Vaishnava Songs

Nandgram Dham Vaishnava Songs · nandgramdham.org/songs

Ki Jani Ki Bale

By Bhaktivinoda Thakura From Saranagati

2 recordings

ki jāni ki bale, tomāra dhāmete, hoinu śaraṇāgata tumi doyā-moy, patita-pāvana, patita-tāraṇe rata

Word for word

ki what?; jāni I know; ki what; bale by force; tomāra Your; dhāmete in the abode; ha-inu I became; śaraṇāgata surrendered; tumi You; dayā mercy; maya full of; patita fallen; pāvana saviour; patita fallen; tāraṇe in delivering; rata ever engaged

Translation

I do not know by what force I have taken shelter within Your abode. You are the merciful saviour of the fallen, who is ever engaged in delivering them.

bharasā āmāra, ei mātra nātha! tumi to’ karunā-moy tava doyā-pātra, nāhi mora sama, avaśya ghucābe bhoy

Word for word

bharasā hope; āmāra my; ei this; mātra only; nātha! O Lord!; tumi You; ta’ certainly; karuṇā mercy; maya full of; tava Your; dayā mercy; pātra recipient; nāhi there is not; mora my; sama equal; avaśya certainly; ghuchābe will dispel; bhaya fear

Translation

O Lord! You are merciful. This is my sole hope. There is no candidate for Your mercy like me, certainly You will dispel all my fear.

āmāre tārite, kāhāro śakati, avanī-bhitore nāhi doyāla ṭhākura! ghoṣanā tomāra, adhama pāmare trāhi

Word for word

āmāre to me; tārite to deliver; kāhāro someone; śakati power; avanī Earth; bhitare upon; nāhi there is not; dayāla merciful; ṭhākura Lord; ghoṣaṇā declaration; tomāra Your; adhama low; pāmare to the sinners; trāhi (trāṇa kara) You deliver

Translation

There is no one on Earth who has the power to deliver me. O merciful Lord! It is Your declaration that You deliver the lowest, most sinful persons.

sakala chāḍiyā, āsiyāchi āmi, tomāra caraṇe nātha! āmi nitya-dāsa, tumi pālayitā, tumi goptā, jagannātha!

Word for word

sakala everything; chhāḍiyā abandoning; asiyāchhi have come; āmi I; tomāra Your; charaṇe at the feet; nātha! O Lord!; āmi I; nitya eternal; dāsa servant; tumi You; pālayitā maintainer; tumi You; goptā (pālana-kartā) protector; jagannātha! O Lord of the universe!

Translation

Abandoning everything, I have come to Your feet, O Lord! I am Your eternal servant, and You are my maintainer and protector, O Lord of the universe!

tomāra sakala, āmi mātra dāsa, āmāra tāribe tumi tomāra caraṇa, korinu varaṇa, āmāra nāhi to’ āmi

Word for word

tomāra Yours; sakala everything; āmi I; mātra only; dāsa a servant; āmāre to me; tāribe will deliver; tumi You; tomāra Your; charaṇa feet; karinu I did; varaṇa (avalambana-rūpe grahaṇa) embrace (accept as my support); āmāra mine; nāhi not; ta’ certainly; āmi I

Translation

Everything is Yours. I am only a servant. Certainly You will deliver me. I have embraced Your feet and no longer belong to myself.

bhakativinoda, kāṅdiyā śaraṇa, lo’yeche tomāra pāy kṣami’ aparādha, nāme ruci diyā, pālana korohe tāy

Word for word

bhakati-vinoda Bhakti Vinod; kā̐diyā crying; śaraṇa shelter; la’yechhe has taken; tomāra Your; pāya feet; kṣami’ forgiving; aparādha offences; nāme for Your Name; ruchi (anurāga) taste (deep loving attachment); diyā giving; pālana protection; karahe please do; tāya him

Translation

Crying, Bhakti Vinod has taken shelter at Your feet. Forgiving his offences and granting him taste for Your Name, please maintain him.

About Ki Jani Ki Bale

Opens the Goptṛtve Varaṇa section. Its opening question, ki jani ki bale — by what strength do I even continue — sets up the section's central claim: that whatever sustains a life was never truly one's own doing.

Composer: Bhaktivinoda Thakura · Read biography
Songbook: Saranagati
Mood: Surrender & Self-Offering (Śaraṇāgati)
Verses: 6
Recordings: 2 More by this composer

Further reading

Frequently asked

Who wrote Ki Jani Ki Bale?

Ki Jani Ki Bale was composed by Bhaktivinoda Thakura. It appears in Saranagati.

What is the meaning of Ki Jani Ki Bale?

I do not know by what force I have taken shelter within Your abode. You are the merciful saviour of the fallen, who is ever engaged in delivering them.

Where can I listen to Ki Jani Ki Bale?

You can listen to 2 recordings of Ki Jani Ki Bale on this page, including versions sung by HG Jai Sachinandana Prabhu, Hare Krishna Mandir.

How many verses does Ki Jani Ki Bale have?

Ki Jani Ki Bale has 6 verses.

Can I download Ki Jani Ki Bale as a PPT or PDF?

Yes. A ready-to-display slide deck for Ki Jani Ki Bale — 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, Hare Krishna Mandir. All glories to the devotee singers.