October 08, 2026
The eight foundational instructions written by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, with commentaries by Srila Prabhupada on the cleansing of the heart.
The Eight Slokas of Siksastakam
Sloka 1: ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha--davagni-nirvapanam... Glory to the Sri Krishna Sankirtana, which cleanses the heart of all dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life.
Sloka 2: namnam akari bahudha nija-sarva-shaktis... O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction, yet I have no attraction for Your names.
Sloka 3: trinad api sunichena taror api sahishnuna... One should chant in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than straw, more tolerant than a tree, ready to offer all respect to others.
Sloka 4: na dhanam na janam na sundarim... O almighty Lord, I have no desire for wealth, women, or followers; I only want Your causeless service birth after birth.
Sloka 5: ayi nanda-tanuja kinkaram... O son of Maharaja Nanda, please pick me up from this ocean of birth and death and place me as an atom at Your lotus feet.
Sloka 6: nayanam galad-ashru-dharaya... When will my eyes be decorated with tears of love when I chant Your holy name?
Sloka 7: yugayitam nimeshena... Feeling Your separation, I consider a moment to be like twelve years or more.
Sloka 8: ashlishya va pada-ratam pinashtu mam... I know no one but Krishna as my Lord, and He shall remain so even if He handles me roughly or makes me brokenhearted.
Sloka 2: namnam akari bahudha nija-sarva-shaktis... O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction, yet I have no attraction for Your names.
Sloka 3: trinad api sunichena taror api sahishnuna... One should chant in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than straw, more tolerant than a tree, ready to offer all respect to others.
Sloka 4: na dhanam na janam na sundarim... O almighty Lord, I have no desire for wealth, women, or followers; I only want Your causeless service birth after birth.
Sloka 5: ayi nanda-tanuja kinkaram... O son of Maharaja Nanda, please pick me up from this ocean of birth and death and place me as an atom at Your lotus feet.
Sloka 6: nayanam galad-ashru-dharaya... When will my eyes be decorated with tears of love when I chant Your holy name?
Sloka 7: yugayitam nimeshena... Feeling Your separation, I consider a moment to be like twelve years or more.
Sloka 8: ashlishya va pada-ratam pinashtu mam... I know no one but Krishna as my Lord, and He shall remain so even if He handles me roughly or makes me brokenhearted.
Commentary on Ceto-darpana-marjanam
Lord Chaitanya recommended: ceto-darpana-marjanam. Marjanam means "cleanse," and darpanam means "mirror." The heart is a mirror. Like a camera, it takes pictures of days and nights and keeps them in a subconscious state. Because of material contact, our real identity is covered.
Once the mind is washed of material contamination by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, all desires and reactions to material activities are vanquished, and real life begins.
By A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Once the mind is washed of material contamination by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, all desires and reactions to material activities are vanquished, and real life begins.
By A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada