{"id":3159,"date":"2018-11-12T12:54:14","date_gmt":"2018-11-12T12:54:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iskconeducationalservices.org\/HoH\/?p=3159"},"modified":"2018-11-12T12:55:10","modified_gmt":"2018-11-12T12:55:10","slug":"poems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iskconeducationalservices.org\/HoH\/further-information-and-teaching-resources-secondary\/scripture-quotes-songs-etc\/poems\/","title":{"rendered":"Poems"},"content":{"rendered":"

Selected Hindu Poems<\/strong><\/p>\n

Download word document: Poems<\/a><\/p>\n

Please note that a list of the poets cited here is included on the last page, with reference to where further details may be found.<\/p>\n

Three Poems by Mirabai (<\/strong>perhaps the most famous of all the bhakti saints)<\/p>\n

Poem 1<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>O my mind,
\nWorship the lotus feet of the Indestructible Lord!
\nWhatever you see twixt earth and sky
\nWill perish.
\nWhy undertake fasts and pilgrimage?
\nWhy engage in philosophical discussion?
\nWhy commit suicide in Benaras?
\nTake no pride in the body,
\nWhich will soon mingle with the dust.
\nThis life is like the sporting of sparrows,
\nThat will end with the onset of night.
\nWhy don the ochre robe
\nAnd leave home as a sannyasi?
\nThose who adopt the external garb of a yogi,
\nBut do not realise the secret truth,
\nAre caught again in the net of rebirth.
\nMira’s Lord is the courtly Giridhari.
\nDeign to sever, O Master.
\nAll the knots in her heart.<\/p>\n

_____________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n

Poem 2<\/strong><\/p>\n

When the whole world
\nrests in slumber, dear love,
\nI keep vigil, riven from him.
\nIn a glorious palace of pleasure,
\nestranged, I sit awake,
\nand see a forsaken girl,
\nwith a garland of tears round her neck,
\npassing the night
\ncounting stars,
\ncounting the hours
\nto happiness.<\/p>\n

If I had known
\nthat falling in love
\nwas to fall in with pain,
\nI would have beaten a drum
\nproclaiming throughout the town
\nthat love was banned for all.<\/p>\n

_____________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n

Poem 3<\/strong><\/p>\n

We do not get a human life
\nSimply by asking.
\nBirth as a human
\nIs the reward for good deeds
\nIn former births.
\nLife waxes and wanes imperceptibly,
\nAnd stays not long.
\nThe leaf that has fallen
\nReturns not to the branch.
\nBehold the Sea of Transmigration.
\nWith its swift, irresistible tide.
\nO Lal Giridhari, O pilot of my soul,
\nSwiftly conduct my ship to the other shore.
\nMira, the maidservant of Lal Giridhari.
\nDeclares, \u201cLife lasts but a few days only.\u201d<\/p>\n

_____________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n

A Poem by Tukarama\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

What use this haste, this hurry
\nThis burden of earthly duties?
\nGod\u2019s purposes stand firm,
\nAnd you, his little one,
\nNeed one thing only \u2013
\nTrust that he is able and willing
\nTo satisfy your every need.
\nRest your burden on him,
\nAnd you, his little one,
\nMay play in safety by him.
\nThis is the essence of it all \u2013
\nGod is,
\nGod loves you,
\nGod carries your burdens<\/p>\n

J Nelson Fraser and KB Marathe (eds) The Poems of Tukurama<\/em>, Motilal Banaridass, Delhi, 1983<\/p>\n

_____________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n

A Poem by Tulsidas\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The companions of my birth, my hair, went white.
\nMy concern for people\u2019s opinion has gone.
\nThe body is wasted, the hands are trembling,
\nThe light has gone out from the eyes.
\nThe ear can no longer hear any word
\nAnd all senses have lost their strength.
\nThe teeth are broken.
\nI cannot utter any understandable word.
\nBeauty has disappeared from my face.
\nPhlegm and bile are covering my throat.
\nI can call my son only with a movement of my hand.
\nBrothers, relations and dearest of all, my wife
\nAre turning me out of my home
\nAs the moon has got a black mark, of which it cannot get rid
\nThus I cannot rid myself of the attachment to what is \u201cmine\u201d.
\nTulsidas takes refuge to your powerful feet,
\nWhich are able to overthrow greed.<\/p>\n

_____________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n

A Poem by Surdas<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have fallen so lowly:
\nI do not even have one bit of desire for you!
\nPowerful Maya has fettered me
\nIn the guise of property, money and a fair wife.
\nI see it, I hear it, I know it,
\nBut I still cannot get away from it.
\nWith my own ears I have perceived: it was said
\nYou are the salvation of those who have fallen very low.
\nI want to get into the boat of deliverance,
\nbut I am unable to pay the fare to the boatman.
\nI do not ask anything new from you,
\nYou have always been gracious towards the poor.
\nIncline with favour upon Sur,
\nLord, King of Braja.<\/p>\n

_____________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n

Poem by Chaitanya (selected verses)<\/strong><\/p>\n

One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige and ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind, one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.<\/p>\n

O almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor do I desire beautiful women, nor do I want any number of followers. I only want your causeless devotional service in my life, birth after birth.<\/p>\n

O son of Maharaja Nanda [Krishna], I am your eternal servitor, yet somehow or other I have fallen into the ocean of birth and death. Please pick me up from this ocean of death and place me as one of the atoms at your lotus feet.<\/p>\n

O my Lord, when will my eyes be decorated with tears of love flowing constantly when I chant your holy name? When will my voice choke up, and when will the hairs of my body stand on end at the recitation of your name?<\/p>\n

O Govinda! Feeling your separation, I am considering a moment to be like twelve years or more. Tears are flowing from my eyes like torrents of rain, and I am feeling completely vacant in the world in your absence.<\/p>\n

I know no one but Krishna as my Lord, and He shall remain so even if He handles me roughly by His embrace or makes me broken-hearted by not being present before me. He is completely free to do anything and everything, for He is always my worshipful Lord unconditionally.<\/p>\n

Bhaktivedanta Swami, A.C. (translator), The Shrimad Bhagavatam<\/em>,<\/p>\n

The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, Los Angeles, 1972<\/p>\n

_____________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n

A poem devoted to Lord Shiva by Akka Mahadevi<\/strong><\/p>\n

Not seeing you
\nEither in hill or forest,
\nFrom tree to tree
\nI roamed.
\nSearching, gasping:
\nLord, my Lord, come
\nShow me your kindness!
\nTill I met your men
\nAnd found you.You hide.
\nLest I seek and find.
\nGive me a clue,
\nO Lord,
\nWhite as jasmine,
\nTo your hiding places.<\/p>\n

A.K. Ramanujan (translator), Speaking of Shiva<\/em>, Penguin, 1979 (1973)<\/p>\n

_____________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n

A Poem by Kabir<\/strong><\/p>\n

You have come into this world to do business and to make a profit,
\nBut you have gambled away your stock.
\nYou have not even reached the outskirts of the City of Love.
\nAs you have come, so you shall leave.
\nListen my companion. Listen my friend!
\nWhat have you done in this life?
\nYou have taken up a load of stones on your head!
\nWho will lift it from you further down the road?
\nYour friend is standing on the shore
\nAnd you have no mind to meet him.
\nYou are sitting in as shipwrecked boat.
\nYou fool! You will be drowning!
\nKabirdas, who observes all this, says:
\nIn the end, who is your helper?
\nAlone you go forth, and you will eat your own deeds.<\/p>\n

K. Klostermaier (compiler), The Wisdom of Hinduism<\/em>, Oneworld, Oxford, 2000<\/p>\n

\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad_____________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n

A Poem by Bhaktivinoda Thakur <\/strong><\/p>\n

Alas, for those that spend their days
\nIn festival mirth and joy!
\nThe dazzling deadly liquid forms
\nTheir heart for e\u2019er employ<\/p>\n

The shining bottles charm their eyes
\nAnd draw their heart\u2019s embrace!
\nThe slaves of wine can never rise
\nFrom what we call disgrace<\/p>\n

Was man intended to be
\nA brute in work and heart?
\nShould man the Lord of all around
\nFrom common sense depart?<\/p>\n

Man\u2019s glory is in common sense
\nDictating us the grace,
\nThat man is made to live and love
\nThe beauteous Heaven\u2019s embrace!<\/p>\n

The flesh is not our own alas!
\nThe mortal frame a chain;
\nThe soul confined for former wrongs
\nShould try to rise again!!!<\/p>\n

Why then this childish play in that
\nWhich cannot be our own,
\nWhich falls within a hundred years,
\nAs if a rose ablown!<\/p>\n

Our life is but a rosy hue
\nTo go ere long to nought!
\nThe soul alone would last for e\u2019er
\nWith good or evil fraught!!!<\/p>\n

How deep the thought of times to be?
\nHow grave the aspect looks?
\nAnd wrapt in awe, become, Oh!
\nWhen reading Nature\u2019s books!<\/p>\n

Man\u2019s life to him a problem dark!
\nA screen both left and right!
\nNo soul hath come to tell us what
\nExists beyond our sight!<\/p>\n

But then a voice, how deep and soft,
\nWithin ourselves is left;
\nMan! Man! Thou art immortal soul!
\nThee death can never melt!!<\/p>\n

For thee thy Sire on High has kept
\nA store of bliss above,
\nTo end of time, thou art, oh! His
\nWho wants but purest love.<\/p>\n

Oh! Love! Thy power and spell benign
\nNow melt my soul to God!
\nHow can my earthly words describe
\nThat feeling soft and broad!!<\/p>\n

Enjoyment – sorrow – what but lots
\nTo which the flesh is heir?
\nThe soul that sleeps alone concludes
\nIn them it hath a share!!<\/p>\n

And then! My friends no more enjoy
\nNor weep! For all below;
\nThe woman, wine and flesh of beasts
\nNo love thee bestow!<\/p>\n

But thine to love thy brother man
\nAnd give thyself to God.
\nAnd God doth know your wages fair
\nThis fact is true and broad!!<\/p>\n

Forget the past that sleeps, and ne\u2019er
\nThe future dream at all,
\nBut act in time that with thee
\nAnd progress thee shall call!!!<\/p>\n

But tell me no in reasoning cold
\nThe soul is made alone
\nBy earth\u2019s mechanic, lifeless rules
\nAnd to destruction prone!<\/p>\n

My God who gave us life and all
\nAlone the Soul can kill,
\nOr give it all the joys above
\nHis promise to fulfill!!<\/p>\n

So push thy onward march, O soul!
\nAgainst an evil deed
\nThat stands with Soldiers-hate and lust
\nA hero be indeed<\/p>\n

Maintain thy post in spirit world
\nAs firmly as you can,
\nLet never matter push thee down,
\nO stand heroic man!<\/p>\n

Saragrahi Vaishnava soul!
\nThou art an angel fair;
\nLead, lead me on to Vrindavan
\nAnd Spirit\u2019s power declare!!<\/p>\n

There rests my soul from matter free
\nUpon my Lover\u2019s arms,
\nEternal peace and Spirit\u2019s love
\nAre all my chanting charms!!<\/p>\n

List of Poets Cited Above:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Poet or Saint<\/strong> \/ Cross-references to Teachers\u2019 Book<\/strong> (Reference Manual)<\/h4>\n

Akka Mahadevi \/page 146<\/p>\n

Bhaktivinoda Thakur \/ Not mentioned in book, but a saint and visionary coming in the line if Chaitanya.<\/p>\n

Chaitanya \/ pages 139, 144<\/p>\n

Kabir \/ page 139<\/p>\n

Mirabai \/ pages 139, 146, 147<\/p>\n

Surdas \/ page 139<\/p>\n

Tukarama \/ page 139<\/p>\n

Tulsidas \/ page 139<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Selected Hindu Poems Download word document: Poems Please note that a list of the poets cited here is included on the last page, with reference to where further details may be found. Three Poems by Mirabai (perhaps the most famous of all the bhakti saints) Poem 1 \u00a0O my mind, Worship the lotus feet of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[313,294],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3159","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-scripture-quotes-songs-etc-further-information-and-teaching-resources-primary","category-scripture-quotes-songs-etc"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iskconeducationalservices.org\/HoH\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3159","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iskconeducationalservices.org\/HoH\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iskconeducationalservices.org\/HoH\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iskconeducationalservices.org\/HoH\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iskconeducationalservices.org\/HoH\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3159"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/iskconeducationalservices.org\/HoH\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3159\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3161,"href":"https:\/\/iskconeducationalservices.org\/HoH\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3159\/revisions\/3161"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iskconeducationalservices.org\/HoH\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3159"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iskconeducationalservices.org\/HoH\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3159"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iskconeducationalservices.org\/HoH\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3159"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}