Padyavali (Hard-binding)

Description

The purpose of this book is nicely described in the very first verse: This Padyavali (Anthology of Poetry) was written by devotees expert in the mellows of devotional service. This book contains many beautiful verses, which have been collected for the pleasure of the devotees. It illuminates the darkness of ignorance, and it is an ocean of transcendental bliss. Of course, there are many anthologies of verses written by great devotees, but one notable point is explained in the conclusion of the work: Jayadeva Gosvami, Bilvamangala Thakura, and other famous authors have written many books. Without referring to their verses, the work of other, less-famous authors, has been assembled in this book. In fact, many of these verses collected by Sri Rupa Gosvami are of unknown origin, and the reason for this is pointed out by Mahanidhi Swami: “It is practically a law among Vaisnava writers like Sri Rupa Gosvami, Sri Sanatana Gosvami, Krsnadasa Kaviraja, and Vrndavana dasa Thakura to always keep themselves in the background. They never mention anything about their family lineage or personal history. The authors of the best written and most relishable verses collected in Sri Rupa Gosvami’s Padyavali remain unknown.” The verses in this anthology have been arranged according to subject so that the various moods of devotional service are illustrated, one after another. Many of these verses were quoted by Krsndasa Kaviraja in his Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. Just as one may collect the best of flowers to make a bouquet for one’s beloved, this book contains a bouquet of verses that are most fragrant with the mellows of devotional service and they are presented by Kusakratha Prabhu in English for our pleasure and advancement in Krsna consciousness. Roman transliterated verses, word-to-word meaning and translation, translated by Kusakratha dasa, edited by Purnaprajna dasa.