May 5, 2004: North Shore, Hawaii
Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja
[Srila Prabhupada's senior disciples, Nrihari dasa and his good wife Bhavatarini dasi are very expert at singing devotional songs in Western melodies, in the English language and accompanied by guitars; and their songs enchant large audiences. They visited Srila Narayana Maharaja at his residence in Oahu, Hawaii in early May. On Srila Maharaja's request they sang several beautiful songs for in English, including the last verse of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Sri Siksastakam. After the singing of Sri Siksastakam was completed Srila Maharaja commented on it, and they were so kind as to share with us the following transcription of his conversation with them:]
[Srila Narayana Maharaja:] "Make Me Happy, Make Me Sad." What is the meaning of this song? This is the view of Srimati Radhika. This is Her mood. "Make me happy, make me sad; break my heart, make me glad - I love you Krsna."
aslisya va pada-ratam pinastu mam
adarsanan marma-hatam karotu va
yatha tatha va vidadhatu lampato
mat-prana-nathas tu sa eva naparah
["Let Krsna tightly embrace this maidservant who has fallen at His lotus feet, or let Him trample Me or break My heart by never being visible to Me. He is a debauchee, after all, and can do whatever He likes, but He is still no one other than the worshipable Lord of My heart." (Sri Siksastakam, verse 8)]
This is the eighth sloka of Sri Siksastakam. You have translated the essence as, "Make me happy, make me sad . . ." So why have you then prayed to Srila Prabhupada at the end of the song, "Let me serve you, Prabhupada, eternally"? You sang, "I didn't know that Krsna was God until I met you, Srila Prabhupada. Let me serve you, Prabhupada, eternally," and then you added the refrain, "Make me happy, make me sadÂ…" It seems that there is some improper mixing there. Who is praying? Are you praying? Or is Srimati Radhika praying?
[Bhavatarini dasi:] At the end I am praying to Prabhupada.
[Srila Narayana Maharaja:] What is your prayer?
[Bhavatarini dasi:] "Prabhupada, whether you make me happy or sad, I love you."
[Srila Narayana Maharaja:] No. This is wrong. The words or sentiments "I love you" for Gurudeva is not good. We may pray, "I want to serve you" - not "I love you." The prayer should not be like that. Perhaps you will have to correct it. This cannot be sung in the assembly of knowledgeable devotees. Make it for Krsna - as told by Srimati Radhika. Then, in the last line you can pray, "Prabhupada, when I will realize this reality - the mood of Srimati Radhika, which is more than mahabhava and which is known as madanakya-bhava. When I will realize all this? Please be merciful to me." You can pray in this way.
Transcriber: Janaki dasi
Editor: Syamarani dasi
Typist: Anita dasi