Bāula Saṅgīta

Song 10

(1)
balān vairāhākura, kintu gṛhīr madhye bāhādura
ābāra kapni pare’, mālā dhare’,bahena sevā-dāsīr dhūra

You call yourself “Vairāgī Ṭhākura” but you are actually the best of householders. Moreover, you wear a loincloth and carry beads, yet you bear the burden of having sevā-dāsīs.*

*A sevā-dāsī refers to a maidservant of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. However, in this context, the bogus renunciant yokes himself (dhūra) to women whom he engages in his own illicit ‘service.’

(2)
acyuta-gotra-abhimāne, bhikṣā karena sarva-sthāne
ṭākā-payasā gaṇi’ dhyāne dhāraṇā pracura
kari’ cukī bhikṣā, karena śikṣā, vaṇig-vṛtti piṇīśūra

Proud of belonging to the acyuta-gotra,* you go everywhere to beg alms. In your concentrated meditation, you count how much money you have collected. You beg for gossip, give instructions to others and behave like a merchant. You are a ’hero in eating cakes!’*

* Acyuta-gotra, the family of Acyuta (Kṛṣṇa).

* Piṇīśūra has various meanings. The literal meaning is ’cake-hero’ or skillful at eating. It also refers to one who is boastful.

(3)
bale tā’re bāula-cāṅda, eṭā tomāra galāra phāṅda
jīvera ei aparādha śīghra kara dūra
yaji’ gṛhīra dharma, su-svadharma,śuddha kara antapura

Cāṅda Bāula says, “This is the noose around your neck. Quickly cast aside these offenses to other jīvas. Worship the Lord following the dharma of a householder. Performing your actual dharma you will purify yourself internally.”

(4)
nyāsī-māna-āśā tyaji’, dīna-bhāve kṛṣṇa bhaji’
svabhāva-gata dharma yaji’, nāśa’ doṣāṅkura
tabe kṛṣṇa pā’be, dukha jā’be ha’be tumi su-catura

Give up your desire to be respected as a sannyā. Worship Kṛṣṇa in a humble mood. By offering worship according to dharma and following your own inherent nature, your vices in seed form will be destroyed. Then you will attain Kṛṣṇa, your miseries will go away, and you will become most intelligent.

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