The Saints

आपुलिया हिता जो असे जागता । धन्य माता पिता तयाचिया ॥१॥

Blessed are the mother and father of the one who stays awake to his own highest good. When children of pure nature are b…

वंदूं चरणरज सेवूं उष्टावळी । पूर्वकर्मा होळी करुनी सांडूं ॥१॥

Let us bow to the dust of holy feet and partake of their leftover offerings; let us make a bonfire of all past karma and…

देवाच्या प्रसादें करा रे भोजन । व्हाल कोण कोण अधिकारी ते ॥१॥

Partake of this feast by the grace of God; see who among you has the fitness for it. Even Brahma and the gods find these…

आलिंगनें घडे । मोक्ष सायुज्यता जोडे ॥१॥

By their embrace, liberation is granted and complete union with God is attained. Such is the greatness of the saints; wo…

निंदा हिंसा नाहीं कपट देहबुद्धि । निर्मळ स्फटिक जैसा ॥१॥

Where there is no malice, no violence, no deceit, no body-consciousness, and the soul is pure as crystal, there all peop…

बोलायाचा त्यासीं । नको संबंध मानसीं ॥१॥

Do not keep any connection, even in your mind, with one who has slandered the saints and forgotten You, O Govinda. Let h…

भक्ताविण देवा । कैंचें रूप घडे सेवा ॥१॥

Without a devotee, how can God's form take shape, and how can service be rendered? They adorn each other, like gold set …

तिर्थी धोंडा पाणी । देव रोकडा सज्जनीं ॥१॥

At pilgrimage sites, God is stone and water, but among the saints, God is present in living form. When you find the comp…

काय या संतांचे मानूं उपकार । मज निरंतर जागविती ॥१॥

How can I repay the debt I owe to the saints? They keep me awake and watchful at all times. How can one ever become free…

संतांचे गुण दोष आणितां या मना । केलिया उगाणा सुकृताचा ॥१॥

When one tries to weigh the virtues and faults of saints in the mind, one only exhausts one's own merit. It is like some…

पूज्या एकासनीं आसनीं आसन । बैसतां गमन मातेशीं तें ॥१॥

When a seat of honor is prepared for the revered one, it is only fitting that one seat be occupied by one person, as a c…

संताचा अतिक्रम । देवपूजा तो अधर्म ॥१॥

To mistreat a saint while worshipping God is itself unrighteousness. The flowers and mantras offered upon God's head ret…

करणें तें देवा । हे चि एक पावे सेवा ॥१॥

The one service that truly reaches God is this: serve his devotees, for the devotee is God's own body, and through this …

न लगे चंदना सांगावा परिमळ । वनस्पतिमेळ हाकारुनी ॥१॥

Sandalwood need not announce its fragrance by summoning all the plants of the forest. What is within naturally flows out…

चंदनाचे हात पाय ही चंदन । परिसा नाहीं हीन कोणी अंग ॥१॥

The hands and feet of a sandalwood tree are all sandalwood. No limb of the philosopher's stone is inferior to any other.…

छळी विष्णुदासा कोणी । त्याची अमंगळ वाणी ॥१॥

Whoever torments a devotee of Vishnu, his very speech is polluted. Such a wretch of evil conduct should never be allowed…

देव होईजेत देवाचे संगती । पतन पंगती जगाचिया ॥१॥

In the company of God one becomes godly; in the company of the world one falls. Both paths lead in their own direction, …

जें का रंजलें गांजलें । त्यासि म्हणे जो आपुलें ॥१॥

One who says "this is mine" to those who are afflicted and suffering, that one alone should be recognized as a true sain…

वैष्णव तो जया । अवघी देवावरी माया ॥१॥

A true Vaishnava is one whose entire love rests upon God alone. Nothing else matters: body, wealth, reputation, and peop…

भले भणवितां संतांचे सेवक । आइत्याची भीक सुखरूप ॥१॥

Blessed are the servants of the saints: they receive ready-made nourishment of bliss. Much labor goes into shaping somet…

संतसमागम एखादिया परी । राहावें त्याचे द्वारीं श्वानयाती ॥१॥

By any means, one should keep the company of saints. Even if you must linger at their door like a dog, do so. There you …

आहा रे भाई । नमो उदासीन जाले देहभावा । आळविती देवा तया नमो ॥१॥

I bow to those who have become indifferent to the body and who call upon God. I bow to those who walk the pilgrim paths …

तया साटीं वेचूं वाणी । अइकों कानीं वारता ॥१॥

For their sake I spend my voice, and with my ears I drink in any news of them. I ask after the welfare of my fellow devo…

संवसार तीहीं केला पाठमोरा । नाहीं द्रव्य दारा जया चित्तीं ॥१॥

Those who have turned their backs on worldly life, who hold no desire for wealth or spouse in their hearts, in whom neit…

फिरंगी वाखर लोखंडाचे विळे । परि ते निराळे गुणमोल ॥१॥

Foreign steel and ordinary iron may look alike, yet their quality and worth are entirely different. A doorstep and a sac…

मोहोर्या च्या संगें । सुत नव्हे आगीजोगें ॥१॥

In the company of gold coins, even a thread of gold becomes precious; otherwise it would not survive the fire. Without t…

करितां देवार्चन । घरा आले संतजन ॥१॥

If while you are performing worship of the deity, saintly people arrive at your door, set the deity aside and attend to …

हरि तैसे हरीचे दास । नाहीं तयां भय मोह चिंता आस। होउनि राहाती उदास । बळकट कांस भ…

The servants of Hari are just like Hari Himself. They have no fear, no attachment, no worry, no craving. They remain det…

सोलीव जें सुख अतिसुखाहुनि । उभें हें अंगणीं वैष्णवांच्या ॥1॥

That pure joy, surpassing all other joys, stands in the courtyard of the Vaishnavas. Tulsi gardens are swept, rangoli pa…

गाढवाचे घोडे । आह्मी करूं दृष्टीपुढें ॥1॥

We can turn donkeys into horses right before your eyes. A dog that chews old shoes, a stubborn barren hound, we can puri…

सर्व सुखें आजी एथें चि वोळलीं । संतांचीं देखिलीं चरणांबुजें ॥1॥

All joys have gathered here today. I have beheld the lotus feet of the saints. I had been remembering them in my heart a…

जेथें वैष्णवांचा वास । धन्य भूमी पुण्य देश ॥1॥

Where Vaishnavas dwell, that land is blessed and the country is holy. There is no need of remedies against sin; the mess…

हीं च त्यांचीं पंचभूतें । जीवन भातें प्रेमाचें ॥1॥

The saints are made of the same five elements as everyone, but their sustenance is love itself. The compassion they carr…

धन्य काळ संतभेटी । पायीं मिठी पडिली तो ॥1॥

Blessed is the hour when the saints are met. The moment I fell at their feet, the knot of all doubt was untied and a dee…

एकाएकीं हातोफळी । ठाया बळी पावले ते ॥1॥

Those mighty ones who achieved their goal single-handedly, by their own strength, reached that exalted place in an insta…

जेथें जावें तेथें कपाळ सरिसें । लाभ तो विशेषें संतसंगें ॥1॥

Wherever one goes, one's fate follows. True gain comes only through the company of saints. If past merits were favorable…

वाट वैकुंठीं पाहाती । भH कैं पां येथें येती । तयां जन्ममरणखंती । नाहीं चित्तीं प…

In Vaikuntha they watch the road, waiting for when the devotees will come. Those devotees have no sorrow of birth and de…

मऊ मेनाहूनि आह्मी विष्णुदास । कठिण वज्रास भेदूं ऐसे ॥1॥

We, the servants of Vishnu, are softer than wax, yet hard enough to pierce a diamond. Though dead, we are alive; though …

कल्पतरु रुया नव्हती बाभुळा । पुरविती फळा इिच्छतिया ॥1॥

Wish-fulfilling trees are not thorny acacia. They give fruit to all who desire it. There are many cows, buffaloes, and g…

धन्य आजि दिन । जालें संताचें दर्शन ॥1॥

Blessed is this day, for I have had the sight of the saints. All suffering of sin and affliction is cut away; poverty va…

मनीं वसे त्याचें आवडे उत्तर । वाटे समाचार घ्यावा ऐसें ॥1॥

The words of one who dwells in the heart are always dear. One longs to know their news. Those who are kindred by nature …

धन्य ते संसारीं । दयावंत जे अंतरीं ॥1॥

Blessed, truly blessed are those in this world who carry compassion within. They have come here from Vaikuntha solely fo…

पुनीत केलें विष्णुदासीं । संगें आपुलिया दोषी ॥1॥

The servants of Vishnu have purified sinners by the power of their own company. Who can stand against them? They are the…

जन देव तरी पायां चि पडावें । त्याचिया स्वभावें चाड नाहीं ॥1॥

If someone is divine, bow at their feet. Do not concern yourself with their personal nature. The warmth of fire dispels …

वीर विठ्ठलाचे गाढे । किळकाळ पायां पडे ॥1॥

The warriors of Vitthal are so mighty that even death bows at their feet. They raise the triumphant cry, and mountains o…

नका घालूं दुध जयामध्यें सार । ताकाचे उपकार तरी करा ॥1॥

If you cannot offer milk, at least do the service of buttermilk. If not food, then at least offer a cup of free water. S…

छोडे धन मंदिर बन बसाया । मांगत टूका घरघर खाया ॥1॥

He left behind wealth and mansion to dwell in the forest, and now goes begging from door to door. I salute that mouth in…

मंत्रयंत्र नहिं मानत साखी । प्रेमभाव नहिं अंतर राखी ॥1॥

He cares nothing for charms or spells; he does not keep love or devotion hidden within. I bow at the feet of one who spe…

संतांचा महिमा तो बहु दुर्गम । शािब्दकांचे काम नाहीं येथें ॥1॥

The greatness of the saints is truly unfathomable. Those who traffic in mere words have no place here. Even if a buffalo…

नाहीं संतपण मिळतें हें हाटीं । हिंडतां कपाटीं रानीं वनीं ॥1॥

Saintliness cannot be bought in the marketplace. It is not found by wandering through shops, forests, or wildernesses. I…

घेसी तरी घेइप संताची भेटी । आणीक ते गोष्टी नको मना ॥1॥

If you would seek anything, seek the company of saints. Let no other thought enter your mind. God is their only treasure…

संतांचिये गांवीं प्रेमाचा सुकाळ । नाहीं तळमळ दुःखलेश ॥1॥

In the village of the saints, love is in abundance. There is no trace of sorrow or suffering. I shall dwell there as a b…

संतांचें सुख जालें या देवा । ह्मणऊनि सेवा करी त्यांची ॥1॥

God Himself is delighted by the saints. That is why He serves them. Who am I, and what is my capacity to describe their …

रवि दीप हीरा दाविती देखणे । अदृश्य दर्षने संतांचे नी ॥1॥

The sun, the lamp, and the diamond reveal what is visible, but the darshan of the saints reveals what is invisible. How …

त्रुशाकाळें उदकें भेटी । पडे मिठी आवडीची ॥1॥

When a thirsty person finds water, an embrace of love occurs at once. Keep such company: the dear, life-giving company o…

भH ऐसे जाणा जे देहीं उदास । गेले आशापाश निवारूनि ॥1॥

Know those as true devotees who are indifferent to the body and have cast off all bonds of desire. For them, sense-objec…

उपकारी असे आरोणि उरला । आपुलें तयाला पर नाहीं ॥1॥

The truly generous one has given everything and still remains full. He sees nothing as his own or as another's. He seize…

कोणा पुण्यें यांचा होइऩन सेवक । जींहीं द्वंदादिक दुराविलें ॥1॥

By what merit might I become the servant of those who have overcome all duality? O Narayana, reveal this secret to me, m…

संतां आवडे तो काळाचा ही काळ । समर्थाचें बाळ जेवीं समर्थ ॥1॥

He who is loved by the saints becomes the conqueror even of Time, just as the child of a mighty one is mighty. In listen…

संतांच्या धीकारें अमंगळ जिणें । विश्वशत्रु तेणें सांडी परि ॥1॥

By the reproach of the saints, the inauspicious life and its enmity with the world are abandoned. Family, beauty, and wo…

भHांचा महिमा भH चिं जाणती । दुर्लभ या गति आणिकांसी ॥1॥

The greatness of devotees is known only to devotees; this state is unattainable for others. Those who knew have become a…

भूतदयापरत्वें जया तया परी । संत नमस्कारीं सर्वभावें ॥1॥

With compassion toward all beings, in whatever way possible, bow to the saints with your whole being. If you hold fast t…

जुंझार ते एक विष्णुदास जगीं । पापपुण्य अंगीं नातळे त्यां ॥1॥

The true warriors in this world are the servants of Vishnu. Neither sin nor merit clings to them. Govinda is in their si…

काय वाणूं आतां न पुरे हे वाणी । मस्तक चरणीं ठेवीतसें ॥1॥

What more can I describe? My words fall short. I simply place my head at their feet. Like the philosopher's stone, the s…

काय पुण्यराशी । गेल्या भेदूनि आकाशीं ॥1॥

What stores of merit must have pierced through the skies? O saints, you have become merciful and cared for me. What past…

तीर्थाटणें एकें तपें हुंबरती । नाथिले धरिती अभिमान ॥1॥

Some grow proud through pilgrimages and austerities, claiming hollow honor for themselves. The servants of Vishnu are no…

परमार्थी तो न ह्मणावा आपुला । सलगी धाकुला हेळूं नये ॥1॥

A person devoted to God, however young or seemingly insignificant, should never be treated lightly. A tiny spark can bec…

पाप ताप दैन्य जाय उठाउठीं । जालिया भेटी हरिदासांची ॥1॥

Sin, suffering, and poverty vanish instantly when one meets the devotees of Hari. No other power in the world, whether a…

हरिजनाची कोणां न घडावी निंदा । साहात गोविंदा नाहीं त्याचें ॥1॥

Let no one slander the devotees of Hari, for Govinda does not tolerate it. He takes form and incarnates to grant fearles…

संतांसी तों नाहीं सन्मानाची चाड । परि पडे द्वाड अव्हेरितो ॥1॥

Saints do not crave honor or respect, yet the wicked who shun them come to grief. Therefore one should not visit a place…

धन्य दिवस आजि दरुषण संतांचें । नांदे तया घरीं दैवत पंढरीचें ॥1॥

Blessed is this day, for we have beheld the saints. The deity of Pandhari dwells in their home. Blessed is the merit tha…

संतीं केला अंगीकार । त्यासी अभिमान थोर ॥1॥

The saints have accepted me, and great is their grace in doing so. Whatever was placed at their feet, they took and fulf…

संतनिंदा ज्याचे घरीं । नव्हे घर ते यमपुरी ॥1॥

A house where saints are slandered is not a home but the city of Yama. There is no match for the sin of such a person; e…

मुिHपांग नाहीं विष्णुचिया दासां । संसार तो कैसा न देखती ॥1॥

The devotees of Vishnu are never deprived of liberation; they do not even perceive worldly bondage. Govinda has settled …

सेवीन उिच्छष्ट लोळेन अंगणीं । वैष्णवां चरणीं होइन जोडा ॥1॥

I will eat the remnants of their meals, roll in the dust of their courtyards, and become sandals at the feet of the Vais…

हो कां नर अथवा नारी । ज्यांचा आवडता हरि ॥1॥

Whether man or woman, whoever holds Hari as their beloved is equal to Vithoba in my eyes, and I bow to such people with …

दासां सर्व काळ । तेथें सुखाचे कल्लोळ ॥1॥

Wherever devotees dwell, waves of joy are present at all times. In the place where the servants of Hari reside, merit fl…

तुह्मी पाय संतीं । माझे ठेवियेले चित्तीं ॥1॥

O saints, you have placed your feet upon my heart. Now even Death cannot harm me, for all that was harsh has become cool…

कस्तुरी भिनली जये मृित्तके । तयेसी आणिके कैसी सरी ॥1॥

When musk has soaked into a lump of earth, how can any other clay compare with it? When the philosopher's stone has touc…

पडोनियां राहीं । उगा च संतांचिये पायीं ॥1॥

Simply fall and remain at the feet of the saints. There is no need to ask or to be told; just purify your heart with sin…

पवित्र व्हावया घालीन लोळणी । ठेवीन चरणीं मस्तक हें ॥1॥

To become pure, I will roll in the dust at their feet and place my head upon their holy feet. With folded hands I will m…

मज त्याची भीड नुलंघवे देवा । जो ह्मणे केशवा दास तुझा ॥1॥

I cannot disregard anyone who calls himself Your servant, O God. I dearly love those who sing Your praise and tell Your …

आमुचें जीवन हें कथाअमृत । आणिक ही संतसमागम॥1॥

Our sustenance is the nectar of the sacred story, and beyond that, the company of the saints. We spread out the feast in…

वैष्णवांची कीर्ती गाइली पुराणीं । साही अठरांजणीं चहूं वेदीं ॥1॥

The glory of the Vaishnavas is sung in the Puranas, in all eighteen texts, in the four Vedas. Let any scholar of scriptu…

संतांचे घरींचा दास मी कामारी । दारीं परोपरीं लोळतसें ॥1॥

I am a servant and laborer in the household of the saints, rolling at their door in every manner. The dust of their feet…

ऐशा भाग्यें जालों । तरी धन्य जन्मा आलों ॥1॥

If such fortune comes to me, then indeed this birth is blessed. Like the bottom step that lies worn under foot, upon whi…

करितां या सुखा । अंतपार नाहीं लेखा ॥1॥

There is no end or measure to this happiness. When the feet of the saints rest upon one's head, what is the bliss of lib…

अंगें अनुभव जाला मज । संतरजचरणांचा ॥1॥

I have experienced in my own body the effect of the dust of the saints' feet. By that remedy, I have become happy; I kno…

अवघे चुकविले सायास । तप रासी जीवा नास॥1॥

Pundalik spared everyone all efforts, the penances and mortifications that destroy the soul. By offering his own life in…

श्रीसंतांचिया माथा चरणांवरी । साष्टांग हें करीं दंडवत ॥1॥

I bow my head prostrate at the feet of the blessed saints. I have found rest through their reassuring words, and love an…

नेणों काय नाड । आला उचित काळा आड ॥1॥

I do not know what obstacle came in the way at the appointed time. Not meeting the saints is truly the greatest loss. Ev…

आYाा पाळुनियां असें एकसरें । तुमचीं उत्तरें संतांचीं हीं ॥1॥

I abide steadfastly by your commands, O saints. I have surrendered this body at Your feet, keeping my head upon Your fee…

संतांचिया पायीं माझा विश्वास । सर्वभावें दास जालों त्यांचा ॥1॥

My faith rests at the feet of the saints; I have become their servant with my whole being. They alone do everything for …

संतसंगें याचा वास सर्वकाळ । संचला सकळ मूतिऩमंत ॥1॥

Through the company of saints, He dwells there at all times, fully embodied and present. Time itself has been banished o…

नव्हती ते संत करितां कवित्व । संताचे ते आप्त नव्हती संत ॥1॥

Those who compose poetry are not saints thereby. The relatives of saints are not saints either. Here, outward appearance…

दाता तो एक जाणा । नारायणा स्मरवी ॥1॥

The true giver is the one who inspires remembrance of Narayana. What use are perishable things that cannot last? One sho…

Yाानियांचा गुरु राजा महाराव । ह्मणती Yाानदेव ऐसें तुह्मां ॥1॥

Guru of the wise, King of kings, such is the title by which they call Dnyaneshwar. For a wretch like me, what is this gr…

काय तुह्मी जाणां । करूं अव्हेर नारायणा ॥1॥

Do you think, O Narayana, that You can simply ignore us? Then let this falsehood be tested in another court. One's inner…

जयाचिये द्वारीं सोन्याचा पिंपळ । अंगीं ऐसें बळ रेडा बोले ॥1॥

At whose door stands a golden Peepal tree and in whose being a bull speaks with strength, what can such a great one not …

लवविलें तया सवेें लवे जाती । अभिमाना हातीं सांपडेना ॥1॥

Those who bow, everything bows with them; pride cannot catch hold of them. The ornament of innocence suits the servants …