ki āra bolibo tore manamukhe bolo prema prema bastutaḥ tyajiyā hemaśūnya-grantha añcale bandhana
Word for word
kiwhat?;āraor;bolibaḥsay;toreto you;manaO heart;mukhein the mouth;bolaḥsays;premalove;premalove;bastutaḥtruthfully;tyajiyārenouncing;hemagold;śūnyaempty;granthaknot;añcalein the corner;bandhanatying
Translation
What more will I tell you, O my heart? With your mouth you say, "spiritual love", "spiritual love", but the truth is your purse is empty and you have refused a gift of gold.
abhyāsiyāby practice;aśru-pātashedding tears;lampha jhamphajumping about;akasmātasuddenly and for no reason;mūrcchafainting;prāyaalmost;thākahaḥstay;paḍiyāfalling;ethis;lokapeople;bañcitecheated;raṅgatheater;pracāriyāpreaching;asat-saṅgaassociation with scoundrels;kāminīlusty women;kañcanagold;labhaattainment;giyāattaining
Translation
On cue you weep, jump about, and fall unconscious. With this play-acting you cheat the people. You preach the philosophy of scoundrels. You chase after women and gold.
premeraof spiritual love;sādhana-bhaktidevotional service in practice;tā'tethat;noilais not;anuraktiattraction;śuddhapure;premalove;kemonehow?;milibemeets;daśa-aparādhāten offenses;tyaji'renouncing;nirantaraalways;nāmathe holy name;bhaji'worshiping;kṛpāof mercy;ha'leis;su-premagreat love;pāibewill attain
Translation
You are not attracted to sādhana-bhakti (the practice of devotional service), which is the way tom attain prema (pure spiritual love). Then how will you ever attain that pure prema? Turning from the ten offenses, always worship the holy name. When you attain the holy name's mercy, you will attain wonderful prema.
nanot;mānilethink;su-bhajanadevotional service;sādhu-saṅgein the company of the devotees;saṅkīrtanachanting the holy names in sankirtana;nanot;koriledo;nirjanein a secluded place;smaraṇaremember;nanot;uṭhiyāarises;bṛkhatree;upariover;tānāṭānitugging;phalafruits;dhori'holding;duṣṭa-phalabad fruits;koriledoes;arjanaattainment
Translation
You don't like to worship the Lord or chant in saṅkīrtana with the devotees. You don't meditate on the Lord in a secluded place. Not climbing the tree's branches, you want to gather the fruits by shaking the tree. You will get only the fruits that are bad.
akaitabasincere;kṛṣṇa-premalove for Lord Kṛṣṇa;jenalike;su-bimalavery pure;hemagold;seithis;phalafruit;nṛ-lokein the world of human beings;durlabhavery rare;kaitabecheating;bāñcana-mātracheating;haodo;āgefirst;jogyaproper;pātrarecipent;tabethen;premapure love;hoibewill be;sulabhaeasily attained
Translation
True love for Kṛṣṇa is like very pure gold. In the world of human beings it is very rare. What you are doing is only cheating. First become qualified, and then you will very easily attain love for Kṛṣṇa.
kāmein lust;premelove;dekhaḥyou see;bhāiO my brother;lakaṇeteby the characteristices;bhedadifferent;nāinot;tabuthen;kāmalust;premalove;nāhinot;hoyais;tumiyou;to'indeed;barilechoose;kāmalust;mithyāfalsely;tāhein that;premalove;nāmathe name;āropileimpose;kisehow?;śubhaauspiciousness;hoyais
Translation
O my brother, look. The outward symptoms of material lust (kāma) and spiritual love (prema) are not different. What you mistakenly call "spiritual love" (prema) is actually material lust (kāma). When you make a mistake like that how can you attain true auspiciousness?
About Ki Āra Bolibo Tore Mana
From Updesa, asking what more, ki ara, there is left to say, bolibo, to the mind — placed among the very last songs of the section, its near-exhausted tone marking a deliberate shift as Updesa approaches its close.
Ki Āra Bolibo Tore Mana was composed by Bhaktivinoda Thakura. It appears in Kalyanakalpataru.
What is the meaning of Ki Āra Bolibo Tore Mana?
What more will I tell you, O my heart? With your mouth you say, "spiritual love", "spiritual love", but the truth is your purse is empty and you have refused a gift of gold.
How many verses does Ki Āra Bolibo Tore Mana have?
Ki Āra Bolibo Tore Mana has 6 verses.
Can I download Ki Āra Bolibo Tore Mana as a PPT or PDF?
Yes. A ready-to-display slide deck for Ki Āra Bolibo Tore Mana — 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.
