Vaishnava Jana To… A good man is one who feels another’s pain, shares another’s sorrow

On Gandhi’s birth anniversary (2^nd October), thought of writing this quick post about one of Gandhi’s favourite hymns.  A hymn that also often helps me form an opinion and decide on the course of action.

Almost every Gandhi feature includes a rendition of  “Vaishnava Jana To …” and many even think that it was Gandhi’s creation.

However “Vaishnava Jana To …” was actually written by the poet Narsinh Mehta, in the Gujarati language, way back in the 15th century.

While the entire poem is beautiful and profound, I have always been most drawn to the first two lines

vaisnava jana to tene kahiye
je pīda parāyī jāne re…

which can be translated as

A good man is one,
Who feels another’s pain…

There’s ofcourse a lot that goes into what’s “good”, but if we have to put it down to a one liner, it would be tough to do better than the above line.

Kindness, caring, love.. all seem to spring out of this core attribute of being able to feel the pain of another.

Note that it’s empathy that the poet refers to and not sympathy. Sympathy is easy, but empathy takes a lot lot more, and at times can just be beyond us.

Only if we feel the pain, can we overcome our prejudices.

Only if we feel the pain, can we understand and respect the choices people make.

Only if we feel the pain, can we rise above our own greed and ambition.

Only if we feel the pain, can we forgive or let go.

Only if we feel the pain, can we love…

See if it works for you too…

—

The Original Hymn

Translation (by Khushwant Singh)

Vaishnav Jan to taynay kahyeeye, Jay peerh paraayee janney ray Par dukkhey upkar karey, Toyey man abhiman na anney ray. Sakal lokma sahuney vandey, Ninda na karey kainee ray Vaach kaach, man nischal raakhey, Dhan-dhan jananee tainee ray. Samdristhi nay trishna tyagee, Par-stree jaynay mat ray Jivaah thaki asatya na bolay, Par-dhan nav jhaley haath ray. Moh maya vyaapey nahin jeyney, Drud vairagya jeyna manma ray Ram-naam-shoon taalee laagee, Sakal teerth teyna tanma ray. Vanalobhee ney kapatrahith chey, Kaam, krodh nivarya ray Bhane Narsaiyon tainoo darshan kartan, Kul ekotair taryaa ray

A godlike man is one, Who feels another’s pain Who shares another’s sorrow, And pride does disdain. Who regards himself as the lowliest of the low, Speaks not a word of evil against any one One who keeps himself steadfast in words, body and mind, Blessed is the mother who gives birth to such a son. Who looks upon everyone as his equal and has renounced lust, And who honours women like he honours his mother Whose tongue knows not the taste of falsehood till his last breath, Nor covets another’s worldly goods. He does not desire worldly things, For he treads the path of renunciation Ever on his lips is Rama’s holy name, All places of pilgrimage are within him. One who is not greedy and deceitful, And has conquered lust and anger Through such a man Saint Narsaiyon has a godly vision, Generations to come, of such a man, will attain salvation