From clutches of maya I was shook,
And then slowly my friends You took.
At work lost in bhakti’s bliss,
That surroundings changed went unnoticed.
The more and more Your name I say,
The more old friends and family go away.
But now where am I to go for friendship?
For pleasing is safety of comradeship.
Outcomes not in my control, alas,
My fate only in Your complete grasp.
On the steady course I’ll stay,
And Your names with pleasure I’ll say.
For young child how to spend the day?
Well, why not with cows to play?
Yashoda’s delight duty surely does know,
So to field with the calves to go.
Such work for Him not hard,
Cows in full joy move every yard.
Sacred are Krishna’s marks left on the ground,
And cherished is His wonderful flute’s sound.
Cows follow Him through Vrindavana’s hills,
And in affection their bags with milk to fill.
Is it any wonder that my Lord such a delight?
His play with cows such a lovely sight.
O mind, this about Krishna you should know,
That with full trust the cows with Him go.
In His presence there is no fear,
Like their own child He is forever dear.
Take His company and your tensions release,
In worrying over outcomes immediately cease.
Difficult for you as mind is so obstinate,
That you’ll find some kind of worry is definite.
Fully aware, in His hands the flute to take,
And with it most enchanting sound to make.
Wayward cows then to Krishna run,
Lost attention then there is none.
That same sound in holy names you’ll find,
Recite them daily, O weary and troubled mind.
Of a loving home immediately bereft,
As at time of birth no parents left.
Thus entering without a home,
In troubling world all alone.
Same story to hold throughout his life,
His struggles by himself to fight.
Oh but there was one person always on guard,
Who held the helpless poet in highest regard.
Through devotion Tulsidas to prominence to rise,
With Rama’s support nothing a surprise.
As a famous poet soon all to know,
From low to high, his love for Rama never let go.
At time of birth’s starting place,
No hint of support, not a trace.
In possessions not even a thing,
Parents’ abandonment, loneliness’ sting.
That youth one day prominence to reach,
The meaning of life to fools like me to teach.
Devotion to Rama all the wealth one needs,
Chanting holy names real hunger to feed.
This truth by many I am told,
Still, for Tulsi greatest affection I hold.
From his life and many poems too,
Know for sure of God’s existence true.
Manliness in men,
Chastity in women.
These qualities the respective to test,
To see if one stands above the rest.
Wife of Shri Rama the most chaste,
Not a thought on any other to waste.
How good this makes Him feel?
Indebtedness to her automatically to seal.
Never a worry that she will ever waver,
So Rama her company always to savor.
Such devotion brings warmth to my heart,
Remembering Sita for day best way to start.
Image of Krishna chariot driving,
Justice to Kurus soon arriving.
In another standing by Radha’s side,
In His heart with Him she resides.
In one holding flute tall He stands,
With cows on sacred Vrajabhumi land.
Stealing butter with Balarama delightful sight,
In dark room their jewels provide the light.
These images certainly precious and rare,
But at one in particular I like to stare.
Where dear mother offers food for child’s sake,
In her lap darling of Vrindavana she takes.
Yashoda and Krishna let me always see,
A more delightful vision there can never be.
Of Sita’s glories there are not but one,
An end to her virtues certainly none.
Gentle behavior, of disposition sweet,
As perfect wife with her husband to meet.
Idea of simple woman remove from your mind,
Know that immeasurable intelligence in her to find.
So fortunate that her name I can say,
In this life for me no other way.
If only braver then I could lead,
Spiritual knowledge to friends to feed.
Troubles greatly to see them in pain,
When knowing myself life’s highest gain.
Their pain to pleasure wish I could convert.
But sadly crippled by nature of introvert.
So instead only to write and write,
Lord, deliver them with holy name’s sight.
Cowering in fear, this timidity I regret,
Hopefully from words enlightenment to get.
Bhakti your true devotees fearlessly teach,
I pray their message to loved ones can reach.
Known to all as symbol of peace,
From presence alone tensions to cease.
Men offer it after committing blunder,
So wrath of women to not be under.
When portrait of Krishna you perhaps check,
To see garland of flowers around His neck.
Devotees this to the Lord give,
Thinking of Him always they live.
Garland the beautiful picture completes,
With this divine vision nothing to compete.
Bhakti Poems 