SRI LALITASTAKAM - by Srila Rupa Goswami

1. I offer my obeisances to Lalita devi, who hasmany wonderful qualities. She worships the perspiration of Sri Sri Radha-Mukunda's lotus feet and acts boldly, out of intense feelings of friendship for Them.

2. I offer my obeisances to Lalita devi, who has many wonderful qualities. Her face defeats the beauty of the ambrosial corona of the full moon, her eyes are like those of an alarmed deer and she is expert in the art of decorating Sri Radhika.

3. I offer my obeisances to Lalita devi, who has many wonderful qualities. She wears a wonderful silk dresscolored like a peacock with outstretched feathers, as well as a nice blouse, and her complexion defeats the golden splendour of gorocana.

4. I offer my obeisances to Lalita devi, who has many wonderful qualities. She teaches Sri Radhika the artof a left-wing heroine saying: "Radhe! Firmly reject this shrewd son of the king of Vraja, O immoral girl! Listen! Don't be weak! I'm saying it for Your own good. Don't submit to Him!"

5. I offer my obeisances to Lalita devi, who has many wonderful qualities. Her eyes become red with anger if she sees the son of the king of Vraja cheating Sri Radhika even slightly, then she will promptly embarrass Him with her clever words.

6. I offer my obeisances to Lalita devi, who has many wonderful qualities. She is the abode of affection for the Queen of cowherders, Yasoda, she is the teacher ofthe art of friendship for all the sakhis and her love for Sri Radhika and Krsna is equal.

7. I offer my obeisances to Lalita devi, who has many wonderful qualities. She requests every girl in Vraja to join the party of Vrsabhanu's daughter and who fulfills all desires of that girl (or of Sri Radhika).

7a. I offer my obeisances to Lalita devi, who has many wonderful qualities. All her desires were at once fulfilled when she saw the path of Sri Radha in Vraja being blocked by a certain person.

8. I offer my obeisances to Lalita devi, who has many wonderful qualities. She always enjoys the festival of Radha and Vrajendrasuta's meeting and she is the chief of all Radha's dear girlfriends in Gokula.

9. Anyone who recites these prayers praising Lalita's wonderful qualities with a pure vision will be lovingly counted amongst her own (friends or maidservants) by Sri Radhika, the brilliant desire vine of the family of the Lord of Kirtida (King Vrsabhanu).

SRI LALITA KUNDA

I offer my obeisances to Sri Lalita Kunda which is most beautiful with sparkling water, which grants liberation to the bather, which is most auspicious manifestation of Lalita Devi's love for Sri Krishna and which destroys all the obstacles on the path of pure devotional service.

Lalitadevi had along with Mohan (Krsna), called 68 tirthas (holy places) to come & reside in her kunda and afford everyone the benefit of becoming free from the six types of hatya (murder): bhrna-hatya (abortion), krimi-hatya (killing of worms & insects), go-hatya (cow slaughter), brahma-hatya (killing of brahmans), svana-hatya, atma-hatya (suicide).

Of course this pastime was in preparation for the appearance of Radha Kinda which took place when Krsna killed Aristasura (a demon in the shape of a bull). After Krsna killed Arista, He took a dip in Lalita Kunda to free Himself of the sin of gohatya. The internal reason being that He wished to get the association of Srimati Radharani and enjoy the pastime of creating Their kundas (Radha Kunda & Shyama Kunda). And to attain Radharani's association, He has to first please and get help of Lalitadevi, who is the dearmost friend and guardian of Srimati Radharani. What to speak of an ordinary living entity, even Lord Krsna has to approach Lalitadevi first and by her blessings He could have His desire fulfilled.

When Krsna met Radharani that night, She told Him that due to His having killed a bull, he would have to go and bathe in all the holy places first to become purified. Krsna informed Her that He had bathed in Lalita's kunda which purified one of the sins of six kinds of murder due to the presence of the major tirthas. Radharani's sakhis challenged Him that they did not see, feel or hear those tirthas enter Lalita's kunda so how could they possibly accept. Then Krsna, in front of all of them called all the holy places in person and had them introduce themselves before entering into His kunda, so that later the gopi girls could not challenge Him. When Lalita saw all that fun, she took some of the waters of Radha-kunda and Shyama-kunda and poured them into her own kunda, after ehich the water of Shyama-kunda burst through the embankment to mingle with the water of Lalita-kubda in divine union.

In the same way Radha-kunda and Shyama-kunda are non-different to Radha Krsna, so Lalita's kunda is her liquid form. Lalita-kunda is all merciful and by coming in contact with her water, bowing down to offer prayers and remebering her, onw will very quickly attain the mercy of Radha-kunda and be able to get an eternal residence close to her.

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