Topic: Poems

Reflections by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura  This English poem 'Reflections' was written by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in 1871. The poem was prefaced by the words, “Thoughts on popular topics or occasional notes by Baboo Kedar Nauth Dutta, Dy. Collector and Magistrate.”Alas for those who spend their daysIn festive mirth and joy:The dazzling, deadly, liquid formsTheir hearts fore’er employ.The shining bottles charm their eyesAnd draw their heart’s embrace;The slaves of wine can never riseFrom what we call disgrace.Was man intended to beA brute in work and heart?Should man, the Lord of all around,From common sense depart?Man’s glory is in common Read More...

Upadeśa by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura (translated by Swami B.V. Giri) (Composed in Purī on 13th July, 1891, and published in The Gauḍīya, 18th Vol. July, 1940) (1) ohe priya bandhu-jana, śuna mora nivedana yadi cāha ānanda apāra jaḍe sukha nāhi māna, cidānanda tattva jāna āsvādana kara sei sāra O dear friends, kindly hear my plea, if you desire everlasting bliss. Do not accept happiness in material things. Try to understand that which is of a transcendental nature. Relish the essence of those things. (2) madya-māṁsa-khādya-sukha, sakali jānah duḥkha sukha bhrama mātra saba hāya indriya Read More...

Vṛndāvana by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura (translated by Swami B.V. Giri) (Written in Jagannātha Purī on 18th July, 1871) (1) nitya-dhāma vṛndāvana, yathā mora kṛṣṇa-dhana nitya-kāla karena vilāsa cidānandamaya latā, prema-kisalaya yathā jñānānandamaya kuñja-vāsa My treasure, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, always sports in the eternal abode of Vṛndāvana. He resides in its forest-bowers that are full of divine knowledge, that are decorated with spiritual creepers and buds of love divine. (2) su-nirmala upāsanā, kālindite vibhāvanā yathā sadā bhaktera hṛdaye jīvera ye uchha-bhāva, govardhana āvirbhāva care jīva gābhi-rūpa haye The purest type of worship is exhibited on the banks Read More...

Stanzas on the Samaj of Haridas on the Sea Shore at Puri by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura  O! Born of Moslem parents, Haridas!* And trained in youth in Moslem creed, Thy noble heart to Vaishnava truth did pass!- Thy holy acts thy candour plead! *Haridas was the son of a Cazee who lived within a few miles from Delhi. While yet a boy, the religious sentiment received a very great development in him and he could understand that pure spiritual love was the only absolute religion of man. He was very much averse to cruelty to animals Read More...