Śrī Śikṣāṣṭaka – Song Five

(1)
anādi’ karama-phale, poḍi’ bhavārnava-jale,
toribāre nā dekhi upāy
e-viṣaya-halāhale, divā-niśi hiyā jwale,
mana kabhu sukha nāhi pāy


1) As a result of my selfish activities, which are without beginning, I have fallen into the ocean of material existence, and I see no means of deliverance from this great ocean of nescience. Day and night my heart burns from the vicious poison of these worldly activities, and due to this my mind never finds any real happiness.

(2)
āśā-pāśa-śata-śata, kleśa deya avirata,
pravṛtti-ūrmira tāhe khelā
kāma-krodha-ādi choy, bāṭapāḍe deya bhoy,
avasāna hoilo āsi’ belā


2) Bound by hundreds and hundreds of desires like nooses around my neck, they constantly trouble me. In this ocean of nescience play the waves of ever-increasing materialistic tendency. There are also many thieves and rogues, of whom six are prominent: lust, anger, envy, greed, illusion, and madness. They are causing me great fear, and in this way my life is coming to an end

(3)
jñāna-karma-ṭhaga dui, more pratārīya loi,
avaśeṣe phele sindhu-jale
e heno samaye, bandhu, tumi kṛṣṇa kṛpā-sindhu,
kṛpā kori’ tolo more bale


3) The two highway robbers named intellectual knowledge and fruitive activity have cheated and misled me, and finally they have thrown me into the ocean of misery. At such a time as this, dear Kṛṣṇa, You are my only friend. You are an ocean of mercy. Please be kind and by Your strength uplift me from this condition of suffering.


(4)
patita-kiṅkore dhori’, pāda-padma-dhuli kori’,
deho bhaktivinode āśroy
āmi tava nitya-dās, bhuliyā māyāra pāś,
baddha ho’ye āchi doyāmoy


4) Grasping hold of this fallen servant, and fixing him as a particle of dust on your lotus feet, kindly give shelter to Bhaktivinoda. O most merciful Lord! I am actually Your eternal servant, but having forgotten this I have become bound up in the snare of māyā.