Maṅgalacarana
(Auspicious Invocation)
Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhava Gosvami Maharaja would recite the following verses before beginning his discourses:
I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master because he has given me the most exalted Holy Name and, due to his causeless mercy, I hope to serve the son of Mother Saci—Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Svarūpa Damodara Gosvami, Sri Rūpa Gosvami, Sri Sanatana Gosvami, Mathura-mandala, the village of Vraja, Radha-kunda, Giriraja Govardhana, and, aho! Srimati Radhika and Madhava Themselves.
When will Srila Rūpa Gosvami Prabhupada, who has established within this material world the mission to fulfil the desire of Lord Caitanya, give me shelter under his lotus feet?
I repeatedly offer my obeisances to the Vaiṣnavas who fulfil all desires like wish-fulfilling trees, who are oceans of compassion and who are redeemers of the fallen souls.
I take absolute shelter of Sriman Nityananda Prabhu, Who is Balarama Himself and Whose Partial Manifestations and Parts of the Partial Manifestations are Saṅkarṣana, the Viṣnus Who lie on the Karana Ocean (Karanabdhisayi), Garbha Ocean (Garbhodasayi) and Milk Ocean (Kṣirodasayi), as well as Seṣa.
May the Supreme Lord Who is known as the son of Srimati Sacidevi be transcendentally situated in the innermost chambers of your heart. Resplendent with the radiance of molten gold, He has appeared in the Age of Kali by His causeless mercy to bestow what no avatara has ever offered before: the most sublime and radiant mellow of devotional service—the mellow of conjugal love.
I offer my obeisances unto the Supreme Lord Sri Kṛṣna, Who is non-different from His features as a devotee, devotional descent, devotional manifestation, pure devotee and devotional energy.
Glory to the all-merciful Radha and Madana-mohana! I am lame and ill advised, yet They are my owners, and Their Lotus Feet are everything to me.
In a temple of ornaments and jewels situated beneath a desire tree in Goloka Vṛndavana, Sri Sri Radha-Govinda, served by Their most confidential and dear associates, sit upon an effulgent throne. I offer my humble obeisances unto Them.
Sri Gopinatha, Who originated the transcendental mellow of the rasa dance, stands on the shore of Vamsivaṭa, attracting the attention of the cowherd damsels with the sound of His transcendental flute. May They all confer upon us Their benediction.
Although I am a mine of offences, and although I cannot tell right from wrong, I still hope for Your mercy. O Lord Madhava, please be merciful to me.
I repeatedly offer my respectful obeisances to the dust from the lotus feet of the cowherd damsels of Nanda Maharaja’s village of Vraja. I place that dust upon my forehead. When these damsels loudly chant the glories of the Supreme Lord Sri Kṛṣna, the vibration purifies the three worlds (heaven, earth and the underworld)—the entire universe.
Goddess Sarasvati is always present in His mouth, Lakṣmidevi always sports on His chest, and His heart is the abode of grand refulgence of the opulence of Absolute Knowledge. I worship that Lord Nṛsimhadeva.
I am devoid of devotion, replete with millions of offences and distracted by waves of evil desires. O compassionate Vṛndadevi, I take shelter of You and pay my innumerable prostrated obeisances at Your lotus feet. Kindly rescue me.
Before commencing this recitation, which is the very means of conquest, one should offer respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord Sri Kṛṣna, unto His eternal friend (the supermost human being), unto mother Sarasvati (the goddess of learning), and unto Srila Vyasadeva (who compiled the Lord’s pastimes).