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Mana Re Keno Koro Bidyāra Gauraba

Instruction & Guidance (Upadeśa)

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Text

1

mana re, keno koro bidyāra gauraba smṛti-śāstra byākaraṇa nānā-bhāṣā-ālocana bṛddhi kore' jaśera saurabha

Word for word

mana—heart; re—O; kenaḥ—why?; koraḥ—you do; bidyāra—of knowledge; gauraba—respect; smṛti-śāstra—the smrti-sastras; byākaraṇa—grammar; nānā—various; bhāṣā—languages; ālocana—study; bṛddhi—increase; kore'—does; jaśera—of fame; saurabha—the fragrance

Translation

O my heart, why do you worship material knowledge? Your learning in smṛti-śāstra, Sanskrit grammar, and various languages expands the sweet fragrance of your fame.

2

kintu dekho cinta kori' jadi nā bhajile hori bidyā taba kebala rauraba kṛṣṇa prati aurakti sei bīje janme bhakti bidyā ho'te tāhā asambhaba

Word for word

kintu—however; dekhaḥ—look; cinta—thinking; kori'—doing; jadi—if; nā—not; bhajile—worship; hori—Kṛṣṇa; bidyā—knowledge; taba—your; kebala—only; rauraba—hell; kṛṣṇa—Kṛṣṇa; prati—to; aurakti—love; sei—this; bīje—the seed; janme—birth; bhakti—devotion; bidyā—knowledge; ho'te—is; tāhā—that; asambhaba—not possible

Translation

Look, please think about this: If you do not worship Lord Kṛṣṇa, then mere knowledge will turn your life into hell. Attraction to Kṛṣṇa is the seed that grows into devotional service. Mere knowledge cannot grow in that way.

3

bidyāra mārjana tā'ra kabhu kabhu apakāra jagatete kori anubhaba je bidyāra ālocane kṛṣṇa-rati sphure mane tāhāri ādara jāno' saba

Word for word

bidyāra—of knwoledge; mārjana——purification; tā'ra—of that; kabhu—when; kabhu—when; apakāra—harm; jagatete—to the world; kori—does; anubhaba—attraction; je—which; bidyāra—of knowledge; ālocane—in the consideration; kṛṣṇa-rati—love for Kṛṣṇa; sphure—manifest; mane—in the heart; tāhāri—to him; ādara—respect; jāno'—know; saba—all

Translation

I have seen how hair-splitting academic knowledge harms the world. But knowledge that makes one attracted to Kṛṣṇa delights everyone.

4

bhakti bādhā jāhā ho'te se bidyāra mastakete padāghāta koro' akaitaba saraswatī kṛṣṇa-priyā kṛṣṇa-bhakti tā'ra hiyā binodera sei se baibhaba

Word for word

bhakti—devotional service; bādhā—obstacles; jāhā—which; ho'te—are; se—that; bidyāra—of knowledge; mastakete—at the head; padāghāta—kicking; koro'—do; akaitaba—sincerely; saraswatī—Goddess Sarasvatī; kṛṣṇa-priyā—dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa; kṛṣṇa-bhakti—devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa; tā'ra—of that; hiyā—heart; binodera—of Bhaktivinoda; sei—that; se—this; baibhaba—glory

Translation

Please earnestly kick the head of material knowledge, which is only an obstacle to devotional service. Goddess Sarasvatī is herself very dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa. Devotion to Lord Kṛṣṇa always stays in her heart. Devotion to Lord Kṛṣṇa is the glory of Bhaktivinoda.

About Mana Re Keno Koro Bidyāra Gauraba

From Updesa, questioning pride in learning, bidyara gauraba — treating scholarship as an obstacle when it feeds ego rather than devotion. Bhaktivinoda Thakura, himself a formidably learned man who wrote nearly a hundred books, warns here against a temptation he knew from direct experience.

Further reading

Frequently asked

Who wrote Mana Re Keno Koro Bidyāra Gauraba?

Mana Re Keno Koro Bidyāra Gauraba was composed by Bhaktivinoda Thakura. It appears in Kalyanakalpataru.

What is the meaning of Mana Re Keno Koro Bidyāra Gauraba?

O my heart, why do you worship material knowledge? Your learning in smṛti-śāstra, Sanskrit grammar, and various languages expands the sweet fragrance of your fame.

How many verses does Mana Re Keno Koro Bidyāra Gauraba have?

Mana Re Keno Koro Bidyāra Gauraba has 4 verses.

Can I download Mana Re Keno Koro Bidyāra Gauraba as a PPT or PDF?

Yes. A ready-to-display slide deck for Mana Re Keno Koro Bidyāra Gauraba — 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.