Text 5

kvāhaṃ manda-matir jaḍe 'nadhigata-śruty-ādi-śāstrāgamo
    vidyā-tattva-viveka-nirmala-dhiyāṃ bhaktiḥ kvā viśveṣituḥ
svaṃ cittaṃ tad api pramarṣṭhum atha taṃ vijñātu-kāmo 'py ahaṃ
    kurve sāhasam īdṛśaṃ yad iha tat kṣantuṃ mahānto 'rhatha

kva—what?; aham—am I; manda—slow; matih—intelligence; jadah—dumb and foolish; anadhigata—who has not understood; śruti—with the four Vedas; ādi—beginning; śāstra-āgamah—scriptures; vidya—of transcendental knowledge; tattva—the truth; viveka—discernment; nirmala—pure; dhiyām—of those whose minds; bhaktiḥ—Lord Hari's pure devotional service; kva—what?; viśva—of the universe; īśituḥ—of the Lord; svam—own; cittam—heart and mind; tat—that; api—although; pramarṣṭhum—to cleanse; atha—therefore; tam—that; vijñātu-kāmaḥ—eager to understand; api—and; aham—I; kurve—am performing; sāhasam—this reckless act; īdṛśam—like this; yat—because; iha—here; tat—that; kṣantum—to forgive; mahantaḥ—the great souls; arhatha—may be able.

What is the comparison between me, a slow-witted fool who has never properly studied the Vedic scriptures, and the devotion which the pure-hearted souls, expert at understanding spiritual truths, bear for Lord Kṛṣṇa, the controller of the universe? Although I am unworthy to describe this pure devotional service, because I wish to understand it, and because I also wish to cleanse my heart, I am recklessly writing this poem. I beg thegreat pure devotees please to forgive me.