“Your pleasure is the essence of everything.” by Srila Bhaktivinoda

[Guest guest]

Atma-Nivedana ('amara' bolite prabhu!)

From the book Saranagati by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

'amara' bolite prabhu! are kichu nai, tumi-i amara matra pita-bandhu-bhai

 

bandhu, dara, suta, suta - tava dasi das, sei to' sambandhe sabe amara prayas

 

dhana, jana, grha, dara 'tomara' boliya, rakha kori ami matro sevaka hoiya

 

tomara karyera tore uparjibo dhan, tomara samsare-vyaya koribo vahan

 

bhalo-manda nahi jani seva matro kori, tomara samsare ami visaya-prahari

 

tomara icchaya mora indriya-calana, sravana, darsana, ghrana, bhojana-vasana

 

nija-sukha lagi' kichu nahi kori ar, bhaktivinoda bole, tava sukha-sa

 

O Lord, nothing further remains that may be called “mine.” Father, friend, brother - You alone are all these to me.

 

My friends, wife, sons and daughters are now Your servants and maidservants. Whatever care I take for them is only as they are related to You.

 

Declaring my wealth, family members, home, and wife are truly Yours, I continue as a mere servant to dutifully protect them.

 

For the purpose of Your service I will earn money and bear the expense of maintaining Your household.

 

I know nothing of what is good or bad; I simply render my service. I am but a watchman set to guard the properties of Your household.

 

I exercise my senses only according to Your direction, and thus I hear, see, smell, and taste.

 

I no longer do anything for my own pleasure. Bhaktivinoda says “Your pleasure is the essence of everything.”