VaishNav jan

A highly inspiring hymn written by a great poet and Bhakt – Narsinh 

Mehta. This hymn was one of the favorite hymn of India’s Father of the 

Nation – Mahatma Gandhi. It is such a universal in nature 

that it doesn’t clash with any religion. It makes one ponder – where do 

I stand, by the benchmark provided by Mehtaji, to be a decent human 

being. 

In Gujarat, this kind of Devotional poem (Bhajan) is also called 

‘Prabhatiyu’, roughly translated as ‘Prayer at Dawn’. A practice of 

singing devotional prayers at dawn is very popular in India (esp. among 

rural folks). 

Here is the original Gujarati version by Saint Narsinh Mehta and its 

translation in English by Mr. Khushwant Singh, noted Indian author and 

columnist.

vaishNav jan to tene kahiye 

A godlike man is one,

je pii.D paraayii jaaNe re

who feels another’s pain

par-dukhkhe upakaar kare 

Who shares another’s sorrow,

toye man abhimaan naa aaNe re

And pride does disdain.

vaishNav jan to tene kahiye je ...

sakaL lok maan sahune va.nde

Who regards himself as the lowliest of the low,

nii.ndaa na kare kenii re

Speaks not a word of evil against any one

vaach kaachh man nishchaL raakhe

One who keeps himself steadfast in words, body and mind,

 dhan-dhan jananii tenii re

Blessed is the mother who gives birth to such a son.

vaishNav jan to tene kahiye je ...

sam-drishhTii ne tR^ishhNaa tyaagii

Who looks upon everyone as his 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 knows not the taste of falsehood till his last breath,

par-dhan nav jhaalii haath re

Nor covets another’s worldly goods.

vaishNav jan to tene kahiye je ...

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 ...

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

Through such a man Saint Narsaiyon has a godly vision,

kuL ekoter taarayaa re

Generations to come, of such a man, will attain salvation

vaishNav jan to tene kahiye je ...