Sannyasa Not as Important as Devotion

[Paramananda das]

Song 13 – Sannyasa Not as Important as Devotion

Verse 1

(1)

mana, tumi sannyasi sajite keno cao?
bahirer saja jata, antarete phanki tata,
dambha puji' sarira nacao

TRANSLATION

My dear mind, why do you want to disguise yourself as a sannyasi? As much as you decorate yourself externally with this garb, to that same degree you deceive yourself internally with this hoax. Worshiping your own false pride, your simply make a show of your material body by artificially accepting the dress of the renounced order.

Verse 2

(2)

amar bacana dharo, antara bisuddha koro,
krishnamrta sada koro pana
jivana sahaje jay, bhakti-badha nahi pay,
tadupaya koroho sandhana

TRANSLATION

Now please try to understand my advice on how to become a true sannyasi. Just make your heart completely pure, and constantly drink the nectar of Krishna consciousness. Search for that life-style in which your spiritual life can be executed easily and automatically, free from any distracting obstacles to pure devotion.

Verse 3

(3)

anayase jaha pao, tahe tusta hoye jao,
adambare na koro prayas
purna-bastra jadi nai, kaupina paro he bhai,
sita-bastra kantha bahirbas

TRANSLATION

Just be satisfied with whatever you get easily, and never endeavor for any type of artificial pomp and grandeur. Even if you do not have proper clothes to wear, just wear a loin-cloth, dear brother! And in cold weather you can simply wear an old torn quilt.

Verse 4

(4)

aguru candana nai, mrttika-tilaka bhai,
harer badale dharo mala
ei-rupe asa-pas, sukhadir kubilas,
kharbi chado samsarer jvala

TRANSLATION

There is no need for fancy sandalwood pulp scented with perfume, my dear brother; you can use some ordinary earth or clay to mark your forehead with tilaka. Your fancy necklaces can be exchanged for a nice tulasi-mala. Living like this in such a simple state of mind, all your nonsense external arrangements for so-called happiness will diminish, and you will thus be able to escape from the burning fever of materialistic existence.

Verse 5

(5)

sannyasa-bairagya-bidhi, sei asramer nidhi,
tahe kabhu na koro' adar
se-saba adare bhai, samsare nistar nai,
dambhiker linga nirantar

TRANSLATION

In reality it is complete renunciation that is the wealth of the sannyasa-asrama. By following this rule, one would certainly never look forward to receiving respect from others. Beware, dear brother! Deliverance from this material world is not possible for one who wants to get such respect by taking sannyasa. Instead, he gets ensnared in mundane existence due to constantly maintaining the conceited pride of subtle profit, adoration and distinction.

Verse 6

(6)

tumi to' chaitanya-das, hari-bhakti taba as,
asramer linge kiba phal?
pratista koroho dura, basa taba santipura,
sadhu krpa tomar sambal

TRANSLATION

You are actually an eternal servant of Lord Chaitanya, and your real interest as such is devotion to Shri Hari. What other wonderful thing could you get from the external form of the sannyasa-asrama? Casting all false prestige to a far distant place, make your residence in the transcendentally peaceful realm, far beyond the varnasrama-dharma system, and live on the mercy of the Rupanuga Vaishnavas as your only life-giving substance.

Verse 7

(7)

vaisnaver paricoy, abasyaka nahi hoy,
adambare kabhu nahi jao
binoder nibedana, radha-krishna-guna-gana,
phukari' phukari' sada gao

TRANSLATION

It is actually not even necessary to introduce oneself as a Vaishnava, and once should never try to thereby make a show of external pomp and grandeur. Bhaktivinoda's humble submission to you is that you should constantly sing songs about the glorious qualities of Radha and Krishna at the top of your lungs.

Song 14 – Traveling on Pilgrimage Not Necassary

[Paramananda das]

this is from Kalyana Kalpa Taru, by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

[Paramananda das]

and here is Bhaktivinda Takura smashing the pride of bodily beauty and wealth:
Song 11 – Bodily Beauty is Temporary

Verse 1

(1)

ruper gauraba keno bhai
anitya e kalebar, kabhu nahe sthiratar,
samana aile kichu nai
e anga sitala ho'be, ankhi spanda-hina ro'be,
citar agune ho'be chai

TRANSLATION

Oh mind, my dear friend, why is your bodily beauty such an object of your proud vanity? This body is temporary, and there is no certainty whatsoever of permanence. After Yamaraja has paid his visit and taken your soul away, this body will then become cold. The eyes will remain motionless, and in the fiery funeral pyre it will simply turn into ashes.

Verse 2

(2)

je saundarya hero, darpanete nirantar,
sva-sibar hoibe bhojana
je bastre adara koro', jeba abarana para',
kotha saba rohibe takhan?

TRANSLATION

Mind, you repeatedly behold the lovely handsomeness of this face, which is your favorite object of constant vanity. It will simply become delicious food for dogs and jackals. At that time, where will you keep all the decorative ornaments and valuable clothes which you hold in such high esteem?

Verse 3

(3)

dara suta bandhu sabe, smasane tomare lo'be,
dagdha kori' grhete asibe
tumi ka'r, ke tomar, ebe bujhi' dekho sar,
deho-nasa abasya ghatibe

TRANSLATION

Your beloved wife, sons and friends will take you to the crematorium, and after burning you they will simply return to their homes. You belong to whom? And who belongs to you? Now just try to grasp the essential significance of all this. That is, the destruction of this temporary body will definitely come to pass.

Verse 4

(4)

su-nitya-sambala cao, hari-guna sada gao,
hari-nama japaha sadai
ku-tarka chadiya mana, koro' krishna aradhana,
binoder asroy tahai

TRANSLATION

My dear mind, if you really want the eternal, auspicious way of life, then just sing aloud the glories of the Lord always and everywhere. Also, one should certainly chant Harinama japa at all times. Abandoning all useless arguments, just worship Krishna, for such worship is the only shelter of Bhaktivinoda.

Song 12 – Madness for Wealth is Ridiculous

Song 12 – Madness for Wealth is Ridiculous

Verse 1

(1)

mane re, dhana-mada nitanta asar
dhana jana bitta jata, e deher anugata,
deho gele se sakala char

TRANSLATION

Oh my dear mind, you are greatly intoxicated by your wealth and possessions, but just let me tell you that it is completely useless. When this body is gone, then your wealth, followers, property as well as everything else that depends on this body will be good for nothing at all.

Verse 2

(2)

vidyar jateka cesta, cikitsaka upadesta,
keho deho rakhibare nare
ajapa hoile sesa, deha-matra abasesa,
jiva nahi thakena adhare

TRANSLATION

Despite all the vast medical knowledge and dexterous efforts of the doctor by the side of the deathbed, one will never be able to keep this temporary body. When the life airs expire, the only thing which will be left behind is the gross body, for the soul cannot remain trapped within such a dead container for very long.

Verse 3

(3)

dhane jadi prana dita, dhani raja na marita,
dharamar hoito ravana
dhane nahi rakhe deho, deho gele nahe keho,
ataeva ki koribe dhana?

TRANSLATION

If wealth had the power to prolong life, then a rich king would never have to die. The demon named Ravana also thought that he possessed deathlessness, until he was finally killed by Lord Rama. Thus we see that no one to date has ever been able to keep his body by spending any amount of money, for no one can prevent his body from dying. Therefore what is the use of your riches?

Verse 4

(4)

jadi thake bahu dhana, nije ho'be akincana,
vaisnaver koro upakar
jive doya anuksana, radha-krishna-aradhana,
koro sada ho'ye sadacar

TRANSLATION

Dear mind, if you have any excess wealth, then just become humble and use that wealth to do something beneficial for the service of the Vaishnavas. Constantly showing compassion to all souls, worship Radha-Krishna and always make your standard of behavior clean, saintly and virtuous.