# 24 Teri Sharan Prabhu Teri Sharan

प्रभु तेरी शरण प्रभु तेरी शरण

राग: भैरवी ताल चलित

प्रभु तेरी शरण प्रभु तेरी शरण
प्रभु तेरी शरण में आया हूँ ।टेक ।
भव जल लहरी नदिया गहरी
कर्मन वेग बहाया हूँ । १।
परबल माया जाल  बिछाया
चारों तरफ फंसाया हूँ ।२।
क्षण भंगारा विषय विकारा
जन्म जन्म भरमाया हूँ ।३।
ब्रह्मानंद दास दासन्ह का
चरण कमल लपटाया हूँ ।४।

 

Bhajan lyrics by Swami Bramhanandji maharaj

 

Title: Prabhu teri sharan

raag: Bhairavi taal chalit

 

Prabhu teri sharan
prabhu teri sharan
prabhu teri sharan me
aaya hu ||repeat||

bhav jal lehri nadiya
gehri karman
vag bahaya hu ||1||

parbal maya jaal bichhaya charo taraf
fasaya hu ||2||

kshan bhangara vishaya
vikara janam janam
bharmaya hu ||3||

bramhanand das dasan
ka charan kamal
liptaya hu ||4||

   

Semantics: 

In Your refuge, Lord, in Your refuge, In Your refuge,

I seek my grace. (Chorus)

In the waves of life's deep ocean,

By deeds' strong current, I'm swept away. (1)

Maya's powerful net entangles,

All around, I'm led astray. (2)

Momentary pleasures, vices fleeting,

In birth after birth, I've lost my way. (3)

Brahmanand, a humble servant,

At Your lotus feet, I choose to stay. (4)

 

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Connotations: 

Swami Brahmanand Ji seeks refuge in God, lamenting his deep entanglement in worldly activities where attachment to the fruits of karma threatened to consume his life. He reflects on Maya, the illusory empire of the world, questioning its nature. Maya, he explains, deceives us into tirelessly pursuing a world that cannot truly satisfy, while overlooking the eternal presence of God who is always with us. This misperception is Maya's trap, ensnaring all humanity, yet only God can liberate us from its grasp, as Maya itself is subservient to Him.

The pursuit of fleeting worldly pleasures, he observes, brings temporary happiness but fails to quench our perpetual thirst for lasting joy. This cycle persists across countless lifetimes, leaving our quest for happiness perpetually unfulfilled.

In conclusion, Swamiji prescribes the path to freedom from this cycle of illusion: becoming servants to God's devotees. By serving sages, saints, and dedicated devotees, who themselves serve God, we attain refuge in God and find salvation from Maya's bondage. This devotion to God's servants is the key to liberation, offering a transformative path away from worldly entanglements towards spiritual emancipation.

In these insightful lines from Tulsidas's ‘Shri Ram Charit Manasa’, the poet eloquently compares overcoming Maya to the simplicity of a small caterpillar crossing a river. Kings expend great effort in building vast bridges over mighty rivers, yet a tiny caterpillar effortlessly traverses the water by hitching a ride on someone passing by the bridge.

"अति अपार जे सरीत वर जो नृप सेतु करहि। चढ़हि पिप्पलिकउ परम लघु बिनु श्रम परहि जाहि।"

This analogy beautifully encapsulates Tulsidas's wisdom on transcending Maya. Just as the caterpillar relies on the passerby to cross the river effortlessly, Tulsidas suggests that we can overcome the illusions of the world by seeking refuge in those who have already transcended Maya's grasp. By aligning ourselves with enlightened beings and saints who have attained spiritual realization, we can navigate life's challenges with greater ease and attain true liberation without unnecessary struggle.

The essence of Tulsidas's teaching lies in the simplicity and effectiveness of surrendering to the guidance and wisdom of those who have tread the path to spiritual awakening. This approach offers a practical and profound way to navigate the complexities of life and transcend the illusions that bind us, leading towards ultimate spiritual freedom.