8/13/2019 Sharagrahi Vaishnava

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Sharagrahi Vaishnava

by Srila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura

Alas for those who spend their daysIn festive mirth and joy.

The da ling! deadly! li"uid formsTheir hearts fore#er employ.

The shining bottles charm their eyesAnd draw their heart#s embrace$The slaves of wine can never rise

%rom what we call disgrace.

&as man intended to beA brute in work and heart'

Should man! the (ord of all around!%rom common sense depart'

)an#s glory is in common sense*ictating us the grace!

That man is made to live and loveThe beauteous +eaven#s embrace.

The flesh is not our own alas$The mortal frame a chain$

The soul confined for former wrongsShould try to rise again.

&hy then this childish play in that&hich cannot be our own$

&hich falls within a hundred yearsAs if a rose ablown.

,ur life is but a rosy hueTo go ere long for naught$

The soul alone would last fore#er&ith good or evil fraught.

+ow deep the thought of times to be-+ow grave the aspect looks-

And wrapt in awe become! ,! we!&hen reading ature#s books.

)an#s life to him a problem dark /A screen both left and right$

o soul hath come to tell us what01ists beyond our sight.

But then a voice! how deep and soft$&ithin ourselves is left$

)an- )an- Thou art immortal soul-Thee *eath can never melt.

%or Thee Thy Sire on +igh has keptA store of bliss above!

To end of time! thou art ,h- +is /&ho wants but purest love.

, (ove- Thy power and spell benignow melt my soul to 2od$

+ow can my earthly words describe

That feeling soft and broad.

0njoyment! sorrow / what but lotsTo which the flesh is heir'

The soul that sleeps alone concludesIn them it hath a share.

And then! my friends! no more enjoyor weep for all below$

The women! wine! and flesh of beastso love on thee bestow.

But thine to love thy brother manAnd give thyself to 2od!

And 2od doth know your wages fair /This fact is true and broad.

%orget the past that sleeps and ne#erThe future dream at all

But act in times that are with theeAnd progress thee shall call.

But tell me not in reasoning cold!The soul is made alone

By earth#s mechanic lifeless rulesAnd to destruction prone.

)y 2od who gave us life and allAlone the soul can kill

,r give it all the joys above+is promise to fulfill.

So push thy onward march! , soul!Against an evil deed

That stands with soldiers +ate and (ust /A hero be indeed.

)aintain thy post in spirit worldAs firmly as you can

(et never matter push thee down /, stand heroic man.

, Sharagrahi Vaishnava soulThou art an angel fair$

(ead! lead me on to VrindabanAnd spirit#s power declare.

There rests my soul from matter free3pon my (over#s arms

0ternal peace and spirits loveAre all my chanting charms.