eka-dina jijnasilena gosani sanatana
"'yukta vairagya' kare bale prabhu karuna varnana [1]

One day, Sanatan Goswami asked, "What is proper renunciation? O Lord, please explain it.

mayavadi bale, 'saba kaka-vistha-sama
visaya janile nyasi haya sarvottama' [2]

"Mayavadis say, 'If a sannyasi considers everything material to be crow's stool, then they are the best of men.'

vaisnavera ki kartavya janite ichchha kari
krpa kari' ajna kara ajna sire dhari" [3]

"I want to know the duties of a Vaisnava. Please instruct me, so I can hold Your instructions on my head."

prabhu bale, "vairagya haya dui ta prakara
'phalgu'-'yukta' bhede ami sikhainu bara bara [4]

The Lord said, "There are two types of renunciation: false and proper. I have taught the difference between them many times.

karmi jnani yabe kare nirveda asraya
tara chitte phalgu-vairagya paya dustasaya [5]

"When materialists and speculators resort to apathy (towards the world), the wickedness of false renunciation arises in their minds.

samsarete tuchchha-buddhi asiya takhana
jada-viparita dharme kare pravartana [6]

"They develop the mentality that samsara is trifling and begin to oppose material nature.

krsna-seva sadhu-seva atma-rasasvada
jada-viparita dharme paya nitanta avasada [7]

"Service to Krishna and the sadhus is relishable to the soul. By simply opposing material nature, you end up completely disheartened.

phalgu-vairagira mana sada suska rasa-hina
nama-rupa-guna-lila na haya samichina [8]

"The mind of a false renunciant is always dry and dissatisfied. It is unfit for the Lord's Name, Form, Qualities, and Pastimes.

yukta-vairagira bhakti haya ta' sulabha
krsna-bhakti-puta visaya tara ghate saba [9]

"A proper renunciant easily attains devotion: everything they do is purified by devotion to Krishna.

prakrtira jada-dharma tara chitta chhade anayase
chit-asraye maje sighra aprakrta bhakti-rase [10]

"Their heart easily gives up the dull nature of matter and, sheltered in spirit, quickly begins to relish the joy of supramundane devotion.

bhakti-yoge sri-krsnera prasannata paya
'na me bhaktah pranasyati', pratijna janaya [11]

"They attain the favour of Sri Krishna through the practice of devotion and then proclaim Krishna's promise: 'Na Me bhaktah pranasyati: My devotee is never vanquished.'

prasanna ha-iya krsna yare krpa kare
sei jana dhanya ei samsara-bhitare [12]

"Those whom Krishna is pleased with and blesses are truly fortunate within this world.

golokera parama bhava tara chitte sphure
gokule goloka paya maya pade dure [13]

"The supreme mood of Goloka appears in their hearts, they attain Goloka in Gokula, and Maya falls away from them.

Avoiding dry renunciation is our duty (suska-vairagya dura kara kartavya)

ore bhai suska-vairagya ebe dura kara
yukta-vairagya ani' sada hrdayete dhara [14]

"O brother, from now on, avoid dry renunciation. Bring proper renunciation into your heart and keep it there forever.

visaya chhadiya bhai kotha yabe bala
vane yabe, sekhane visaya-janjala [15]

"Brother, tell Me, after abandoning worldly affairs, where will you go? You will go to the forest? And there also you will find worldly troubles.

peta tomara sange yabe, dehera raksane
kata letha habe taha bhebe dekha mane [16]

"Your belly will go with you; think about how difficult it will be to maintain your body there.

akarane jivanera sighra habe ksaya
marile kemane ara maya karbe jaya [17]

"Unnecessarily, your life will end quickly, and if you die, how will you conquer maya?

"Even if you do not die, you will still become weak, and if you lose your knowledge as a result, what benefit will you get from it? [18]

So, proper renunciation is our duty

ghare basi' sada kala krsna-nama lana
yatha-yogya-visaya bhunja, anasakta hana [19]

"Stay at home and always chant the Name of Krishna. As appropriate, interact with the world, remaining detached.

"yatha-yogya" ei sabda dutira marmartha bujhe laha
[kapatartha lana yena deharami na ha] [20]

"Understand the two purports of the phrase 'as appropriate' so that you do not accept the false meaning and become a sensualist. [20]

suddha-bhaktira anukula kara angikara
suddha-bhaktira pratikula kara asvikara [21]

"Accept everything favourable to pure devotion, and reject everything unfavourable to pure devotion.

marmartha chhadiya yeba sabda artha kare
rasera vase deharami kapata marga dhare [22]

"Those who reject this purport and misinterpret the phrase are sensualists controlled by pleasures; they follow the path of deceit.

"gorara ami, gorara ami" mukhe balile nahi chale
gorara achara, gorara vichara la-ile phala phale [6]

loka dekhana gora bhaja tilaka matra dhari'
gopanete atyachara gora dhare churi [7]

[Just saying, "I am Gora's! I am Gora's!" does not do. Only when you follow Gora's practices and Gora's conception will you get the proper result. You show the world you serve Gora simply by wearing tilak but secretly you misbehave. Gora will catch you, you thief!]

bhala khaya, bhala pare, kare bahu dhanarjana
yosit-sange rata hana phire ratra-dina
bhala sayya attalika khonje arvachina [23]

"They eat fancy food, wear fancy clothes, and accumulate immense wealth. Attached to the company of women, such fools roam about night and day searching for a mansion with a fancy bed.

deha-yatrara upayogi nitanta prayojana
visaya svikara kari' kara dehera raksana [24]

"Instead of all this, maintain the body by accepting things that are suitable and actually necessary for its preservation.

sattvika sevana kara asaba varjana
sarva-bhute daya kari' kara uchcha sankirtana [25]

"Eat food in the mode of goodness and reject intoxicants. Be kind to all beings and loudly chant the Name.

deva-seva chhala kari' visaya nahi kara
visayete raga-dvesa sada parihara [26]

"Do not engage in worldly affairs on the pretence of Deity worship, and always avoid attachment and aversion to worldly matters.

para-himsa kapatata anya sane vaira
kabhu nahi kara bhai yadi mora vakya dhara [27]

"Never behave enviously, deceitfully, or inimically with others, brother, if you want to follow My advice.

nirjana sudrdha bhakti kara alochana
krsna-sevara sambandhe dina karaha yapana [28]

"Discuss resolute devotion in seclusion, and spend your days engaged in the service of Krishna.

matha mandira dalana badira na kara prayasa
artha thake kara bhai yemana abhilasa [29]

"Do not endeavour to make monasteries, temples, or big houses, but if you have wealth, brother, then you can make them, as you desire.

artha nai tabe matra sattvika seva kara
jala-tulasi diya giridharike vakse dhara [30]

"If you do not have wealth, then simply perform pure worship. Offer water and Tulasi to Giridhari and hold Him to your chest. [30]

bhavete kandiya bala, "ami ta' tomara
tava pada-padma chitte rahuka amara" [31]

"Crying with love, pray, 'I am Yours. Let Your lotus feet remain in my heart.'

vaisnave adara kara prasadadi diya
artha nai dainya-vakye tosa minati kariya [32]

"Honour the Vaisnavas with prasad and other remnants. If you have no wealth, then submissively satisfy them with humble words.

parijana parikara krsna-dasa-dasi
atma-sama palane ha-ibe mista-bhasi [33]

"Consider your friends and relatives servants of Krishna, care for them as well as you care for yourself, and speak to them sweetly.

smarana-kirtana-seva sarva-bhute daya
ei ta' karibe yukta vairagi ha-iya [34]

"Remember, glorify, and serve the Lord, and be kind to all beings. Do all this as a proper renunciant.

soka-moha chhada bhai nama kara nirantara"
jagai bale, "e-bhava gaurera sane mora kondala vistara" [36]

"Brother, leave behind all lamentation and bewilderment, and always chant the Name." Jagai says, "I have many quarrels with Gaura about this."