Listen, I am the Vasudeva singing to you;
attend and listen in a spirit of faith. Do
not shut your eyes and create night; death sits
numbering your days. Remember Rama early;
break off old fetters.
Cast off idle distractions; let your thoughts dwell
on Govinda. Consider how transient this body
is; a hundred years are appointed for it, but night
eats up half of them. Before us lie infancy,
vexation, disease and decay; consider what is left.
We have no ground of assurance
that lasts a moment; O awake! Renounce affection
and hope! Strength avails not; the net will fall
upon you; when you awake, you will find
yourself caught in the long revolution. Attempt
to follow him, much or little; be devout, be
strenuous in faith, if you mean to secure happiness
in the end. I fold my hands and entreat all men,
great and small; give this little gift to my piteous
prayer. Tuka’s brother says, Cry to Rama!
attend and listen in a spirit of faith. Do
not shut your eyes and create night; death sits
numbering your days. Remember Rama early;
break off old fetters.
Cast off idle distractions; let your thoughts dwell
on Govinda. Consider how transient this body
is; a hundred years are appointed for it, but night
eats up half of them. Before us lie infancy,
vexation, disease and decay; consider what is left.
We have no ground of assurance
that lasts a moment; O awake! Renounce affection
and hope! Strength avails not; the net will fall
upon you; when you awake, you will find
yourself caught in the long revolution. Attempt
to follow him, much or little; be devout, be
strenuous in faith, if you mean to secure happiness
in the end. I fold my hands and entreat all men,
great and small; give this little gift to my piteous
prayer. Tuka’s brother says, Cry to Rama!