Continuing our presentation of the recent release Sharanagati, in this song Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur describes how a surrendered soul prays to Sri Guru for the capacity to serve.
Sharanagati
Song Forty-three
gurudeva!
baḍa kṛpā kari’, gauḍa-vana-mājhe
godrume diyācha sthāna
ājñā dila more, ei vraje vasi’,
hari-nāma kara gāna [1]
gurudeva!–O spiritual master!; baḍa–great; kṛpā–mercy; kari’–doing; gauḍa–of the land of ‘Gauḍa’, the region where Śrīman Mahāprabhu enacted His Pastimes; vana–the forest; mājhe–in the midst; godrume (abhinna nandīśvara)–on the island of ‘Godrum’ (the non-different form of Śrī Nandīśvar); diyācha–have given; sthāna–a place; ājñā–order; dila–gave; more–to me; ei–this; vraje (vraja abhinna navadvīp)–in Vraja (in Nabadwīp which is non-different from Vraja); vasi’–residing; hari–of the Lord; nāma–the Name; kara–do; gāna–song. [1]
(1) O Gurudev! You have very mercifully given me a place in Sri Godrumdwip amid the forests of Gauda, and ordered me: “Reside in this abode which is non-different from Vraja and chant the Lord’s Name.”
kintu kabe prabho, yogyatā arpibe,
e dāsere dayā kari’
chitta sthira habe, sakala sahiba,
ekānte bhajiba hari [2]
kintu–but; kabe–when?; prabho–O master; yogyatā–qualification; arpibe–you will give; e–this; dāsere–to the servant; dayā–mercy; kari’–doing; chitta–the heart; sthira–steadfast; habe–will be; sakala–all; sahiba–I will tolerate; ekānte–in a solitary place, sincerely; bhajiba–I will serve; hari–my Lord. [2]
(2) But when, O master, will you mercifully grant this servant the qualification to do this? Then my heart will become steadfast, I will tolerate everything, and I will serve the Lord sincerely.
śaiśava-yauvane, jaḍa-sukha-saṅge,
abhyāsa ha-ila manda
nija-karma-doṣe, e deha ha-ila,
bhajanera pratibandha [3]
śaiśava–childhood; yauvane–in youth; jaḍa–material; sukha–happiness; saṅge–in association with; abhyāsa–habits; ha-ila–were; manda–bad; nija–own; karma–actions; doṣe–by the fault; e–this; deha–body; ha-ila–became; bhajanera–to devotional service; pratibandha (antarāya, vighna, bādhā)–an obstacle (obstruction, hindrance, impediment). [3]
(3) In my childhood and youth, I was attached to material happiness and my habits were wicked. Now because of my sins this body has become an impediment to engagement in service.
vārdhakye ekhana, pañcha-roge hata,
kemane bhajiba bala’
kā̐diyā kā̐diyā, tomāra charaṇe
paḍiyāchhi suvihvala [4]
vārdhakye–in old age; ekhana–now; pañcha (vividha)–five (various); roge–by diseases; hata–attacked; kemane–how?; bhajiba–I will serve; bala’–please say; kā̐diyā–weeping; kā̐diyā–and weeping; tomāra–your; charaṇe–at the feet; paḍiyāchhi–I have fallen; suvihvala–greatly overwhelmed. [4]
(4) Now aged, I am afflicted by various diseases. Tell me, how shall I serve? Crying incessantly, I have fallen at your feet, utterly overwhelmed.
Sri Laghu-chandrika Bhashya
(4) Pancha-roge: “By various diseases.” This refers to a fivefold state of affliction (klesh): (1) avidyā: ignorance of one’s true identity as an eternal servant of Krishna; (2) asmita: identification with the mundane ego, mind, and body; (3) abhinivesh: absorption in mundane experience; (4) raga: obsession with mundane pleasures and their paraphernalia; and (5) dvesh: revulsion to dissatisfaction and its causes.
Alternately, pancha-roga can refer to various forms of bodily diseases (such as diseases which impair one’s ability to see, hear, smell, taste, and touch).