Maya Duratyaya
Insurmountable Illusion
A Bengali poem originally published in Sri Gaudiya Darsan,
Volume 1, Issue 5, 13 December 1955.
মহাভয় শঙ্কুল এ-ভব তরঙ্গিনী
জনম-মরণ মালা-দলে ।
নিশি-দিশি গতাগতি করতঁহি জীবকুল
মোহিত মহামায়া বলে ॥১॥
mahābhaya śaṅkula e-bhava taraṅginī
janama-maraṇa mālā-dale
niśi-diśi gatāgati karata̐hi jīva-kula
mohita mahāmāyā bale [1]
sankula–Stricken mahabhaya–with instense fear, jiva-kula–souls gatagati karatahi–come and go nisi–night [and] disi–day mala-dale–along the chain janama–of birth marana–and death tarangini–within the waves [of] e–this bhava–world, mohita–captivated bale–by the power mahamaya–of the illusory energy.
Translation:
Stricken with intense fear, souls come and go night and day along the chain of birth and death within the waves of this world, captivated by the power of Mahamaya.
করবি কি মন অভাগিয়া—
ভুবন-মোহন-মায়া কেমনে রে উতরবি
লভিবি কেমনে কানাইয়া? ॥২॥
karabi ki mana abhāgiyā—
bhuvana-mohana-māyā kemane re utarabi
labhibi kemane kānāiyā? [2]
mana–O mind! ki–What karabi–will you do [about my] abhagiya–misfortune? kemane re–How utarabi–will you overcome maya–Maya, [who is] mohana–the bewilderer bhuvana–of the world? kemane–How labhibi–will you attain kanaiya–Krishna?
Translation:
O mind! What will you do about my misfortune? How will you overcome Maya, who bewilders the world? How will you attain Krishna?
নিজ-রূপে বিতারি’ ত্রিগুণ-জালে ফাঁদ রচি’
তঁহি মাহে গণিকা প্রতিষ্ঠা— ।
কনক বরাঙ্গনা দানিয়া আমিষ সম
সঁপিতেছে কাল-করে ধৃষ্টা ॥৩॥
nija-rūpe vitāri’ tri-guṇa-jāle phā̐da rachi’
ta̐hi māhe gaṇikā pratiṣṭhā—
kanaka varāṅganā dāniyā āmiṣa sama
sa̐pitechhe kāla-kare dhṛṣṭā [3]
vitari’–Expanding nija–her rupe–form, [Maya] rachi’–creates phada–a trap jale–with the net tri-guna–of the three modes, [has] pratistha–the position tahi mahe–within it ganika–as a prostitute—vara–a beautiful kanaka–golden angana–women sama–similar to daniya–offered amisa–meat— [and] sapitechhe–offers dhrsta–the obstinate kare–to the hands kala–of Time.
Translation:
Expanding herself, Maya creates a trap with the net of the three modes, poses within it as a prostitute—a beautiful, golden woman comparable to offered meat—and places the obstinate in the hands of Time.
মন মঝু বাত অবধান ।
সোই দয়ালু প্রভু চরণ সরোজে মন
ধন-তনু, সবহুঁ দান ॥৪॥
mana majhu vāta avadhāna
soi dayālu prabhu charaṇa saroje mana
dhana-tanu, sabahu̐ dāna [4]
mana–O mind, avadhana–pay attention majhu–to my vata–words! saroje–At the lotus charana–feet soi–of your dayalu–merciful prabhu–Lord, mana–O mind, dana–offer [your] tanu–body dhana–and [your] wealth—sabahu–everything.
Translation:
O mind, listen to my words! At the lotus feet of your merciful Lord, O mind, surrender your body and your wealth—everything.
যাঁকর মায়া তছু পদে পরণমি
লেহ শরণ হোই দীন ।
স্বপনেহ না ভাবিহ তাঁক চরণ বিনু
ধরম যুকতি সমীচীন ॥৫॥
yā̐kara māyā tachhu pade paraṇami
leha śaraṇa hoi dīna
svapaneha nā bhāviha tā̐ka charaṇa vinu
dharama yukati samīchīna [5]
paranami–Bow [and] dina hoi–humbly leha–take sarana–shelter pade–at the feet tachhu of He yakara–who [possesses] maya–Maya. svapaneha–Even in dreams, na bhaviha–do not think [you can attain the] samichina–the right yukati–conception dharama–of dharma vinu–apart from taka–His charana–feet.
Translation:
Bow and humbly take shelter at the feet of Maya’s Master. Do not think, even in dreams, that you can properly understand dharma apart from His feet.