Śrī Śrī Prabhupāda-Padma-Stavakaḥ1974

The Story Behind the Song

This recording from 1974 is from a historical visit by disciples of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda at the Śrī Caitanya Sārasvata Maṭha in Navadvīp during the 1974 Mayapur Vrindavan Festival.  The meeting was presided over by Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣak Śrīdhara Deva-Goswāmī Mahārāja. 

Śrīla Kṛṣṇa Dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja, a highly revered saint and contemporary of both Swami Prabhupāda and Śrīdhara Mahārāja. Bābājī Mahārāja was famous for his continuous chanting and his sweet, ecstatic delivery of kīrtana.  He leads the kirtan at the event singing a Sanskrit prayer composed by Śrīdhara Mahārāja titled Śrī Śrī Prabhupāda-Padma-Stavakaḥ ("Prayers to the Lotus Feet of Śrīla Prabhupāda"). It was written shortly after the passing of their spiritual master, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura (who was also affectionately addressed as "Prabhupāda" by his disciples).

After the kirtan, there were some lectures and notably one by Sridhara Maharaja.  Devotees were then served prasadam.  Simple, traditional rice, mung dahl, yogurt and puri on banana leaves.  Most memorable was a delicious sweet rice.  

Lyrics and English Translation

Verse 1

sujanārbuda-rādhita-pāda-yugaṁ

yuga-dharma-dhurandhara-pātra-varam

varada-abhayadaṁ vimalātma-padaṁ

praṇamāmi sadā prabhupāda-padam

Translation: I forever bow down to the lotus feet of Śrīla Prabhupāda. His lotus feet are worshiped by millions of the most virtuous, saintly souls. He is the most competent personality to spearhead the yuga-dharma (the spiritual practice for this age, the chanting of the Holy Name). He bestows the ultimate benediction and fearlessness, maintaining a completely pure, transcendental status.

Verse 2

bhaja no dījita-sajjana-saṅgha-patiṁ

patitādhika-kāruṇika-eka-gatim

gati-vañcita-vañcaka-cintita-padaṁ

praṇamāmi sadā prabhupāda-padam

Translation: Let us worship the master of the assembly of pure devotees, who awakens the sleeping souls. He is the only hope and refuge for the most fallen, showering them with matchless mercy. Even those who are deceitful or have been deprived of spiritual progress find themselves meditating upon his merciful lotus feet. I forever bow down to the lotus feet of Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Verse 3

ati-komala-kāñcana-dīrgha-tanuṁ

tanu-nindita-hema-mṛṇāla-madam

madanārbuda-vandita-candra-padaṁ

praṇamāmi sadā prabhupāda-padam

Translation: He possesses a tall, delicate, and golden-hued form. The beauty of his transcendental body shames the pride of golden lotus stems. His moon-like lotus feet are so beautiful they are worshiped by millions of Cupids. I forever bow down to the lotus feet of Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Verse 4

nija-sevaka-tāraka-rañji-vidhuṁ

vidhutāhitah-uṅkṛta-siṅha-varam

varaṇāgata-bālita-sandra-padaṁ

praṇamāmi sadā prabhupāda-padam

Translation: Like a beautifully shining moon, he brings immense joy to his servants and delivers them from darkness. He is like a powerful lion who chases away all non-devotional, harmful concepts with a single roar. He intensely protects and nurtures all souls who take shelter of him. I forever bow down to the lotus feet of Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Verse 5

śita-gaura-janāśraya-vīkṣa-guruṁ

guru-gaura-kiśoraka-dāsya-padam

paramādṛta-bhaktivinoda-padaṁ

praṇamāmi sadā prabhupāda-padam

Translation: He is the prominent guru among the sheltered followers of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He is fully absorbed in the divine service of his spiritual master, Śrīla Gaurakiśora Dāsa Bābājī, and holds the lotus feet of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in the highest regard. I forever bow down to the lotus feet of Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Verse 6

raghu-rūpa-sanātana-kīrti-dharaṁ

dharaṇī-tala-kīrtita-jīva-kavim

kavirāja-narottama-sakhya-padaṁ

praṇamāmi sadā prabhupāda-padam

Translation: He carries the glorious legacy of Śrī Rūpa, Śrī Sanātana, and Śrī Raghunātha Dāsa Goswāmī. He famously defended and preached the conclusions of Śrī Jīva Goswāmī across the earth. He shares an intimate spiritual friendship with the divine line of Śrī Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja and Śrīla Narottama Dāsa Ṭhākura. I forever bow down to the lotus feet of Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Verse 7

kṛpayā hari-kīrtana-mūrti-dharaṁ

dharaṇī-bhara-hāraka-gaura-janam

janakādhika-vatsala-snigdha-padaṁ

praṇamāmi sadā prabhupāda-padam

Translation: Out of sheer mercy, he walked this earth as the personification of hari-kīrtana. As a true associate of Śrī Gaura, he relieves the earth of its heavy burden of materialism. His lotus feet are filled with an affectionate, gentle love that surpasses even that of a biological father. I forever bow down to the lotus feet of Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Verse 8

śaraṇāgata-kiṅkara-kalpa-taruṁ

taru-dhik-kṛta-dhīra-vādānya-varam

varadendra-gaṇārcita-divya-padaṁ

praṇamāmi sadā prabhupāda-padam

Translation: He is a wish-fulfilling desire tree (kalpa-taru) for the servants who take shelter of him. His deep patience and unmatched generosity shame the tolerance of ordinary trees. His divine lotus feet are worshiped by the greatest of saints and demigods. I forever bow down to the lotus feet of Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Verse 9

paramahaṁsa-varaṁ paramārtha-patiṁ

patitoddharaṇe kṛta-veṣa-matiṁ

yati-rāja-gaṇair-parisevya-padaṁ

praṇamāmi sadā prabhupāda-padam

Translation: He is the topmost of all paramahaṁsa (fully liberated) souls and the master of ultimate spiritual truths. He accepted the dress of a renunciant (sannyāsa) solely with the mindset of delivering the fallen souls. His lotus feet are lovingly served by the greatest of tridaṇḍī sannyāsīs. I forever bow down to the lotus feet of Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Verse 10

vṛṣabhānu-sutā-dayitānucaraṁ

caraṇāśrita-reṇu-dharaṁ tam ahaṁ

mahad-adbhuta-pāvana-śakti-padaṁ

praṇamāmi sadā prabhupāda-padam

Translation: He is an intimate eternal associate of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī (the daughter of King Vṛṣabhānu). I hold the dust of his lotus feet upon my head. His feet possess a wonderfully great power to purify the entire universe. I forever bow down to the lotus feet of Śrīla Prabhupāda.

About the Recording

Original 1974 recording by Uttamasloka dasa (ACBSP)

Remastered in 2026 by Uttamasloka dasa (ACBSP)

Photos of the event:  Gopati dasa (ACBSP)

About Krsna Dasa Babaji

Mahanidhi Swami, writing in his book Gaudiya Vaisnava Biographies and Samadhis in Vrndavana, paints an intimate portrait of this exalted soul:

“Srila Prabhupada said that Krsna Dasa Babaji was akincana (free from all material attachments and possessions) and a paramahamsa (a swan like pure devotee). He was attached only to chanting the holy name of Krsna. Born in E. Bengal, he began Krsna consciousness in college, joined the Gaudiya Math, and took initiation from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.”

Krsna Dasa Babaji was legendary among his godbrothers for his singular, unwavering attachment to chanting the holy name. His sole engagement in the temple was chanting Hare Krsna day and night. His Godbrothers, however, complained to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. He told them his chanting was fine and that they should encourage him. He further said that they should place one newspaper ad, inviting all sincere men who were willing to chant Krsna’s name all day and night to join the Gaudiya Math. A few men came, chanted, and left. But Krsna Dasa remained steady in his chanting. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati ordered his men to provide all facility to the babaji.

Continually chanting Hare Krsna, Krsna Dasa Babaji began wandering all over India, especially in Mayapura and Vrndavana. He was fond of repeating the last instruction of Srimad Bhagavatam, *‘Always chant Hare Krsna and offer obeisances to the Lord.’* Before singing, which he liked, he would always glorify the previous acaryas. He possessed a deep, prophetic reverence for Prabhupada. While he was performing kirtana at Srila Prabhupada’s sannyasa initiation in Mathura, Srila Prabhupada told him to chant more. 

At that time, Krsna Dasa realized that Srila Prabhupada would lead a worldwide Hare Krsna movement. 

When remembering Srila Prabhupada, Krsna Dasa would often tell the devotees:

‘Your spiritual master is the greatest spiritual master who has ever existed, more than any other spiritual master. More miracles, more work than anyone before. Why? Because no other spiritual master was such a great servant of the holy name. And because he took the holy name all over the world.’