Swami Sivananda composed many songs in English to convey his teachings, the most famous being the Song of Ities listing such virtues as Simplicity, Purity and Charity. Others were advice and inspiration for spiritual endeavor. This Song of Admonition is the best known. Below the audio podcast here is a transcript of the song.
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Song Of Admonition
By Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh
(The quality of the audio is not ideal, so we include the transcribed text here. For unfamiliar Sanskrit terms, we recommend you see our Brief Sanskrit Glossary.)
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare.
Radhe Shyama Radhe Shyama
Shyama Shyama Radhe Radhe
Radhe Krishna Radhe Krishna
Krishna Krishna Radhe Radhe
Gauri Shankar Gauri Shankar
Shankar Shankar Gauri Gauri
Uma Shankar Uma Shankar
Shankar Shankar Uma Uma
O My Jesus O Lord Jesus
Hail Hail Jesus O Father Father
O My Mary O Virgin Mary
Hail Hail Mary O Mother Mother
O My Buddha, O Lord Buddha
Hail Hail Buddha O Saviour Saviour
O My Allah, O Lord Allah,
Hail hail Allah, O Khuda Khuda
O My Sakti, O Adi Sakti,
Hail hail Sakti, O Mother Mother
Is there not a nobler mission
than eating, drinking and sleeping?
it is difficult to get a human birth,
therefore try your best to realise in this birth.
Fie on that wretch, woe to that man
who wastes all his life in sensual pleasures.
Time sweeps away kings and barons
Where is Yuddhistir? Where is Ashoka?
Where is Shakespeare? Where is Valmiki?
Where is Napoleon? Where is Shivaji?
Where is Gandhi, Where is Jinah?
Be up and doing yogic Sadhana
you will enjoy supreme bliss
Be up and doing in Brahma vichara
you will attain immortality, kaivalya moksha
Can you expect real shanti
if you waste your time in idle-gossiping?
Can you enjoy Supreme Peace
if you waste your time in novels, newspapers,
in fights and quarrels, in scandal, backbiting,
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare.
When the mind melts in the silence,
you will have Self-realization.
What have you learnt, tell me frankly
from the Bihar and Quetta earthquakes?
Have you got now real Vairag?
Do you practise Japa and Kirtan?
Here is a challenge to non-believers
of the Hindu theory of transmigration:
Have you not heard the thrilling narratives
of Shanti Devi, of her past life?
Can you expect real shanti if you waste your time
in cards and cinemas ?
When your throat is choked at the time of death,
who will help you for your salvation?
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare.
Dehonaham, Jivonaham,
Pratyagabhinna Bramaivaham,
Paripurnoham Paramarthoham
Brahmaivaham Brahmaivaham
Jagad Kalpa Natha, Jiva Kalpa Natha
All This Kalpa Natha, Dhiera Svapa natha
All This Jalam, all this Juggler deeds
All This Maya’s Street, All This Maya’s Thought
Nothing exist, nothing belongs to me,
I am neither my body, immortal Self I am.
Practice Ahimsa, Satyam Brahmacharya
This is the foundation of Yoga Vedanta
Practice [unclear] Japam
you will have Self-realization.
Eat a little, drink a little,
Talk a little, sleep a little,
Mix a little, move a little,
Serve a little, give a little,
Do Asanas a little, Pranayamas a little,
Reflect a little, Meditate a little,
Do Japa a little, do Kirtan a little,
Study a little, worship a little.
Do asana a little, pranayama a little,
Reflect a Little, Do Vichar a little.
[He varied the words from time to time, and frequently added: “Do a little of each; you will have time for all. God-realization is thus brought within your easy reach; and you are saved from the fear of a fall.”]
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare.
More about Swami Sivananda:
- Podcast: Swami Sivananda’s Humor (including a Video Podcast)
- Podcast: Days with Sivananda
- 10 Sagely Sayings of Swami Sivananda