When the famous saint-musician Surdas was nearing the end of his days on earth, a bhakta came to him with a question. He asked, “You have sung countless songs about Sri Krishna and His beloved gopis, but none about Sri Vallabh or Sri Gusaiji (Vitthalnath). Surely, as a devotee, you should sing at least one pada for them.”
Sri Surdas replied, “Sri Nathji and Sri Vallabh are nondifferent. If in my padas you do not see Shri Vallabh, you have missed the point altogether!” With that he began to sing a song in praise of the Guru. This was to be his last pada. As its last line finished, he entered the nitya-lila. And this is the song:
bharoso dhrdha Guru charanana tero
bharoso dhrdha Guru charanana tero
O Sri Gurudev, I take refuge at thy feet. I have steadfast faith in you and you alone.
Sri Vallabha* nakha-chandra chatta bina
saba jaga bhayo andhero
Without the moonbeams shining from thy toenails, I see only darkness in this world. (Thy guidance, like moonbeams, guides me in this world, darkened with ignorance).
Sadhana aura nahi yeh kali mein
Jaso haota nibero
In this terrible age of Kali, I see no other way to save myself.
Sura kaha kahai dvividha andhero
bina molaka chero
Surdas, blind in external and internal vision,
Is the bondservant of Sri Guru forever.
*(Dasa Abhaya kahe aur koi nahi
Sitaram dhana mero
Abhaya Das says I have no one else but Gurudev Sri Sitaram, my only wealth.)
*This song by Surdas, the famous musician disciple of Sri Vallabhacharya, was adapted for this recording as an offering to Sri Sitaram Das Omkarnath by disciple Sri Abhaya Das.
