Avatara Sara

Śrī Gaura Avatār is the best of all Avatārs. Why don’t you serve Him? O mind, you resided beside water, but did not quench your thirst.

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Srila Gurudev singing Avatara sara on Gaura Purnima day, 28 February 1991.
avatāra sāra gorā avatāra
kena nā bhajili tā̐re
kari’ nīre vāsa gela nā piyāsa
āpana karama phere [1]
Śrī Gaura Avatār is the best of all Avatārs. Why don’t you serve Him? O mind, you resided beside water, but did not quench your thirst. You returned to your selfishness.
kaṇṭakera taru sadāi sevili (mana)
amṛta pā’bāra āśe
prema-kalpataru śrī gaurāṅga āmāra
tāhāre bhavili viṣe [2]
O mind, desiring to drink nectar, you constantly chewed thorned wood (and mistook the blood in your mouth for nectar). My Lord Gaurāṅga is a wish-fulfilling tree of divine love, but you considered Him to be poison.
saurabhera āśe palāśa śuṅkili (mana)
nāsāte paśila kīṭa
‘ikṣu-daṇḍa’ bhāvi’ kāṭha chuṣili (mana)
kemane pāibi miṭha [3]
O mind, seeking a fragrance, you smelled the odourless palāśa flower, and insects entered your nose. O mind, considering it sugarcane, you sucked dry wood. How will you taste sweetness in this way?
‘hāra’ baliyā galāya parili (mana)
śamana kiṅkara sāpa
‘śītala’ baliyā āguna pohāli (mana)
pāili vajara-tāpa [4]
O mind, considering it a necklace, you wore death’s attendant serpent around your neck. O mind, considering it to be cooling, you embraced fire and received a scorching burn.
saṁsāra bhajili śrī-gaurāṅga bhulili
nā śunili sādhura kathā
iha-parakāla dukāla khoyāli (mana)
khāili āpana māthā [5]
You served your family (mundane ends), forgot Śrī Gaurāṅga, and never listened to the sādhus’ words. O mind, you wasted both this life and your next life. You depraved yourself.
(Śrīla Lochan Dās Ṭhākur)