8) Bhoga-arati

(from Gitavali)
(at Thakura Bhaktivinoda's home at Surabhi-kunja in Godruma)

1
bhaja bhakata-vatsala sri-gaurahari
sri-gaurahari sohi gostha-bihari,
nanda-jasomati-citta-hari

2
bela-ho'lo, damodara, aisa ekhano
bhoga-mandire bosi' koraho bhojana

3
nandera nidese baise giri-bara-dhari
baladeva-saha sakha baise sari sari

4
sukta-sakadi bhaji nalita kusmanda
dali dalna dugdha-tumbi dadhi moca-khanda

5
mudga-bora masa-bora rotika ghrtanna
saskuli pistaka khir puli payasanna

6
karpura amrta--keli rambha khira-sara
amrta rasala, amla dwadasa prakara

7
luci cini sarpuri laddu rasabali
bhojana korena krsna ho'ye kutuhali

8
raidhikara pakka anna vividha byanjana
parama anande krsna korena bhojana

9
chale-bale laddu khay sri-madhumangala
bagala bhajay ara deya hari-bolo

10
radhikadi gane heri' nayanera kone
trpta ho'ye khay krsna jasoda-bhavane

11
bhojanante piye krsna subasita bari
sabe mukha prakhaloy ho'ye sari sari

12
hasta-mukha prakhaliya jata sakha-gane
anande bisraima kore baladeva-sane

13
jambula rasala ane tambula-masala
taha kheye krsna-candra sukhe nidra gela

14
bisalakha sikhi-puccha-camara dhulaya
apurba sayyaya krsna~ sukhe nidra jaya

15
jasomati-ajna pe'ye dhanistha-anito
sri-krsna-prasada radha bhunje ho'ye prito

16
lalitadi sakhi-gana avasesa paya
mane mane sukhe radha-krsna-guna gaya

17
hari-lila ek-matra jahara pramoda
bhogarati gay thakur bhakativinoda

TRANSLATION

1) Just worship Sri Gaurahari, who is always affectionate toward His devotees. He is the same Supreme Godhead, Krsna, who sported in the cowherd pastures of Vraja and stole the hearts of Nanda and Yasoda.

2) Mother Yasoda calls to Krsna, "My dear Damodara, it is very late. Please come right now, sit down in the dining hall, and take Your lunch."

3) On the direction of Nanda Maharaja, Krsna, the holder of Govardhana Hill, sits down, and then all the cowherd boys, along with Krsna's elder brother, Sri Baladeva, sit down in rows to take their lunch.

4) They are then served a feast of sukta and various kinds of green leafy vegetables, then nice fried things, and a salad made of the green leaves of the jute plant. They are also served pumpkin, baskets of fruit, small square cakes made of lentils and cooked down milk, then thick yogurt, squash cooked in milk, and vegetable preparations made from the tower of the banana tree.

5) Then they receive fried squares of mung dahl patties, and urad dahl patties, capatis, and rice with ghee. Next, sweets made with milk, sugar and sesamum, rice flour cakes; thick cooked-down milk; cakes floating in milk; and sweet rice.

6) There is also sweet rice that tastes just like nectar due to its being mixed with camphor. There are bananas, and cheese which is nectarean and delicious. They are also served twelve kinds of sour preparations made with tamarinds, limes, lemons, oranges, and pomegranates.

7) There are puns made with white flour and sugar; puns filled with cream; laddus; and dahl patties boiled in sugared rice. Krsna eagerly eats all of the food.

8) In great ecstasy and joy Krsna eats the rice, curried vegetables, sweets, and pastries cooked by Srimati Radharani.

9) Krsna's funny brahmana friend Madhumangala, who is very fond of Laddus, gets them by hook or by crook. Eating the laddus he shouts, "Haribol! Haribol!~' and makes a funny sound by swapping his sides under his armpits with his hands.

10) Beholding Radharani and Her gopifriends out of the courters of His eyes, Krsna eats at the house of mother Yasoda with great satisfaction.

11) After lunch, Krsna drinks rose-scented water. Then all of the boys, standing in lines, wash their mouths.

12) After all the cowherd boys wash their hands and mouths, in great bliss they take rest with Lord Balarama.

13) The two cowherd boys Jambula and Rasala then bring Krsna pan made with betel nuts, fancy spices, and catechu. After eating that pin, Sri Krsnacandra then happily goes to sleep.

14) While Krsna happily takes His rest on an excellent bedstead, His servant Visalaksa cools Him with a fan of peacock feathers.

15) At mother Yasoda's request the gopi Dhanistha brings remnants of food left on Krsna's plate to Srimati Radharani, who eats them with great delight

16) Lalita-devi and the other gopis then receive the remnants, and within their hearts they sing the glories of Radharani and Krsna with great joy.

17) Thakura Bhaktivinoda, whose one and only Joy is the pastimes of Lord Hari, sings this Bhoga-arati song.