Vaishnav Jan To
Vaishnav Jan To in English · English
Origin & Story
Composed by Narsinh Mehta (Gujarati bhakti tradition); popularised nationally by Mahatma Gandhi · Narsinh Mehta · 15th century
Narsinh Mehta, the foremost poet-saint of Gujarat, distilled the whole of bhakti ethics into this one song: the true Vaishnava is defined by compassion, humility and truth, not by ritual. Centuries later Mahatma Gandhi made it the anthem of his ashram and freedom movement, sung at every prayer meeting — turning a medieval Gujarati bhajan into a hymn of conscience for all India.
✦ As told in scripture
The song's quiet power is moral, not magical: generations have measured their own conduct against its lines. Gandhi held that if a person simply lived the qualities Narsinh lists, they would need no other scripture — and millions who sing it still feel it gently reshaping how they treat others.
Complete Text with Meaning
Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited
Vaishnav jan to tene kahiye, je peed parai jane re Par dukhe upkar kare toye, man abhiman na ane re
Meaning:Call that one a true Vaishnava who feels the pain of others as their own; who serves those in distress yet never lets pride touch the mind.
Sakal lokma sahune vande, ninda na kare keni re Vach kachh man nishchal rakhe, dhan dhan janani teni re
Meaning:Who bows to all and speaks ill of none; who keeps speech, conduct and mind steadfast — blessed is the mother who bore them.
Samdrishti ne trishna tyagi, parastri jene maat re Jihva thaki asatya na bole, pardhan nav jhale haath re
Meaning:Who sees all equally, has renounced craving, and reveres another's wife as a mother; whose tongue never speaks untruth and whose hand never takes another's wealth.
Moh maya vyape nahi jene, dridh vairagya jena manma re Ramnaam shu tali re lagi, sakal tirath tena tanma re
Meaning:Whom delusion and attachment cannot touch, whose mind is firmly detached, ever absorbed in Rama's name — within their body live all the holy places.
Vanlobhi ne kapatrahit chhe, kaam krodh nivarya re Bhane Narsaiyo tenu darshan karta, kul ekoter tarya re
Meaning:Without greed and without guile, having banished lust and anger — Narsinh says, the sight of such a one redeems seventy-one generations.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Vaishnav Jan To
Mahatma Gandhi's most cherished bhajan — sung at his prayer meetings and at Sabarmati Ashram
Defines the true devotee not by ritual but by compassion, humility and honesty
A moral compass set to melody — loved across India far beyond Gujarat
Sung on Gandhi Jayanti, Republic Day programmes and in schools
Calms and uplifts the heart while teaching the ethics of a devotional life
How to Chant Vaishnav Jan To
Sing it slowly and reflectively, ideally in a group, letting each line's teaching settle. There is no ritual — it is a bhajan of character: read the meaning, then sing, and resolve to live one line of it each day.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Read the full Vaishnav Jan To with verse-by-verse meaning, or explore more sacred texts