Posted by KASHYAPI DASS on November 25, 2009 at 11:01am
Alas, for those who spend their daysIn festive mirth and joy.The dazzling, deadly, liquid formsTheir hearts fore'er employ.The shining bottles charm their eyesAnd draw their heart's embrace;The slaves of wine can never riseFrom what we call disgrace.Was man intended to beA brute in work and heart?Should man, the Lord of all around,From common sense depart?Man's glory is in common senseDictating us the grace,That man is made to live and loveThe beauteous Heaven's embrace.The flesh is not our own, alas,The mortal frame a chain;The soul confined for former wrongsShould try to rise again.Why then this childish play in thatWhich cannot be our own;Which falls within a hundred yearsAs if a rose ablown.Our life is but a rosy hueTo go ere long for naught;The soul alone would last fore'erWith good or evil fraught.How deep the thought of times to be!How grave the aspect looks!And wrapt in awe become, O, we,When reading Nature's books.Man's life to him a problem dark,A screen both left and right;No soul hath come to tell us whatExists beyond our sight.But then a voice, how deep and soft,Within ourselves is felt,Man! Man! Thou art immortal soul!Thee Death can never melt.For thee thy Sire on High has keptA store of bliss above,To end of time, thou art Oh! His--Who wants but purest love.O Love! Thy power and spell benignNow melt my soul to God;How can my earthly words describeThat feeling soft and broad?Enjoyment, sorrow--what but lotsTo which the flesh is heir?The soul that sleeps alone concludesIn them it hath a share.And then, my friends, no more enjoyNor weep for all below;The women, wine, and flesh of beastsNo love on thee bestow.But thine to love thy brother manAnd give thyself to God,And God doth know your wages fair--This fact is true and broad.Forget the past that sleeps and ne'erThe future dream at all,But act in times that are with theeAnd progress thee shall call.But tell me not in reasoning coldThe soul is made aloneBy Earth's mechanic lifeless rulesAnd to destruction prone.My God who gave us life and allAlone the soul can kill,Or give it all the joys aboveHis promise to fulfill.So push thy onward march, O soul,Against an evil deed,That stands with soldiers Hate and Lust--A hero be indeed.Maintain thy post in spirit worldAs firmly as you can,Let never matter push thee down--O stand heroic man.O Saragrahi Vaisnava soul,Thou art an angel fair;Lead, lead me on to VrindabanAnd spirit's power declare.There rest my soul from matter freeUpon my Lover's arms--Eternal peace and spirits loveAre all my chanting charms.By Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Comments