VIDYĀRA VILĀSE
by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura
by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura
1)
vidyāra vilāse, kāṭāinu kāla,
parama sāhase āmi
tomāra caraṇa, nā bhajinu kabhu,
ekhona śaraṇa tumi
parama sāhase āmi
tomāra caraṇa, nā bhajinu kabhu,
ekhona śaraṇa tumi
Once I spent long, long hours in the pastimes of scholarship. I never took to service of Your lotus feet as I do now.
2)
paḍite paḍite, bharasā bāḍilo,
jñāne gati habe māni'
se āśā viphala, se jñāna durbalo,
se jñāna ajñāna jāni
jñāne gati habe māni'
se āśā viphala, se jñāna durbalo,
se jñāna ajñāna jāni
Reading on and on, never finding satiation, I felt that knowledge would be the highest goal. That hope was false and fruitless—that knowledge was ignorance.
3)
jaḍavidyā yata, māyāra vaibhava,
tomāra bhajane bādhā
moha janamiyā, anitya soṁsāre,
jīvake koroye gādhā
tomāra bhajane bādhā
moha janamiyā, anitya soṁsāre,
jīvake koroye gādhā
Materialistic studies are the glare of māyā only, for they are an obstacle to spiritual progress. The infatuated person is trapped in the nonpermanent world and falsely trying to enjoy it, and such studies make him as foolish as an ass.
4)
sei gādhā ho'ye, soṁsārera bojhā,
bahinu aneka kālo
vārdhakye ekhona, śaktira abhāve,
kichu nāhi lāge bhālo
bahinu aneka kālo
vārdhakye ekhona, śaktira abhāve,
kichu nāhi lāge bhālo
When they stretch out over a long period of time, one loses all energy and is sapped of all power to enjoy. By the time old age comes, nothing in the world is tasteful for such an ass.
5)
jīvana yātanā, hoilo ekhona,
se vidyā avidyā bhelo
avidyāra jvālā, ghaṭilo viṣama,
se vidyā hoilo śelo
se vidyā avidyā bhelo
avidyāra jvālā, ghaṭilo viṣama,
se vidyā hoilo śelo
Now at the end of life I realize that all my academic study is ignorance. Realization of this fact is burning like a piercing dart.
6)
tomāra caraṇa, vinā kichu dhana,
soṁsāre nā āche āra
bhakativinod, jaḍavidyā chāḍi,'
tuyā pada kore sāra
soṁsāre nā āche āra
bhakativinod, jaḍavidyā chāḍi,'
tuyā pada kore sāra
Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says: "Without Your lotus feet there is no value in the world. Reflecting upon my material studies, I take to Your lotus feet and superexcellence."