# Introduction It was my good fortune to be in the service of Śrīla Prabhupāda at Śrī Māyāpur, the birthplace of Lord Caitanya, in setting up the groundwork of our Society's international center there. That year (1971) there was a terrible flood, but although for many days the water was rising, it was diverted from flooding the Society's property solely due to the embankment created by a road constructed by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī, our Parama Guru Mahārāja. I wrote a letter to His Divine Grace explaining the situation, and I mentioned, "The water has not entered our property. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta's road has saved us." Śrīla Prabhupāda, however, wrote back in answer in a different tone: "Yes, we are always saved by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta's road, so go on glorifying the disciplic succession, and your life will be a great success." Later on, when I suggested writing down the songs of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura and Narottama Dāsa Ṭhākura in English translations, His Divine Grace said, "Yes, we must push on this mission of Bhaktivinoda." So here in this book, which is the first of a series of translations of the complete works of the Vaiṣṇava ācāryas in the line of succession coming after Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, I have also included a short life sketch of Ṭhākura Bhaktivinoda. In the following volumes, the lives of Śrīla Narottama Dāsa Ṭhākura, Śrīnivāsa Ācārya, and other Vaiṣṇava ācāryas will appear. Most of the songs in this book are in Bengali and are by Ṭhākura Bhaktivinoda and Narottama Dāsa Ṭhākura. All these songs have exquisite melodies, and recordings are available to accompany the book. It should be noted that these songs and verses are all explanations of pure devotional service and that devotional service to Śrī Kṛṣṇa is obtained only by the mercy of the spiritual master, which can be obtained by serving his desires perfectly. These songs are not substitutes for the main and prime benediction of the Age of Kali, the congregational chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. They are verses that have expanded from the mahā-mantra, and they are explanations of the mahā-mantra. Thus, because they are expansions of the mahā-mantra, they are nondifferent from it. The songs of Śrīla Narottama Dāsa and Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura are nondifferent from the Vedic mantras. But, as stated by Śrīla Prabhupāda in The Nectar of Devotion, even if someone does not have initiation into the Gāyatrī mantra, the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare is sufficient to enable one to attain the highest perfection of spiritual life. The verses of these songs are wonderful sources of knowledge for preachers of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In each and every line there is so much philosophy that one can preach from one line for hours. They are all so pregnant with meaning and they lead to such succinct spiritual conclusions that a preacher need only recall the simple lines of songs like Bhajahū Re Mana, Śrī Rūpa Mañjarī Pada, Ohe Vaiṣṇava Ṭhākura, or Nityānanda-niṣṭhā, and every point of Kṛṣṇa consciousness will be covered in detail. Śrīla Prabhupāda is constantly quoting from these lines in his lectures and books, and here also in this book his commentaries are given. This is the first time that these transcendental vibrations have appeared in the English language, and to introduce them I am including herewith a life sketch of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. Acyutānanda Svāmī August 20, 1972 Disappearance Day of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī Rādhā-Dāmodara Temple Sevā-kuñja, Vṛndāvana