Ekbar Bhavo Mane

(1)

ekbār bhāvo mane,

āśā-baśe bhrami’ hethā pā’be ki sukha jīvaneke

tumi, kothāy chile, ki korite hethā ele,

kibā kāj kore’ gele, jā’be kothā śarīra-patane

(2)

keno sukha, duḥkha, bhoy, ahaḿtā-mamatā-moy,

tuccha jay-parājay, krodha-hiḿsā, dveṣa anya-jane

bhakativinoda koy, kori’ gorā-padāśroy,

cid-ānanda-rasa-moy hao rādhā-kṛṣṇa-nāma-gāne

(1) Consider this just once: While you wander in this world, under the control of material desires, what happiness will you achieve in this mundane life? Who are you? Where have you come from? How did you come here? What have you done? And where will you go at the time of death when your body drops?

(2) What is the use of so much worldly happiness, distress and fear, which arise from the false egotism of “I” and “mine”? And what is the use of insignificant victory and defeat, anger, violence, and envy toward other living beings? Bhaktivinoda says, “Just take shelter at the lotus feet of Lord Gaurasundara and sing the names of Radha and Krsna, and you will become saturated with the mellows of pure spiritual bliss.”