वैष्णव जन तो तेने कहिये
Mahatma Gandhi's Favourite Narsinh Mehta Bhajan
'Vaishnav Jan To Tene Kahiye je peed parayi jaane re' is a highly revered 15th-century Gujarati bhajan composed by the saint-poet Narsinh Mehta. It was famously adopted by Mahatma Gandhi into the roster of prayers routinely sung at his Sabarmati Ashram.
वैष्णव जन तो तेने कहिये जे। पीड परायी जाणे रे॥ पर दुःखे उपकार करे तोये। मन अभिमान न आणे रे॥
सकल लोकमां सहुने वंदे। निंदा न करे केनी रे॥ वाच काछ मन निश्चल राखे। धन धन जननी तेनी रे॥
समदृष्टि ने तृष्णा त्यागी। परस्त्री जेने मात रे॥ जिह्वा थकी असत्य न बोले। परधन नव झाले हाथ रे॥
मोह माया व्यापे नहि जेने। दृढ वैराग्य जेना मनमां रे॥ राम नाम शुं ताळी लागी। सकल तीरथ तेना तनमां रे॥
वणलोभी ने कपटरहित छे। काम क्रोध निवार्या रे॥ भणे नरसैय्यो तेनुं दर्शन करतां। कुल एकोतेर तार्या रे॥
It was written by Narsinh Mehta, a widely revered 15th-century saint-poet from Gujarat. He is considered the 'Adi Kavi' (first poet) of the Gujarati language.
It gained immense national and international fame because it was Mahatma Gandhi's favorite bhajan. It perfectly aligned with his philosophy of non-violence, empathy (feeling others' pain), and truth.
It translates to 'One who understands the pain of others.' The bhajan says an authentic holy person is defined not by rituals, but by their deep empathy and selfless service to those suffering.