अजातपक्षा इव मातरं खगाः
स्तन्यं यथा वत्सतराः क्षुधार्ताः ।
प्रियं प्रियेव व्युषितं विषण्णा
मनोऽरविन्दाक्ष दिदृक्षते त्वाम् ॥२६॥

ajÄta-paká¹£Ä iva mÄtaraá¹ khagÄḥ
stanyaá¹ yathÄ vatsatarÄḥ ká¹£udh-ÄrtÄḥ
priyaá¹ priyeva vyuá¹£itaá¹ viá¹£aṇṇÄ
mano 'ravindÄká¹£a didá¹›ká¹£ate tvÄm

 ajÄta-paká¹£Äḥ - who have not yet grown wings; iva - like; mÄtaram - the mother; khagÄḥ - small birds; stanyam - the milk from the udder; yathÄ - just as; vatsatarÄḥ - the young calves; ká¹£udh-ÄrtÄḥ - distressed by hunger; priyam - the beloved or husband; priyÄ - the wife or lover; iva - like; vyuá¹£itam - who is away from home; viá¹£aá¹‡á¹‡Ä - morose; manaḥ - my mind; aravinda-aká¹£a - O lotus-eyed one; didá¹›ká¹£ate - wants to see; tvÄm - You.


Text

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.

Purport

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.