(1)
mana, tumi sannyāsī sājite kena cāo
bāhirera sāja yata, antarete phāṅki tata
dambha pūji’ śarīra nācāo
O mind, why do you wish to dress as a sannyāsī? The more elaborate the external display, the greater the deception within. Worshiping pride, you merely make the body dance.
(2)
āmāra bacana dhara, antara viśuddha kara
kṛṣṇāmṛta sadā kara pāna
jīvana sahaje yāya, bhakti-bādhā nāhi pāya
tad-upāya karaha sandhāna
Accept my words: purify your heart within. Always drink the nectar of Kṛṣṇa. Live simply and naturally, without creating obstacles to devotion. Seek only those practices that nourish bhakti.
(3)
anāyāse yāhā pāo, tāhe tuṣṭa ha’ye yāo
āḍambare nā kara prayāsa
pūrṇa-vastra yadi nāi, kaupīna paro he bhāi
śīta-vastra kanthā bahir-vāsa
Be satisfied with whatever comes of its own accord. Do not labor for ostentatious display. If full garments are unavailable, wear a simple loincloth, and in cold weather cover yourself with an old quilt.
(4)
aguru candana nāi, mṛttikā-tilaka bhāi
hārera badale dhara mālā
ei rūpe āśā-pāśa, sukhādira ku-vilāsa
kharva chāḍa saṁsārera jvālā
O brother, do not seek aguru and sandalwood fragrances; wear tilaka made from sacred clay. Exchange jeweled necklaces for a tulasī-mālā. In this way cast aside the ropes of worldly desire and the vain pursuit of material enjoyment, and escape the burning miseries of material existence.
(5)
sannyāsa-vairāgya-vidhi, sei āśramera nidhi
tahe kabhu nā kara ādara
se saba ādare bhāi, saṁsāre nistāra nāi
dāmbhikera liṅga nirantara
Renunciation and detachment are the treasures of the sannyāsa-āśrama. Yet never seek honor on their account. O brother, by craving such respect one cannot be delivered from material existence; such behaviour is merely the mark of hypocrisy.
(6)
tumi ta’ caitanya-dāsa, hari-bhakti tava āśā
āśramera liṅge kibā phala
pratiṣṭhā karaha dūra, vāsa tava śāntipura
sādhu-kṛpā tomāra sambala
You are a servant of Śrī Caitanya. Your true aspiration is devotion to Hari. What is gained merely by adopting the external signs of an āśrama?* Cast far away the desire for prestige. Let Śāntipura be your residence, and the mercy of the sādhus your only wealth.
* Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (7.2.47):
yāvat liṅgāmbhito hy ātmā tāvat karma-nibandhanam
tato viparyayaḥ kleśo māyā-yogo ‘nuvartate
For the jīva, whose pure identity is that of an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa, becoming identified with the subtle body is itself the cause of karmic bondage.
(7)
vaiṣṇavera paricaya, avaśyaka nāhi haya
āḍambare kabhu nāhi yāo
vinodera (kedāra) nivedana, rādhā-kṛṣṇa-guṇa-gāna
phukāri’ phukāri’ sadā gāo
It is not necessary to advertise oneself as a Vaiṣṇava. Never pursue religious showmanship. Bhaktivinoda’s humble appeal is this: loudly and repeatedly sing the glories of Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.