Bhajahu Re Mana

Bhajahu Re Mana by Srila Govinda das Kaviraj

bhajahu re mana, sri nanda-nandana,
abhaya-caranaravinda re
durlabha manava-janama sat-sange,
taraha e bhava-sindhu re (1)

O mind, serve the lotus feet of Nanda-nandana, which bring fearlessness. This human birth is very rare. Take the association of sädhus and cross over this ocean of birth and death.

sita atapa, vata varisana,
e dina yamini jagi' re
viphale sevinu, krpana durajana,
capala sukha-lava lagi' re (2)

Day and night I remain without sleep, suffering the pains of heat and cold, wind and rain. In vain, simply for some insignificant, flickering happiness which can be lost at any moment, I have uselessly served wicked and miserly people (thieves interested only in their own happiness, opposed to my doing bhakti).

e dhana, yauvana, putra, parijana,
ithe ki ache paratiti re
kamala-dala-jala, jivana kalamala,
bhajahu hari-pada niti re (3)

Wealth, youth, sons, and relatives -- what real happiness do they hold? This life is flickering, like a drop of water tottering on the leaf of a lotus flower -- at any moment it can fall off. (Similarly, there is no guarantee when this life will end.) Therefore, always serve the lotus feet of Sri Hari.

sravana, kirtana, smarana, vandana,
pada-sevana, dasya re
pujana, sakhi-jana, atma-nivedana,
govinda-dasa-abhilasa re (4)

Deep in Govinda däsa's heart is the keen desire to engage in the practice of the nine processes of bhakti -- hearing, chanting, remembering, offering prayers, serving His lotus feet, engaging as servant, worshiping, serving as a friend and completely offering one's very self.