Bhajana Lālasā (Hankering for Divine Service) – Song One

(1)
hari he!
prapañce poḍiyā, agati hoiyā,
nā dekhi upāya ār
agatira gati, caraṇe śaraṇa,
tomāya korinu sār

1) O my Lord Hari! Having fallen into the illusion of this world, thus rendered helpless, I see no other means of deliverance but You. Since You are the only recourse for the helpless, I accept the shelter of Your lotus feet as most essential.

(2)
karama geyāna, kichu nāhi mora,
sādhana bhajana nāi
tumi kṛpā-moya, āmi to’ kāṅgāla,
ahaitukī kṛpā cāi

2) I have no background of pious activities, nor any knowledge, nor any regulated devotional practice. But You are full of compassion and kindness; therefore I, being indeed destitute, solicit Your causeless mercy.

(3)
vākya-mano-vega, krodha-jihvā-vega,
udara-upastha-vega
miliyā e saba, saṁsāre bhāsā’ye,
diteche paramodvega

3) The powerful urges of speech, mind, anger, tongue, belly, and genitals have banded together to cast me adrift on the sea of this material world, thus causing me grievous trouble. *

(4)
aneka jatane, se saba damane,
chāḍiyāchi āśā āmi
anāthera nātha! ḍāki tava nāma,
ekhona bharasā tumi

4) After numerous endeavors to subdue these material demands, I have completely given up all hope. O Lord of the destitute! I call upon Your holy name, for now You are my only hope. **

* This song is based on the first verse of Upadeśāmṛta – vāco vegaṁ manasaḥ krodha-vegam…

** (The first nine songs of Bhajana-Lālasā are based on Rūpa Goswāmī’s Upadeśāmṛta.)