Vaishnav jan to

When anyone hears this song they would stop whatever they are doing and listen. Such is the charisma and sweetness of Vaishnav jan to. It was originally sung by Narsinh Mehta (biography). He was a devotee of Lord Vishnu and sung poems (bhajans) in Gujarati.

“Vaishnav jan to” was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s favorite hymn. The lyrics of this song show the greatest characteristics that a human (Vaishnava) could possess. Gandhiji attempted to live according to the virtues outlined in this song.

vaishNav jan to tene kahiye
A godlike man is one,

jay peerh paraaye janneyray
who feels another’s pain

par-dukhkhe upakaar kare
Who shares another’s sorrow,

toye man abhimaan naa aaNe re
Who never lets pride get to his head.

vaishNav jan to tene kahiye je … (1)

sakaL lok maan sahune va.nde
Who honors and praises the entire world

nindaa na kare kenii re
Speaks not a word of evil against any one

vaach kaachh man nishchaL raakhe
One who keeps his speech, deeds and thoughts pure,

dhan-dhan jananii tenii re
Blessed is the mother who gives birth to such a son (or daughter).

vaishNav jan to tene kahiye je … (2)

samdrishi nay trishna tyagee
Who looks upon everyone as equal and has renounced lust,

par-strii jene maat re
And who honours women like he honours his mother

jihvaa thakii asatya naa bole
Whose tongue never speak lies till his last breath,

par-dhan nav jhaalii haath re
Nor craves for another’s worldly goods.

vaishNav jan to tene kahiye je … (3)

moh-maayaa vyaape nahii jene
He does not desire worldly things,

dri.Dh vairaagya jenaa man maan re
For he treads the path of renunciation

raam naam sun taaLii laagii
Ever on his lips is Rama’s holy name,

sakaL tirath tenaa tan maan re
All places of pilgrimage are within him.

vaishNav jan to tene kahiye je … (4)

vaN-lobhii ne kapaT-rahit chhe
One who is not greedy and deceitful,

kaam-krodh nivaaryaa re
And has conquered lust and anger

bhaNe narasaiyyo tenun darshan kartaa
The poet Narsinh would like to see such a person

kuL ekoter taarayaa re
By whose virtue, his entire family gets salvation

vaishNav jan to tene kahiye je… (5)

Translation courtesy: Sacred-songs, Wikipedia, Vishal

Download Vaishnav jan to song mp3