Surdas - Sabse Oonchi Prem Sagai - Lyrics, Meaning and Translation

Listening to this Surdas bhajan today: 
Sabse oonchi prem sagai 

Jagjit Singh's rendition (which has the same tune as Anup Jalota's, so that's interesting!):


There are two versions of this poem I have found; one has 4 antaras, and another has 7 antaras. It was probably an ashtapadi. Will be interesting to find the complete ashtapadi. Write to me if you find it!

Short Version: Translation/Meaning in English & Lyrics in Hindi


The highest is the relation of love

The best bond is the bond of love. The Lord renounced the fifty-six kinds of food of the house of Duryodhana, and ate the simple greens of Vidur's house with love. The lord accepted the love of Shabri and ate fruit that was tasted by her. He had also accepted to be the charioteer of Arjuna's chariot without regards to his high position. His love for Vrindavan was so great that he also danced with the gopis. Surdas says: Lord, I am a lowly person and unworthy of such love, then how much can I praise you?

सबसे ऊँची प्रेम सगा‌ई

दुर्योधन को मेवा त्याग्यो
साग बिदुर घर पा‌ई

झूठे फल सबरी के खाए
बहु बिध प्रेम लगाई

प्रेम के बस अर्जुन रथ हांक्यो, 
भूल गए ठकुराई

प्रेमके बस अर्जुन-रथ हाँक्यो, 
भूल गये ठकुराई ।। २ ।।

ऐसी प्रीति बढी ब्रिंदाबन, 
गोपिन नाच नचाई ।।

सूर क्रूर इस लायक नाहीं, 
कहं लगि करौं बडाई ।। ३ ।। 


भावार्थ                                                               

सर्वश्रेष्ठ बँधन प्यार का बँधन है। भगवान ने दुर्योधन के घर का छपपन-भोग त्याग दिया, और विदुरजी के घर का साग प्रेम से खाया था। शबरी भीलनी थी, उसके जूठे बेर को भी भगवान ने बहुत स्वाद ले ले कर खाते थे।  अपने उच्च पद (ईश्वरत्व) का कोई ध्यान रखे बिना उन्होंने अर्जुन के रथ का सारथि बनना भी स्वीकार किया था। वृन्दावन के साथ तो उनका प्रेम इतना अधिक था कि उन्होंने गोपियों के साथ नृत्य भी किया था। सूरदास कहते हैं: हे प्रभु, मैं तो नीच व्यक्ति हूँ और इस तरह के प्यार के अयोग्य हूं, फिर मैं आपकी कितनी प्रशंसा कर सकता हूँ ?

Longer Version of this Bhajan - Lyrics and Translation in English


sabse ūńcī prema sagāī

(1)
duryodhana ko mevā tyāgo
sāga vidura ghara pāī

(2)
jūṭhe phala sabarī ke khāye
bahu vidhi prema lagāī

(3)
prema ke bas nṛpa sevā kīnhī
āp bane hari nāī

(4)
rājasuya yajña yudhiṣṭhira kīno
tāmai jūṭha uṭhāī

(5)
prema ke basa arjuna ratha hāńkhyo
bhūla gaye ṭhakurāī

(6)
aisi prīti baḍhī vṛndāvana
gopina nāca nacāī

(7)
sūra krūra is lāyaka nāhī
kaha lag karau baḍāī


TRANSLATION

Refrain: Of all forms of worship of the Lord, love is the best.

1) Lord Krsna renounced the delicacies that Duryodhana offered, and ate vegetables at Vidura's house.

2) As Lord Ramacandra, He ate fruits which were already filled with love from Sabari.

3) Love is indeed the best way to serve and please the Lord.

4) In Maharaja Yuddhistira's Rajasuya Yajna sacrifice, Lord Krsna served the brahmanas and picked up their eating utensils.

5) Out of pure love for Arjuna, He took the position of being his charioteer, and He forgot that He was the Lord.

6) Such love did Lord Krsna portray in Vrndavana when He danced with the gopis in the rasa lila.

7) Sura Dasa asks, "In what way could I worship the merciful and magnanimous Lord?"

1 Comments

  1. What a lovely rendition .. and sung so very well ..have heard it so many times during the Ganga Aarti at Rishikesh.

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