Vaishnav Jan To [One Who is a Vaishnav]

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