Harihi Aum! Sreer Asthu!
‘VAIṣṇAVA, JANATO’–by Narsing Mehta Translation by Vengrai
(This song in Gujarathi language was composed by Narsingh Mehta, a 15th century poet. A favourite of Mahathma Gandhi, it was sung at all his prayer meetings)
To be a True Vaishnava is to be a Friend of all Creatures and Belong to God.
An adherent/devotee of Viṣṇu is one:
Who feels the pain of others as his own,
Who gives a helping hand to those in need
Whose mind is free from egotistic pride or vanity.
One who is humble and does not spare praise of people,
One who does not vilify others,
One who is pure of thought and deed and keeps his promises
O Vaiṣṇava ! The one who gave birth to you is blessed.
A Vaiṣṇava is one who abjures greed and looks at everything without prejudice
One who treats others’ wives and daughters as his own mother,
One who does not utter falsehoods,
One who does not covet other peoples wealth,
And one who renounces worldly attachments and pleasures.
He is addicted to the divine name—Rām,
He thinks of deities in holy centers always,
His mind is not given to deception,
And He abjures lust and anger
O Vaiṣṇava ! The one who gave birth to you is blessed.
The sight of such a noble person, (says poet Narsi,) blesses the entire family for sevens of generations
A Vaiṣṇava is one who abjures greed and looks at everything without prejudice
One who treat’ wives and daughters of others as his own mother,
One who does not utter falsehood,
One who does not covet other peoples wealth,
And one who renounces worldly attachments and pleasures.
He is addicted to the divine name—Rām,
He thinks of deities in holy centers always,
His mind is not given to deception,
And He abjures lust and anger
O Vaiṣṇava ! The one who gave birth to you is blessed.
The sight of such a noble person, says poet Narsi, blesses the entire family for sevens of generations.
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