Bhajana-Rahasya
by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Mahasaya | 2010 | 123,965 words
The Bhajana-rahasya Text 16, English translation, including commentary (vritti). The Bhajana-rahasya is a compilation of verses describing the mercy of the eight pairs of names (Yugala-nama) of the Maha-mantra. This is text 16 belonging to the chapter “Tritiya-yama-sadhana (Purvahna-kaliya-bhajana–nishtha-bhajana)” representing the six dandas until two praharas: approximately 8.30 a.m.–11.00 a.m.
Text 16
Humility that is full of self-surrender is described in the Yāmuna-stotra (49):
वपुर्-आदिषु यो’पि को’पि वा गुणतो’सानि यथा-तथा-विधः
तद् अयं तव पाद-पद्मयोर् अहम् अद्यैव मया समर्पितःvapur-ādiṣu yo’pi ko’pi vā guṇato’sāni yathā-tathā-vidhaḥ
tad ayaṃ tava pāda-padmayor aham adyaiva mayā samarpitaḥO Bhagavān, in this material existence there are the bodily distinctions of male and female, and according to the three modes of material nature (sattva, rajas and tamas), there are the divisions of the four varṇas and four āśramas. In this way, humanity is unlimitedly variegated. O Prāṇeśvara, let me take birth in any kind of body or in any condition; it does not matter, because now I am completely surrendered unto Your lotus feet and there is nothing I consider mine.
स्त्री-पुरुष-देह-गत, वर्ण-आदि-धर्म यत,
ताते पुनः देह-गत भेद
सत्त्व-रजस्-तमो-गुण, आश्रयेते भेद पुनः,
एइ रूप सहस्र प्रभेदstrī-puruṣa-deha-gata, varṇa-ādi-dharma yata,
tāte punaḥ deha-gata bheda
sattva-rajas-tamo-guṇa, āśrayete bheda punaḥ,
ei rūpa sahasra prabhedaये कोन शरीरे थाकि, ये अवस्था गुण राखि,
से अहंता एबे तव पाय
संपिलाम प्राणेश्वर, मम बलि’ अतःपर,
आर किछु ना रहिल दायye kona śarīre thāki, ye avasthā guṇa rākhi,
se ahaṃtā ebe tava pāya
saṃpilāma prāṇeśvara, mama bali’ ataḥpara,
āra kichu nā rahila dāya
Commentary: Bhajana-rahasya-vṛtti:
Here, humility that is full of selfsurrender is expressed. While chanting the holy name, the sādhaka, in a mood of distress, submits a humble petition at the lotus feet of Śrī Bhagavān: “O Supreme Lord, giving up this false identification with the material male or female body, with social classification and so on, I surrender this body at Your lotus feet. Prāṇeśvara, You only are my life.”
As long as the jīva falsely identifies with the gross and subtle body, he cannot enter pure bhajana. When the living entity is established in the mood of the verse taught by Śrīman Mahāprabhu–nāhaṃ vipro na ca nara-patir nāpi[1]–or in other words, when he has become free from all material designations–the door to the realm of bhajana opens.