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वैष्णव जन तो
Defines a true Vaishnava devotee. Loved by Mahatma Gandhi. A hymn of compassion, ethics and universal brotherhood.
When to recite: Morning prayer, Gandhi Jayanti, Bhajan sessions
वैष्णव जन तो तेने कहिए, जे पीड परायी जाणे रे। पर दुःखे उपकार करे तोये, मन अभिमान न आणे रे॥ सकल लोकमां सहुने वन्दे, निन्दा न करे केनी रे। वाच काछ मन निश्चल राखे, धन धन जननी तेनी रे॥ समदृष्टि ने तृष्णा त्यागी, परस्त्री जेने माता रे। जिह्वा थकी असत्य न बोले, परधन नव झाले हाथा रे॥ मोह माया व्यापे नहि जेने, दृढ वैराग्य जेना मनमां रे। राम नाम शुं ताली लागी, सकल तीरथ तेना तनमां रे॥ वण लोभी ने कपट रहित छे, काम क्रोध निवार्या रे। भणे नरसैयो तेनुं दर्शन करतां, कुल एकोतेर तार्या रे॥
A Vaishnava person is one, it is said, Who feels the pain of others. Who helps those who are suffering — And yet does not let pride enter the mind. Who bows to everyone in the whole world, Who speaks ill of no one, Who keeps speech, body and mind steady — Blessed, blessed is such a person's mother. Who has equal vision and has renounced craving, Who regards another's wife as mother; Whose tongue never utters falsehood, Whose hand never touches another's wealth. Who is not trapped by illusion and attachment, Whose mind is firm in renunciation; Who is absorbed in Rama's name, In whose body all pilgrimage sites reside. Who is free from greed and deceit, Who has subdued desire and anger — Narsi (the poet) says: beholding such a person, Seventeen generations of the family are redeemed.