ORIYA PRAYERS TO JAGANNATH

Balarama dasa (AD 1470-1540) is the author of the Oriya version of the Ramayana,
popularly known as the Dandi Ramayana or the Jagamohana Ramayana. He was the eldest
of the nacha Sakha poets, the five companions of the fifteenth to sixteenth century. The
poet remained lost in the thoughts of the Lord in an excited and trance-like state and hence
many called him Matta Balarama dasa. He was also a contemporary of Sri Chaitanya, who
held him in great regard.

One finds deep philosophical and mystical thoughts in his works, which are at the same time
imbued with pure devotion. The following poem about Sri Jagannath, the Dark Lord,
addresses Him as Dinabandhu.

If You Forget Me
O Deenabandhaba! Truly are you like some close relation
To the poor and the helpless souls!
There is no end to my sorrows.
If you too forget me, O friend of those in distress,
Who else shall come to my rescue and be my companion?

A garland of Tulasi leaves you sport on your chest,

A crown of the same your head does surround.
Standing at the feet of the platform of this holy basil plant
The Blue Wheel on the temple spire does come within the sight.

On the branch of the basil plant

A garland of chrysanthemum made into a bun
Does inspire awe in every one.
There is no danger
When the friend of the lowly and the poor is near,
With his protection, of Dinabandhu, there is no fear,

Of being victorious one can rather be sure.

He who is known
By this appellation,
Is truly the supreme ascetic.
From the hearts of saints he does dispel panic.
He shares the sorrows
Of those in distress.

By the ephemeral
Is bound the eternal
Trapped by illusion,
Attachments do cloud the vision
The Empty Person into the vacant space is gone,
The cage shall remain closed and be left alone.
 With hopes to obtain redemption,
I have built this bridge of stone
To cross life's ocean
If you do not rescue me anon,
I shall surely drown.
Do save me soon, O Round-eyed One!

You are truly delighted by simple devotion,

Touched by the heart's emotion,
Hence, Balarama dasa
Does not seek, of your holy rice, a few grains.
Instead, for some specks of dust
From your lotus feet, he does supplicate.

Original Oriya hymn "Dinabandhu mo dukha na gala ji…"

Source: Nayak, Kshetrabasi. Ed. Sri Jagannatha Padyavali - Volume 1 (Second Edition).
Berhampur: Pustak Bhandar, 1980, pp. 9.