- Vaishnav jan to
Vaishnav jan to is a very popular
Hindu bhajan fromGujarat that was a favorite ofMahatma Gandhi 's. It was composed by the Gujarati poet-saintNarsinh Mehta in the 15th century.It is in the Western Indian language of Gujarati, but readily understood by those who can understand
Sanskrit orHindi . The bhajan reads asવૈષ્ણવ જન તો તેને કિહયે, જેપીડ પરાયી જાણે રે
પર દુખ્ખે ઉપકાર કરે તોયે,મન અિભમાન ના આણે રેસકળ લોક માન સહુને વંદે,િંનદા ન કરે કેની રે
વાચ કાછ મન િનશ્છળ રાખેધન ધન જનની તેની રેસમદૃષ્િટ ને તૃષ્ળા ત્યાગીપરસ્ત્રી જેને માત રે
િજહ્વા થકે અસત્ય ન બોલેપરધન નવ ઝાલે હાથ રેમોહ માયા વ્યાપે નિહ જેનેદૃઢ વૈરાગ્ય જેના મન મા રે
રામ નામ શુ તાળી રે લાગીસકળ તીરથ તેના તન માં રેવળ લોભી ને કપટ રિહત છેકામ ક્રોધ િનવાર્યા રે
ભળે નરસૈયો તેના દર્શન કરતાકુળ એકોતર તાર્યા રેवैष्णव जन तो तेने किहये, जेपीड परायी जाणे रे
पर दुख्खे उपकार करे तोये,मन अिभमान ना आणे रेसकळ लोक मान सहुने वंदे,िनंदा न करे केनी रे
वाच काछ मन िनश्चळ राखे,धन धन जननी तेनी रेTransliteration and Translation
1. vaishnav jan to tene kahiye, je peer paraaee jaNe re ... " [He is the true Vaishnava who knows and feels another's woes as his own]
par dukkhe upkar kare toye, man abhiman na aaNe re ... " [Ever ready to serve others who are unhappy, he never lets vanity get to his head]2. sakaL lok maan sahune vande, nindaa ne kare keni re ... " [Bowing to everyone humbly and criticising none]
vaach-kaacch-man nischaL raakhe, dhan-dhan janani teni re .. " [He keeps his speech, deeds and thoughts pure; blessed is the mother who begets such a one]3. sam-drushti ne trishNaa tyaagi, parastree jene maat re ... " [He looks upon all with an equal eye. Having rid himself of lust, he treats and reveres every woman as his mother]
jihvaa thake, asatya na bole, par-dhan nava jhaale haath re ... " [His tongue would fail him if he attempted to utter an untruth. He does not covet another's wealth]4. moh-maayaa vyaape nahin jene, draDh vairagya jena manmaa re ... " [The bonds of earthly attachment hold him not. His mind is deeply rooted in renunciation]
raam-naam shu taaLire laagi, sakaL teerath tena tanmaa re ... " [Every moment he is intent on reciting the name of the Lord Rama. All the holy places are ever present in his body]5. vaNa lobhi ne kapat rahit chhe, kaam krodh nivaarya re ... " [He has conquered greed, deceit, passion (lust) and anger]
bhaNe Narsaiyyon teno darshan kartaun, kuL ekoter tarya re ... " [The sight of such a Vaishnava, says Narsinh, saves a family through seventy-one generations]External links
* [http://www.gandhi-manibhavan.org/gandhicomesalive/comesalive_favoritehymns.htm Gandhi's Favourite Hymns]
* [http://www.ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/all94/0016.html Vaishnava Janato -- Translation]
* [http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99jun25/art-trib.htm#4 Album on Gandhi’s hymn]
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