#padavali

poet: chhoifa banu

language: bengali

painting: syamarani dasi

Shubawl, jaa re Brindabon!

Subal [Uddhav in other traditions], go to Vrindavan!

Dekhe aasho ge Raadha-raani aachhe re kaymon.

Return having seen how [my] queen Radha is doing.

Mothura-te aachhi aami paagol aamaar mon,

I am in Mathura, I am losing my mind,

Raadha-r jonno praan aamaar shawda uchaatawn.

Thinking of Radha, my mind is always distracted.

Raadha-r pawde dhore Shubawl korish nibedawn,

Holding Radha's feet, Subal, pray unto her this,

Dibaa-nishi Raadha pyaari aachhe re shawron.

Day and night [my] beloved Radha is in my thoughts.

Raadha-r prem-e aachhi baandha jawnm-ero moton,

I am bound to Radha's love for this entire life,

Sheeghro giye dekhbo aami oi raanga chawron.

Soon I shall go and gaze at those reddish-hued feet [of hers].

Mothura-te aachhi aami hoiya raajon,

I am in Mathura, [stuck] being a king,

Raadha-r khed-e tyajyo korbo raaj-singhashon.

Grief-stricken by Radha's absence, I shall [surely] give up this regal throne.

Chhoifa-e bole shuno bhubawn-o-mohon,

Chhoifa says, listen o enchanter of the universe,

Kubjaa-r ku-budhhi-ye tumi hoyechho bawndhon.

Note: this is a mammoth of a work, and I cannot commit to translating it all. I am starting, let's see where we end up. :) The compilation is from Vasantaranjan Ray's exhaustive research into it. The manuscripts amassed by him still misses a few pages and hence the story might come off as choppy in some places. We begin from the 3rd page in any case. (Also I will not transcribe the original antique-text in the Bengali Nagari script, since that's too much text, but I will provide you with my copy of the book if you want to read it for yourself, it comes highly recommended).

Raga: Kora

Shawbe debe meli shawbha paatilo aakaashe,

All gods together assembled in a sabha in the sky,

Kawngshe'r kaarone ho-e srishti'ro binaashe.

The entire universe is about to be destroyed due to Kamsa.

Ihaar mawrono hawye kawmono upaa-e,

How will he be slayed,

Sawmhei chintiya buyilo Brohma'r thaaye.

All thinking [this] entered Brahma's house.

Bhrohma shawb deb loiya gelaanti shaagore,

Brahma took all the gods to the ocean,

Stuti-e tushilo Hori jawl-ero bhitore.

Singing [his] praises, [they] pleased Hari in the water.

Tomhe naana roope koile aashur-er khawye,

You, in many forms, slayed [many] demons,

Tomhaar leela-ye Kawngshe'r bawdh hawye.

Your games is how Kamsa shall be killed [too].

Hayno shuni ishawto haashia tawtikhawne,

Hearing this, smiling slightly then,

Dhawl-o kaalo dui kesh dila Narayon-e.

White and black two hairs Narayan gave them.

Ei dui kesh hoibe Boshul-er ghawr-e,

These two hairs will be born in Boshul's [Vasudeva] house,

Holi Bonomaali naam Doiboki udor-e.

Named Hali [Balarama] and Banamali [Krishna], in Daivaki's [Devaki] womb.

Taahaar-o haathe hoibe Kawgsha-ashur-er binaashe,

By his hands will happen the death of Kamsa,

Hayno bawr paiya shawb deb gela baashe.

Receiving this boon all the gods returned to their homes.

Shomoy upekhiya rohila deb-o-gon,

All gods waited for the [right] time,

Gailo boru-Chondidash Baasali-gan.

Close Your Physical Eyes and See With the Third Eye -- Maharshi Mehi, Padavali # 59

The glittering Point between the two eyebrows [Third Eye Center] is visible,

O brothers! Closing your eyelids, try to see,

Let the two currents of Light converge at the central Point of the eyebrows,

Fix your gaze and cross your bodily sphere and enter the Egg of the Universe;

The Sky, studded with Stars, looks so wonderful,

Light, like the earthen lamp, is visible that eliminates

the darkness of the closed eyes,

The incomparable Moonlight, unique in itself is spread in all corners;

And the Light of the young Sun also radiates beautifully,

Surat [soul], with its spiritual vision, catches the multiple Sounds

without being impaired,

O individual souls! Catching these Sounds with Surat-like rope [listening with absolute attention],

Walk along the Final Abode, which is the Real Home;

Mehi has revealed this Mystery, the Quintessential One,

One, who serves the Guru without any craft, has no difficulty

Maharshi Mehi, Padavali Hymn # 14: Namami Amit Gyan, Sung by Madhulata Arya: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tsb3QqLpCM&t=10s&ab_channel=SantMatRadhasoami

Bhajo Guru Naam -- #Padavali # 88 by #MaharshiMehi Paramhans: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYmlnP966Nc&ab_channel=SantMatRadhasoami

Arati Hymn of Param Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras  (Padavali Hymn # 145)

Do Arati [worship] with the Sadguru [True Guru] and contemplate the light glowing within you,

Igniting the five elements of the body, light the lamp to get brightness inside;

The Sun and the Moon are like fruits

and flowers kept on a dish-like firmament [plate of the inner sky],

As one starts worshipping, pieces of camphor are burnt and a kalash [pot, pitcher,] is planted in the inner sky,

The stars-like pearls and the broken rice grains are visible,

Weaving the garland of flowers, put it onto your neck,

And offer betel-leaves, sweets, incense, sandal, earthen lamps, etc...

In such a light, the accompaniment of various musical sounds of cymbals, majira and drum are heard,

Scent-like currents of consciousness are spread all over the body and float up in the sky,

And in that sphere, the consciousness-like bee feels blissfully content,

Listening to the multiple sounds,

Pure light is burning inside and as one sees it, all one’s lapses are eliminated forever;

In the inner sky, nectar pours down and the devotees are fully drenched,

Drinking that ambrosia, consciousness is fully awakened

and makes fresh endeavors to ascend,

Beauty, like millions of shining Suns, is so very illuminating,

And there, beyond the quintessential sound, attain the Absolute,

You strike your bond with the Supreme Sovereign [God] or pure consciousness;

Every moment, keep consciousness [your attention, surat,] alive in your inner sky,

Suck out the milk of paradise by the grace of Guru,

Says Tulsi, the abode of Guru is all-illuminating

and the loud musical notes are heard,

Like the Alal-bird, let your consciousness ascend,

Shaking off the wrappings of the body.

Remembrance (Simran) of God

"Dwell on Ram [God] brother like the caterpillar meditating in the cocoon. The Lord has all shapes. He is the master of everything. He lives within all. A worm or a moth whatever moves or is still Ram is with everyone.

"Service. Worship. Remembrance. Meditation. All are false without God.

"God [Hari] is my companion in life and death. Hari, who rescued the drowning creature. Hari, the Giver of joy is always with me. I am immersed in the name of Hari says Namdev.

"What can you lose if you sing Ram [God]? Sing that name sleeping or waking. The glory of that name saved Dhruv and Prahlad who meditated on the mantra Ram. Sanak and others cherished the name the name Ram which grants freedom."