Classic Poetry Series

Sant Surdas
- poems -

Publication Date:
2004

Publisher:

PoemHunter.Com - The World's Poetry Archive

Awake O! Prince Of Braj

Awake, Krishna,
awake the lotus-petals
open the water-lilies droop
the bumblebees have left
the creepers cocks crow,
and birds chirp on the trees.
The cows are in the byre lowing;
they run after their calves;
the moon fades before the sun.
Men and women arise
and joyfully sing their songs;
Krishna, of hands lotus-like awake,
for the day is about to dawn.
Sant Surdas

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Breakfast
O Hari, 'tis morn, awake, there's water in the jar for you to wash your face no need to
hurry there's plenty of time.
I'll bring you whatever you like for your breakfast- dried fruits, butter, honey and
bread.
Says Suradasa, Yashoda's heart overflows with joy when her gaze alights on her
darling boy.
Sant Surdas

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Krishna Approaches Radha

Krishna said, 'O fair beauty, who are you?
Where do you live? Whose daughter are you?
I never yet saw you in the lanes of Braj.'

Radha said, 'What need have I to come this way?

I keep playing by my door.
But I hear that some son of Nanda
is in the habit of stealing butter and curds.'
Krishna said, 'Look, why should I appropriate
anything that's yours? Come, let's play together.'
Suradasa says: By his honied words,
Krishna, the crafty prince of amorists,
beguiled Radha and put her at ease.
Sant Surdas

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Krishna Awakes
Krishna awake, for the day has dawned:
large, deep and lotus-like,
your eyes are as in the love-shaped lake
a pair of swans even a million Kamadevas cannot vie
with the bewitching beauty of your face;
the sun rises in the east,
a crimson ball the night is going
and the moonlight pales
the lamps turn dim
and the stars fade out
as though the bright radiance of wisdom's rays
dispels the pleasures that the senses tire,
and the light of hope chases away
the murky darkness of despair and doubt.
Listen, the birds sing
aloud with glee O sweet child,
life of my life,
my sole wealth,
O darling boy,
bards and minstrels
sing your praises,
saying 'victory! victory!'

Clusters of lotuses burst into bloom

the bumblebees humming with sweet sound
leave the lotuses;
as though the devout renouncing worldly ties,
in your love drowned
chant your name as they go about.

Hearing his mother's words with love

drenched the Lord of Mercy arose from his bed;
the world's woes vanished,
maya's net was rent.

Says Suradasa,
'Seeing his lotus face delusion fled;
all doubts and dualities were destroyed and I found in Govinda eternal joy.
Sant Surdas

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Krishna Beginning To Speak

Mohan's begun to say 'Maiya Maiya,'
And 'Baba Baba' to Nanda,
Balaram He's calling 'baiya'
From atop the house Yasoda shouts
Taking the name of kanhaiya.
Don't go far to play my darling
Someone's cow will hit ye.
The gopas and gopis celebrate boisterously
In each house there is festivity
Surdas, for a glimpse of the Lord
My all is surrendered to the Almighty.
Sant Surdas

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Krishna Complains About His Older Brother

O mother mine, Dau (Balram)forever teases me.
you never gave birth to me,
and I was bought in the market.
this is what he tells me
o mother mihne, Dau forever teases me.
fed up of his teasing ways,
I don't go out to play.
who is your mother?
and who is your father?
again and again he says.
Yasoda's fair, so also Nanda,
how come you're so dark?
Dau provokes, the gopas laugh,
and all have such a lark.
me, mother, you want to beat,
but Dau you never even scold,
seeing the anger on Mohan's face
Yasoda's joy was untold,
listen Kanha, Balbhadra is naughty,
wicked from his birth,
you're my son, and I your mother,
I swear by mother cows worth!
Sant Surdas

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Krishna Crawling
Chuckling, Kanha came crawling,
Trying to catch His reflection
In the bejewelled courtyard of Nanda.
One moment He would stare at His shadow
Then move His hands to hold it
Chuckling in delight, two teeth showing
Again and again He would try.
Calling Nanda to come and see
Yasoda watched in joy
Then covering Sur's Lord with her aanchal
She began to feed her boy.
Sant Surdas

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Krishna Denying He Stole The Butter

O mother mine, I did not eat the butter
come dawn, with the herds,
you send me to the jungle,
o, mother mine, I did not eat the butter.
all day long with my flute in the jungles
at dusk do I return home.
but a child, younger than my friends
how could I reach up to the butter?
all the gopas are against me
on my face they wipe the butter,
you mother, are much too innocent,
you believe all their chatter.
there is a flaw in your behaviour,
you consider me not yours,
take you herd-stick and the blanket
I'll dance to your tune no longer.
Surdas, Yasoda then laughed,
and took the boy in her arms,
mother mine I did not eat the butter.
Sant Surdas

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Krishna Goes To The Woods

O Krishna, darling of Gokula, awake

I have brought you milk, curd and sugar-candy come and partake of these delicacies:
your pals are at the door, calling you to play; the sun has risen and it's time to go to
the woods.

Hearing her words Krishna joyfully arose and after breakfasting departed for the woods
Says Suradasa, my heart's always where the Lord is.
Sant Surdas

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Krishna In The Cradle

Yasoda lulling Hari to sleep,
Shaking the cradle, cuddling and fondling,
Singing to Him a song.
My darling is sleepy
Why doesn't sleep come along?
Come sleep, come quickly
Kanha for you does long.
Sometimes He closes His eyes
Sometimes His lips are aflutter.
Thinking He has fallen asleep
Yasoda stops her singing.
Awake still, He's up suddenly
Enjoying Yasoda's song.
Such joy as Yasoda feels
Is unattainable to the gods.
Sant Surdas

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Krishna Learning To Walk

Hands stretched out hesitantly,
A foot on the ground unstably,
Yasoda, teaching the Lord to walk.
Sometimes watching His adorable face
Storing away the joy in her heart,
Sometimes praising the family deity:
Give long life to her Kanhaiya.
Sometimes calling to Bal
Two to play in her courtyard.
Surdas see the Lords leela
The lustre of bliss of Nandraiya (Yasoda).
Sant Surdas

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Krishna Learns To Walk

Kanha walks
Two steps at a time,
Yasoda's desires see
Fulfilment sublime.
'Runuk jhunk' sing His anklets,
A sound
So pleasing to the mind.
He sits,
But then is up immediately,
A sight difficult to describe.
All the ladies of Braj tire
Of seeing such beauty divine.
Sant Surdas

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Krishna Questions His Hair Braid Not Growing

Mother, when will my hair-braid grow?
milk you said will make it grow,
but still it remains so short.
Mother when will my hair-braid grow
you said like Bal it would be strong,
his braid has grown fat and long,
combing , braiding, bathing, drying,
to the ground like a serpent writhing.
for me you say milk is better.
never delicious bread and butter,
Sur, long live the two brothers,
the twosome of hari and haldhar.
Sant Surdas

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Krishna Returning With The Herd

Mohan comes herding the cows,
crown of peacock feathers on his head,
garland of forest flowers on his chest,
in his hand a wooden staff,
his body wrapped in cow-dust.
A band around his waist
and from his feet the sound of anklets
there amidst his cow-boy friends
Shyam comes. His yellow garments standing out
like lightning amidst the clouds.
Sant Surdas

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Krishna Wanting The Moon

Mother, the moon I want as my toy.
I will roll on the floor,
Not come to your lap,
Nor have my hair-braid combed.
No longer will I be your child
I will only be Nand baba's boy.
Listen son, come to me
There's a secret from bal we can hide.
Hiding her smile, Yasoda said,
I'll give you a brand new bride.
Quick then, Mother, I swear by you
A wedding is what I'd like.
Sant Surdas

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Krishna's Meal
Kanha eats in Yasoda's lap.
some he eats, some he drops,
as the ladies of Nandgaon watch,
some he eats and some he puts
in Nanda's mouth,
this joy is beyound recount.
some he eats, some gives to gopas,
butter in his hands, curd in doniyas.
The joy of Yasoda
the three worlds cannot account.
the meal is over, Kanha washes,
for Sur the left-overs count.
Sant Surdas

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Merciful Krishna
See the greatness of Krishna;
though Lord, Father and Master of the world
he willingly bears the arrogance of his close devotees
Shiva and Brahma were roaring mad
when Bhrigu kicked them,
but he gently pressed the sage's foot
when it struck his breast!'
Which of the gods
can emulate him?
He befriends selflessly;

Embracing his foe Ravana's brother, Vibhisana' as lovingly as his own

brother Bharata, sending to heaven the demoness Putana
who tried to kill him'Such is Sura's Lord,
the selfless Giver.
Sant Surdas

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Nanda Beholds Krishna's Face

Parted nightlong from his beloved child
Nanda could no longer restrain himself
and lifting from his face the coverlet gazed upon it;
no more the night was oppressive:
the gods it seemed had churned the sea,
and through its foam the moon was seen resplendent in the sky."

Says Suradasa, the cowherd lads and maids learning that their beloved Krishna was
awake forgot all else and ran to his bedside.
Sant Surdas

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Nanda's Darling Child

Who can contain his joy, say, on seeing the lotus-like lovely face of Nanda's darling
child when he awakes?

His beauty infatuates sages,and destroys the pride of Kama, it captivates the hearts of
hundreds of young girls. When he softly smiles the gleam of his teeth seems as though
rubies have been stringed with pearls.
When my Lord, Nanda's lovely child goes out, says Suradasa, the people of Braj are
bewitched by his loveliness.
Sant Surdas

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Radha And Krishna Make A Date

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Sant Surdas

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Secret Signs
Krishna conveyed by signs to clever Radha. [he could not speak out as her girl friends
were with her] to make a pretence of milking the cows, and picking up the milkpail
come to meet him in the meadow. Nanda, his foster-father, would also be there to
have the cows counted and verified, and he would bring him along too. So they would
have a chance to meet. Radha's heart rejoiced at their mutual resolve. But that lovely
golden-hued girl, feeling abashed, hid her face in her arms. Krishna amorously lifting it
up gazed at her lovingly. They kept their hidden love to themselves. Says Suradasa as
Krishna went on speaking sweet nothings, Radha blushed with shame.
Sant Surdas

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The Course Of Love

Seeing Radha stand alone, Krishna came from behind and blindfolded her with his
hands. But his hands could not fully cover her large and elongated vivacious eyes. They
shone out from within his fingers as a serpent's gem which it had disgorged and hid
between its fangs;" or as Rahu finding the sun and Mars together, had pounced and
held them fast. Krishna does not have any self-interest, for there is nothing for him to
desire or achieve. But he removes the grief of separation of those whom he loves. His
eyes came close to Radha's, and his lips were on hers. It was as though the lotuses
forgetting their opposition to the moon had opened their petals to be kissed by the
moon rays. Says Suradasa, Krishna's loving embrace removed from Radha. the sorrow
of her parting.
Sant Surdas

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The Deeds Of Krishna

There is no end to the deeds of Krishna:
true to his promise, he tended the cows in Gokula;
Lord of the gods and compassionate to his devotees,
he came as Nrisingha
and tore apart Hiranyakashipa.
When Bali spread his dominion
over the three worlds,
he begged three paces of land from him
to uphold the majesty of the gods,
and stepped over his entire domain:
here too he rescued the captive elephant.
Countless such deeds figure in the Vedas and the Puranas,
hearing which Suradasa
humbly bows before that Lord.
Sant Surdas

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The First Meeting Of Radha And Krishna

Krishna went playing in the lanes of Braj,
a yellow silk garment round his waist,
holding a top and a string to spin it with,
a crown of peacock-feathers adorning his head
his ears with charming ear-rings decked,
his teeth flashing brighter than the sun's rays,
his limbs anointed with sandalwood-paste.

On the Yamuna bank he chanced to see Radha;

a tika mark of turmeric on her brow,
dressed in a flowing skirt and blue blouse,
her lovely long wreathed hair dangling behind,
a stripling, fair, of beauty unsurpassed
with he a bevy of fair milkmaids:
Krishna's eyes met her's;
love woke in his heart,
says Suradasa, bewitched by her,
he gazed and gazed.
Sant Surdas

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The Formless Brahma Has Incarnated As Krishna

Krishna awoke;

Yashoda was enraptured to see his face blooming as a lotus that captures the rising
sun's first rays. Taking off the coverlet she said, 'awake, darling boy, awake, your
loveliness makes me swoon your bewitching face is like the full moon seen through the
sea's foam when it was churned for nectar.'
He for whom the Shrutis say 'not this, not this? whose name is chanted by Brahma,
Shesha and Shiva that Formless Brahma has taken birth in Braj, in human form, so 'tis
heard.
Sant Surdas

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The Invigorating Dawn

Awake, O Krishna awake,
the night has gone arise,
no longer laze breathe the pure air of early morn;
the cowherd-lads come and gaze at you,
and seeing you asleep,
depart as swarms of bumblebees
fly from the lotus clusters.
O darling boy,
dark as the tamala,
if you don't believe me,
open your large eyes
and see for yourself.
Sant Surdas

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The Lord Helps His Devotees

The voice falters
when it sings of the deeds of the Lord
who's an ocean of mercy.
He gave guileful Putana, who posed as his mother, a
mother's reward!
He of whom the Vedas and the Upanishads sing as the Unmanifest,
let Yashoda bind him with a rope,
lamented Ugrasena's grief,
and after killing Kansa made him king
paying him obeisance, bowing low;
Freed the kings held captive by jardsandha
at which the kingly hosts sang his praises;
removing Gautama's curse
he restored life to stone-turned Ahalya:'
all in a moment he rescued Braj's ruler from the sea-monster running to his
aid as a cow to her calf,"
he came hastening to rescue the king of the elephants;
he got Namadeva's hut thatched.
says Suradasa, O, make Hari hear my prayer.
Sant Surdas

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The Lord Is His Devotees' Slave

Whatever is a devotee's
caste, clan, family, or name,
Rama's love for him is the same.
Beggar and king
are one to him.

Say, of what caste could be

Brahma or Shiva?

Rama will never abide

in the egotistic man's heart
therefore his slave, Suradasa,
has abandoned pride.

Rama was born in the Raghu clan

Krishna found his home in Gokula.

Words fail to tell of

the Lord's love
universal, all-embracing;
Dhruva was a Kshatriya,
Prahlada a demon and Vidura the son of a maid:
yet the Lord gave them his supreme love,
Krishna washed the devotees' feet
at the Rajasuya.
The Lord is the slave
of his devotees
age after age.
The tongue can't relate
his countless deeds.

Says Suradasa, the Puranas and Vedas

are witness to these.
Sant Surdas

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The Welcome Of The Women Of Braj

'Tis morn, O Krishna, awake, all the pretty young milkmaids are calling for you; arise O
Braj's prince, The sun is up in the sky, the moon pales, the tender tamala trees are in
full bloom .
The women of Braj have stringed a garland of flowers of many kinds and wait to greet
you. Arise dear child, wash your face and have your breakfast, O my heart's delight!
Says Sura, my Lord of large lotus-like eyes is the abode of bliss that never abates.
Sant Surdas

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Yasoda Inducing Krishna To Stay Nearby

Kanha, don't go so far to play,
you do not know the 'hau' is here,
I've learnt of it today.
one boy came running just now
I saw him crying away,
the 'hau' clips the ears away
of little boys astray.
come let us be up and gone
to near our place of stay,
Sur, Shyam on hearing this,
with Balaram came away.
Sant Surdas

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