Bhaja Hu Re Mana

This recording of Bhaja Hu Re Mana (“Oh Mind, Please Worship Nanda Nandana”), is a traditional Gaudiya bhajan originally written by Govinda Dasa Kaviraja at some time in the late 17th century. Traditionally it is sung in Raga Bhairavi in Tintal but here is a contemporary version.

Arrangement: Mohini Murti Devi Dasi and Ekendra Dasa
Lead Vocals: Ekendra Dasa
Response Vocals: Malika Des Fours, Amber McRae, Mohini Murti Devi Dasi, Seva Kunja Devi Dasi
Editing, Producing: Ekendra Dasa
Recorded at Go-run-gaa Studios, ISKCON New Govardhana, Australia

LYRICS:

bhajahū re mana śrī-nanda-nandana
abhaya-caraṇāravinda re
durlabha mānava-janama sat-sańge
taroho e bhava-sindhu re

śīta ātapa bāta bariṣaṇa
e dina jāminī jāgi re
biphale sevinu kṛpaṇa durajana
capala sukha-laba lāgi’ re

e dhana, yaubana, putra, parijana
ithe ki āche paratīti re
kamala-dala-jala, jīvana ṭalamala
bhajahū hari-pada nīti re

śravaṇa, kīrtana, smaraṇa, vandana,
pāda-sevana, dāsya re
pūjana, sakhī-jana, ātma-nivedana
govinda-dāsa-abhilāṣa re

Translation:

1) O mind just worship the lotus feet of the son of Nanda, which make one fearless. Having obtained this rare human birth, cross over this ocean of worldly existence through the association of saintly persons.

2) Both in the day and at night I remain sleepless, suffering the pains of the heat and cold, the wind and the rain. For a fraction of flickering happiness I have uselessly served wicked and miserly men.

3) What assurance of real happiness is there in all of one’s wealth, youthfulness, sons, and family members? This life is tottering like a drop of water on a lotus petal; therefore you should always serve and worship the divine feet of Lord Hari.

4) It is the desire and great longing of Govinda Dasa to engage himself in the nine processes of bhakti, namely hearing the glories of Lord Hari and chanting those glories, constantly remembering Him and offering prayers to Him, serving the Lord’s lotus feet, serving the Supreme Lord as a servant, worshiping Him with flowers and incense and so forth, serving Him as a friend, and completely offering the Lord one’s very self.