Song 24

(Vibhāsa rāga-Tarjjābandha)

Refrain: O! O! O! O!

135. "Everyone please hear. This world of birth and death is very horrible. It is filled with danger and uncertainty. The dangerous sense objects are filled with poison, poison that makes My heart burst into flames.

136. "Whatever the senses command, everyone does. No one can turn away from material desires. The people think material pleasures are eternally new and fresh. Never will they give them up.

137. "Lust, greed, and illusion never spare the people. Illusion, pride, and anger rob the people’s hearts. Not for a single sesame seed’s worth of time will the people turn from these and become enlightened.

138. "The people are imprisoned in this external world. They wander in the world of illusions. Thinking only of family and caste, they forget Kṛṣṇa. Wandering and wandering, and filled with material desires, they commit many sins.

139. "They gaze at the wonders of this world, wonders behind which hides Lord Kṛṣṇa. It is only with great effort that one attains a human birth, a birth where one can worship Lord Kṛṣṇa.

140. "It is only with great difficulty that one attains this rare human birth. In such a birth one should worship Lord Kṛṣṇa. A soul who attains a human body but turns away from Lord Kṛṣṇa perishes. He falls into a world of illusions.

141. "Everyone please hear. I will describe what is in My heart. Please give this blessing to Me. Bless Me that I will attain love for Lord Kṛṣṇa, and that I will be freed from the sufferings of this world. This blessing I beg of you all.

142. "Please always sing songs of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes. With your eyes gaze at His lotus face. Hold His feet in your hearts.

143. "What will I do? I cannot see Lord Kṛṣṇa. Separated from Kṛṣṇa, My heart has burst into flames. I am drowning in the ocean of repeated birth and death. My heart is tortured with sufferings.

144. "The devotees should tell others that Lord Kṛṣṇa is the true father, the true mother, the true God, the true teacher, the true friend. The devotees should speak about Lord Kṛṣṇa. They should worship Lord Kṛṣṇa’s feet.

145. "You are all My friends. You are all great Vaiṣṇavas. Please do not stop Your hearts from giving mercy to Me. I will accept sannyāsa. For everyone’s benefit I will freely distribute ecstatic spiritual love.

146. After speaking these words, Lord Viśvambhara rolled on the ground. His hair became dishevelled. His fair limbs became covered with dust.

147. "Hari! Hari!" He loudly called. Heavily He breathed through His nostrils. From head to foot the hairs of His body stood erect. His voice choked with emotion, He spoke in half words.

148. One moment He wept. One moment He was filled with grief. One moment His eyes were filled with wonder. One moment He joyfully lept into the air. One moment His body trembled. One moment He was overwhelmed by feelings of separation from Lord Kṛṣṇa.

149. One moment He called out, "Vṛndāvana!" One moment He called out, "Rādhā!" One moment He slapped His arms and called out, "Hari! Hari!" One moment He struck His hand to His chest.

150. Seeing all this, everyone became anxious at heart. What more can I say? Everyone was plunged in an ocean of sorrow.

151. Then Murārī said: "Please hear, O Lord Gaura-Hari. You are supremely independent in every way. To teach the people of the world You kindly manifest these sorrows of separation from Lord Kṛṣṇa.

152. "Whatever You wish in Your heart You will certainly do. What more can I say? You know everything. Every soul’s destiny is controlled by You.

153. "Individual souls like myself do not know what the future holds. We are like flies or ants. You are an ocean of mercy, the friend of all. Please do what You think is best."

154. Hearing these words, Lord Gaura smiled and embraced everyone. Manifesting ecstatic spiritual love, He addressed everyone. He spoke these words of enlightenment:

155. "Everyone please hear the words I speak. Please do not doubt them. Wherever I go, I will always stay with you. Please know that for certain."

156. Bidding farewell to all, Lord Gaura returned to His own home. In His heart He hasd already accepted sannyāsa. This His mother did not know.

157. Śacī’s heart throbbed. For her there was no peace. Locana dāsa says: How can anyone willingly leave the association of Lord Gaura, who is like an ocean of spiritual love?