dInapralApa dwAdashakam
In the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, M. notes that once Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa said, “Can you weep for Him with intense longing of heart? Men shed a jugful of tears for the sake of their children, for their wives, or for money. But who weeps for God? So long as the child remains engrossed with its toys, the mother looks after her cooking and other household duties. But when the child no longer relishes the toys, it throws them aside and yells for its mother. Then the mother takes the rice-pot down from the hearth, runs in haste, and takes the child in her arms”
Innumerable Mahans like Meera, Andal, Tukaram, Purandarasa have cried like that, day and night for God.
In this dinapralApa dwadashakam, a set of 12 verses, Sri Swamiji assumes the bhava of an ordinary person like us and cries to the Lord to shower His compassion and help him to transcend this ocean of Samsara
The lyrics and the meaning are presented here
dInapralApa dvAdashakam
prApya shramENA sanmArgam sadyo gacchAmyadogatim |
Ato vai rakshitavyoham bhavatA dInavatsala ||
Having obtained this good path with great difficulty, at once I am descending down, so please protect me! O compassionate One!
AjanmakrutamadbhaktyA bhavAn tushtim na vindate |
anyatA shAntihInoham katam charAmi bhUtale ||
If you are not happy with the devotion done by me from birth, then how can I peacefully live in this world?
dehe yauvanabhUyishTe shaktyArogya samanvite |
na krutam shreyase kinchit kim karomi bhavishyati ||
When the body is full of youth, therefore filled with health and energy, I am not doing anything for (my) real good, then what will I do in the future (when I become old)?
kadAchidanaghA bhakti: durlabheti samAdade |
jAtvahameva sanneti matvA dukhI bhavAmyaho ||
Sometimes I feel consoled thinking that pure devotion is very rare. But later realizing that I am only not proper, I become very despondent.
Ayustu svalpamevAsti pIDA tu sumahattamA |
sA tApatrayajAtA hi na jAne me gati: prabho ||
The lifetime is very less, but the pain caused by Tapatrayas is abundant, O Lord, I do not know my condition!
Arabhyante hi sarvANI sAdhanAni mayA prabho |
tyajyante tu punastAnyashraddAm me darshayanti cha ||
O Lord! All practises are started by me but then again I drop it due to my negligence
sankhyAhInastu me dosha: pareshAm gaNayAmyaham |
mamAvathAmimAm drishtvA jAyate vedanA mayi ||
Without counting my faults(countless are my faults, yet), I see faults in others and having seen this attitude in me, I become very sad
mayA gantavyalokAdi maranAntaram prabho |
janayanti mana: kampam bahujanmAntarANi cha ||
O Lord! After death, the various worlds that I have to go and also the many births that I have to take are making my mind tremble with fear.
durgatim mama sandrushya paryAlochya cha sadgatim |
parAgatirbhAneva dInam mAm tAraya prabho ||
O Lord! Having seen my bad state and also considering attaining a good state, You are the only Supreme One who is my refuge, so please help this pitiable one like me to cross over (the ocean of samsara)
durAvastAmimAm drishtvA rudyAmiti kvachidgata: |
bhavetannAtakam nUnam sAdhushcedAcaret khalu ||
Seeing this misfortune I sometimes want to go and cry, but that would certainly become an enactment, a true Sadhu would actually display it through their actions, isn’t it?
dayAlo dayanIyo aham bhavatA akinchanapriya |
tAraNashIlavAtsalyam pratyaksham darshayaprabho ||
O merciful Lord, I am one in need of mercy. O The One who loves the destitute! O Lord, make that affection of yours, which can help cross (the ocean of samsara) perceivable.
nishchayasti mamAstyEka: krupaiva tava me gati: |
idameva sadA satyam prabho nAnyadvimochanam ||
Oh Lord! I know one thing certainly, Your compassion alone is my refuge, this alone is the eternal truth, there is no other deliverance.
Sowmya Balasubramanian, CA
