Chapter 10. Caste and Class
কুল ও ভজন যোগ্যতা
kula o bhajana yogyata
Class and qualification for devotion
শ্রদ্ধা হইলে নরমাত্র নামের অধিকারী ।
জাতিকুলের তর্ক তর্কীর না চলে ভারিভুরি ॥১॥
śraddhā ha-ile nara-mātra nāmera adhikārī
jāti-kulera tarka tarkīra nā chale bhāri-bhuri [1]
nara-matra–Every human being — sraddha ha-ile–if they have faith — [is] namera adhikari–qualified [to chant] the Name. tarka–The arguments [and] bhari-bhuri–brashness tarkira–of speculators jati-kulera–about caste and class chale na–do not go [anywhere]. [1]
Translation:
Every human being — if they have faith — is qualified to chant the Name. The arguments and brashness of speculators about caste and class do not count for anything.
ব্রাহ্মণের সৎকুল না হয় ভজনের যোগ্য ।
শ্রদ্ধাবান্ নীচজাতি নহে ভজনে অযোগ্য ॥২॥
brāhmaṇera sat-kula nā haya bhajanera yogya
śraddhāvan nīcha-jāti nahe bhajane ayogya [2]
brahmanera sat-kula–Birth in a family of brahmans haya na–does not make one yogya–fit bhajanera–for devotion, [and] nicha-jati–a lowborn person [who] sraddhavan–has faith nahe–is not ayogya–unfit bhajane–for devotion. [2]
Translation:
Birth in a family of brahmans does not make one fit for devotion, and a lowborn person who has faith is not unfit for devotion.
কুলাভিমানী অভক্ত
kulabhimani abhakta
Non-devotees are proud of their class
সংসারের দশকর্ম্মে জাতিকুলের আধিপত্য ।
কৃষ্ণজনে জাতিকুলের না আছে মাহাত্ম্য ॥৩॥
saṁsārera daśa-karme jāti-kulera ādhipatya
kṛṣṇa-jane jāti-kulera nā āchhe māhātmya [3]
jati-kulera adhipatya–The importance of caste and class [lies in] samsarera dasa-karme–the ten worldly rites, [but] jati-kulera achhe na–caste and creed have no mahatmya–importance krsna-jane–for devotees of Krsna. [3]
Translation:
Caste and class are important in worldly religious ceremonies, but are of no importance to devotees of Krsna.
জাতিকুলের অভিমানে অহঙ্কারী জন ।
ভক্তিকে বিদ্বেষ করি’ যায় নরক-ভবন ॥৪॥
jāti-kulera abhimāne ahaṅkārī jana
bhaktike vidveṣa kari’ yāya naraka-bhavana [4]
ahankari jana–Egotists [who are] abhimane–proud jati-kulera–of [their] caste and class vidvesa kari’–oppose bhaktike–devotion [and] yaya–go naraka-bhavana–to hell. [4]
Translation:
Egotists who are proud of their caste and class oppose devotion and go to hell.
না মানে বৈষ্ণবভক্ত, না মানে ধর্ম্মাধর্ম্ম ।
অহঙ্কারে করে সদা অকর্ম্ম-বিকর্ম্ম ॥৫॥
nā māne vaiṣṇava-bhakta, nā māne dharmādharma
ahaṅkāre kare sadā akarma-vikarma [5]
mane na–They do not respect vaisnava-bhakta–Vaisnava devotees, [and] mane na–do not honour dharmadharma–religion [as opposed to] irreligion. ahankare–Out of pride, sada kare–they always engage in akarma-vikarma–idleness and sin. [5]
Translation:
They neither respect Vaisnava devotees nor do they have any regard for religion or irreligion. Out of pride, they always remain idle or commit sins.
অভক্ত বিপ্র হইতে ভক্তি মুচি শ্রেষ্ঠ
abhakta vipra ha-ite bhakti muchi srestha
A devotee cobbler is superior to a non-devotee brahman
মুচি হঞা কৃষ্ণ ভজে কৃষ্ণকৃপা পায় ।
শুচি হঞা ভক্তিহীন কৃষ্ণকৃপা নাহি তায় ॥৬॥
muchi hañā kṛṣṇa bhaje kṛṣṇa-kṛpā pāya
śuchi hañā bhakti-hīna kṛṣṇa-kṛpā nāhi tāya [6]
muchi hana–Remaining a cobbler, bhaje–a soul who serves krsna–Krsna paya–gets krsna-krpa–Krsna’s mercy, [and] suchi hana–a soul who is virtuous [but] bhakti-hina–devoid of devotion taya nahi–does not get krsna-krpa–Krsna’s mercy. [6]
Translation:
Remaining a cobbler, a soul who serves Krsna gets Krsna’s mercy, and a soul who is virtuous but devoid of devotion does not get Krsna’s mercy.
দ্বাদশ গুণেতে বিপ্র অলঙ্কৃত হঞা ।
কৃষ্ণভক্তি বিনা যায় নরকে চলিয়া ॥৭॥
dvādaśa guṇete vipra alaṅkṛta hañā
kṛṣṇa-bhakti vinā yāya narake chaliyā [7]
vipra–A brahman alankrta hana–ornamented dvadasa gunete–with the twelve qualities (given in Mahabharata as piety, truthfulness, self-control, austerity, non-enviousness, humility, tolerance, non-maliciousness, expertise in sacrifice, charitableness, steadiness, and learning) [but] vina–devoid krsna-bhakti–of devotion to Krsna chaliya yaya–goes narake–to hell. [7]
Translation:
A brahman ornamented with the twelve qualities but devoid of devotion to Krsna goes to hell.
কৃষ্ণভক্তি যথা, তথা সর্ব্বগুণগণ ।
আপন ইচ্ছায় দেহে বৈসে অনুক্ষণ ॥৮॥
kṛṣṇa-bhakti yathā, tathā sarva-guṇa-gaṇa
āpana ichchhāya dehe vaise anukṣaṇa [8]
sarva-guna-gana–All qualities [are present] yatha tatha–wherever krsna-bhakti–devotion to Krsna [is present]; apana ichchhaya–by their own desire, anuksana vaise–they always reside dehe–in the body [of a devotee]. [8]
Translation:
All qualities are present wherever devotion to Krsna is present; by their own desire, they always reside in the body of a devotee.
মৃতদেহে অলঙ্কার হয় ঘৃণাস্পদ ।
অভক্তের জপ তপ বাহ্য সে সম্পদ ॥৯॥
mṛta-dehe alaṅkāra haya ghṛṇāspada
abhaktera japa tapa bāhya se sampada [9]
alankara–Ornaments mrta-dehe–on a dead body haya–are ghrnaspada–revolting; abhaktera–a non-devotee’s japa–chanting [and] tapa–austerity [are comparable to] se–such bahya sampada–external ‘wealth’. [9]
Translation:
Ornaments on a dead body are revolting; a non-devotee’s chanting and austerity are comparable to such external ‘wealth’.
বিষয়ে রাগেদ্বেষ বর্জ্জনীয়
visaye raga-dvesa varjaniya
Attachment and aversion to the mundane must be given up
ভজ ভাই একমনে শচীর নন্দন ।
জাতিকুলের অভিমান হবে বিসর্জ্জন ॥১০॥
bhaja bhāi eka-mane śachīra nandana
jāti-kulera abhimāna habe visarjana [10]
bhai–Brother, eka-mane–single-mindedly bhaja–serve nandana–the son sachira–of Sachi. [Then] visarjana habe–you will give up [your] abhimana–pride jati-kulera–in [your] caste and class. [10]
Translation:
Brother, single-mindedly serve the son of Sachi. Then you will give up your pride in your caste and class.
অভিমান ছাড়িলে ভাই ছাড়িবে বিষয় ।
বিষয় ছাড়িলে শুদ্ধ হবে তোমার আশয় ॥১১॥
abhimāna chhāḍile bhāi chhāḍibe viṣaya
viṣaya chhāḍile śuddha habe tomāra āśaya [11]
bhai–Brother, chhadile–when you give up [your] abhimana–pride, chhadibe–you will give up visaya–the world, [and] chhadile–when you give up visaya–the world, tomara–your asaya–heart suddha habe–will become pure. [11]
Translation:
Brother, when you give up your pride, you will give up the world, and when you give up the world, your heart will become pure.
বিষয় হইতে অনুরাগ লও উঠাইয়া ।
কৃষ্ণপদাম্বুজে রাগে দেহ লাগাইয়া ॥১২॥
viṣaya ha-ite anurāga lao uṭhāiyā
kṛṣṇa-padāmbuje rāge deha lāgāiyā [12]
uthaiya lao–Withdraw [your] anuraga–affection ha-ite–from visaya–the world [and] lagaiya deha–dedicate [your] rage–affection krsna-padambuje–to the lotus feet of Krsna. [12]
Translation:
Withdraw your affection from the world and dedicate it to the lotus feet of Krsna.
হও তুমি সৎকুলীন তাহে কিবা ক্ষতি ।
কুলের অভিমান ছাড়ি’ হও দীনমতি ॥১৩॥
hao tumi sat-kulīna tāhe kibā kṣati
kulera abhimāna chhāḍi’ hao dīna-mati [13]
tumi–You hao–may be sat-kulina–high-class; kiba–what [is] ksati–the harm tahe–in that? chhadi’–Give up [your] abhimana–pride kulera–in [your] class [and] hao–be dina-mati–humble. [13]
Translation:
You may be high-class; what is the harm in that? Just give up your pride in your class and be humble.
অভিমানহীন দীনের প্রতি ভগবানের দয়া
abhimana-hina dinera prati bhagavaner daya
The Lord’s mercy upon the prideless, humble souls
দীনেরে অধিক দয়া করে ভগবান্ ।
অভিমান দৈন্য নাহি রহে একস্থান ॥১৪॥
dīnere adhika dayā kare bhagavān
abhimāna dainya nāhi rahe eka-sthāna [14]
bhagavan–The Lord adhika daya kare–bestows greater mercy dinere–upon the humble, [and] abhimana–pride [and] dainya–humility rahe nahi–do not exist eka-sthana–in one place. [14]
Translation:
The Lord bestows greater mercy upon the humble, and pride and humility do not co-exist.
অভিমান নরকের পথ, তাহা যত্নে ত্যজ ।
দৈন্যে রাধাগোবিন্দের পাদপদ্মে মজ ॥১৫॥
abhimāna narakera patha, tāhā yatne tyaja
dainye rādhā-govindera pāda-padme maja [15]
abhimana–Pride [is] patha–the path narakera–to hell. yatne–Carefully tyaja–avoid taha–it. dainye–Humbly maja–immerse yourself radha-govindera pada-padme–in the lotus feet of Radha and Govinda. [15]
Translation:
Pride is the path to hell. Carefully avoid it, and humbly immerse yourself in the lotus feet of Radha and Govinda.
অভিমান-ত্যাগ নিত্যানন্দের দয়া সাপেক্ষ
abhimana-tyaga nityanandera daya sapeksa
Giving up pride is dependent on Nityananda’s mercy
আহা! প্রভু নিত্যানন্দ কবে করিবে দয়া ।
অভিমান ছাড়াঞা মোরে দিবে পদ-ছায়া ॥১৬॥
āhā! prabhu nityānanda kabe karibe dayā
abhimāna chhāḍāñā more dibe pada-chhāyā [16]
aha!–Ah! kabe–When [will] nityananda prabhu–Nityananda Prabhu daya karibe–be merciful [to me]? [When] more chhadana–will He force me to leave [my] abhimana–pride [and] dibe–give [me] pada-chhaya–the shade of His feet? [16]
Translation:
Ah! When will Nityananda Prabhu be merciful to me? When will He force me to leave my pride and give me the shade of His feet?