Navaratnam - The Nine Jewels
Shri Vallabhacharya composed the Navaratnam (नवरत्नम् - Nine Jewels) for his disciple Govinda Dube in order to remove the anxieties that were obstructing his Blessed Worship. His advice is clear: when you have dedicated yourself to Shri Krishna, there is simply nothing to worry about. Anxiety always obstructs the flow of devotion.
चिंताकापि न कार्या निवेदितात्मभिः कदापीति । भगवानपि पुष्टिस्थो न करिष्यति लौकिकीं च गतिम् ।।१।।
cintākāpi na kāryā niveditātmabhiḥ kadāpīti bhagavānapi puṣṭistho na kariṣyati laukikīṁ ca gatim (1)
Those who have completely surrendered their selves should never have any anxiety. The Lord, who resides in grace (Pushti), will not lead them to a worldly (mundane) fate. (1)
निवेदनं तु स्मर्तव्यं सर्वथा तादृशैर्जनैः । सर्वेश्वरश्च सर्वात्मा निजेच्छातः करिष्यति ।।२।।
nivedanaṃ tu smartavyaṃ sarvathā tādṛśairjanaiḥ sarveśvaraśca sarvātmā nijecchātaḥ kariṣyati (2)
Indeed, surrender (Nivedanam) should always be remembered by such people (those who have surrendered). The Lord of all, the Soul of all, will act according to His own will. (2)
सर्वेषां प्रभुसम्बन्धो न प्रत्येकमिति स्थितिः । अतोऽन्य विनियोगेऽपि चिंता का स्वस्य सोऽपिचेत् ।। ३ ।।
sarveṣāṁ prabhusambandho na pratyekamiti sthitiḥ ato'nya viniyoge'pi cintā kā svasya so'picet (3)
The connection of all is with the Lord, not individually (separate). Therefore, even in other engagements, why worry about oneself, if that (connection) also exists? (3)
अज्ञानादथवा ज्ञानात् कृतमात्मनिवेदनम् । यैः कृष्णसात्कृत प्राणैस्तेषां का परिदेवना ।। ४ ।।
ajñānādathavā jñānāt kṛtamātmanivedanam yaiḥ kṛṣṇasātkṛta prāṇaisteṣāṁ kā paridevanā (4)
Whether out of ignorance or knowledge, those who have surrendered themselves, and those who have offered their very life-force to Krishna, what lamentation is there for them? (4)
तथा निवेदने चिंता त्याज्या श्रीपुरुषोत्तमे । विनियोगेऽपि सा त्याज्या समर्थो हि हरिः स्वतः ।। ५ ।।
tathā nivedane cintā tyājyā śrī puruṣottame viniyoge'pi sā tyājyā samartho hi hariḥ svataḥ (5)
Thus, anxiety about surrender should be abandoned to Shri Purushottama. And that (anxiety) should be abandoned even about engagements, for Hari is indeed capable by Himself. (5)
लोके स्वास्थ्यं तथा वेदे हरिस्तु न करिष्यति। पुष्टिमार्गस्थितोयस्मात्साक्षिणोभवताऽखिलाः ।। ६ ।।
loke svāsthyaṁ tathā vede haristu na kariṣyati puṣṭimārgasthitoyasmātsākṣiṇobhavatā'khilāḥ (6)
Hari will not grant complete peace (svāsthya) in the world or in the Vedas, for He resides in the path of grace (Pushti). Therefore, all of you, become mere witnesses. (6)
सेवाकृतिर्गुरोराज्ञा बाधनं वा हरीच्छया। अतः सेवापरं चित्तं विधायस्थीयतां सुखम् ।। ७ ।।
sevākṛtirgurorājñā bādhanaṁ vā harīcchayā ataḥ sevāparaṁ cittaṁ vidhāyasthīyatāṁ sukham (7)
Perform seva according to the Guru's instruction, or if there is an obstacle, (understand it to be) Hari's will. Therefore, keep your mind focused on seva and remain happily situated. (7)
चित्तोद्वेगं विधायापि हरिर्यद्यत्करिष्यति । तथैव तस्य लीलेति मत्वा चिंतां द्रुतं त्यजेत् ।। ८ ।।
cittodvegaṁ vidhāyāpi hariryadyatkarisyati tathaiva tasya līleti matvā cintāṁ drutaṁ tyajet (8)
Even if Hari creates a situation that causes mental agitation, understand that it is His Lila. Knowing this, quickly abandon anxiety. (8)
तस्मात्सर्वात्मना नित्यं श्रीकृष्णः शरणं मम । वदद्भिरेवं सततं स्थेयमित्येव मे मतिः ।। ९ ।।
tasmātsarvātmanā nityaṁ śrīkṛṣṇaḥ śaraṇaṁ mama vadadbhirevaṁ satataṁ stheyamityeva me matiḥ (9)
Therefore, with all your being, always (feel that) Shri Krishna is my refuge. By constantly declaring this, one should abide thus. This is indeed my conviction.
।। इति श्रीवल्लभाचार्यविरचितं नवरत्नं सम्पूर्णम् ।।
Thus ends the 'Navaratnam' composed by Shri Vallabhacharya.
Key Terminology
चिंता (cintā) - Anxiety, worry, concern; निवेदितात्मभिः (niveditātmabhiḥ) - Those who have surrendered their selves (to the Lord); भगवान् (bhagavān) - Lord, God (often referring to Vishnu or Krishna); पुष्टि (puṣṭi) - Grace, nourishment, abundance (specifically refers to a path of grace in Vaishnavism); लौकिक (laukika) - Worldly, mundane; गति (gati) - Fate, destination, state of existence; निवेदन (nivedana) - Surrender, offering; सर्वेश्वर (sarveśvara) - Lord of all; सर्वात्मा (sarvātmā) - Soul of all, the universal soul; प्रभु (prabhu) - Lord, master; सम्बन्ध (sambandha) - Connection, relationship; विनियोग (viniyoga) - Engagement, activity, task; अज्ञान (ajñāna) - Ignorance; ज्ञान (jñāna) - Knowledge, wisdom; प्राण (prāṇa) - Life-force, vital breath; परिदेवना (paridevanā) - Lamentation, sorrow, grief; श्रीपुरुषोत्तम (śrīpuruṣottama) - A name of Vishnu, meaning "the Supreme Person"; समर्थ (samartha) - Capable, able, competent; हरि (hari) - A name of Vishnu or Krishna; स्वास्थ्य (svāsthya) - Complete peace, well-being, health; वेद (veda) - The Vedas (ancient Hindu scriptures); साक्षिन् (sākṣin) - Witness, observer; सेवा (sevā) - Service, devotion, worship; गुरु (guru) - Spiritual teacher; आज्ञा (ājñā) - Instruction, command, order; बाधन (bādhana) - Obstacle, hindrance; इच्छा (icchā) - Will, desire; चित्त (citta) - Mind, heart; उद्वेग (udvega) - Agitation, anxiety, distress; लीला (līlā) - Divine play (of the Lord); शरण (śaraṇa) - Refuge, shelter, protection; मति (mati) - Conviction, opinion, understanding.Essence of Navaratnam
The "Nava Ratna" (Nine Jewels) by Shri Vallabhacharya is a powerful teaching that provides profound guidance on overcoming anxiety and attaining true peace through complete surrender to Lord Krishna.
The central theme is the eradication of worry (cintā) through absolute faith in the Lord (bhagavān). Shri Vallabhacharya emphasizes that those who have surrendered their entire being (niveditātmabhiḥ) to Shri Krishna, who resides in the path of grace (puṣṭimārga), need not have any anxiety about worldly matters (laukika) or their ultimate fate (gati).
The teaching highlights the importance of remembering (smartavyaṃ) and constantly reaffirming (vadadbhirevaṁ) this surrender (nivedana) to the Lord of all (sarveśvara), who is also the Soul of all (sarvātmā). This surrender should be practiced with firm conviction (mati) and unwavering faith in His inherent power (samartha) and divine play (līlā).
The "Nava Ratna" encourages devotees to view all circumstances, even those that cause mental agitation (cittodvega), as part of the Lord's plan and to quickly abandon anxiety (cintāṁ drutaṁ tyajet). It emphasizes the importance of accepting the Guru's guidance (gurorājñā) and remaining focused on service (sevā) to the Lord, even amidst obstacles (bādhana).
Ultimately, the teaching calls for complete surrender to Shri Krishna as the ultimate refuge (śaraṇa), declaring with unwavering faith, "Shri Krishna is my refuge" (śrīkṛṣṇaḥ śaraṇaṁ mama). By living in this state of surrender, one can attain true peace (svāsthya) and lasting happiness.
The "Nava Ratna" serves as a timeless reminder of the power of devotion and surrender in overcoming life's challenges and finding ultimate fulfillment in the divine embrace of Shri Krishna.