Pada 46
Sourceअब कत सुरति होति है, राजन्? दिन दस प्रीति करी स्वारथ-हित रहत आपने काजन॥ सबै अयानि भईं सुनि मुरली ठगी कपट की छाजन। अब मन भयो सिंधु के खग ज्यों फिरि फिरि सरत जहाजन॥ वह नातो टूटो ता दिन तें सुफलकसुत-सँग भाजन। गोपीनाथ कहाय सूर प्रभु कत मारत हौ लाजन
aba kata surati hoti hai, rājan? dina dasa prīti karī svāratha-hita rahata āpane kājana|| sabai ayāni bhaīṃ suni muralī ṭhagī kapaṭa kī chājana| aba mana bhayo siṃdhu ke khaga jyoṃ phiri phiri sarata jahājana|| vaha nāto ṭūṭo tā dina teṃ suphalakasuta-sa~ga bhājana| gopīnātha kahāya sūra prabhu kata mārata hau lājana
English translation
Fresh editorial translation from the भ्रमरगीत-सार authority
‘Why would the king remember us now? For ten days he loved us to serve his purpose, then returned to his own affairs. We all became senseless on hearing the flute, cheated beneath a canopy of deceit. Now the mind is like a sea-bird that flies out and returns again and again to the ship. That bond broke on the day he fled with Akrūra, son of Śvaphalka. Calling yourself Lord of the gopīs, Sūrdās’s Lord, why do you keep putting us to shame?’
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Pada 47
Sourceलिखि आई ब्रजनाथ की छाप। बाँधे फिरत सीस पर ऊधो देखत आवै ताप॥ नूतन रीति नंदनंदन की घरघर दीजत थाप। हरि आगे कुब्जा अधिकारी, तातें है यह दाप॥ आए कहन जोग अवराधो अबिगत-कथा की जाप। सूर सँदेसो सुनि नहिं लागै कहौ कौन को पाप?
likhi āī brajanātha kī chāpa| bā~dhe phirata sīsa para ūdho dekhata āvai tāpa|| nūtana rīti naṃdanaṃdana kī gharaghara dījata thāpa| hari āge kubjā adhikārī, tāteṃ hai yaha dāpa|| āe kahana joga avarādho abigata-kathā kī jāpa| sūra sa~deso suni nahiṃ lāgai kahau kauna ko pāpa?
English translation
Fresh editorial translation from the भ्रमरगीत-सार authority
‘The Lord of Vraja’s written seal has arrived. Uddhava carries it bound upon his head, yet the sight of it makes our fever rise. Nandanandana has invented a new custom, posting this proclamation from house to house. Kubjā now has authority before Hari, and therefore this pressure is laid upon us. He has come to impose yoga and make us repeat tales of the unmanifest. Hearing this message gives no joy, says Sūrdās—tell us, whose sin has caused it?’
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Pada 48
Sourceफिरि फिरि कहा सिखावत बात? प्रातकाल उठि देखत, ऊधो, घर घर माखन खात॥ जाकी बात कहत हौ हमसों सो है हमसों दूरि। ह्याँ है निकट जसोदानँदन प्रान-सजीवनमूरि॥ बालक संग लये दधि चोरत खात खवावत ड़ोलत। सूर सीस सुनि चौंकत नावहिं अब काहे न मुख बोलत?
phiri phiri kahā sikhāvata bāta? prātakāla uṭhi dekhata, ūdho, ghara ghara mākhana khāta|| jākī bāta kahata hau hamasoṃ so hai hamasoṃ dūri| hyā~ hai nikaṭa jasodāna~dana prāna-sajīvanamūri|| bālaka saṃga laye dadhi corata khāta khavāvata r̤olata| sūra sīsa suni cauṃkata nāvahiṃ aba kāhe na mukha bolata?
English translation
Fresh editorial translation from the भ्रमरगीत-सार authority
‘Why teach the same thing again and again? At dawn, Uddhava, we see him eating butter from every house. The one of whom you speak is far from us; here Yaśodā’s son stands near, the life-restoring embodiment of our breath. With the children he steals curd, eats it, feeds them, and roams about. Hearing your doctrine they start and lower their heads, says Sūrdās—why does your mouth not answer now?’
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Pada 49
Sourceअपने सगुन गोपालै, माई! यहि बिधि काहे देत? ऊधो की ये निरगुन बातैं मीठी कैसे लेत। धर्म, अधर्म कामना सुनावत सुख औ मुक्ति समेत॥ काकी भूख गई मनलाडू सो देखहु चित चेत। सूर स्याम तजि को भुस फटकै मधुप तिहारे हेत?
apane saguna gopālai, māī! yahi bidhi kāhe deta? ūdho kī ye niraguna bātaiṃ mīṭhī kaise leta| dharma, adharma kāmanā sunāvata sukha au mukti sameta|| kākī bhūkha gaī manalāḍū so dekhahu cita ceta| sūra syāma taji ko bhusa phaṭakai madhupa tihāre heta?
English translation
Fresh editorial translation from the भ्रमरगीत-सार authority
‘Mother, when we have our embodied Gopāla, why does he give us this other thing? How can Uddhava’s qualityless talk taste sweet? He recites righteousness, unrighteousness, desire, happiness, and liberation together—but look within and consider: whose hunger was satisfied by a sweetmeat imagined in the mind? Who abandons Śyāma and sifts chaff, says Sūrdās, merely for your sake, bee?’
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Pada 50
Sourceहमको हरि की कथा सुनाव। अपनी ज्ञानकथा हो, ऊधो! मथुरा ही लै जाव॥ नागरि नारि भले बूझैंगी अपने वचन सुभाव। पा लागों, इन बातनि, रे अलि! उनहीं जाय रिझाव॥ सुनि, प्रियसखा स्यामसन्दर के जो पै जिय सति भाव। हरिमुख अति आरत इन नयननि बारक बहुरि दिखाव॥ जो कोउ कोटि जतन करै, मधुकर, बिरहिनि और सुहाव? सूरदास मीन को जल बिनु नाहिंन और उपाव
hamako hari kī kathā sunāva| apanī jñānakathā ho, ūdho! mathurā hī lai jāva|| nāgari nāri bhale būjhaiṃgī apane vacana subhāva| pā lāgoṃ, ina bātani, re ali! unahīṃ jāya rijhāva|| suni, priyasakhā syāmasandara ke jo pai jiya sati bhāva| harimukha ati ārata ina nayanani bāraka bahuri dikhāva|| jo kou koṭi jatana karai, madhukara, birahini aura suhāva? sūradāsa mīna ko jala binu nāhiṃna aura upāva
English translation
Fresh editorial translation from the भ्रमरगीत-सार authority
‘Tell us Hari’s story. Uddhava, take your own story of knowledge back to Mathurā. The sophisticated women of the city will understand the nature of your words. Bee, I fall at your feet—go delight those women with these teachings. If your heart truly holds the feeling proper to a dear friend of beautiful Śyāma, show these eyes, anguished for Hari’s face, that face once more. Though someone make ten million efforts, bee, what else can please a woman in separation? A fish has no remedy apart from water, says Sūrdās.’
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Pada 51
Sourceअलि हो! कैसे कहौं हरि के रूप-रसहि? मेरे तन में भेद बहुत बिधि रसना न जानै नयन की दसहि॥ जिन देखे ते आहिं बचन बिनु, जिन्हैं बचन दरसन न तिसहि। बिन बानी भरि उमगि प्रेमजल सुमिरि वा सगुन-जसहि॥ चार बार पछितात यहै मन कहा करै जो बिधि न बसहि। सूरदास अँगन की यह गति को समुझावै पाछपद पसुहि?*
ali ho! kaise kahauṃ hari ke rūpa-rasahi? mere tana meṃ bheda bahuta bidhi rasanā na jānai nayana kī dasahi|| jina dekhe te āhiṃ bacana binu, jinhaiṃ bacana darasana na tisahi| bina bānī bhari umagi premajala sumiri vā saguna-jasahi|| cāra bāra pachitāta yahai mana kahā karai jo bidhi na basahi| sūradāsa a~gana kī yaha gati ko samujhāvai pāchapada pasuhi?*
English translation
Fresh editorial translation from the भ्रमरगीत-सार authority
‘Bee, how can I describe the rasa of Hari’s form? My body contains many divided faculties: the tongue does not know the condition of the eyes. Those that saw him have no speech, and that which speaks was never granted sight. Speechless, the eyes overflow with the water of love as they remember the glory of that embodied Lord. Again and again this mind regrets—what can it do when destiny is not under its control? Who could explain one limb’s condition to a backward-footed beast, asks Sūrdās?’
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Pada 52
Sourceहमारे हरि हारिल की लकरी। मन बच क्रम नँदनँदन सों उर यह दृढ़ करि पकरी॥ जागत सोवत, सपने सौंतुख कान्ह कान्ह जक री। सुनतहि जोग लगत ऐसो अलि! ज्यों करुई ककरी॥ सोई ब्याधि हमैं लै आए देखी सुनी न करी। यह तौ सूर तिन्हैं लै दीजै जिनके मन चकरी
hamāre hari hārila kī lakarī| mana baca krama na~dana~dana soṃ ura yaha dṛr̤ha kari pakarī|| jāgata sovata, sapane sauṃtukha kānha kānha jaka rī| sunatahi joga lagata aiso ali! jyoṃ karuī kakarī|| soī byādhi hamaiṃ lai āe dekhī sunī na karī| yaha tau sūra tinhaiṃ lai dījai jinake mana cakarī
English translation
Fresh editorial translation from the भ्रमरगीत-सार authority
‘Our Hari is the twig clutched by the hārila bird. In mind, speech, and deed we have firmly grasped Nandanandana within our hearts. Waking, sleeping, even in dreams, the tongue keeps muttering “Kanhā, Kanhā.” The moment we hear of yoga, bee, it tastes like a bitter cucumber. You have brought us a disease we had never seen, heard of, or suffered. Give it instead, says Sūrdās, to those whose minds spin like wheels.’
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Pada 53
Sourceफिरि फिरि कहा सिखावत मौन? दुसह बचन अलि यों लागत उर ज्यों जारे पर लौन॥ सिंगी, भस्म, त्वचामृग, मुद्रा, अरु अवरोधन पौन। हम अबला अहीर, सठ मधुकर! घर बन जानै कौन॥ यह मत लै तिनहीं उपदेसौ जिन्हैं आजु सब सोहत। सूर आज लौं सुनी न देखी पोत सूतरी पोहत
phiri phiri kahā sikhāvata mauna? dusaha bacana ali yoṃ lāgata ura jyoṃ jāre para launa|| siṃgī, bhasma, tvacāmṛga, mudrā, aru avarodhana pauna| hama abalā ahīra, saṭha madhukara! ghara bana jānai kauna|| yaha mata lai tinahīṃ upadesau jinhaiṃ āju saba sohata| sūra āja lauṃ sunī na dekhī pota sūtarī pohata
English translation
Fresh editorial translation from the भ्रमरगीत-सार authority
‘Why teach us silence again and again? Bee, these unbearable words strike the heart like salt scattered upon a burn. Horn, ashes, deerskin, seals, and the restraint of breath—we are helpless, simple cowherd women; who in house or forest knows such things? Take this doctrine and teach it to those whom all these things suit today. Until now, says Sūrdās, no one has ever heard of or seen a boat of cotton thread floating.’
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Pada 54
Sourceप्रेमरहित यह जोग कौन क़ाज गायो? दीनन सों निठुर बचन कहे कहा पायो? नयनन निज कमलनयन सुन्दर मुख हेरो। मूँदन ते नयन क़हत कौन ज्ञान तेरो? तामें कहु मधुकर! हम कहा लैन जाहीं। जामें प्रिय प्राननाथ नँदनन्दन नाहीं? जिनके तुम सखा साधु बातें कहु तिनकी। जीवैं सुनि स्यामकथा दासी हम जिनकी॥ निरगुन अबिनासी गुन आनि आनि भाखौ। सूरदास जिय के जिय कहाँ कान्ह राखौ?
premarahita yaha joga kauna qāja gāyo? dīnana soṃ niṭhura bacana kahe kahā pāyo? nayanana nija kamalanayana sundara mukha hero| mū~dana te nayana qahata kauna jñāna tero? tāmeṃ kahu madhukara! hama kahā laina jāhīṃ| jāmeṃ priya prānanātha na~danandana nāhīṃ? jinake tuma sakhā sādhu bāteṃ kahu tinakī| jīvaiṃ suni syāmakathā dāsī hama jinakī|| niraguna abināsī guna āni āni bhākhau| sūradāsa jiya ke jiya kahā~ kānha rākhau?
English translation
Fresh editorial translation from the भ्रमरगीत-सार authority
‘What use is this loveless yoga you sing? What have you gained by speaking cruelly to the distressed? Our own eyes have beheld the beautiful lotus-eyed face, yet your knowledge tells us to close those eyes. Tell us, bee—what could we take from a teaching in which dear Nandanandana, the lord of our life-breath, is absent? Speak instead of the one whose virtuous friend you are. We, his maidservants, live by hearing Śyāma’s story. You bring and recite the imperishable qualityless one, but tell us, says Sūrdās: where shall we place Kanhā, already living in the core of our hearts?’
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Pada 55
Sourceजनि चालौ, अलि, बात पराई। ना कोउ कहै सुनै या ब्रज में नइ कीरति सब जाति हिराई॥ बूझैं समाचार मुख ऊधो कुल की सब आरति बिसराई। भले संग बसि भई भली मति, भले मेल पहिचान कराई॥ सुन्दर कथा कटुक सी लागति उपजत उर उपदेस खराई। उलटो न्याव सूर के प्रभु को बहे जात माँगत उतराई
jani cālau, ali, bāta parāī| nā kou kahai sunai yā braja meṃ nai kīrati saba jāti hirāī|| būjhaiṃ samācāra mukha ūdho kula kī saba ārati bisarāī| bhale saṃga basi bhaī bhalī mati, bhale mela pahicāna karāī|| sundara kathā kaṭuka sī lāgati upajata ura upadesa kharāī| ulaṭo nyāva sūra ke prabhu ko bahe jāta mā~gata utarāī
English translation
Fresh editorial translation from the भ्रमरगीत-सार authority
‘Bee, do not circulate another’s tale. No one in Vraja speaks or hears it; this new reputation makes every family lose honor. We ask Uddhava for news from that dear mouth and forget all the anguish of our households. Living in good company has improved his understanding—he has arranged a fine introduction indeed! Yet the lovely story tastes bitter, and a harsh instruction rises in the heart. The Lord’s justice is reversed, says Sūrdās: the one swept away by the flood asks us for the ferryman’s fee.’
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Pada 56
Sourceयाकी सीख सुनै ब्रज को, रे? जाकी रहनि कहनि अनमिल, अलि, कहत समुझि अति थोरे॥ आपुन पद-मकरंद-सुधारस हृदय रहत नित बोरे। हमसों कहत बिरस समझौ, है गगन कूप खनि खोरे। धान को गाँव पयार तें जानौ ज्ञान बिषयरस भोरे। सूर सो बहुत कहे न रहै रस गूलर को फल फोरे
yākī sīkha sunai braja ko, re? jākī rahani kahani anamila, ali, kahata samujhi ati thore|| āpuna pada-makaraṃda-sudhārasa hṛdaya rahata nita bore| hamasoṃ kahata birasa samajhau, hai gagana kūpa khani khore| dhāna ko gā~va payāra teṃ jānau jñāna biṣayarasa bhore| sūra so bahuta kahe na rahai rasa gūlara ko phala phore
English translation
Fresh editorial translation from the भ्रमरगीत-सार authority
‘Who in Vraja will listen to his teaching? His conduct and his speech do not match, bee, and what he says reveals very little understanding. His own heart remains forever immersed in the corrected nectar of the honey at Hari’s feet, while he tells us to accept something tasteless—it is like digging a well in the sky. He mistakes a village rich in grain for a heap of straw; knowledge has made him simple before the rasa of sense. Say as much as you please, says Sūrdās; the sealed fruit of the fig does not reveal its juice when broken.’
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Pada 57
Sourceनिरखत अंक स्यामसुन्दर के बारबार लावति छाती। लोचन-जल कागद-मसि मिलि कै ह्वै गइ स्याम स्याम की पाती॥ गोकुल बसत संग गिरिधर के कबहुं बयारि लगी नहिं ताती। तब की कथा कहा कहौं, ऊधो, जब हम बेनुनाद सुनि जाती॥ हरि के लाड़ गनति नहिं काहू निसिदिन सुदिन रासरसमाती। प्राननाथ तुम कब धौं मिलौगे सूरदास प्रभु बालसँघाती
nirakhata aṃka syāmasundara ke bārabāra lāvati chātī| locana-jala kāgada-masi mili kai hvai gai syāma syāma kī pātī|| gokula basata saṃga giridhara ke kabahuṃ bayāri lagī nahiṃ tātī| taba kī kathā kahā kahauṃ, ūdho, jaba hama benunāda suni jātī|| hari ke lār̤a ganati nahiṃ kāhū nisidina sudina rāsarasamātī| prānanātha tuma kaba dhauṃ milauge sūradāsa prabhu bālasa~ghātī
English translation
Fresh editorial translation from the भ्रमरगीत-सार authority
Again and again she looks at the letters written by beautiful Śyāma and presses them to her breast. The water of her eyes mingles with the ink on the paper until the whole letter becomes dark Śyāma. ‘While we lived in Gokula beside the lifter of the mountain, no hot wind ever touched us. How can I tell of those days, Uddhava, when the sound of the flute drew us away? No one could count Hari’s caresses; night and day were auspicious, steeped in the rasa of the rāsa. Lord of my life, when will you meet us?’ asks Sūrdās of his Lord, the companion of their childhood.
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Pada 58
Sourceमोहिं अलि दुहूं भाँति फल होत। तब रस-अधर लेति मुरली, अब भई कूबरी सौत॥ तुम जो जोगमत सिखवन आए भस्म चढ़ावन अँग। इन बिरहिन में कहुँ कोउ देखी सुमन गुहाये मंग? कानन मुद्रा पहिरि मेखली धरे जटा आधारी। यहाँ तरल तरिवन कहँ देखे अरु तनसुख की सारी॥ परम बियोगिनि रटति रैन दिन धरि मनमोहन-ध्यान। तुम तो चलो वेगि मधुबन को जहाँ जोग को ज्ञान॥ निसिदिन जीजतु है या ब्रज में देखि मनोहर रूप। सूर जोग लै घर घर डोलौ, लेहु लेहु धरि सूप
mohiṃ ali duhūṃ bhā~ti phala hota| taba rasa-adhara leti muralī, aba bhaī kūbarī sauta|| tuma jo jogamata sikhavana āe bhasma car̤hāvana a~ga| ina birahina meṃ kahu~ kou dekhī sumana guhāye maṃga? kānana mudrā pahiri mekhalī dhare jaṭā ādhārī| yahā~ tarala tarivana kaha~ dekhe aru tanasukha kī sārī|| parama biyogini raṭati raina dina dhari manamohana-dhyāna| tuma to calo vegi madhubana ko jahā~ joga ko jñāna|| nisidina jījatu hai yā braja meṃ dekhi manohara rūpa| sūra joga lai ghara ghara ḍolau, lehu lehu dhari sūpa
English translation
Fresh editorial translation from the भ्रमरगीत-सार authority
‘Bee, I have gained fruit in two ways: once the flute was my co-wife, taking the nectar of his lips; now the hunchback has become my rival. You have come to teach the doctrine of yoga and smear ashes on our limbs—but among these women in separation, have you seen even one with flowers woven in the parting of her hair? Where have you seen earrings of yogic seals, a girdle, matted locks, or a begging bowl adorning these tender young vines, whose whole wealth was bodily delight? The supreme women of separation repeat Manamohana’s name night and day, fixing him in meditation. Go swiftly back to Mathurā, where knowledge of yoga belongs. The enchanting embodied form lives here in Vraja day and night. Carry yoga from door to door in a winnowing basket, says Sūrdās: “Take some, take some!”’
Controlled against the proofread Wikisource Page-namespace transcription of the retained 1926 scan.
Pada 59
Sourceबिलग जनि मानौ हमरी बात। डरपति बचन कठोर कहति, मति बिनु पति यों उठि जात। जो कोउ कहत जरे अपने कछु फिरि पाछे पछितात। जो प्रसाद पावत तुम ऊधो कृस्न नाम लै खात॥ मन जु तिहारो हरिचरनन तर अचल रहत दिनरात। 'सूर स्याम तें जोग अधिक' केहि कहि आवत यह बात?
bilaga jani mānau hamarī bāta| ḍarapati bacana kaṭhora kahati, mati binu pati yoṃ uṭhi jāta| jo kou kahata jare apane kachu phiri pāche pachitāta| jo prasāda pāvata tuma ūdho kṛsna nāma lai khāta|| mana ju tihāro haricaranana tara acala rahata dinarāta| 'sūra syāma teṃ joga adhika' kehi kahi āvata yaha bāta?
English translation
Fresh editorial translation from the भ्रमरगीत-सार authority
‘Do not take our words as estrangement. We are frightened even as we speak harshly, lest our mindless husband simply rise and leave. Whoever burns at another’s speech often regrets it afterward. Uddhava, whatever food you receive as alms you eat only after taking Kṛṣṇa’s name. Your own mind remains unmoving beneath Hari’s feet day and night. Who told you to come here saying, asks Sūrdās, that yoga is greater than Śyāma?’
Controlled against the proofread Wikisource Page-namespace transcription of the retained 1926 scan.
Pada 60
Sourceअपनी सी कठिन करत मन निसिदिन। कहि कहि कथा, मधुप, समुझावति तदपि न रहत नंदनंदन बिन॥ बरजत श्रवन सँदेस, नयन जल, मुख बतियाँ कछु और चलावत। बहुत भाँति चित धरत निठुरता सब तजि और यहै जिय आवत॥ कोटि स्वर्ग सम सुख अनुमानत हरि-समीप-समता नहिं पावत। थकित सिंधु-नौका के खग ज्यों फिरि फिरि फेरि वहै गुन गावत॥ जे बासना न बिदरत अंतर तेइ तेइ अधिक अनूअर दाहत। सूरदास परिहरि न सकत तन बारक बहुरि मिल्यो है चाहत
apanī sī kaṭhina karata mana nisidina| kahi kahi kathā, madhupa, samujhāvati tadapi na rahata naṃdanaṃdana bina|| barajata śravana sa~desa, nayana jala, mukha batiyā~ kachu aura calāvata| bahuta bhā~ti cita dharata niṭhuratā saba taji aura yahai jiya āvata|| koṭi svarga sama sukha anumānata hari-samīpa-samatā nahiṃ pāvata| thakita siṃdhu-naukā ke khaga jyoṃ phiri phiri pheri vahai guna gāvata|| je bāsanā na bidarata aṃtara tei tei adhika anūara dāhata| sūradāsa parihari na sakata tana bāraka bahuri milyo hai cāhata
English translation
Fresh editorial translation from the भ्रमरगीत-सार authority
She makes her mind hard like his, day and night. Bee, she explains the doctrine to herself again and again, yet cannot remain without Nandanandana. Her ears forbid the message, her eyes pour water, her mouth speaks something else. In many ways the mind tries to hold to hardness, but abandoning all else, this alone returns to the heart. She imagines the pleasure of ten million heavens, yet none equals nearness to Hari. Like a bird exhausted over the ocean returning again and again to the ship, she circles back and sings only his qualities. The desires that do not split and leave the heart return with still greater fire to burn it. She cannot abandon the body, says Sūrdās; she longs to meet him once more.
Controlled against the proofread Wikisource Page-namespace transcription of the retained 1926 scan.