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.
kintu dekho cinta kori' jadi nā bhajile horibidyā taba kebala raurabakṛṣṇa prati aurakti sei bīje janme bhaktibidyā ho'te tāhā asambhaba
Word for word
kintuhowever;dekhaḥlook;cintathinking;kori'doing;jadiif;nānot;bhajileworship;horiKṛṣṇa;bidyāknowledge;tabayour;kebalaonly;raurabahell;kṛṣṇaKṛṣṇa;pratito;auraktilove;seithis;bījethe seed;janmebirth;bhaktidevotion;bidyāknowledge;ho'teis;tāhāthat;asambhabanot 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.
bidyāra mārjana tā'ra kabhu kabhu apakārajagatete kori anubhabaje bidyāra ālocane kṛṣṇa-rati sphure manetāhāri ādara jāno' saba
Word for word
bidyāraof knwoledge;mārjanapurification;tā'raof that;kabhuwhen;kabhuwhen;apakāraharm;jagateteto the world;koridoes;anubhabaattraction;jewhich;bidyāraof knowledge;ālocanein the consideration;kṛṣṇa-ratilove for Kṛṣṇa;sphuremanifest;manein the heart;tāhārito him;ādararespect;jāno'know;sabaall
Translation
I have seen how hair-splitting academic knowledge harms the world. But knowledge that makes one attracted to Kṛṣṇa delights everyone.
bhakti bādhā jāhā ho'te se bidyāra mastaketepadāghāta koro' akaitabasaraswatī kṛṣṇa-priyā kṛṣṇa-bhakti tā'ra hiyābinodera sei se baibhaba
Word for word
bhaktidevotional service;bādhāobstacles;jāhāwhich;ho'teare;sethat;bidyāraof knowledge;mastaketeat the head;padāghātakicking;koro'do;akaitabasincerely;saraswatīGoddess Sarasvatī;kṛṣṇa-priyādear to Lord Kṛṣṇa;kṛṣṇa-bhaktidevotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa;tā'raof that;hiyāheart;binoderaof Bhaktivinoda;seithat;sethis;baibhabaglory
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.
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.
