(1)
mana, tumi tīrthe sadā rata
ayodhyā mathurā māyā, kāśī kāñcī avantikā
dvāravatī āra āche yata
O mind, you are always attached to visiting holy places – Ayodhyā, Mathurā, Māyāpurī, Kāśī, Kāñcī, Avantikā, Dvāravatī, and many others.*
*Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (1.2.16):
śuśrūṣoḥ śraddadhānasya vāsudeva-kathā-ruciḥ
syān mahat-sevayā viprāḥ puṇya-tīrtha-niṣevaṇāt
The result of visiting holy places is association with sādhus – the result of serving such sādhus is a taste for hearing hari-kathā.
(2)
tumi cāha bhramibāre, e sakala bāre bāre
mukti-lābha karibāra tare
se sakala tava bhrama, nirarthaka pariśrama
citta sthira tīrthe nāhi kare
You wish to wander to all these places again and again in hopes of attaining liberation. But all such travel is merely useless labour, for it does not make your mind steady and fixed.
(3)
tīrtha-phala sādhu-saṅga, sādhu-saṅge antaraṅga
śrī-kṛṣṇa-bhajana manohara
yathā sādhu tathā tirtha, sthira kari’ nija-citta
sādhu-saṅga kara nirantara
The true result of pilgrimage is association with sādhus. In their company, perform the intimate and enchanting worship of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Wherever a sādhu resides is a holy place. Therefore steady your mind and always seek the association of sādhus.
(4)
ye tīrthe vaiṣṇava nāi, se tīrthe nāhi yāi
ki lābha hāṇṭiyā dūra-deśa
yathāya vaiṣṇava-gaṇa, sei sthāna vṛndāvana
sei sthāne ānanda aśeṣa
I do not go to any holy place where there are no Vaiṣṇavas. What is the benefit of walking to distant lands? Wherever the Vaiṣṇavas reside, that place is Vṛndāvana, and there limitless spiritual joy is found.
(5)
kṛṣṇa-bhakti yei sthāne, mukti dāsī sei-khāne
salila tathāya mandākinī
giri tathā govardhana, bhūmi tathā vṛndāvana
āvirbhūtā āpani hlādinī
Wherever kṛṣṇa-bhakti is present, liberation stands there as a servant. The waters there are the celestial Gaṅgā, the hills are Govardhana, and the land itself is Vṛndāvana. There the Lord’s hlādinī-śakti personally manifests.
(6)
vinoda (kedāra) kahiche bhāi, bhramiyā ki phala pāi
vaiṣṇava-sevana mora vrata
Bhaktivinoda says: O brothers, what lasting benefit is gained by wandering from place to place? My vow is to serve the Vaiṣṇavas.