Aruṇodaya-kīrtana
Kīrtana songs to be sung at dawn
(from Gītāvalī)

Part One

(1)

udilo aruṇa pūraba-bhāge,
dwija-maṇi gorā amani jāge,
bhakata-samūha loiyā sāthe,
gelā nagara-brāje

(2)

‘tāthaī tāthaī bājalo khol,
ghana ghana tāhe jhājera rol,
preme ḍhala ḍhala soṇāra aṅga,
caraṇe nūpura bāje

(3)

mukunda mādhava yādava hari,
bolena bolo re vadana bhori’,
miche nida-baśe gelo re rāti,
divasa śarīra-sāje

(4)

emana durlabha mānava-deho,
pāiyā ki koro bhāva nā keho,
ebe nā bhajile yaśodā-suta,
carame poribe lāje

(5)

udita tapana hoile asta,
dina gelo boli’ hoibe byasta,
tabe keno ebe alasa hoy,
nā bhaja hṛdoya-rāje

(6)

jīvana anitya jānaha sār,
tāhe nānā-vidha vipada-bhār,
nāmāśraya kori’ jatane tumi,
thākaha āpana kāje

(7)

jīvera kalyāna-sādhana-kām,
jagate āsi’ e madhura nām,
avidyā-timira-tapana-rūpe,
hṛd-gagane birāje

(8)

kṛṣṇa-nāma-sudhā koriyā pān,
jurāo bhakativinoda-prāṇ,
nāma binā kichu nāhiko āro,
caudda-bhuvana-mājhe

1) When the rising sun appeared in the East, the jewel of the twice-born, Lord Gaurasundara, awakened, and, taking His devotees with Him, He went all over the countryside towns and villages

2) And played the mṛdaṅga, and the cymbals chimed in time. Lord Gaurāṅga’s shimmering golden features danced, and His footbells jingled.

3) All the devotees chanted the names Mukunda, Mādhava, Yadava and Hari, their mouths being filled with the vibrations. They would announce to the still sleeping people, “You spend your nights uselessly sleeping and your days decorating your bodies!

4) You have achieved such a rare human body, but you do not care for this gift. You remain not serving the darling of Yaśodā and slowly fall through your last moments to death.

5) With every rising and setting of the sun, a day passes and is lost. Then, why do you remain idle and not serve the Lord of the heart?

6) This temporary life is full of various miseries. Take shelter of the holy name as your only business.

7) To penetrate the darkness of ignorance and bless everyone’s heart, the holy name has risen like the shining sun.

8) Drink the pure nectar of the holy name. There is nothing but the name to be had in the fourteen worlds. It has filled the soul of Śrī Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura.

Part Two

(1)

jīv jāgo, jīv jāgo, gauracānda bole
kota nidrā jāo māyā-piśācīra kole

(2)

bhajibo boliyā ese saṁsāra-bhitare
bhuliyā rohile tumi avidyāra bhare

(3)

tomāre loite āmi hoinu avatāra
āmi binā bandhu āra ke āche tomāra
(4)

enechi auṣadhi māyā nāśibāro lāgi’
hari-nāma mahā-mantra lao tumi māgi’

(5)

bhakativinoda prabhu-caraṇe pariyā
sei hari-nāma-mantra loilo māgiyā

1) Lord Gaurāṅga is calling, “Wake up, sleeping souls! Wake up, sleeping souls! How long will you sleep in the lap of the witch called Māyā?

2) You have forgotten the way of devotional service and are lost in the world of birth and death.

3) I have descended just to save you; other than Myself you have no friend in this world.

4) I have brought the medicine that will wipe out the disease of illusion from which you are suffering. Take this mahā-mantra—Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.”

5) Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says: “I fall at the Lord’s feet, having taken this mahā-mantra. “