નોતરૂં મારે નારાયણનું

નાદબ્રહ્મ પદ-૮૩૬
Nādbrahma pada 836

નોતરૂં મારે નારાયણનું, અંતકાળે હરિ આવો;
notaru māre nārāyaṇ-nu, aňta-kāḷe hari āvo;

સારંગ ધરજો વેળાએ વરજો, વેળાએ વાર ન લાગે;
સારાં કર્મ તમે જે કર્યા, તેની ગાંઠલડી શિર બાંધી ... ૧
sāraňg dhar-jo veḷā-e var-jo, veḷā-e vār na lāge;
sārā karma tame je karyā, tenī gāňṭhalaḍī shir bāňdhī … 1

ગોપી ચંદન તિલક તુલસીને, નામ નારાયણ બાનુ;
વિપરીત કર્મે કંઠ વિરોધ્યો ને, સગાં થજો રઘુનાથ ... ૨
gopī chaňdan tilak tulasi-ne, nām nārāyaṇ bānu;
viparit karme kaňṭh virodhyo ne, sagā thajo raghu-nāth … 3

ઘોડલે ચઢી ગોવિંદજી આવ્યાં, સાર્યા સેવકના કામ;
મોરલી વગાડતાં મોહનજી, આવ્યાં ગોવિંદદાસ ... ૩
ghoḍale chaḍhī goviňd-jī āvyā, sāryā sevak-nā kām;
morali vagāḍ-tā mohan-jī, āvyā goviňd-dās … 3

YouTube video(s):
1. Shree Ramkabir Mandir Bhajan Mandal - December 16, 2013  (rāga - charchari) 

English Translation (by AI):
This beautiful, traditional Gujarati bhajan is an emotional prayer often sung during life's final moments or as a reflection on mortality. It asks Lord Narayan (Krishna/Vishnu) for protection, liberation, and a peaceful transition from the material world.

0. I have sent my final invitation to Narayana; please come to me, Hari, when my last moments arrive.

1. Hold Your divine bow (Saranga), choose this exact moment to bless me, and please do not delay when the time comes. Take all the good deeds you have performed throughout life and tie them up into a secure bundle to carry upon your head.

2. Adorned with the sacred clay (Gopi Chandan), a tilak, and holy basil (Tulsi), I wear the name of Narayana as my spiritual armor. Even if my past mistakes try to choke my throat (making it hard to speak or breathe), please step in and protect me like my closest kin, O Lord of the Raghu clan (Raghunath).

3. Riding swiftly upon His horse, Govinda has finally arrived, perfectly fulfilling every last task for His servant. Playing His divine flute, Mohan (the enchanter) has come, bringing eternal peace to His devoted servant, Govindadas.

Key Cultural & Spiritual Elements Explained

• અંતકાળે (Antkale): Literally "the final time" or the moment of death. In Hindu philosophy, a person's last thoughts determine their next journey, which is why the singer is inviting God ahead of time.
• સારંગ (Saranga): The celestial bow of Lord Vishnu/Krishna, representing ultimate power and protection against dark or negative forces during the soul's transition.
• ગાંઠલડી શિર બાંધી (Bundle on the head): A beautiful metaphor. When a traveler moves on, they pack their essentials. In the journey after life, material wealth is useless—only the "bundle" of your good deeds (Karma) goes with you.
• ગોપી ચંદન અને તુલસી (Gopi Chandan & Tulsi): Sacred items used in daily worship. Wearing them at the end signifies that the person lived a life dedicated to devotion.
• વિપરીત કર્મ (Vipreet Karma): Negative actions or past sins. The line implies that even if one's physical body or past mistakes make the final moments painful or difficult, the divine presence will ease the transition.

…
The spiritual essence of this bhajan centers on Sharanagati (absolute surrender) and the preparation of the soul for its final journey. It moves away from the fear of death, transforming it instead into a celebratory, peaceful reunion with the Divine.

Here is the deeper spiritual philosophy embedded in the verses:

1. Pre-Booking Divine Protection (The Divine Invitation)

The bhajan opens with "Notru mare Narayan nu"—sending an advance invitation to God. In Hindu philosophy, the final thought a person holds at the moment of death (Anta-kale) determines the soul’s next destination. By practicing devotion throughout life, the seeker trains their mind so that their very last breath naturally calls out to the Divine, ensuring liberation (Mukti).

2. The Currency of the Afterlife (The Bundle of Good Deeds)

The line about tying a bundle of good deeds (saara karma) upon the head is a profound reminder of detachment. When we leave this world, we cannot carry our money, property, or relationships. The only true currency accepted in the afterlife is our Karma. The bhajan urges the listener to stock up on goodness, kindness, and devotion, as that is the only luggage the soul takes with it.

3. Spiritual Armor Against Past Mistakes

The mention of Gopi Chandan, Tilak, and Tulsi represents wearing one's faith outwardly and inwardly. The bhajan acknowledges human imperfection—confessing that past negative actions (Vipreet Karma) might choke the throat or cause fear at the end. However, the spiritual essence here is unconditional grace. It reassures the seeker that sincere devotion acts as an invincible armor, and God will override our past mistakes to claim us as His own family (Sagaa thajo Raghunath).

4. Death as a Divine Celebration

In the final verse, death is stripped of its grim, terrifying imagery. Instead of Yama (the God of Death), it is Govinda who arrives on a horse. He doesn't come to punish; He comes playing a flute (Morli) to enchant the soul and ease it out of the physical body. The transition of life ending is beautifully reframed not as a tragic loss, but as the ultimate fulfillment of a servant's lifelong devotion.

…
Here are the practical, everyday life takeaways from this profound bhajan that you can apply to modern living:

1. Invest in "Spiritual Currency"

Material wealth, status, and possessions stay behind when we die. The only things that truly belong to the soul are your actions.

• The Lesson: Shift your focus from just accumulating material assets to building a bank of good karma through kindness, charity, and selflessness. That is the only luggage that counts.

2. Practice Mindful Preparation

The bhajan emphasizes inviting God before the final hour arrives. You cannot expect a peaceful, divine state of mind at the end of life if you live in chaos and attachment every day.

• The Lesson: Build a daily spiritual routine or meditation practice now. Train your mind daily so that peace and connection to the Divine become your natural, default state of being.

3. Grace Overcomes Defect

The text beautifully reassures us that humans are imperfect. Even if your past mistakes (Vipreet Karma) cause guilt or fear, absolute surrender (Sharanagati) attracts divine grace.

• The Lesson: Forgive yourself for past errors. Instead of living in guilt or anxiety about your flaws, surrender your worries to a higher power and focus on doing good today.

4. Overcome the Fear of the Unknown

Society often teaches us to fear aging, transition, and death. This bhajan completely flips that script, picturing the final transition as a joyful arrival of a friend on horseback playing a flute.

• The Lesson: Change your perspective on life's major transitions. When you anchor yourself in faith, major life changes—including the end of life—stop being terrifying and instead become a peaceful return home.