કીર્તન મુક્તાવલી
Translation
(1) Janunī jīvo re Gopīchandnī
This kirtan is a eulogy of people in the past who have renounced wealth or women having understood the nature of this impermanent world.
Janunī jīvo re Gopīchandnī, putrane preryo vairāg jī;
Long live Gopichand’s mother, for she inspired him to follow the path of vairāgya.
Updesh āpyo eṇī pere, lāgyo sansārīḍo āg jī... jan 1
She instructed him to renounce; consequently, Gopichand burned the worldly life [in his mind].
Dhanya dhanya mātā Dhruv taṇī, kahyā kathaṇ vachan jī;
How blessed is Dhruv’s mother. She spoke some harsh words to him.
Rāj sāj sukh parharī, vege chāliyā van jī... jan 2
Dhruv renounced the royal life and left for the jungle briskly.
Bhalo re tyāg Bhartharī taṇo, tajī jene solse nār jī;
How blessed is Bharthari’s vairāgya. He left behind 1,600 women.
Mandir jharūkhā melī karī, āsan kidhlā bā’r jī... jan 3
He left his palace with many balconies and found a place out in the open.
Ūṭhī na shake re ūntiyo, bahu bolāvyo Bājand jī;
The camel could not get up, despite King Bajand calling it many times.1
Tene re dekhīne trās upanyo, līdhī fakīrī chhoḍyo fand jī... jan 4
Seeing the dead camel, Bajand was troubled (by the fate of life). He renounced and left behind the troubles of life.
Evā vairāgya vantne jāu vārṇe, bījā gayā re anek jī;
I honor those who possess such vairāgya. Besides these, others have died in vain...
Bhalā re bhundā avnī upare, gaṇtā nāve chhek jī... jan 5
...both good and bad on the earth; one cannot reach the end counting.
Kyā gayu kuḷ Rāvaṇ taṇu, Sagar sut sāṭh hajār jī;
Where did the family of Ravan go? And the 60,000 sons of Sagar?
Na rahyu nāṇu re rājā Nandnu, sarve supan vyavhār jī... jan 6
King Nand’s wealth did not remain.2 Worldly life is all a dream (temporary).
Evā chhatrāpati chālī gayā, rāj mūkī rājan jī;
Such great kings have left, leaving behind their kingdoms.
Dev dānav re mānav muni, sarve jāṇo supan jī... jan 7
The devtās, dānavs, humans, and rishis (all have left). Understand that this is all a dream.
Samjī muko to sāru ghaṇu, jarūr mukāvshe Jam jī;
It is a good thing if you let it go with understanding. Otherwise, Jam will certainly make you leave it behind.
Nishkuḷānand kahe nahi maṭe, sāchu kahu khāī sam jī... jan 8
Nishkulanand Swami says (your worldly desires) will not cease; I swear I am telling you the truth.
1. Yogiji Maharaj narrates the story of King Bajand in his unique style here: King Bajand.
2. King Nand was a greedy king who gathered all the wealth of the world. He had a bone of Varah, by which he could go to the ocean floor to store his wealth. Naradji told King Nand’s queen that it belonged to the previous queen and that he kept it as a reminder of his affection for her. This upset the present queen, who threw the bone in the fire. Hearing this, Nand died of shock instantly. Gunatitanand Swami mentions King Nand in Swamini Vato 1/85