Bhoga-arati  -  (from Gitavali)
By
Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur

bhaja bhakata-vatsala sri-gaurahari
sri-gaurahari sohi gostha-bihari,
nanda-jasomati-citta-hari

bela-ho'lo, damodara, aisa ekhano
bhoga-mandire bosi' koraho bhojana

nandera nidese baise giri-bara-dhari
baladeva-saha sakha baise sari sari

sukta-sakadi bhaji nalita kusmanda
dali dalna dugdha-tumbi dadhi moca-khanda

mudga-bora masa-bora rotika ghrtanna
saskuli pistaka khir puli payasanna

karpura amrta--keli rambha khira-sara
amrta rasala, amla dwadasa prakara

luci cini sarpuri laddu rasabali
bhojana korena krsna ho'ye kutuhali

raidhikara pakka anna vividha byanjana
parama anande krsna korena bhojana

chale-bale laddu khay sri-madhumangala
bagala bhajay ara deya hari-bolo

radhikadi gane heri' nayanera kone
trpta ho'ye khay krsna jasoda-bhavane

bhojanante piye krsna subasita bari
sabe mukha prakhaloy ho'ye sari sari

hasta-mukha prakhaliya jata sakha-gane
anande bisraima kore baladeva-sane

jambula rasala ane tambula-masala
taha kheye krsna-candra sukhe nidra gela

bisalakha sikhi-puccha-camara dhulaya
apurba sayyaya krsna~ sukhe nidra jaya

jasomati-ajna pe'ye dhanistha-anito
sri-krsna-prasada radha bhunje ho'ye prito

lalitadi sakhi-gana avasesa paya
mane mane sukhe radha-krsna-guna gaya

hari-lila ek-matra jahara pramoda
bhogarati gay thakur bhakativinoda

1) Just worship Sri Gaurahari, who is always affectionate toward His devotees.
He is the same Supreme Godhead, Krsna, who sported in the cowherd pastures of
Vraja and stole the hearts of Nanda and Yasoda.

2) Mother Yasoda calls to Krsna, "My dear Damodara, it is very late. Please
come right now, sit down in the dining hall, and take Your lunch."

3) On the direction of Nanda Maharaja, Krsna, the holder of Govardhana Hill,
sits down, and then all the cowherd boys, along with Krsna's elder brother, Sri
Baladeva, sit down in rows to take their lunch.

4) They are then served a feast of sukta and various kinds of green leafy
vegetables, then nice fried things, and a salad made of the green leaves of the
jute plant. They are also served pumpkin, baskets of fruit, small square cakes
made of lentils and cooked down milk, then thick yogurt, squash cooked in milk,
and vegetable preparations made from the tower of the banana tree.

5) Then they receive fried squares of mung dahl patties, and urad dahl patties,
capatis, and rice with ghee. Next, sweets made with milk, sugar and sesamum,
rice flour cakes; thick cooked-down milk; cakes floating in milk; and sweet
rice.

6) There is also sweet rice that tastes just like nectar due to its being mixed
with camphor. There are bananas, and cheese which is nectarean and delicious.
They are also served twelve kinds of sour preparations made with tamarinds,
limes, lemons, oranges, and pomegranates.

7) There are puns made with white flour and sugar; puns filled with cream;
laddus; and dahl patties boiled in sugared rice. Krsna eagerly eats all of the
food.

8) In great ecstasy and joy Krsna eats the rice, curried vegetables, sweets,
and pastries cooked by Srimati Radharani.

9) Krsna's funny brahmana friend Madhumangala, who is very fond of Laddus, gets
them by hook or by crook. Eating the laddus he shouts, "Haribol! Haribol!~' and
makes a funny sound by swapping his sides under his armpits with his hands.

10) Beholding Radharani and Her gopifriends out of the courters of His eyes,
Krsna eats at the house of mother Yasoda with great satisfaction.

11) After lunch, Krsna drinks rose-scented water. Then all of the boys,
standing in lines, wash their mouths.

12) After all the cowherd boys wash their hands and mouths, in great bliss they
take rest with Lord Balarama.

13) The two cowherd boys Jambula and Rasala then bring Krsna pan made with
betel nuts, fancy spices, and catechu. After eating that pin, Sri Krsnacandra
then happily goes to sleep.

14) While Krsna happily takes His rest on an excellent bedstead, His servant
Visalaksa cools Him with a fan of peacock feathers.

15) At mother Yasoda's request the gopi Dhanistha brings remnants of food left
on Krsna's plate to Srimati Radharani, who eats them with great delight

16) Lalita-devi and the other gopis then receive the remnants, and within their
hearts they sing the glories of Radharani and Krsna with great joy.

17) Thakura Bhaktivinoda, whose one and only Joy is the pastimes of Lord Hari,
sings this Bhoga-arati song.