ભક્તિ કરતા છુટે મારા પ્રાણ

નાદબ્રહ્મ પદ - ૮૮૧, પૃષ્ઠ - ૫૯૯
Nādbrahma pada 881, page 599

ભક્તિ કરતા છુટે મારા પ્રાણ, પ્રભુ એવુ માંગુ છું.
રહે જનમો જનમ તારો સાથ, પ્રભુ એવુ માંગુ છું.
bhakti kartā chhute mārā prān, prabhu evu māňgu chhuň
rahe janamo janam tāro sāth, prabhu evu māňgu chhuň

તારું મુખડું મનોહર જોયા કરું
રાત દહાડો ભજન તારું ગાયા કરું
રહે અંત સમય તારું ધ્યાન .... પ્રભુ એવુ માંગુ છું     ૧
tāru mukhadu manohar joyā karu
rāt dahādo bhajan tāru gāyā karu
rahe aňt samay tāru dhyān... prabhu evu māňgu chhuň     1

મારી આશા નિરાશા કરશો નહિં
મારા અવગુણ હૈયામાં ધરશો નહિં
શ્વાસે-શ્વાસે રટુ તારું નામ ..... પ્રભુ એવુ માંગુ છું     ૨
māri āshā nirāshā karsho nahiň
mārā avgun haiyā-māň dharsho nahiň
shvāse-shvāse ratu tāru nām... prabhu evu māňgu chhuň     2

મારા પાપ ને તાપ સમાવી લેજો
તારા નંદુને દાસ બનાવી દેજો
દેજો આવીને દર્શન દાન .... પ્રભુ એવુ માંગુ છું     ૩
mārā pāp ne tāp samāvi lejo
tārā naňdu-ne dās banāvi dejo
dejo āvi-ne darshan dān... prabhu evu māngu chhuň     3

English translation ( by AI):
This bhajan is a prayer of complete surrender (sharanagati). The devotee begs for God’s eternal companionship across lifetimes, forgiveness for human flaws, and constant mindfulness. Ultimate peace is sought by chanting the Divine name with every breath, aiming to leave the physical world fully immersed in devotion.

0. I pray that my life departs while I am immersed in devotion, O Lord.
I pray for your companionship birth after birth, O Lord.

1. May I keep gazing at your enchanting face.
May I keep singing your hymns day and night.
May my focus remain on you in my final moments... I pray for this, O Lord.

2. Do not turn my hopes into disappointments.
Do not hold my flaws and faults against me.
May I chant your name with every single breath... I pray for this, O Lord.

3. Consume and pacify my sins and miseries.
Make your devotee Nandu your eternal servant.
Come and grant me the blessing of your divine vision... I pray for this, O Lord.

Spiritual Context and Essence
This beautiful Gujarati bhajan is a prayer of Sharanagati (complete surrender) and Nishkama Bhakti (selfless devotion). The ultimate goal of the seeker is not material wealth, power, or even liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Instead, the devotee begs for eternal proximity to the Divine and the grace to remember God until their very last breath.
The mention of "Nandu" in the final stanza indicates the signature (mudra) of the poet who composed this hymn, speaking from the humble position of a servant waiting for a glimpse of the Master.

Core Spiritual Takeaways

• The Art of Dying (Antim Smaran): The prayer highlights the Vedic philosophy that a person's final thought shapes their next journey. By asking to die while doing bhakti, the devotee seeks to merge into the Divine consciousness at the moment of transition.
• Acceptance of Human Imperfection: The line "Mara avgun haiya-ma dharsho nahin" acknowledges human flaws. It teaches us to approach God with absolute honesty, asking for forgiveness and unconditional acceptance despite our shortcomings.
• Constant Mindfulness: True devotion is not a part-time ritual. Cultivating bhakti "day and night" (rat dahado) and with "every single breath" (shvase-shvase) transforms regular life into continuous meditation.
• Surrendering the Ego: True peace comes when we ask God to dissolve our sins and sufferings (pap ne tap) and willingly accept the position of a servant (das). This completely eliminates individual ego.