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Song Name: Vaisnava Jana To Tene

Official Name: None

Author: Narasi Mehta

Book Name: None

Language: Gujarati

LYRICS:

(1)

vaiṣṇava jana to tene kahiye je pīṛ parāī jāne re

para duḥkhe upkār kare so ye man abhimān nā āne re

(2)

sakaḷa loka mā sahune vande nindā na kare kenī re

vāca kāca mana niścaḷa rākhe dhana dhana jananī tenī re

(3)

sama dṛṣṭī ne tṛṣṇā tyāge para strī je ne māt re

jihvā thakī asatya na bole para dhana nava chaṇe hāth re

(4)

moha māyā vyāpe nahi je ne dṛḍha vairāgya je nā man mā re

rām nām śū tāḷī lāge sakaḷa tiratha tenā tan mā re

(5)

vaṇa lobhī ne kapaṭ rahit che kām krodha nivāryā re

bhaṇe narasaiyo teno daraśana kartā kuḷ ekotere kāryā re

TRANSLATION

1) A true Vaisnava understands pain of all, compassionate to all, brings happiness to all, and does not feel pride about it.

2) The Vaisnava does not criticize anyone, while humbly worshipping hundreds in the world. The mother is indeed great who keeps the Vaisnava’s tongue and mind under control.

3) The Vaisnava has equal vision to all and is not overly ambitious, looks at other’s women as the mother, where no falsehood escapes the tongue, and hands do not touch another person’s gold.

4) The Vaisnava is not affected by the attraction of illusion and attachment. While having the mentality of an ascetic, the Vaisnava is attracted to the chanting of the name of Lord Krsna (Reservoir of Pleasure), the Vaisnava’s body itself is a where all pilgrimages are found.

5) The Vaisnava conquered all lust and anger, and is devoid of cheating propensity and trickery. The poet Narsi Mehta, by seeing the Vaisnava, seventy-one generations of his family became redeemed.

REMARKS/EXTRA INFORMATION:

This song is most commonly rendered in Raga Khamaja.

This is Mahatma Gandhi’s favorite song. He used to sing this song in his meetings.

This song translation edited for the inclusion of Vaisnava being either male or female.

UPDATED: July 4, 2009