us access to the poetry of Srila Sanatana Gosvami’s original Sanskrit words. Consider this verse:
go-gopa-gopikānandin
sarva-loka-śubhaṅ-kara
harṣa-pūrita-devendra
jagad-ānanda-vardhana
“You pleased the cows and the cowherd men and women and showered good fortune on all. You filled the king of heaven with joy. O Krishna, You expand the bliss of the world!”
The music of the Sanskrit words makes this meditation still more pleasing.
Handsomely designed and printed, the book is illustrated with six new full-color illustrations.
Krishna-lila-stava will be available for purchase online in America from the Krishna.com store and in Europe from Bhaktivedanta Library Services.
Krishna-lila-stava
362 pages, including appendixes and index
Published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust
ISBN 978-1-84599-056-5
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