Two inspirational evocative songs that have been influencing my choices in all settings and have served to guide my footsteps during my Spiritual Journey [Sadhana Path] over most of my adult life.
I. A.
https://blog.gurdas.com/2009/12/20/aye-maalik-tere-bande-hum/
The song ‘Aye Maalik Tere Bande Hum‘ from the 1957 classic Do Aankhen Barah Haath directed by V. Shantaram has a special place in my heart. For me, and for millions of other Indians, it is a prayer. The song pleads for the strength to be virtuous, embraces death as a reality, accepts human frailty, and implores God to take all our sins and weaknesses. Kudos to lyricist Bharat Vyas for penning an eternal classic.
Lyrics_ English transliteration // Translation)
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aye maalik tere bande hum // Lord, you are our creator
aysein hon hamaare karam // So be our deeds
naykee par chalein aur badhee se talein // May we walk the path of righteousness and refrain from evil
taaki hastein huye nikale dum // So that we may depart fulfilled and smiling
aye maalik tere bande hum // Lord, you are our creator
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badaa kamzor hai aadmi // Frail is the human being
abhi laakhon hain isme kameen // With a million shortcomings
par tu joh khadaa hai dayalu badaa // But you are forgiving
teri kirpaa se dharti thamee // The world exists due to your benevolence
diya toone hamein jab janam // Since you have given us birth
tuhee jhelega hum sab ke gum // You will also bear our burdens
naykee par chalein aur badhee se talein // May we walk the path of righteousness and refrain from evil
taaki hastein huye nikale dum // So that we may depart fulfilled and smiling
aye maalik tere bande hum // Lord, you are our creator
.
ye andhera ghanaa cha raha // The world is engulfed in darkness
tera insaan ghabara raha // Your human is fearful
ho raha bekhabar kuch na aata nazar // He is uninformed and blind
sukh ka sooraj chupaa ja raha // The light of peace and happiness is dimnishing
hai teri raushani mein joh dum // Such is the strength in your aura
tu amaavas ko kar de poonam // That even a moonless night glows bright
Jab Zulmon Ka Ho Saamanaa // When we are faced with atrocities O Lord, hold us firm
Tab Tuhee Hamein Thaana// O Lord, hold us firm
Woh Burayer Karein, // When they act in evil ways
Hum Thalayi Bharani // We respond with kindness
Nahi Bale Ki Ho Kamanas // May there be no desire for revenge
Bodh-Uthe Pyaar Ka Har Kadam// May every step ahead be for love
Aur-Mateen, Beyrer Ka Ye Bharam// May every thought of enmity be banished
naykee par chalein aur badhee se talein // May we walk the path of righteousness and refrain from evil
taaki hastein huye nikale dum // So that we may depart fulfilled and smiling
aye maalik tere bande hum // Lord, you are our creator.
I.B
Aye Malik Tere Bande Hum~ Prayer Song with lyrics - YouTube Transliteration and translation.
II. A
Vaishnava janatho (With English Translation) by Narsimha Mehta - Famous poems, famous poets. - All Poetry
Vaishnava janatho (With English Translation) Composed by Nrsimha Mehta.
Lyrics - English Transliteration
Vaishnav jan to tene kahiye je
PeeD paraayi jaaNe re
Par-dukhkhe upkaar kare toye
Man abhimaan na aaNe re (Vaishnava)
SakaL lok maan sahune vande
Nindaa na kare keni re
Vaach kaachh man nishchaL raakhe
Dhan-dhan janani teni re (Vaishnava)
Sam-drishti ne trishna tyaagi
Par-stree jene maat re
Jivha thaki asatya na bole
Par-dhan nav jhaalee haath re (Vaishnava)
Moh-maaya vyaape nahi jene
DriDh vairaagya jena man maan re
Ram naam shoon taaLi laagi
SakaL tirath tena tan maan re (Vaishnava)
VaN-lobhi ne kapaT-rahit chhe
Kaam-krodh nivaarya re
BhaNe Narsaiyyo tenun darshan karta
KuL ekoter taarya re (Vaishnava)
Lyrics- English Translation
One who is a Vaishnav (Devotee of Vishnu)
Knows the pain of others
Does good to others
without letting pride enter his mind.
A Vaishnav, Tolerates and praises the entire world.
Does not speak ill of others
Keeps his promises, actions and thoughts pure
your mother is blessed indeed.
A Vaishnav sees everything equally, rejects greed and avarice
respects women as he respects his own mother
though his tongue may tire he will utter no untruth
Never touches the property of others.
A Vaishnava does not succumb to worldly attachments
Who has devoted himself to staunch detachment to worldly pleasures
Who has been addicted to the elixir coming by the name of Ram
For whom all the religious sites are in his own body.
Who has no greed and is not deceitful
Who has renounced lust and anger
The poet Narsi would like to see such a person
By whose virtue, his entire family gets salvation.
II.B
Bhajan || Vaishnab Janato || Kaushiki Chakraborty || Kaushiki's Home Jam || 2021 - YouTube. This is rendered in Hindi Classical style by Vidushi Kaushiki Chakraborthy in an captivating manner with a clear voice and perfect diction. During India's independence struggle, Mahatma Gandhi turned Gujarati 15th Century poet saint, Narsinh Mehta's bhajan (devotional song) "Vaishnav Jan To...", into a call for liberation, both internal and external. [Swaraj: Mahatma Gandhiji considered self-governance of ones propensities as a prerequisite for participating as individuals in Self-governance within organizations and communities. Swatantra. This means in short; Independence Swa is self and tantra is connotes a doctrine or system of governance that was woven by the threads contributed by the governed. For Swatantra to work as it should individuals have a key role to play in creating this matrix e.g., doctrine /Constitution like warping the threads contributed by the governed on a loom.
II. C.
https://youtu.be/DEXlPH0Y-BI?si=k6yOQ42XUvf2-Yj0
This video was created in 2018 by the Ministry of External Affairs of Govt of India. People from nations all over world and people of various nationalities sing this most evocative and ennobling composition. This was part of the 150th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi. Artists from over 124 countries have contributed musically in paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi through his favourite bhajan 'Vaishnav Jan To Tene Kahiye'
Velandy Manohar, MD