Śaraṇāgati (Surrendered to the Lord’s Shelter)
First Principle of Surrender: Dainya (humility) – Song 1
(1)
bhuliyā tomāre, saṁsāre āsiyā,
peye nānā-vidha byathā
tomāra caraṇe, āsiyāchi āmi,
bolibo duḥkhera kathā
1) O Lord, I forgot You and came to this material world, where I have experienced a host of pains and sorrows. Now I approach Your lotus feet and submit my tale of woe.
(2)
jananī-jaṭhare, chilāma jakhona,
biṣama bandhana-pāśe
eka-bāra prabhu! dekhā diyā more,
vañcile e dīna dāse
2) While still bound up tightly in the unbearable confines of my mother’s womb, O Lord, You once revealed Yourself before me. Appearing only briefly, You then abandoned this poor servant of Yours.
(3)
takhona bhāvinu, janama pāiyā,
koribo bhajana tava
janama hoilo, poḍi’ māyā-jāle,
nā hoilo jñāna-lava
3) At that moment I thought, “After my birth, I will worship You.” But alas, after taking birth I fell into the entangling network of worldly illusions; thus I possessed not even a drop of true knowledge.
(4)
ādarera chele, swa-janera kole,
hāsiyā kāṭānu kāla
janaka-jananī- snehete bhuliyā,
saṁsāra lāgilo bhālo
4) As a dear son fondled in the laps of relatives, I passed my time smiling and laughing. The affection of my father and mother helped me to forget You still more, and I began to think that the material world was a very nice place.
(5)
krame dina dina, bālaka hoiyā,
khelinu bālaka-saha
āra kichu dine, jñāna upajilo,
pāṭha poḍi ahar-ahaḥ
5) Day by day I gradually grew into a young boy and began playing with other boys. Soon my powers of understanding emerged, so I diligently read and studied my school lessons every day.
(6)
vidyāra gaurave, bhrami’ deśe deśe,
dhana uparjana kori
swa-jana pālana, kori eka-mane,
bhulinu tomāre, hari!
6) Proud of my accomplished education, later I traveled from place to place and earned much wealth. Thereby maintaining my family with undivided attention, I forgot You, O Lord Hari!
(7)
bārdhakye ekhona, bhakativinoda,
kāṅdiyā kātara ati
nā bhajiyā tore, dina bṛthā gelo,
ekhona ki habe gati?
7) Now in old age, this Bhaktivinoda very sadly weeps. I failed to worship You, O Lord, and instead passed my days in vain. What will be my fate now?