Krsna Kirtana Songs
est. 2001 www.kksongs.org
Song Lyrics: Gora Pahun
Purport Author: A.C. Bhaktivedanta
Swami
This
is a song by Narottama dasa
Thakura. He says, gaura pahu na bhajiya goinu: "I have
invited my spiritual death by not worshiping Lord Caitanya."
Gaura pahu means "Lord
Caitanya," and na bhajiya, "without
worshiping." Goinu: "I have invited
spiritual death." And why have I invited spiritual death? Adhane yatane kari dhana teyaginu: "Because I am engaged in something which is
useless and have rejected the real purpose of my life. Adhane
means "valueless things," and dhana means
"valuables." So actually every one of us is
neglecting our spiritual emanicipation: we are
engaged in material sense gratification, and therefore we are losing the
opportunity of this human form of body to elevate ourselves to the spiritual
platform. This human body is especially provided to the conditioned soul
to give him a chance for spiritual emancipation. So anyone who does not care
for spiritual emancipation is inviting spiritual death. Spiritual death means
to forget oneself-to forget that one is spirit. That is spiritual death, like
animal life. Animal life is full forgetfulness. The animals cannot be reminded
under any circumstances that they are not this body. It is only in this human
form of life that one can understand that he is not this body, that he is
spirit soul. By chanting Hare Krsna one can easily
understand this fact. In other words, by worshiping Lord Caitanya,
following His principles and ways, and chanting Hare Krsna
one can very easily come to the platform of spiritual understanding.
But
Narottama dasa Thakura says on our behalf that we are neglecting this.
Therefore we are inviting spiritual death. Then he says,
prema-ratana-dhana helaya harainu. Spiritual life means to develop real love.
Everyone says "love." There are so many signboards, so many books:
"Love, love." But there is no love. This is illusion. It is all lust.
"Love" for intoxication, "love" for sex, "love"
for this and that. This is going on. Actually, the word love is applicable only
with Krsna, with God: To love means to love Krsna. That is spiritual love. And we are created for that
purpose. So, that is wanted. Narottama dasa says, "I could have achieved that transcendental
treasure of love, but I was robbed of it because of neglecting to worship Lord Caitanya." And why has this happened? Apana karama-dose apani dubinu: "Due to my
past misdeeds." Due to our past misdeeds, we get a certain type of body.
Everyone who has got a material body has received it due to his past misdeeds,
and even his past pious deeds. Actually, as long as one gets a material body,
there are no pious deeds. "Pious deeds" means no more material body.
Otherwise, it is to be taken as a fact that even Brahma, who is the chief
living entity within this universe and has a long, long duration of life and so
much power-still, he is considered to have performed misdeeds because he has a
material body. So, by our misdeeds we go down and down, getting one body after
another. In Srimad-Bhagavatam it is stated that
people do not know that by engaging in sense gratification they are assuring
that they will have another body. And the body is the cause of material pangs.
It is only because I have this body that I feel a headache, a stomachache, etc.
But as soon as we are out of this material body, there are no more material
pangs. It is simply joyful life. Brahma-bhutah
prasannatma. Prasannatma
means "joyful." But due to our past misdeeds we are missing this
opportunity.
And
why is it happening? Sat-sanga chadi'
kainu asate vilasa: "I have given up the association of devotees
and am associating with common nonsense men for sense gratification." Sat
means "spirit," and asat
means "matter." Association with nondevotees
produces material attachment, and that means implication in material,
conditioned life. So, one has to associate with devotees. Satam prasangan
mama virya-samvido. One can learn about God
only in the association of devotees. Therefore we are pushing this Krsna consciousness society. You'll find that one who comes
to this society and associates with us for a few days or a few weeks becomes Krsna conscious, and soon he comes forward for initiation
and further advancement. So, association with devotees is very important. But
here Narottama dasa Thakura laments, sat-sanga chadi kainu asatye
vilasa te-karane lagilo ye karma-bandha-phansa:
"I have given up the association of devotees and tried to enjoy among nondevotees, and immediately maya
has caught me and mangled me in the web of fruitive
activities." Maya is just by our side. As soon as we give up the company
of devotees, maya says, "Yes, come to my
company." Nobody can remain without any company; that is not possible. One
must associate with either maya or Krsna. And when we speak of Krsna,
we mean Krsna and His devotees. Krsna
is never alone. He is always with Radharani, with the
other gopis, with the cowherd boys. So to be Krsna conscious means to keep
association with the devotees of Krsna.
Next
Narottama dasa Thakura says, visaya-visama-visa satata khainu: "I have
always drunk the most dangerous poison of sense gratification." Visaya means "sense gratification." Eating,
sleeping. mating, and defending-these four principles
are called visaya. And visama
means "dangerous." And visa means "poison." If one is
simply engaged with these four activities, just like the animals, then one is simply
drinking poison. That's all. "I know this is poison, but I am so much
intoxicated that I am drinking this poison at every moment." Then, gaura-kirtana-rase maghana na hainu:
"Therefore I could not merge myself into the sankirtana
movement of Lord Caitanya." That is actually the
fact. Those who are too much attached to the materialistic way of life, who are
always drinking the poison of sense gratification, are not attracted by the sankirtana movement.
Finally
Narottama dasa Thakura, representing ourselves, laments, keno va achaye
prana ki sukha paiya: "Why am I
living? I have not associated with the devotees, I have not taken part in the sankirtana movement, I do not understand what is Krsna, I do not understand what
is Lord Caitanya. Then why am I living? What is my
happiness? Why did I not die long, long ago?" So.
this is not only Narottama dasa Thakura's lamentation. Every
one of us should think like that: "If I cannot associate with devotees, if
I cannot understand the Krsna consciousness movement,
if I cannot come in touch with Lord Caitanya and His
associates, it would be better for me to die." This is the substance of
this song.