Narsinh Mehta Poems

True fulfillment of my birth is in loving my beloved forever!
Never with dry rituals and harsh austerities
Would I torture my tender body!
All the time I'd play the games of love with my beloved!
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We will simply forsake anything that stops us
From chanting the name of Narayana!
The beloved of Laxmi we will fervently worship
With all our hearts, words and deeds.
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Serve me the draught of love's ambrosia
One bedecked with peacock feathers!
This futile threshing of arid philosophies tastes so insipid!
These emaciated cattle crave merely the dry husk,
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'Embrace me with such a passion
That you enjoy this short-lived youth to its best!
Let your eyes meet mine, your lips meet my lips
And your breast press against mine;
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I won’t let you embrace! I won’t let you drink the nectar from my lips!
Why are you so lustful, young one of Nanda?
I won’t let you embrace! I won’t let you drink the nectar from my lips!
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'Ananta' is the name of my infallible medicine,
Preferred only by the few fortunate ones!
If we stay near the Vaishanava, our reliable 'vaid',
The god of death won't dare close upon us!
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O Mind, acquire the greatest treasure, the jewel invaluable!
Hoard the fortune and amass the essence,
Which fulfills all your desires!
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O torchbearer is Narsaiyyo! Torchbearer of Hari!
With mind brimming with deep love
And nectar on his tongue,
O torchbearer is Narsaiyyo! Torchbearer of Hari!
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Only a few truly know, dear, the nectar of Hari,
The rest are merely full of pride!
The true Vaishnava always treads the path of love
And true adoration for Hari.
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Only because I truly exist, you exist! Without me, you cannot be!
You will exist only as long as I exist!
If I no longer exist, you too will cease to be, and become ineffable,
For who will name you if I cease to be?
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