Let's strive to be humane

Dear Friends,

This week we have the famous Bhajan written in Gujarathi by another all time great master, a Gujarati poet-saint Bhagat Narsinh Mehta of the 15th century (1408-80). Sri Mehta is widely acknowledged as the father of Gujarati poetry. He is a contemporary of Sri Annamacharya of Telugu. Their poetry has many similarities. Sri Mehta’s poetry encompasses Bhakti, Jnana, Erotic Mysticism and Advaita Philosophy. His principal works are Harsamenang Pado (Songs of the Garland time), Prabhati yaug (The Morning Hymns), Vaishnava Jana to Tene (Him We May Very Well Call a Vaishnav). The last one is presented here. This song is a very favourite hymn for Mahatma Gandhiji. It can be readily understood by those who can understand Sanskrit or Hindi. I present here the Hindi and Telugu transliteration along with a brief purport line by line.

If you desire to listen to this song, please click play button on the player below. It will take a few minutes for the song to be downloaded from the website. Please be patient. Please scroll down line by line to see the script of the song while you listen to the song. (I do not know the copy right source of this mp3 file. I acknowlege greatfully its link here, as it is bhajan song of great relevance). This is a humble presentation on the eve of Mahatma's birthday.

वैष्णव जन तो तेने कहिये, जे पीड़ परायी जाणे रे

వైష్ణవ జన తో తేనే కహియే, జే పీఢ పరాయీ జాణే రే

vaishnava jana tho thaene kahiye je peeD parayee jaaNe re

A perfect human being is one who perceives other's miseries as his own

पर दुःखे उपकार करे तोये, मन अभिमान ना आणे रे

పర దుఃఖే ఉపకార్ కరే తోయే, మన్ అభిమాన్ నాఆణే రే 

para dhuhkhe upakaar kare tOyae. mana abhimaan naa aaNae re

Ever ready to serve others in grief, he never lets vanity and ego get to his head

सकळ लोक मान सहुने वंदे, नींदा न करे केनी रे

సకల లోకమాన్ సహునే వందే, నిందా న కరే కేనీ రే

sakala lokamaan sahune vandae, nindaa na kare kenee re

Bowing to everyone humbly and he never insults anyone

वाच काछ मन निश्चळ राखे, धन धन जननी तेनी रे

వాచ్-కాఛ మన్ నిశ్చళ్ రాఖే, ధన్ ధన్ జననీతేనీ రే

vaach-kaaCha man nishchal rakhae, dhan dhan jananee thenee re

His speech, deeds and thoughts are pure; O! Blessed is the mother who has such a son

सम ढ्रुष्टि ने तृष्णा त्यागी, पर स्त्री जेने मात रे

సమ దృష్టీ నే తృష్ణా త్యాగీ, పర స్త్రీ జేనే మాత రే 

sama dhrushtee ne thrishNaa thyaagee, para sthree jenae maata re

In his vision everyone is equal, he lives sans lust, He reveres every woman as his mother

जिहवा थकी, असत्य ना बोले, पर धन नव झाली हाथ रे

జిమ్హా థకీ, అసత్య నా బోలే, పర-ధన నవ ఝాలీ హాథ్ రే

jimhaa thakee, asatya naa bOlae, para dhan nava jhaalee haath re

Ever truthful and his tongue never utters a lie, He never covets other's wealth even in a dream

मोह माया व्यापे नहिँ जेने, द्रिढ़ वैराग्य जेना मन मान रे

మోహ మాయా వ్యాపే నహీఁ జేనే, ధృఢ వైరాగ్య జేన మన్ మాన రే 

moha maayaa vyaapae naheen jenae, dhridha vyaraagya jaenaa man maana re

Mundane modifications of mind hold him not, His mind is deeply rooted in renunciation of the unreal

राम नाम सुन ताळी लागी, सकळ तीरथ तेना तन मान रे

రామ నామ్ సున్ తాళీ లాగీ, సకళ తీర్థ్ తేనా తన్ మాన రే 

Rama naam sun thaalee laagee, sakaLa theerth thaenaa than maana re

Ever contented in rejoicing with his inner Self-Supreme, He beholds all holy places ever to be present in him

वण-लोभी ने कपट रहित छे, काम-क्रोध निवार्या रे

వణ లోభీ నే కపట్ రహిత్ ఛే, కామ క్రోధ నివార్యా రే

vaNa lObhee kapat rahith Che, kaama kroDh nivaarya re

He has conquered wealth, greed, deceit, lust and anger

भणे नरसैय्यो तेनुन दर्शन कर्ता, कुळ एकोतेरतरया रे 

భణే నరసైయ్యో తేనున్ దర్శన్ కర్తా, కుల యేకో తేర్ తరయా రే

BhaNe Narasaiyyo thenun darshan kartaa, kula yakother thrayaa re

The very association of us with such a perfect being, emphasizes poet Narsinh, saves us and our family from the effects of our sins through innumerable generations.

The above narration of the virtues of a perfect 'human being' is to inculcate self introspection in us and help us to try and ascend from beastiality to humanity. This is not to classify others and criticize their actions. If each one of us try and live as humane a life as possible, the whole world will then be in perfect order. Then, we all will have the right to call ourselves as human beings and say we are a step evolved than other animals in the animal kingdom. Lest, we degrade ourselves to the level of beasts.

Lets all remember that we are not 'Human Walkings', 'Human Eatings', and 'Human Breathings'.

We are all 'Human Beings'. Let us strive to justify the word 'being' (existing with positive vibrant life and making sure that every one else enjoys the same)

Bye for now. See you all next week. Please give your valuable feed back

Love

Dr Sarma

Here is the original Gujarathi Text of this song

વૈષ્ણવ જન તો તેને કિહયે, જે પીડ પરાયી જાણે રે
પર દુખ્ખે ઉપકાર કરે તોયે, મન અિભમાન ના આણે રે

સકળ લોક માન સહુને વંદે, િનદા ન કરે કેની રે
વાચ કાછ મન િનશ્છળ રાખે ધન ધન જનની તેની રે

સમદૃષ્િટ ને તૃષ્ળા ત્યાગી પરસ્ત્રી જેને માત રે
િજહ્વા થકે અસત્ય ન બોલે પરધન નવ ઝાલે હાથ રે

મોહ માયા વ્યાપે નિહ જેને દૃઢ વૈરાગ્ય જેના મન મા રે
રામ નામ શુ તાળી રે લાગી સકળ તીરથ તેના તન માં રે

વળ લોભી ને કપટ રિહત છે કામ ક્રોધ િનવાર્યા રે
ભળે નરસૈયો તેના દર્શન કરતા કુળ એકોતર તાર્યા રે