673. My Enemies Reside Inside – 260210 Poem by Raman Savithiri

I agree honestly my love is not absolute
For I know not its taste!
True devotion, then, how will I radiate?

Tears flow as I chant Your thousand names
Not because of true devotion
But out of fear and frustration
Save me Maa, not only from evils external
But also from hidden enemies internal

I am still vulnerable!
I fear disasters natural
Like flood, fire, famine,
Tsunami, tempest and tremors,
I fear demons in form of humans,
Thieves, murderer, robbers,
Rowdies, womanizers and kidnappers
I fear diseases, accidents, treachery and betrayal
I fear even jungle creatures like tiger, bear and jackal
Cunning animals like fox, hyena and monkeys

Above all I fear my own enemies reside inside
Anger, envy, lust, greed, grievance and hatred
And the root cause EGO of all these

The movements of external enemies are seen
But evils of EGO are hidden within deep
Before I sense they hit me and I bleed!

You always spread Your wings of warmth
To protect from all evils outside!
But alas! Where will I shelter myself
To escape the evils that reside inside?
I surrender at Your divine names!
Kindly drag me to the core,
As I chant, cover me under the Power
Of Your name! I take refuge in Your name
Shield from both in and out!
Om Sakthi! Om Sakthi! Om Sakthi!