bhajahu re mana, sri nanda-nandana, abhaya-caranaravinda re durlabha manava-janama sat-sange, taraha e bhava-sindhu re (1)
O mind, serve the lotus feet of Nanda-nandana, which bring fearlessness. This human birth is very rare. Take the association of sädhus and cross over this ocean of birth and death.
sita atapa, vata varisana, e dina yamini jagi' re viphale sevinu, krpana durajana, capala sukha-lava lagi' re (2)
Day and night I remain without sleep, suffering the pains of heat and cold, wind and rain. In vain, simply for some insignificant, flickering happiness which can be lost at any moment, I have uselessly served wicked and miserly people (thieves interested only in their own happiness, opposed to my doing bhakti).
e dhana, yauvana, putra, parijana, ithe ki ache paratiti re kamala-dala-jala, jivana kalamala, bhajahu hari-pada niti re (3)
Wealth, youth, sons, and relatives -- what real happiness do they hold? This life is flickering, like a drop of water tottering on the leaf of a lotus flower -- at any moment it can fall off. (Similarly, there is no guarantee when this life will end.) Therefore, always serve the lotus feet of Sri Hari.
sravana, kirtana, smarana, vandana, pada-sevana, dasya re pujana, sakhi-jana, atma-nivedana, govinda-dasa-abhilasa re (4)
Deep in Govinda däsa's heart is the keen desire to engage in the practice of the nine processes of bhakti -- hearing, chanting, remembering, offering prayers, serving His lotus feet, engaging as servant, worshiping, serving as a friend and completely offering one's very self.