Vaishnava Songs

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Choḍato Puruṣa Abhimān

By Bhaktivinoda Thakura From Saranagati

choḍato puruṣa-abhimān kiṅkorī hoiluṅ āji, kān!

Word for word

chhoḍata abandoning; puruṣa male; abhimāna (puruṣavat bhoktṛtvābhimān) ego (the ego of being a male enjoyer); kiṅkarī a maidservant; ha-ilu̐ I will be; āji today; kāna! O Kṛṣṇa!

Translation

Abandoning the false ego of a male enjoyer, today I have become a maidservant, O Kān!

baraja-bipine sakhī-sāth sevana korobuṅ, rādhā-nāth!

Word for word

varaja (vraja) of Vraja; vipine (kānane) in the forest; sakhī of girlfriends; sātha in the company; sevana service; karabu̐ I will do; rādhā-nātha! O Lord of Rādhā!

Translation

In the groves of Vraja, under the guidance of Rādhā’s girlfriends, I will engage in service, O Lord of Rādhā!

kusume gāṅthobuṅ hār tulasī-maṇi-mañjarī tār

Word for word

kusume with flowers; gā̐thabu̐ (gā̐thiba) I will string; hāra garland; tulasī tulasī; maṇi jewels

Translation

I will make flower garlands with tulasī-maṣjarīs arranged like jewels in between the flowers.

jatane deobuṅ sakhī-kare hāte laobo sakhī ādare

Word for word

yatane with care; deobu̐ (diba) I will give; sakhī of a girlfriend; kare in the hands; hāte in the hands; laoba (la-ibe) will take; sakhī the girlfriend; ādare with love

Translation

I will carefully place those garlands in the hands of one of Rādhā’s girlfriends, and she will lovingly accept them in her hands.

sakhī dibo tuwā duhuk gale dūrato herobuṅ kutūhale

Word for word

sakhī girlfriend; diba (dibe) will give; tuyā Your; duhu̐ka (du-janera) both (Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa); gale on the necks; dūrata (dūra ha-ite) from afar; herabu̐ I will behold; kutūhale in wonder

Translation

Rādhā’s girlfriend will place those garlands around the necks of You both. From afar, I will behold this in wonder.

sakhī kahabo,—“śuno sundarī! rahobi kuñje mama kiṅkorī

Word for word

sakhī girlfriend; kahaba will say; śuna please listen; sundarī O beautiful girl; rahabi (rahibe) you will stay; kuṣje in this forest grove; mama my; kiṅkarī maidservant

Translation

Rādhā’s girlfriend will then say to me, “O beautiful girl, please stay in this forest grove as my maidservant.

gāthabi mālā manohāriṇī niti rādhā-kṛṣṇa-vimohinī

Word for word

niti rādhā-kṛṣṇa-vimohinī gā̐ thobi you will string; mālā garlands; mano heart; hāriṇī stealer; niti (nitya) daily; rādhā-kṛṣṇa the Divine Couple; vimohinī completely enchant

Translation

“String beautiful garlands every day that will completely enchant Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.

tuwā rakhana-bhāra hāmārā mama kuñja-kuṭīra tohārā

Word for word

tuyā Your; rakṣaṇa protection; bhāra responsibility; hāmārā of me; mama my; kuṣja forest; kuṭīra cottage; tohārā yours

Translation

“I will take full responsibility for your maintenance. My forest cottage is yours.

rādhā-mādhava-sevana-kāle rahobi hāmāra antarāle

Word for word

rādhā-mādhava of the Divine Couple; sevana of service; kāle at the time; rahabi you will stay; hāmāra my; antarāle (pārśve) behind (near)

Translation

“When I serve Rādhā and Mādhav, you will stay right behind me.

tāmbula sāji’ karpūra āni’ deobi moe āpana jāni’ ”

Word for word

tāmbula betel leaves, pān; sāji’ (sajjita kariyā) preparing (with śupārī (areca nut), lime, khayer (catechu, an extract from Indian acacia trees), cinnamon, clove, and various other ingredients)

bhakativinoda śuni’ bāt sakhī-pade kare pranipāt

Word for word

bhakati-vinoda Bhakti Vinod; śuni’ hearing; bāta (vākya) expression, order; sakhī of the girlfriend; pade at the feet; kare does; praṇipāta obeisance

Translation

Hearing her expression, Bhakti Vinod offers obeisance to the feet of Rādhā’s girlfriend.

About Choḍato Puruṣa Abhimān

At eleven verses, the longest song in its section, using that length to trace the false pride of ordinary selfhood being set down piece by piece rather than all at once.

Composer: Bhaktivinoda Thakura · Read biography
Songbook: Saranagati
Mood: Surrender & Self-Offering (Śaraṇāgati)
Verses: 11

Further reading

Frequently asked

Who wrote Choḍato Puruṣa Abhimān?

Choḍato Puruṣa Abhimān was composed by Bhaktivinoda Thakura. It appears in Saranagati.

What is the meaning of Choḍato Puruṣa Abhimān?

Abandoning the false ego of a male enjoyer, today I have become a maidservant, O Kān!

How many verses does Choḍato Puruṣa Abhimān have?

Choḍato Puruṣa Abhimān has 11 verses.

Can I download Choḍato Puruṣa Abhimān as a PPT or PDF?

Yes. A ready-to-display slide deck for Choḍato Puruṣa Abhimān — 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.