ASA [e] Kevalastakam

(1)

madhuraḿ madhurebhyo ‘pi

mańgalebhyo ‘pi mańgalam

pāvanaḿ pāvanebhyo ‘pi

harer nāmaiva kevalam

1) More sweet than all other sweet things; more auspicious than all other auspicious things; the greatest purifier of all purifying things. The holy name of Sri Hari alone is everything. [11]

(2)

ābrahmā-stamba-paryantaḿ

sarvaḿ māyā-mayaḿ jagat

satyaḿ satyaḿ punaḥ satyaḿ

harer nāmaiva kevalam

2) The entire universe, from exalted Brahma down to the lowly clump of grass, is a product of the illusory energy of the supreme Lord. The only thing that is reality, reality, again I say reality. The holy name of Sri Hari alone is everything. [39]

(3)

sa guruḥ sa pitā cāpi

sā mātā bandhavo ‘pi saḥ

śikṣayec cet sadā smartuḿ

harer nāmaiva kevalam

3) That person is a true preceptor, or a true father, a true mother, and a true friend also only if they teach one to always remember. The holy name of Sri Hari alone is everything. [50]

(4)

niḥśvāse nāhi viśvāsaḥ

kadā ruddho bhaviṣyati

kīrtanīya mato bālyād

harer nāmaiva kevalam

4) There is no certainty when the last breath will come and put an abrupt halt to all one’s material plans; therefore, it is wise to always practice chanting from very childhood. The holy name of Sri Hari alone is everything. [57]

(5)

hariḥ sadā vaset tatra

yatra bhāgavatā janāḥ

gāyanti bhakti-bhāvena

harer nāmaiva kevalam

5) Lord Hari eternally dwells in that place where truly exalted, spiritually advanced souls sing in the mood of pure devotion. The holy name of Sri Hari alone is everything. [62]

(6)

aho duḥkhaḿ mahā-duḥkhaḿ

duḥkhād duḥkhataraḿ yataḥ

kācārthaḿ vismṛtam ratna-

harer nāmaiva kevalam

6) Aho! What a sorrow, what a great sorrow! More painful than any other misery in the world! Mistaking it as a mere piece of glass, the people have forgotten this jewel. The holy name of Sri Hari alone is everything. [77]

(7)

dīyatāḿ dīyatāḿ karṇo

nīyatāḿ nīyatāḿ vacaḥ

gīyatāḿ gīyatāḿ nityaḿ

harer nāmaiva kevalam

7) It should be heard again and again with one’s ears; It should be uttered over and over with one’s voice; It should be perpetually sung and sung anew. The holy name of Sri Hari alone is everything. [89]

(8)

tṛṇī-kṛtya jagat sarvaḿ

rājate sakalopari

cid-ānanda-mayaḿ śuddhaḿ

harer-nāmaiva kevalam

8) It makes the entire universe seem insignificant as a blade of grass; it reigns supreme over all in a splendorous manner; it is full of eternally conscious divine ecstasy; it is supremely pure. The holy name of Sri Hari alone is everything. [99]

HpSwami/ASA - Thank you so much. AgtSP.

What is the history of this poem, the author?