Worldly Life

आशाबद्ध जन । काय जाणे नारायण ॥१॥

A person bound by hope can never know Narayana. Such a one serves only the senses and covets what others possess. Bewild…

नव्हे आराणूक संवसारा हातीं । सर्वकाळ चित्तीं हा चि धंदा ॥१॥

There is no ease once fallen into the crevice of worldly life; the chitta churns with this one hustle at all hours. Devo…

आहाकटा त्याचे करिती पितर । वंशीं दुराचार पुत्र जाला ॥१॥

Alas for the ancestors of that family in which a wicked son is born. Would the pregnancy not have miscarried? Why was th…

सुख पाहतां जवापाडें । दुःख पर्वता एवढें ॥१॥

Pleasure is the size of a barley grain; suffering is as vast as a mountain. Hold this remembrance firmly; trust the word…

भोगें घडे त्याग । त्यागें अंगा येती भोग ॥१॥

Through indulgence comes renunciation; through renunciation, pleasures return. The workings run contrary: adharma dwells…

गेली वीरसरी । मग त्यासि रांड मारी ॥१॥

When valor departs, even a woman can beat you. Once gone, that former strength cannot be recovered. A chitta once shatte…

देवाचे म्हणोनि देवीं अनादर । हें मोठें आश्चर्य वाटतसे ॥१॥

It is astonishing that the gods themselves neglect what belongs to God. What then can be said of ordinary people, who c…

सांपडला संदीं । मग बळिया पडे फंदीं ॥१॥

When caught in the snare of circumstance, even the mighty fall into confusion. Who can hold off time? All are in the ha…

ऐसा हा लौकिक कदा राखवेना । पतितपावना देवराया ॥१॥

It is impossible to satisfy the world's opinion, O Lord, Redeemer of the fallen. If you engage in worldly life, they ca…

मायबापें जरी सर्पीण बोका । त्यांचे संगें सुखा न पवे बाळ ॥१॥

If one's parents are like a serpent or a cat, the child will find no happiness in their company. A stake made of sandal…

माझें म्हणतां याला कां रे नाहीं लाज । कन्या पुत्र भाज धन वित्त ॥१॥

Why is this person not ashamed to call daughters, sons, and wealth his own? No one can free him from the hands of Death…

धिग जीणें तो बाइले आधीन । परलोक मान नाही दोन्ही ॥१॥

Shame on the life of one enslaved to his wife; he loses both the next world and his honor. Shame on the life of one who…

विधीनें सेवन । विषयत्यागातें समान ॥१॥

Enjoying the senses according to scriptural injunction is equal to renouncing them. The chief duty is to hold God in on…

एक नेणतां नाडली । एकां जाणिवेची भुली ॥१॥

Some are ruined by ignorance; others are deluded by their own cleverness. Both paths lead to trouble, like a well on ei…

देहबुद्धि वसे लोभ जयां चित्तीं । आपुलें जाणती परावें जे ॥१॥

Those whose chitta is steeped in body-consciousness and greed, who distinguish between 'mine' and 'another's,' need prov…

सर्वसुखाचिया आशा जन्म गेला । क्षण मुक्ती यत्न नाहीं केला । हिंडतां दिशा सीण पावल…

My whole life has passed in the pursuit of every pleasure, yet not a moment's effort was made toward liberation. Wanderi…

कोण सुख धरोनि संसारीं । राहों सांग मज बा हरी । अवघ्या नाशिवंता परी । थिता दुरी अ…

What happiness is there in worldly life that I should cling to it? Tell me, O Hari. Everything is perishable; the Eterna…

बहुत जाचलों संसारीं । वसें गभाअ मातेच्या उदरीं । लक्ष चौ†याशी योनिद्वारीं । जालो…

I have suffered greatly in worldly life, dwelling in the womb of a mother, wandering through eighty-four lakh lakh forms…

शरीर दुःखाचें कोठार । शरीर रोगाचें भांडार । शरीर दुगपधीची थार । नाहीं अपवित्र शर…

The body is a storehouse of suffering, a warehouse of disease, a den of foul odors. There is nothing as impure as the bo…

विश्वव्यापी माया । तिणें झाकुिळलें छाया ॥1॥

Maya pervades the whole world and has covered everything with her shadow. Truth has been swallowed up, and ignorance rei…

मन गुंतलें लुलयां । जाय धांवोनि त्या ठाया ॥1॥

The mind is entangled in trivialities and runs after them constantly. The one who pulls it back and turns it around is t…

लटिकियाच्या आशा । होतों पडिलों वळसा । होउनियां दोषा । पात्र मिथ्या अभिमानें ॥1॥

I had been caught in the snare of false hopes. Through worthless pride I had become a vessel for blame. But now my visi…

दुःखाचे डोंगर लागती सोसावे । ऐसें तंव ठावें सकळांसीं ॥1॥

Mountains of suffering must be endured; this much is known to everyone. The quality of past lives can be inferred from …

कळों येतें तरि कां नव्हे । पडती गोवें भ्रमाचे ॥1॥

If you can see the truth, why do you fall into the snares of delusion? Even with full knowledge, ruin comes. Hear this …

चोरटें सुनें मारिलें टाळे । केंउं करी परि न संडी चाळे ॥1॥

A thief caught and beaten still cannot abandon his tricks. There is one such evildoer, O God, who destroys his own life…

चोर टेंकाचे निघाले चोरी । आपलें तैसें पारखे घरीं ॥1॥

Thieves full of bluster set out to steal, but in the end they are robbed themselves. There is no profit; one only loses…

मुदल जतन जालें । मग लाभाचें काय आलें ॥1॥

When the principal has been kept intact, what profit has actually come? One hands over the valuables at home and cannot…

जन तरी देखें गुंतलें प्रपंचें । स्मरण तें त्याचें त्यासी नाहीं ॥1॥

The world is entangled in its affairs and has no remembrance of Him. Seeing this forest of destruction, my mind turns b…

महुरा ऐसीं फळें नाहीं । आलीं कांहीं गळती ॥1॥

Fruits like the mahua are rare to find; some fall before they ripen. Few reach full maturity, and most are lost along t…

त्रिपुटीच्या योगें । कांहीं नव्हे कोणां जोगें । एक जातां लागें । एक पाठीं लागतें…

Bound by the triputi, nothing is fully within anyone's grasp. When one passes, another follows at your heels. Before an…

बीजापोटीं पाहे फळ । विध न करितां सकळ ॥1॥

He who seeks fruit within the seed without tending it at all: call such a one a fool, a madman. How will he ever escape …

मुळाचिया मुळें । दुःखें वाढती सकळे ॥1॥

From the root cause, all sufferings multiply. It is not the way of the yogi to increase this effort. One does not know…

नको सांडूं अन्न नको सेवूं वन । चिंतीं नारायण सर्व भोगीं ॥1॥

Do not abandon food, and do not retire to the forest. Contemplate Narayana through all your daily enjoyments. A child o…

जातिविजातीची व्हावयासि भेटी । संकल्प तो पोटीं वाहों नये ॥1॥

One should not carry the intention of mingling the pure with the impure in one's belly. Whatever is to happen will happ…

प्रारब्धा हातीं जन । सुख सीण पावतसे ॥1॥

People are in the hands of destiny, experiencing joy and weariness accordingly. By keeping company with the afflicted, …

काय शरीरापें काम । कृपा साधावया प्रेम । उचिताचे धर्म । भागा आले ते करूं ॥1॥

What need has the body to strain itself? Let the work be to win God's grace and love. Whatever duties destiny brings, le…

भरला दिसे हाट । अवघी वाढली खटपट । संचिताचे वाट । वाटाऊनि फांकती ॥1॥

The marketplace of life appears crowded, and complication has only increased. The roads of accumulated karma diverge and…

अंतराय पडे गोविंदीं अंतर । जो जो घ्यावा भार तो चि बाधी ॥1॥

Obstacles create distance from Govinda. Every burden one takes up only hinders further. Wherever I sit, I will remember…

संसारसंगें परमार्थ जोडे । ऐसें काय घडे जाणतेनो ॥1॥

Can one attain the highest good while remaining entangled in worldly life? O wise ones, tell me how. It is like sorting…

पोट लागलें पाठीशीं । हिंडवितें देशोदेशीं ॥1॥

The belly clings to the back with hunger, driving one to wander from land to land. Wherever one goes out of fear of the…

भोग भोगावरी द्यावा । संचिताचा करुनी ठेवा ॥1॥

Let one experience follow another, spending the store of past actions. Hold patience for the sake of the jiva; that is t…

नाहीं कोणी दिस जात वांयांविण । साध्य नाहीं सीण लटिका चि ॥1॥

Not a single day passes without purpose; even if nothing is achieved, the toil itself is not in vain. Something must res…

काय केलें जळचरीं । ढीवर त्यांच्या घातावरी ॥1॥

What have the fish ever done wrong? Yet the fisherman preys upon them all the same. This is simply the nature of things,…

कामातुरा भय लाज ना विचार । शरीर असार तृणतुल्य ॥1॥

The one seized by lust knows no fear, no shame, no reasoning; the body becomes worthless as a blade of grass. Marvelous …

करील आबाळी । माझ्या दांताची कसाळी ॥1॥

Troubles will crush me like a sugarcane mill. If someone dies, the world will come chasing after. Quarrels break out at…

काय करावें म्यां केले ते विचार । घडेल साचार काय पाहों ॥1॥

What plans I made, let me now see what truly comes to pass. Does the mind not hold its own desire? Only what destiny pro…

आह्मां अराणूक संवसारा हातीं । पडिली नव्हती आजिवरी ॥1॥

Until now, worldly life never gave us rest. The mind was always occupied with wife, children, and wealth; we were consta…

पाप पुण्य दोन्ही वाहाती मारग । स्वर्गनर्कभोग यांचीं पेणीं ॥1॥

Sin and virtue both lead down their respective roads; heaven and hell are the lodgings along the way. One follows the ot…

पायरवे अन्न । मग करी क्षीदक्षीण ॥1॥

Rich food at first, then it brings on weakness. Such are the treacheries that come from profitless company. A lifetime'…

कर्कशसंगति । दुःख उदंड फजिती ॥1॥

The company of the harsh brings immense suffering and disgrace. There is neither fulfillment here nor in the world beyon…

मुळीं नेणपण । जाला तरी अभिमान ॥1॥

From the very root, there is ignorance; then pride grows from it. To go to waste in this way is the certain outcome. Th…

वितीयेवढेंसें पोट । केवढा बोभाट तयाचा ॥1॥

The belly is only the span of a hand, yet what a great commotion it creates. Let this humiliation burn; hunger makes the…

सर्वथा ही खोटा संग । उपजे भंग मनासी ॥1॥

The company of the wicked is wholly false; it only breeds disturbance in the mind. The world is full of colorful display…

बरें सावधान । राहावें समय राखोन ॥1॥

Remain well alert, watching for the right moment. All times are not equal; misfortune can overtake anyone. Gain or loss…

धर्म तो न कळे । काय झांकितील डोळे ॥1॥

Dharma is not understood; people just shut their eyes. Jivas are bewildered by lust; how can they perceive any truth? Th…

करितां होया व्हावें चित्त चि नाहीं । घटापटा कांहीं करूं नये ॥1॥

When the chitta is not in it, nothing can be accomplished; one should not force jars and pots to yield what they do not …

अविश्वासीयाचें शरीर सुतकी । विटाळ पातकी भेद वाही ॥1॥

The body of one without faith is impure from birth; he carries the taint of difference and defilement. How can his vine …

भोग तो न घडे संचितावांचूनि । करावें तें मनीं समाधान ॥1॥

Nothing happens without the fruition of past karma. Therefore, keep the mind at peace. For this reason, do not harbor g…

आपुलिया आंगें तोडी मायाजाळ । ऐसें नाहीं बळ कोणापाशीं ॥1॥

No one has the strength to break Maya's web by one's own effort. As long as joy and sorrow have not been digested, those…

मेलियांच्या रांडा इिच्छती लेकरूं । लाज नाहीं धरूं प्रीती कैशी ॥1॥

Widows who have lost their husbands still desire children; how shameless is this clinging to affection. Past and future …

उखतें आयुष्य जायांचें किळवर । अवघें वोडंबर विषयांचें ॥1॥

Life is as uncertain as a crumbling wall; all the pomp of the senses is mere show. Who shall I ask, and whom shall I con…

जरी आलें राज्य मोळविक्या हातां । तरी तो मागुता व्यवसायी ॥1॥

Even if a kingdom falls into the hands of a bundle-carrier, he returns to his old trade. The offspring of craving know n…

संचितावांचून । पंथ न चलवे कारण ॥1॥

Without accumulated merit, the path cannot be walked. Empty striving is all in vain; one merely swallows one's own spitt…

भेणें पळे डोळसा । न कळे मृत्यु तो सरिसा ॥1॥

A person with sight runs from death in fear, not knowing that death runs alongside. How has this bewilderment come about…

चोराचिया धुडका मनीं । वसे ध्यानीं लंछन ॥1॥

In the guilty thief's mind, the mark of his crime always dwells. What can we do about such people? Let the rain of justi…

विभ्रंशिली बुिद्ध देहांत जवळी । काळाची अकाळीं वायचाळा ॥1॥

The intellect falters as death draws near; at the wrong hour, idle chatter is all that remains. Like a ripe leaf that dr…

मान इच्छी तो अपमान पावे । अमंगळ सवे अभाग्याची॥1॥

He who craves honor receives only dishonor; misfortune is the constant companion of the unlucky. When one depends on ano…

उचिताचा भाग होतों राखोनियां । दिसती ते वांयां कष्ट गेले ॥1॥

I was guarding my rightful share, but all those efforts now seem to have gone to waste. No taste for good counsel remain…

पुढें जेणें लाभ घडे । तें चि वेडे नाशिती ॥1॥

That which would bring future gain is the very thing the foolish destroy. What greater self-deception is there than swal…

बिळवंत कर्म । करी आपुला तो धर्म ॥1॥

One's powerful karma enforces its own law. It seizes authority and drags the fallen further into ruin. Wrong actions, o…

लटिकें हासें लटिकें रडें । लटिकें उडें लटिक्यापें॥1॥

False is the laughter, false is the weeping. False is the leaping about for false things. False is 'mine,' false is 'yo…

जन्मा येणें घडे पातकाचे मूळें । संचिताचें फळ आपुलिया ॥1॥

Birth itself happens because of past sin; it is the fruit of one's own accumulated karma. Then why carry useless sorrow?…

कोणा चिंता आड । कोणा लोकलाज नाड ॥1॥

For some, worldly anxiety stands in the way. For others, the fear of public opinion is the obstacle. Where then is Rama…

धनवंतालागीं । सर्वमान्यता आहे जगीं ॥1॥

The wealthy man is honored by all the world. Mother, father, brothers, and the whole community respect his word. As lon…

जन हें सुखाचें दिल्याघेतल्याचें । अंत हें काळींचें नाहीं कोणी ॥1॥

People's affection lasts only as long as there is giving and receiving; in the hour of death, no one stands by you. When…

गोहो यावा गांवा । ऐसे नवस करी आवा ॥1॥

The mother makes vows that her son should return home safely to the village. But what merit can she gather when she spen…

बाळपणें ऐसीं वरुषें गेलीं बारा । खेळतां या पोरा नानामतें ॥1॥

Twelve years of childhood pass in play, with all manner of games. Bat and ball, tipcat, leapfrog, hide and seek, all sor…

तारुण्याच्या मदें न मनी कोणासी । सदा मुसमुसी खूळ जैसा ॥1॥

Drunk on youth, he respects no one, always smirking like a madman. With his turban tied in fancy knots, he roams among p…

ह्मातारपणीं थेटे पडसें खोकला । हात कपाळाला लावुनि बैसे ॥1॥

In old age come sneezing, colds, and coughing. He sits with his hand pressed to his forehead. His mouth has shriveled l…

जिंकावा संसार । येणें नांवें तरी शूर ॥1॥

He alone is truly a warrior who conquers the worldly life. All others are mere wretches, horses ridden by ego. By this …

आपुलें वेचूनि खोडा घाली पाव । ऐसे जया भाव हीनबुिद्ध तो ॥1॥

He who spends his own capital to shackle his own feet, such a person is of low intellect. In the company of sense pleasu…

काय करूं सांगतां ही न कळे वर्म । उपिस्थत भ्रम उपजवितो ॥1॥

What am I to do when the secret cannot be understood even after being told? The delusion that is already present keeps g…

निजों नव्हें सकाळवेळीं । रातीकाळी चिंन चिंनी॥1॥

I cannot sleep in the morning, and at night worry gnaws without cease. The wretch has latched on to my back and made my …

दिली हाक मनें नव्हे ती जतन । वेंटािळल्या गुणें धांव घेती ॥1॥

When the mind calls out, it cannot guard itself, and the senses come rushing in a swarm. Lust, anger, pride, envy, ego, …

लावुनियां गोठी । चुकवूं आदरिली दिठी । देउनियां मिठी । पळे महिमा थुलिया ॥1॥

Maya lures with sweet talk and steals away one's gaze. Offering an embrace, she flees with all one's glory. She sets he…

देहबुिद्ध वसे जयाचियें अंगीं । पूज्यता त्या जगीं सुख मानी ॥1॥

One in whom body-consciousness resides takes pleasure in being honored by the world. A great deception has befallen him …

नेलें सळेंबळें । चित्तावित्ताचें गांठोळें ॥1॥

By force and cunning, the bundle of my mind and possessions has been taken. My own household conspired against me; the t…

किती चौघाचारें । येथें गोविलीं वेव्हारें ॥1॥

How many have been ensnared by social convention and worldly dealings? Their necks are bound, and they cannot free thems…

मरोनियां गेली माया । मग तया कोण पुसे ॥1॥

When the mother dies and goes, who then asks about her? Who hears the cries of the orphaned children? Such is the way of…

चुकलों या ऐशा वर्मा । तरी कर्मा सांपडलों ॥1॥

If I miss this vital secret, then I fall into the hands of karma. It pursues me and causes ruin, forcing me to endure th…

उचिताचा काळ । साधावया युिHबळ । आपलें सकळ । ते प्रसंगीं पाहिजे ॥1॥

One must seize the right moment with all one's strength and bring everything to bear at that occasion. There is no certa…

बीजीं फळाचा भरवसा । जतन सिंचनासरिसा । चाविलिया आसा । काकुलती ते नाड ॥1॥

The seed holds the promise of fruit, and one tends it carefully with watering. When hope is chewed away, one is left ple…

भले लोक नाहीं सांडीत ओळखी । हे तों झाली देखी दुस†याची ॥1॥

Good people never abandon a relationship. But this has become a spectacle for strangers. Let it be. What force can prev…

 कांहीं दुसरा विचार । न लगे करावा चि फार ॥1॥

No great deliberation is needed for this. Becoming a merchant, a headman, or a revenue officer, one carries the weight o…

 वडील आणि धाकुलें । नाहीं ऐसें जालें दुसरें तें ॥1॥

Elder or younger, nothing quite like this has ever been. From the very root, neither kinsmen nor mother are of any use. …

 पापांचीं संचितें देहासी दंडण । तुज नारायणा बोल नाहीं ॥1॥

The accumulated sins punish the body; no blame attaches to You, O Narayana. One who sows bitter cumin and expects the fr…

 मायेचा मारिला अंगीं नाहीं घाव । दुःखें तरी लव धडधडी ॥1॥

Maya has struck, yet there is no wound on the body; still, the slightest pain makes one tremble. One cannot keep up with…

 प्रपंच परमार्थ संपादोनि दोन्ही । एक ही निदानीं न घडे त्यासी ॥1॥

One who tries to succeed at both worldly life and spiritual life together will accomplish neither in the end. Reaching f…

 संगें वाढे सीण न घडे भजन । त्रिविध हें जन बहु देवा ॥1॥

In the company of worldly people, weariness grows and devotion does not happen. The people of this world are of three ki…

 पापाचिया मुळें । जालें सत्याचें वाटोळें ॥1॥

Because of sin, truth has been undone. Faults have become powerful, and righteousness has vanished. The rains threaten …