This poem, "Krishna, Don’t make me an orphan," by Mataji Vanamali, is a heartfelt plea to Lord Krishna, the Hindu deity known for his compassion and divine love.
O thou who art the sole support of the abandoned!
Please don’t make me an orphan!
Birth after birth have I wandered through the desert of life,
Searching for Thee,
I’m but an unknown flower, faded and worn,
Unknowingly I have reached thy doorstep,
How can I offer myself to thee?
How can I be used in they puja?
O Shoure! (
Please don’t abandon me!
In the carnival of life I missed my way
And fell into a nightmare that lasted for eons!
O Lord of Lakshmi! Wilt thou not stretch thy hand and haul me to the shore?
O Ocean of compassion! Wilt thou not come running to save me?
O thou delight of my eyes!
Thou alone art my mother, husband, friend and relation,
No sons or grandsons do I have other than thee!
Having given up all my blood relations,
I have sought refuge at thy feet alone,
Will thou not accept me O Beloved Vanamali,
Wilt thou not come running to me, my darling Vanamali!
Mataji Vanamali
Let's break it down stanza by stanza:
Opening Plea: The speaker addresses Lord Krishna, pleading
with him not to make her an orphan. This could be understood metaphorically,
suggesting that without Krishna's guidance and support, the speaker feels
spiritually abandoned and alone.
Desert of Life: The speaker describes her journey through
life as wandering through a desert, searching for Krishna. She feels worn out
and faded like a flower, yet she has finally reached Krishna's doorstep. She
expresses uncertainty about how she can offer herself to him or be worthy of
being used in his worship.
Appeal for Help: The speaker acknowledges her own
helplessness and asks Krishna not to abandon her. She feels lost in the
"carnival of life," having strayed from the right path and endured a
long nightmare. She implores Krishna, the Lord of Lakshmi (the goddess of
wealth and prosperity), to extend his hand and rescue her with his compassion.
Sole Source of Support: The speaker declares Krishna as her
everything - mother, husband, friend, and relation. She renounces all other
familial ties and seeks refuge solely at Krishna's feet. She begs him to accept
her and come to her aid, addressing him affectionately as "Beloved
Vanamali."
Overall, the poem conveys a deep sense of longing,
surrender, and devotion to Lord Krishna. It portrays the speaker's profound
yearning for spiritual connection and divine grace, as well as her trust in
Krishna's boundless compassion and love.