Vaishnav Jan To, sung by Bharat Ratna Shrimathi M.S.Subbulakshmi, is a song that freezes me everytime I listen to it. M.S.Subbulakshmi has given so much soul to such excellent lyrics. It was roughly in early 2008 I listened to this song, since then it has always been in my playlist. I listened to this again today and felt crying. Many singers have sung Vaishnav Jan To. But the one by M.S.S stands out. She is a legend. Her lesser known erraticaly written part of life has been excellently perceived in an essay by writer Mr.Jeyamohan at ஓர் அக்கினிப்பிரவேசம் (click)
Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHqhLHn6Ezc
M.S.Subbulakshmi in sublime form [Photo Courtesy: Raghu Rai]
Song and Meaning
Vaishnav jan to tene kahiye je
[One who is a vaishnav]
PeeD paraayi jaaNe re
[Knows the pain of others]
Par-dukhkhe upkaar kare toye
[Does good to others, esp. to those ones who are in misery]
Man abhimaan na aaNe re
[Does not let pride enter his mind]
Vaishnav...
SakaL lok maan sahune vande
[A Vaishnav, Tolerates and praises the the entire world]
Nindaa na kare keni re
[Does not say bad things about anyone]
Vaach kaachh man nishchaL raakhe
[Keeps his/her words, actions and thoughts pure]
Dhan-dhan janani teni re
[O Vaishnav, your mother is blessed (dhanya-dhanya)]
Vaishnav...
Sam-drishti ne trishna tyaagi
[A Vaishnav sees everything equally, rejects greed and avarice]
Par-stree jene maat re
[Considers some one else's wife/daughter as his mother]
Jivha thaki asatya na bole
[The toungue may get tired, but will never speak lies]
Par-dhan nav jhaalee haath re
[Does not even touch someone else's property]
Vaishnav...
Moh-maaya vyaape nahi jene
[A Vaishnav does not succumb to worldly attachments]
DriDh vairaagya jena man maan re
[Who has devoted himself to stauch detachment to worldly pleasures]
Ram naam shoon taaLi laagi
[Who has been edicted to the elixir coming by the name of Ram]
SakaL tirath tena tan maan re
[For whom all the religious sites are in the mind]
Vaishnav...
VaN-lobhi ne kapaT-rahit chhe
[Who has no greed and deciet]
Kaam-krodh nivaarya re
[Who has renounced lust of all types and anger]
BhaNe Narsaiyyo tenun darshan karta
[The poet Narsi will like to see such a person]
KuL ekoter taarya re
[By who's virtue, the entire family gets salvation]
Vaishnav...
- Narsinh Mehta
மனம் தடுமாறேல்.
Meaning: Never get disturbed