Saranagatera Prarthana: Prayers of the Surrendered Souls
tava dāsya-sukhaika-saṅgināṁ
bhavaneṣv astv api kīṭa-janma me
itarāv asatheṣu mā sma bhūd
api me janma chaturmukhātmanā
«O Lord! Let me take birth, even as a worm, in the home of those whose sole happiness is Your service. O Lord, never let me take birth, even as Brahma, among those who are averse to You.»
kāmādināṁ kati na katidhā pālitā durnideśās
teṣāṁ jātā mayi na karuṇā na trapā nopaśāntiḥ
utsṛjyaitān atha yadu-pate sāmprataṁ labdha-buddhis
tvām āyātaḥ śaraṇam abhayaṁ māṁ niyuṅkṣvātma-dāsye
«O Lord, I have obeyed the wicked dictates of lust, anger, and so on, for so long and in so many ways! Yet they have never taken pity upon me, and I have never felt shame or satisfaction! O Lord of the Yadus, now I have abandoned them and attained proper consciousness: I have surrendered unto You, the abode of fearlessness. Please engage me in Your service.»
naitan manas tava kathāsu vikuṇṭha-nātha
samprīyate durita-duṣṭam asādhu tīvram
kāmāturaṁ harṣa-śoka-bhayaiṣaṇārtaṁ
tasmin kathaṁ tava gatiṁ vimṛṣāmi dīnaḥ*
durita-dūṣita mana asādhu mānasa
kāma-harṣa-śoka-bhaya-eṣaṇāra vaśa
tava kathā-rati kise ha-ibe āmāra?
kise kṛṣṇa tava līlā kariba vichāra?
«My mind is sinful, polluted, and dishonest. It is controlled by lust, pleasure, lamentation, fear, and desire. How will I obtain loving attachment for discussions about You? O Krishna, how will I reflect upon Your Pastimes?»
jihvaikato ’chyuta vikarṣati māvitṛptā
śiśno ’nyatas tvag-udaraṁ śravaṇaṁ kutaśchit
ghrāṇo ’nyataś chapala-dṛk kva cha karma-śaktir
bahvyaḥ sapatnya iva geha-patiṁ lunanti
jihvā ṭāne rasa prati upastha kadarthe
udara bhojane ṭāne viṣama anarthe
charma ṭāne śayyādite, śravaṇa kathāya
ghrāṇa ṭāne surabhite, chakṣu dṛśye yāya
karmendriya karme ṭāne, bahu-patnī yathā
gṛha-pati ākarṣaya mora mana tathā
emata avasthā mora śrī-nanda-nandana
ki-rūpe tomāra līlā kariba smaraṇa?
«Like a householder pulled in different directions by each of his wives, my mind is pulled by the tongue towards tastes, by the genitals towards perversion, by the belly towards eating, by the skin towards a comfortable bed, by the ears towards discussions, by the nose towards fragrances, by the eyes towards sights, and by the senses of action towards their respective functions. Such is my predicament, O Nanda Nandan! How shall I remember Your Pastimes?»
tad astu me nātha sa bhūri-bhāgo
bhave ’tra vānyatra tu vā tiraśchām
yenāhameko ’pi bhavaj-janānāṁ
bhūtvā niṣeve tava pāda-pallavam
ei brahma-janmei vā anya kona bhave
paśu-pakṣī haye janmi tomāra vibhave
ei mātra āśā tava bhakta-gaṇa saṅge
thāki tava pada-sevā kari nānā raṅge
«In this birth as Brahma, or in another life born as an animal or bird by Your will, I desire only to remain in the association of Your devotees and to engage in various ways in the service of Your feet.»
ko nv īśa te pāda-saroja-bhājāṁ
sudurlabho ’rtheṣu chaturṣv apīha
tathāpi nāhaṁ pravṛṇomi bhūman
bhavat-padāmbhoja-niṣevaṇotsukaḥ
kṛṣṇa, tava pāda-padme bhakti āchhe yā̐ra
chatur-varga madhye kibā aprāpya tā̐hāra
tathāpi tomāra pada-sevā mātra chāi
anya kona arthe mora prayojana nāi
«O Krishna, which of the four ends (dharma, artha, kama, and moksa) remain unattainable for one who has devotion to Your lotus feet? Still, I desire only the service of Your feet; I have no need for any other end.»
na kāmaye nātha tad apy ahaṁ kvachin
na yatra yuṣmach-charaṇāmbujāsavaḥ
mahattamāntar-hṛdayān mukha-chyuto
vidhatsva karṇāyutam eṣa me varaḥ
yāhāte tomāra pada-sevā-sukha nāi
sei vara āmi nātha kabhu nāhi chāi
bhaktera hṛdaya haite tava guṇa-gāna
śunite ayuta karṇa karaha vidhāna
«I never desire any benediction which does not grant the joy of service to Your feet. O Lord! Grant me ten thousand ears to hear the narrations of Your glories from the hearts of Your devotees.»
na nāka-pṛṣṭhaṁ na cha pārameṣṭhyaṁ
na sārva-bhaumaṁ na rasādhipatyam
na yoga-siddhīr apunar-bhavaṁ vā
samañjasa tvā virahayya kāṅkṣe
svarga, parameṣṭhi-sthāna, sārvabhauma-pada
rasātala-ādhipatya, yogera sampada
nirvāṇa ityādi yata chhāḍi’ sevā tava
nāhi māgi, e mora pratijñā akaitava
«O Ultimate Principle, I do not desire residence in the heavenly planets, the post of Brahma, dominion over the Earth, rule of the hellish planets, the powers produced by yoga practice, liberation from the material world, or any other such end, if I have to give up Your service. This is my sincere promise.»
ahaṁ hare tava pādaika-mūla
dāsānudāso bhavitāsmi bhūyaḥ
manaḥ smaretāsu-pater guṇāṁs te
gṛṇita vāk karma karotu kāyaḥ
chhinu tava nitya-dāsa, gale bā̐dhi’ māyā-pāśa,
saṁsāre pāinu nānā kleśa
ebe punaḥ kari’ āśa, hañā tava dāsera dāsa,
bhaji’ pāi tava bhakti-leśa
prāṇeśvara tava guṇa, smaruka mana punaḥ punaḥ,
tava nāma jihvā karuka gāna
karadvaya tava karma, kariyā labhuka śarma,
tava pade sa̐pinu parāṇa
«I was Your eternal servant but I became bound around the neck by the ropes of maya and suffered in various ways within this material world. Now again I am hoping that by becoming the servant of Your servants and serving You, I may attain some trace of devotion. O Lord of my heart, may my mind perpetually remember Your glories. May my tongue chant Your Name. May I obtain fulfilment by engaging my hands in Your service. I have offered my heart at Your feet.»