Nandgram Dham
Vaishnava Songs · nandgramdham.org/songs
Asalo Katha Bolte
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2 versionsāsalo kathā bolte ki
tomār kenthā-dhorā, kapni-āṅṭā-saba phāṅki
dharma-patnī tyaji’ ghare, para-nārī-saṅga kore,
artha-lobhe dvāre dvāre phire, rākhle ki bake
tumi guru bolcho vaṭe, sādhu-guru niṣkapaṭe,
kṛṣṇa-nām deno karṇa-puṭe, se ki emon hoy meki?
jebā anya śikṣā dey, tā’ke ki ‘guru’ bolte hoy?
dudher phal to’ ghole noy, bheve’ citte dekho dekhi
śama-dama-titikṣā-bale, uparati, śraddhā ho’le,
tabe bheko cāṅda-bāul, bole, eṅcaḍe peke habe ki?
TRANSLATION da-bā
1) O you have so much to say about being genuine! You are seen to be wrapped in an old tattered blanket and wearing a simple loincloth, just like a renounced ascetic -- but in actuality all of this is simply pretentious.
2) Leaving your legally married wife at home, you go off and keep the company of the wives of others. In your greed for acquiring more and more wealth, you wander like a poor beggar from door to door, and you secretly keep so many surpluses stored away.
3) You are quite confident in presenting yourself as a saintly spiritual master, and thus you are busily engaged in initiating innocent people by reciting Krishna-nama into their ear -- is this behavior not a great charade?
4) Can anyone be called a "guru" simply because he gives advice to others? A cook can never use whey in a recipe that calls for milk. Now think about this and just see what I see.
5) On the strength of the true qualities of peacefulness, sense control, and tolerance, one's mundane desires are renounced as true spiritual faith arises. That being the case, the renunciant Chand Baul says, "What will become of your premature imitation of spiritual perfection?"
About Asalo Katha Bolte
The Bengali title suggests something like "to speak the real matter." This song was composed by Bhaktivinoda Thakura; beyond the title's plain sense, no further content or translation is available here.
Frequently asked
Who wrote Asalo Katha Bolte?
Asalo Katha Bolte was composed by Bhaktivinoda Thakura.
Where can I listen to Asalo Katha Bolte?
You can listen to 2 recordings of Asalo Katha Bolte on this page, including versions sung by Vaishnavas, HG Sivarama Prabhu.
How many verses does Asalo Katha Bolte have?
Asalo Katha Bolte has 5 verses.
Can I download Asalo Katha Bolte as a PPT or PDF?
Yes. A ready-to-display slide deck for Asalo Katha Bolte — verse and translation on each slide — is available to download in both PowerPoint (.pptx) and PDF formats from this page, for use in kirtan or temple programs.
Audio courtesy of ISKCON Desire Tree. All glories to the devotee singers.