Women I have yet to understand,
Only in trouble they’ve made me land.
Some want friendship, others want more,
Leisure time spent with them, what was it for?
Just when point of comprehension I reach,
A new painful lesson to me they teach.
Sita and Rama I have to thank,
Saved me whenever this heart sank.
Despite all my stupidity with me they stay,
That my eyes always taste their vision I pray.
Sita lives with husband in mind,
And inside His her you will find.
It’s as if two came from one,
This actually by God was done.
From husband’s vision never her eyes turn,
For His warm company to yearn.
Why not always to stay by His side?
And so in eternal pleasure to reside.
To this devotion Rama responds,
Of His beloved He’s supremely fond.
Hard to measure who loves who more,
But that’s what this human birth is for.
Particular benefit you have in mind,
Capable priest then must find.
Ritual performance he to do,
So that reward can come to you.
But what about on another day?
To God should you not always pray?
My preferred place where holy names heard,
So my heart with devotion to be stirred.
Religion is both philosophy and sentiment,
Worshiping and thinking time to be spent.
Possible to occur at any time and place,
So to love God in day always there is space.
Worship God every day why not?
To lose what have you got?
Think that fun you will go without?
That on life’s pleasures to miss out?
Not to my liking is just once a week,
Daily divine presence I selfishly seek.
Thus chant the holy names do I,
To please my beloved I humbly try.
Of my efforts He may be pleased or not,
But in loving Him I will not ever stop.
Tulsi says only he with peace can sleep,
Because welfare of devotees Rama keeps.
Fruitive worker concerned only with gain,
So even during rest attacked with mind’s pain.
Yogi looking solely for mystic ability,
With hankerings no mental stability.
Over attachment the jnani fears,
So from yoga he quickly veers.
With Sita and Rama in mind safely I’ve slept,
Knowing that my best interests they’ve kept.
Of all these things certainly I know,
But why fear over future I can’t let go?
Trusting Tulsidas to find right way I try,
May love for Sita and Rama I never let slip by.
Oh this will make me happy surely,
With this one thing then I can live securely.
Please oh please let me have it,
Then from asking for things I’ll quit.
Ah, but things aren’t so simple man,
For you Sita and Rama have higher plan.
Know that for you they will always care,
Keeping devotion’s life, avoiding maya’s scare.
What can I say about this kindness to me?
Though blinded by desire, for me they always see.
That I can honor them is my only hope,
Names of Sita and Rama a rescuing rope.
So blind that I cannot see,
So Sita and Rama protect me.
Plans for future happiness I make,
But away the danger they take.
I’m the smartest of them all I think,
Yet they rescue me before further I sink.
Sometimes dismayed at their intervention,
“Please worry not over my misery’s prevention.”
But bypassing objections, obstacles steered clear,
And thus to me Sita and Rama remain forever dear.
Find something that you like,
Can’t get enough of its sight.
At night it will keep you awake,
In morning to see it can’t wait.
But as soon as it comes you should know,
Again it will move, away from you to go.
Family, friends, experiences quickly are gone,
Then only with the memories to dwell upon.
Shri Hari’s presence not like this,
Eternal friend when intensely to miss.
If reluctant for my word to believe,
Chant His names and for yourself see.
How else still could ancient stories be told,
Where dazzling brilliance listener to behold?
But choice is for you to make,
Whether or not His friendship to take.
In bhakti not ever to leave your side,
Know in your heart He’s there to reside.
After brothers instructions of guru obeyed,
Under shade of large arms the saints stayed.
From Dandaka forest the demons driven out,
By Dasharatha’s sons brave, strong and stout.
Vision as two youths so precious,
Moving innocently, walk so gracious.
Yet in their protection true strength seen,
Demons using illusion, but to movements Rama keen.
Forgetfulness this life’s greatest foe,
Ignoring God, honoring others I go.
Vision of beloved Rama and Lakshmana I seek,
Standing tall, brothers protectors of the meek.
Known to myself only as the biggest fraud.
My knowledge to fit in thimble so small.
Consider that philosophy and God I know so much,
But ideas and words due only to Vaishnavas’ touch.
From Bhaktivedanta Swami lifting philosophy,
From Tulsidas copying semblance of poetry.
From others taking ideas here and there,
And then proudly with community to share.
One good thing that still to gain benefit,
As by the side of saints always to sit.
O mind, forget not the magnificence of your teachers,
Though honoring them not, still kind to this poor creature.
With my humble offering of works I pray,
That in my mind they forever comfortably stay.
Bhakti Poems 