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Aspiring for Unswerving Devotion

नास्था धर्मे न वसुनिचये नैव कामोपभोगे
यद्भव्यं तद्भवतु भगवन् पूर्वकर्मानुरूपम् ।
ह्येतत् प्रार्थ्यं मम बहुमतं जन्मजन्मान्तरेऽपि
त्वत्पादाम्भोरुहयुगगता निश्चला भक्तिरस्तु ।।
– मुकुन्दमाला ७

nāsthā dharme na vasunicaye naiva kāmopabhoge
yadbhavyaṁ tadbhavatu bhagavan pūrva-karmānurūpam |
hyetat prārthyaṁ mama bahumataṁ janma-janmāntare’pi
tvat-pādāmbhoruha-yugagatā niścalā bhaktirastu ||
– Mukundamālā 7

Translation:

O Lord, I do not aspire for dharma, nor for material wealth and fulfilling my desires for sense-enjoyments. Whatever is destined in accordance with past deeds, let that happen. O Lord, this much is my considered prayer: May I have unswerving devotion to your lotus feet in all lives to come.

Points for Introspection:

In this world, man seeks security and happiness in wealth and property, in family and children, friends and relatives. If he has money and has people around him, he feels protected and believes that in enjoying life there is no obstacle. He considers himself to be greatly fortunate if he is able to pursue a life of dharma, is able to acquire wealth and live in comfort and luxury. He believes that all happiness lies in enjoyment through the senses.

Unfortunately, man does not see the transitory nature of the world and the futility of all possessions and enjoyments. His entire devotion is for perishable objects and worldly enjoyments. Ignorant as he is, he fails to seek the Imperishable, attaining which he will be eternally happy.

There are, however, a few who understand and realize the transitory and perishable nature of the world. They understand that however much one may acquire wealth and other possessions, he would not be fulfilled. They understand that worldly acquisitions (family, wealth, name, fame, etc.) do not help to take one beyond fear and anxiety. The fleeting acquisitions do not make one immortal.

Understanding the real nature of the world – that this changeful world is not going to bestow immortality and fearlessness – such rare devotees develop strong dispassion towards the worldly objects and enjoyments. They find their only succour at the Lord’s feet. Their only wish is to have unflinching devotion at the Lord’s holy lotus feet. This unwavering devotion for the Lord, who Himself is changeless and eternal, makes them transcend all fear and attain Immortality.

This śloka is a prayer from such a devotee. He says: “O Lord, I have no urge to take recourse to dharma, nor in acquiring wealth and fulfilling desires. Nor do I wish to enjoy the various sensory pleasures. Whatever is destined for me, let all that take its course. I accept everything without any grievance. However, I have only one prayer that, O Lord, may I have unwavering devotion at your holy lotus feet life after life. I wish for nothing else, O Lord.”

Chanting of this shloka again and again, identifying oneself with the cry of the devotee, gives an experience of intense dispassion for worldly affairs. A feeling grips the mind: “I want nothing from the world”. Repetition of the words also gives a glimpse of unwavering devotion at the Lord’s feet. The words निश्चला भक्तिः (niścalā bhaktiḥ) settle in the mind, bringing about a wholesome dependence on the Lord and nothing else.

Word Meaning:

न (na) = not; आस्था (āsthā) = reliance; धर्मे (dharme) = in dharma; न (na) = not; वसुनिचये (vasu-nicaye) = in acquiring wealth; न (na) = not; एव (eva) = indeed; कामोपभोगे (kāmopabhoge) = in experiencing sensory pleasures; यत्-भव्यं (yat-bhavyam) = what ever should happen ; तत् (tat) = that; भवतु (bhavatu) = let it be; भगवन् (bhagavan) = O Lord; पूर्वकर्मानुरूपम् (pūrva-karmānurūpam) = in accordance with the past deeds; हि (hi) = indeed; एतत् (etat) = this; प्रार्थ्यम् (prārthyam) = prayer; मम (mama) = my; बहुमतम् (bahumatam) = much considered opinion; जन्मजन्मान्तरे (janma-janmāntare) = in many births; अपि (api) = also; त्वत् (tvat) = your; पादाम्भोरुहयुगगता (pādāmbhoruha-yugagatā) = lotus feet; निश्चला (niścalā) = unwavering; भक्तिः (bhaktiḥ) = devotion; अस्तु (astu) = be there;

अन्वयः

न धर्मे आस्था; न वसुनिचये; न कामोपभोगे एव । यत् पूर्वकर्मानुरूपं भव्यं, तत् भवतु । भगवन्, एतत् हि, मम बहुमतं, प्रार्थ्यं, जन्मजन्मान्तरे अपि त्वत् पादाम्भोरुहयुगगता निश्चला भक्तिः अस्तु ।
na dharme āsthā; na vasunicaye; na kāmopabhoge eva. yat pūrvakarmānurūpaṁ bhavyaṁ, tat bhavatu. Bhagavan, etat hi, mama bahumataṁ, prārthyaṁ  janma-janmāntare api tvat pādāmbhoruhayugagatā niścalā bhaktiḥ astu.