Śāstrīya Śraddhā
Śrīla Prabhupāda
BooksLecturesLettersBack to GodheadDiariesPhotos
BooksLecturesAudioSearchAbout
More
PhotosBhajansPersons
Śrīla Prabhupāda
Śrīla PrabhupādaBooksLecturesLettersBack to GodheadDiariesPhotos
BooksLecturesAudioSearchAbout
More
PhotosBhajansPersons
BhajansBhaktivinoda ṬhākuraKalyana KalpataruDurlabha Manava Janma
AuthorBhaktivinoda Ṭhākura

Durlabha Manava Janma

Nirvedana Laksana Upalabdhi Song 4

1

durlabha
mānava-janma labhiyā saṁsāre kṛṣṇa
nā bhajinu-duḥkha kahibo kāhāre

The human form of life is the rarest opportunity for attaining spiritual perfection. But now I am lamenting, because I've somehow or other been born with such an opportunity, and I wasted it by never worshiping Lord Krsna. Oh, to whom shall I tell the tale of this misery?

2

'saṁsār'
'saṁsār' ko're miche gelo kāl lābha
nā koilo kichu, ghaṭilo jañjāl

Having married and entered into the entanglements of materialistic family life, I passed my time in vain. I never got any tangible gain or permanent benefit, only trouble and botheration.

3

kiser saṁsār
ei chāyābāji prāy ihāte
mamatā kori' bṛthā dina jāy

What kind of world is this anyway? It seems to be just like a magic lantern show that I saw at a carnival, wherein so many shadows and optical illusions dance magically before my eyes. I feel great attachment and identification with such a world, and thus day after day pass by fruitlessly, without any purpose whatsoever.

4

e deho
patana ho'le ki ro'be āmār keho sukha
nāhi dibe putra-parivār

When this body drops dead on the ground then what will remain mine? At that moment, all of my sons and dearest loved ones will not be able to give me any happiness.

5

gardabher
mata āmi kori pariśram kā'r
lāgi' eto kori nā ghucilo bhram

I work hard just like an ass everyday and now I am wondering for whom am I working so hard? I am still surrounded by so many illusions.

6

dina
jāy micha kāje, niśā nidrā-baśe nāhi
bhāvi-maraṇa nikaṭe āche bo'se

I waste every day in useless, insignificant work, and I waste every night controlled by sleep. And in every 24 hours I never for one second consider that cruel death is sitting very close by my side.

7

bhālo
manda khāi, heri, pari, cintā-hīna nāhi
bhāvi, e deho chāḍibo kon dina

I live a very carefree life-style, sometimes eating a lot, or eating a little if I feel like it, sometimes I see nice things around the town, or sometimes I do not go out at all, sometimes I wear opulent clothing, or if I'm in the mood, I'll wear something simple. I live so carefree that I never consider that one day I will have to give up this body.

8

deho-geho-kalatrādi-cintā
avirata jāgiche
hṛdoye mor buddhi kori' hata

My poor heart is plagued by constant anxieties about the maintenance and daily turmoil created by my body, my house, my wife, my family members and my social obligations. All these anxieties are pinching me and destroying all my intelligence.

9

hāy,
hāy! nāhi bhāvi-anitya e saba jīvana
vigate kothā rohibe vaibhava

Alas, alas! What a remorseful situation has arisen! I am absorbed in all this trouble, but I never consider that all these things are temporary and subject to perish very soon. After I'm dead and gone, where will all of my material opulences remain?

10

śmaśāne
śarīr mama poḍiyā rohibe bihaṅga-pataṅga
tāy bihār koribe

When my body will be thrown in the pit at the cremation grounds, it will simply lie there motionlessly. Then many crows, vultures, ants, and worms will come and playfully sport there.

11

kukkur sṛgāl
sab ānandita ho'ye mahotsava
koribe āmār deho lo'ye

All the stray dogs and jackals will then become very much delighted, and in great ecstasy they will make a festival ground out of my body and will have a huge celebration and feast.

12

je deher ei
gati, tā'r anugata saṁsār-vaibhava
ār bandhu-jana jata

Just see, this is the ultimate destination of this material body. And the most amazing thing is that all of my material opulences, house, family and friends have exactly the same destination.

13

ataeva
māyā-moha chāḍi' buddhimān nitya-tattva
kṛṣṇa-bhakti koruna sandhān

Therefore I ask of anyone who has any sharp intelligence: please give up all of these temporary illusions presented by maya, and kindly search after the means to get pure devotion to Lord Krsna, for this is the only really tangible eternal truth.

Translation

1

The human form of life is the rarest opportunity for attaining spiritual perfection. But now I am lamenting, because I've somehow or other been born with such an opportunity, and I wasted it by never worshiping Lord Krsna. Oh, to whom shall I tell the tale of this misery?

2

Having married and entered into the entanglements of materialistic family life, I passed my time in vain. I never got any tangible gain or permanent benefit, only trouble and botheration.

3

What kind of world is this anyway? It seems to be just like a magic lantern show that I saw at a carnival, wherein so many shadows and optical illusions dance magically before my eyes. I feel great attachment and identification with such a world, and thus day after day pass by fruitlessly, without any purpose whatsoever.

4

When this body drops dead on the ground then what will remain mine? At that moment, all of my sons and dearest loved ones will not be able to give me any happiness.

5

I work hard just like an ass everyday and now I am wondering for whom am I working so hard? I am still surrounded by so many illusions.

6

I waste every day in useless, insignificant work, and I waste every night controlled by sleep. And in every 24 hours I never for one second consider that cruel death is sitting very close by my side.

7

I live a very carefree life-style, sometimes eating a lot, or eating a little if I feel like it, sometimes I see nice things around the town, or sometimes I do not go out at all, sometimes I wear opulent clothing, or if I'm in the mood, I'll wear something simple. I live so carefree that I never consider that one day I will have to give up this body.

8

Notes

This can be sung in the same tune as "Sri Krsna Caitanya Prabhu Doya Koro More." This song can be sung in Raga Misra Kafi in Bhajani Tala.

My poor heart is plagued by constant anxieties about the maintenance and daily turmoil created by my body, my house, my wife, my family members and my social obligations. All these anxieties are pinching me and destroying all my intelligence.

9

Alas, alas! What a remorseful situation has arisen! I am absorbed in all this trouble, but I never consider that all these things are temporary and subject to perish very soon. After I'm dead and gone, where will all of my material opulences remain?

10

When my body will be thrown in the pit at the cremation grounds, it will simply lie there motionlessly. Then many crows, vultures, ants, and worms will come and playfully sport there.

11

All the stray dogs and jackals will then become very much delighted, and in great ecstasy they will make a festival ground out of my body and will have a huge celebration and feast.

12

Just see, this is the ultimate destination of this material body. And the most amazing thing is that all of my material opulences, house, family and friends have exactly the same destination.

13

Therefore I ask of anyone who has any sharp intelligence: please give up all of these temporary illusions presented by maya, and kindly search after the means to get pure devotion to Lord Krsna, for this is the only really tangible eternal truth.