Vaishnava Jana To is a Vaishnav bhajan, written in the 15th century by the poet Narsinh Mehta in the Gujarati language. The poem speaks about the life, ideals and mentality of a Vaishnava Jana (a follower of Vishnu). Following is the a video of the bhajan, lyrics in hindi, english transliteration followed by a translation in the end.
Vaishnav jan to tene kahiye je
PeeD paraayi jaaNe re
Par-dukhkhe upkaar kare toye
Man abhimaan na aaNe re
SakaL lok maan sahune vande
Nindaa na kare keni re
Vaach kaachh man nishchaL raakhe
Dhan-dhan janani teni re (Vaishnava)
Sam-drishti ne trishna tyaagi
Par-stree jene maat re
Jivha thaki asatya na bole
Par-dhan nav jhaalee haath re (Vaishnava)
Moh-maaya vyaape nahi jene
DriDh vairaagya jena man maan re
Ram naam shoon taaLi laagi
SakaL tirath tena tan maan re (Vaishnava)
VaN-lobhi ne kapaT-rahit chhe
Kaam-krodh nivaarya re
BhaNe Narsaiyyo tenun darshan karta
KuL ekoter taarya re (Vaishnava)
Only he is a man of God
who understands the pain of others
one who does good to others
without letting pride enter his mind.
One who finds good around the world
without finding faults in anyone
Who keeps his words, thoughts and actions pure
his mother is blessed
One who sees equally, gives up greed
respects women like his mother
one who tirelessly speaks the truth
and does not eye else's property
One who gives up attachments
whose mind renounciates
The name of Raam is on his lips
whose pilgrimage is within
One who is not greedy or deceitful,
and is free of lust and anger
O Narsi, in the company of such a person,
the entire family gets salvation
Lyrics
Vaishnav jan to tene kahiye je
PeeD paraayi jaaNe re
Par-dukhkhe upkaar kare toye
Man abhimaan na aaNe re
SakaL lok maan sahune vande
Nindaa na kare keni re
Vaach kaachh man nishchaL raakhe
Dhan-dhan janani teni re (Vaishnava)
Sam-drishti ne trishna tyaagi
Par-stree jene maat re
Jivha thaki asatya na bole
Par-dhan nav jhaalee haath re (Vaishnava)
Moh-maaya vyaape nahi jene
DriDh vairaagya jena man maan re
Ram naam shoon taaLi laagi
SakaL tirath tena tan maan re (Vaishnava)
VaN-lobhi ne kapaT-rahit chhe
Kaam-krodh nivaarya re
BhaNe Narsaiyyo tenun darshan karta
KuL ekoter taarya re (Vaishnava)
English Translation
Only he is a man of God
who understands the pain of others
one who does good to others
without letting pride enter his mind.
One who finds good around the world
without finding faults in anyone
Who keeps his words, thoughts and actions pure
his mother is blessed
One who sees equally, gives up greed
respects women like his mother
one who tirelessly speaks the truth
and does not eye else's property
One who gives up attachments
whose mind renounciates
The name of Raam is on his lips
whose pilgrimage is within
One who is not greedy or deceitful,
and is free of lust and anger
O Narsi, in the company of such a person,
the entire family gets salvation
Mahatma Gandhi's favorite Gujarati hymn and its translation ...
Khushwant Singh's translation:
A godlike man is one,
Who feels another’s pain
Who shares another’s sorrow,
And pride does disdain.
Who regards himself as the lowliest of the low,
Speaks not a word of evil against any one
One who keeps himself steadfast in words, body and mind,
Blessed is the mother who gives birth to such a son.
Who looks upon everyone as his equal and has renounced lust,
And who honours women like he honours his mother
Whose tongue knows not the taste of falsehood till his last breath,
Nor covets another’s worldly goods.
He does not desire worldly things,
For he treads the path of renunciation
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=32384
Ever on his lips is Rama’s holy name,
All places of pilgrimage are within him.
One who is not greedy and deceitful,
And has conquered lust and anger
Through such a man Saint Narsaiyon has a godly vision,
Generations to come, of such a man, will attain salvation
Hindi Lyrics
वैष्णव जन तो तेने कहिये
जे पीड परायी जाणे रे ।
पर दुःखे उपकार करे तो ये
मन अभिमान न आणे रे ॥
सकळ लोकमां सहुने वंदे,
निंदा न करे केनी रे ।
वाच काछ मन निश्चळ राखे,
धन धन जननी तेनी रे ॥
समदृष्टि ने तृष्णा त्यागी,
परस्त्री जेने मात रे ।
जिह्वा थकी असत्य न बोले,
परधन नव झाले हाथ रे ॥
मोह माया व्यापे नहि जेने,
दृढ़ वैराग्य जेना मनमां रे ।
रामनाम शुं ताळी रे लागी,
सकळ तीरथ तेना तनमां रे ॥
वणलोभी ने कपटरहित छे,
काम क्रोध निवार्या रे ।
भणे नरसैयॊ तेनुं दरसन करतां,
कुळ एकोतेर तार्या रे ॥
जे पीड परायी जाणे रे ।
पर दुःखे उपकार करे तो ये
मन अभिमान न आणे रे ॥
सकळ लोकमां सहुने वंदे,
निंदा न करे केनी रे ।
वाच काछ मन निश्चळ राखे,
धन धन जननी तेनी रे ॥
समदृष्टि ने तृष्णा त्यागी,
परस्त्री जेने मात रे ।
जिह्वा थकी असत्य न बोले,
परधन नव झाले हाथ रे ॥
मोह माया व्यापे नहि जेने,
दृढ़ वैराग्य जेना मनमां रे ।
रामनाम शुं ताळी रे लागी,
सकळ तीरथ तेना तनमां रे ॥
वणलोभी ने कपटरहित छे,
काम क्रोध निवार्या रे ।
भणे नरसैयॊ तेनुं दरसन करतां,
कुळ एकोतेर तार्या रे ॥
Singing oneness!
18 Comments
What a depth!
ReplyDeleteThank u for the translation ... Being a bengalee I could not understand the gujrati meaning ....
ReplyDelete🙏🙏🙏
Delete😊
DeleteVery nice
ReplyDeleteDefinitely nice on reading but look around and I don’t see anyone following this anymore.
DeleteBy GOD'S GRACE AND BLESSINGS it would be the nicest if I , me and myself were to follow and serve as such rather than for others doing it.
DeleteBE THAT CHANGE THAT YOU WISH TO SEE IN OTHERS
Very nice song and especially for the translation
ReplyDeleteKeep it up 🤗😍
so beautiful and soul touching
ReplyDeleteFocus on yourself in improving all you think previously done incorrectly in your mind. Focus on positivity. Stop criticizing others. By doing such, you are hurting yourself only.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful words of wisdom! It sums up the whole purpose of life!
ReplyDeleteWhat's (O Narsi)
ReplyDeleteMost Indian poets, especially those who wrote spiritual poems/songs addressed themselves in the concluding lines using their pen names.
DeleteThis poem was written by Narsinh Mehta and hence the usage 'O Narsi'
Gandhi was very spiritual, he knew that we can't love God whom we cannot see, when we can't love the people we do see. He believed in human dignity and equality. Where there is love there is God, where there is hatred there is no God
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the beautiful bhajan and it's translation.
ReplyDeleteVery meaningful and thought provoking verses
ReplyDeleteBeautiful words! Timeless wisdom.
ReplyDeleteThank you sir madam by Transition in this ..name gurleen Kaur Nagra 🥰🥰🥰 good evening 🌆
ReplyDelete