Ghazal
Such Folly of the Mind
In this devotional verse, the poet laments the sheer ignorance of the mind, which abandons the celestial river of devotion to Lord Rama to chase fleeting worldly pleasures like dew drops. He illustrates that pursuing material illusions brings neither peace nor fulfillment, but only deeper suffering and spiritual loss.
Source: Tulsi Granthavali, Part 2 (ed. Ramchandra Shukla, Kashi Nagari Pracharini Sabha) · HI
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1
ऐसी मूढ़ता या मन की ।
परिहरि रामभगति सुरसरिता आस करत ओसकन की ॥
Such sheer folly plagues this mind of mine: forsaking the heavenly river of Rama's devotion, it yearns for fleeting drops of dew.
Such is the foolishness of this mind that, abandoning the heavenly river of devotion to Rama, it yearns for mere drops of dew.
2
धूमसमूह निरखि चातक ज्यों तृषित जानि मति घन की ।
नहिं तहँ सीतलता न बारि, पुनि हानि होति लोचन की ॥
As the thirsty pied cuckoo mistakes a plume of smoke for a raincloud, finding neither cool solace nor water there, it only ends up searing its eyes.
Just as a thirsty pied cuckoo mistakes a plume of smoke for a raincloud, it finds neither coolness nor water there, and only ends up damaging its own eyes.
3
ज्यों गच-काँच बिलोकि सेन जड़ छाँह आपने तन की ।
टूटत अति आतुर अहार बस छति बिसारि आनन की ॥
Just as a foolish hawk, beholding its reflection in a mirrored floor, swoops down in ravenous haste for prey, unmindful of the ruin awaiting its face.
Just as a foolish hawk, seeing its own reflection on a mirrored floor, pounces upon it in eager hunger while completely forgetting the harm it will cause to its own face.
4
कहँ लौं कहौं कुचाल कृपानिधि जानत हौ गति मन की ।
तुलसिदास प्रभु हरहु दुसह दुख, करहु लाज निज पन की॥६०।
How far can I recount my wicked ways, O Ocean of Mercy, when You already know every motion of my heart? O Lord, relieve Tulsidas of this unbearable grief, and uphold the honour of Your sacred vow.
O Ocean of Mercy, how far can I recount my wrongful conduct when You already know the state of my heart? O Lord, remove this unbearable suffering of Tulsidas and uphold the honour of Your solemn vow.
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