Durlabha Manava Janma

Bhaktivinoda Thakura

Bhaktivinod Thakur has written this song “Durlabha Manava Janma”. The official name for this song is “Nirvedana Laksana Upalabdhi Song 4. This song is taken from the book Kalyana Kalpataru. Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that people in material world are 24/7 engaging in material activities. Eating, sleeping ,etc is their main motive. We don’t realize that time is the key factor and death is hoovering on us. When we die our body is useless and animals and worms feast on our lifeless body. People who are smart will take a wise decision and will stop indulging in material affairs and will take the shelter of Sri Krishna Caitanya. He is is the God of this universe and He is the protector of everyone.

 

(1)
durlabha mānava-janma labhiyā saḿsāre
kṛṣṇa nā bhajinu-duḥkha kahibo kāhāre
(2)
‘saḿsār’ ‘saḿsār’ ko’re miche gelo kāl
lābha nā koilo kichu, ghaṭilo jañjāl
(3)
kiser saḿsār ei chāyābāji prāy
ihāte mamatā kori’ bṛthā dina jāy
(4)
e deho patana ho’le ki ro’be āmār
keho sukha nāhi dibe putra-parivār
(5)
gardabher mata āmi kori pariśram
kā’r lāgi’ eto kori nā ghucilo bhram
(6)
dina jāy micha kāje, niśā nidrā-baśe
nāhi bhāvi-maraṇa nikaṭe āche bo’se
(7)
bhālo manda khāi, heri, pari, cintā-hīna
nāhi bhāvi, e deho chāḍibo kon dina
(8)
deho-geho-kalatrādi-cintā avirata
jāgiche hṛdoye mor buddhi kori’ hata
(9)
hāy, hāy! nāhi bhāvi-anitya e saba
jīvana vigate kothā rohibe vaibhava
(10)
śmaśāne śarīr mama poḍiyā rohibe
bihańga-patańga tāy bihār koribe
(11)
kukkur sṛgāl sab ānandita ho’ye
mahotsava koribe āmār deho lo’ye
(12)
je deher ei gati, tā’r anugata
saḿsār-vaibhava ār bandhu-jana jata
(13)
ataeva māyā-moha chāḍi’ buddhimān
nitya-tattva kṛṣṇa-bhakti koruna sandhān

TRANSLATION

1) The human form of life is the rarest opportunity for attaining spiritual perfection. But now I am lamenting, because I’ve somehow or other been born with such an opportunity, and I wasted it by never worshiping Lord Krsna. Oh, to whom shall I tell the tale of this misery?

2) Having married and entered into the entanglements of materialistic family life, I passed my time in vain. I never got any tangible gain or permanent benefit, only trouble and botheration.

3) What kind of world is this anyway? It seems to be just like a magic lantern show that I saw at a carnival, wherein so many shadows and optical illusions dance magically before my eyes. I feel great attachment and identification with such a world, and thus day after day pass by fruitlessly, without any purpose whatsoever.

4) When this body drops dead on the ground then what will remain mine? At that moment, all of my sons and dearest loved ones will not be able to give me any happiness.

5) I work hard just like an ass everyday and now I am wondering for whom am I working so hard? I am still surrounded by so many illusions.

6) I waste every day in useless, insignificant work, and I waste every night controlled by sleep. And in every 24 hours I never for one second consider that cruel death is sitting very close by my side.

7) I live a very carefree life-style, sometimes eating a lot, or eating a little if I feel like it, sometimes I see nice things around the town, or sometimes I do not go out at all, sometimes I wear opulent clothing, or if I’m in the mood, I’ll wear something simple. I live so carefree that I never consider that one day I will have to give up this body.

8) My poor heart is plagued by constant anxieties about the maintenance and daily turmoil created by my body, my house, my wife, my family members and my social obligations. All these anxieties are pinching me and destroying all my intelligence.

9) Alas, alas! What a remorseful situation has arisen! I am absorbed in all this trouble, but I never consider that all these things are temporary and subject to perish very soon. After I’m dead and gone, where will all of my material opulences remain?

10) When my body will be thrown in the pit at the cremation grounds, it will simply lie there motionlessly. Then many crows, vultures, ants, and worms will come and playfully sport there.

11) All the stray dogs and jackals will then become very much delighted, and in great ecstasy they will make a festival ground out of my body and will have a huge celebration and feast.

12) Just see, this is the ultimate destination of this material body. And the most amazing thing is that all of my material opulences, house, family and friends have exactly the same destination.

13) Therefore I ask of anyone who has any sharp intelligence: please give up all of these temporary illusions presented by maya, and kindly search after the means to get pure devotion to Lord Krsna, for this is the only really tangible eternal truth.

Listen:
Durlabha Manava Janma – Sung by HG Jai Sachinanadana Prabhu
Durlabha Manava Janma – Sung by HH Radhanath Swami