Lai Re Naam

Remember the Name, take the Name – the Name is what saves! This ‘Name’ is the breath, the inner sound, the energy, which keeps us alive! Why not remember it, stay connected with it, and find in it the ground of our being, as this song gently suggests?

I learnt this song through Velagana Bhil from Kutch. You can listen to his raw, powerful version here.

Lai re naam, lai re naam, naam se tire
Naam bhooli aatma, bhamti phire ji

Baahare ubho mrigalo khetar mein chare
Dhani aave dhore ubho bhajto phire ji
Lai re naam…

Aandhade ne maala deeni, phenkto phire
Moorakh haathde heero deeno, dharti dhare
Lai re naam…

Nugura na neema deeno, kehto phire
Pehere kastoori kapda, tel mein tare
Lai re naam…

Saadhuda na sang jaaye, sudharo phire
Dev Dungarpuri bolya, naam se tire
Lai re naam…

Remember the Name

Remember the Name
Chant the Name
The Name is what saves
One who forgets the Name
Wanders aimlessly

The deer grazes the crops in the field
When the keeper arrives, it turns and flees
 Remember the Name…

Pearls in a blind man’s hand don’t stay
A fool fritters his diamonds away
Remember the Name…

The fool thinks his inner cloth is for show
Smears with perfumes his musk-scented robe
Remember the Name…

Seek good company if you want to re-form
Dev Dungarpuri says, the Name transforms
Remember the Name…

Translation: Vipul Rikhi

Sat re Vachan

Words of truth fill the seeker to the brim; they fill up her every pore. With these beautiful words begins this beautiful bhajan which we've heard from Mooralala from Kutch. It's a poem by Kheem Saheb, describing the experience of fearlessness once one has drunk from the cup of the Name (one's own breath?). You can listen to Mooralala's own rendition on Ajab Shahar here.

Sat re vachan saadhu ko bhar bhariya, ho ji

Bhariya hai taaram taar

Naam ro piyaalo saadhu nirbhay thi peeyo, ho ji

Paayo mhaare satguru ae aaj

Surta chadhhi saadhu aasmaan maan, ho ji

Bhanvar gufa maan dhani mhaaro baithhiyo, ho ji

Bhanvaro kari le gunjaar

Unmuni aasan saadhu mhaara sevta, ho ji

Bhari rahiya hai bharpoor

Naam ro piyaalo…

Vina re vaadadiye veejo khavi rahiyo, ho ji

Anhad varsya hai noor

Naam ro piyaalo…

Kheem re khaada re vinya nar joojhe, ho ji

Bhaan guru bataaya hai bhed

Naam ro piyaalo…

Words Of Truth

Words of truth

Fill the seeker to the brim

They seep into her every pore, oh yes!

Drink fearlessly, seeker

From the cup of the Name

I’ve found my true guru today

Awareness climbs to the sky!

Drink fearlessly, seeker

In a whirling cave, my master sits

Hum and find him out, O bee

Strike an inward-looking posture

Get filled to the brim, oh yes!

Drink fearlessly, seeker

Lightning flashes on a cloudless day

Boundless light showers, oh yes!

Drink fearlessly, seeker

No spear or sword, yet Kheem makes war

My guru Bhaan has whispered the secret

Drink fearlessly, seeker

Translation: Vipul Rikhi and Shabnam Virmani