Text 26
ajāta-pakṣā iva mātaraṁ khagāḥ
stanyaṁ yathā vatsatarāḥ kṣudh-ārtāḥ
priyaṁ priyeva vyuṣitaṁ viṣaṇṇā
mano ’ravindākṣa didṛkṣate tvām
ajāta-pakṣāḥ — who have not yet grown wings; iva — like; mātaram — the mother; khagāḥ — small birds; stanyam — the milk from the udder; yathā — just as; vatsatarāḥ — the young calves; kṣudh-ārtāḥ — distressed by hunger; priyam — the beloved or husband; priyā — the wife or lover; iva — like; vyuṣitam — who is away from home; viṣaṇṇā — morose; manaḥ — my mind; aravinda-akṣa — O lotus-eyed one; didṛkṣate — wants to see; tvām — You.
O lotus-eyed Lord, as baby birds that have not yet developed their wings always look for their mother to return and feed them, as small calves tied with ropes await anxiously the time of milking, when they will be allowed to drink the milk of their mothers, or as a morose wife whose husband is away from home always longs for him to return and satisfy her in all respects, I always yearn for the opportunity to render direct service unto You.
A pure devotee always yearns to associate personally with the Lord and render service unto Him. The examples given in this regard are most appropriate. A small baby bird is practically never satisfied except when the mother bird comes to feed it, a small calf is not satisfied unless allowed to suck the milk from the mother’s udder, and a chaste, devoted wife whose husband is away from home is never satisfied until she has the association of her beloved husband.