Salutation to Brahmins and Saints
Brahmins and saints are revered as bearers of sacred knowledge, virtue, and grace. Their compassion and beneficent presence are praised with deep respect.
Bal Kand · Episode 3 / 59
Episode Text
मज्जन फल पेखिअ ततकाला। काक होहिं पिक बकउ मराला॥ सुनि आचरज करै जनि कोई। सतसंगति महिमा नहिं गोई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
majjana phala pekhia tatakālā। kāka hohiṃ pika bakau marālā॥ suni ācaraja karai jani koī। satasangati mahimā nahiṃ goī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
In this king of pilgrimages, the fruit of bathing is seen at once: crows become cuckoos and cranes become swans. Hearing this, let no one be astonished, for the greatness of holy company is no secret.
बालमीक नारद घटजोनी। निज निज मुखनि कही निज होनी॥ जलचर थलचर नभचर नाना। जे जड़ चेतन जीव जहाना॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bālamīka nārada ghaṭajonī। nija nija mukhani kahī nija honī॥ jalacara thalacara nabhacara nānā। je jaḍa cetana jīva jahānā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Valmiki, Narada, and Agastya (the pot-born sage) have spoken their own destinies through their own mouths. All the countless living beings in the world—those that live in water, on land, and in the sky, whether inert or conscious—
मति कीरति गति भूति भलाई। जब जेहिं जतन जहाँ जेहिं पाई॥ सो जानब सतसंग प्रभाऊ। लोकहुँ बेद न आन उपाऊ॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mati kīrati gati bhūti bhalāī। jaba jehiṃ jatana jahāṃ jehiṃ pāī॥ so jānaba satasanga prabhāū। lokahuṃ beda na āna upāū॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Whichever person, by whatever effort, at whatever time and place, has obtained wisdom, fame, right destination, prosperity, and goodness, should know that all of it is due to the power of holy company. In the world and in the Vedas there is no other way to attain them.
बिनु सतसंग बिबेक न होई। राम कृपा बिनु सुलभ न सोई॥ सतसंगत मुद मंगल मूला। सोइ फल सिधि सब साधन फूला॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
binu satasanga bibeka na hoī। rāma kṛpā binu sulabha na soī॥ satasangata muda mangala mūlā। soi phala sidhi saba sādhana phūlā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Without holy company, discrimination does not arise, and without Rama's grace, that holy company is not easily obtained. Holy company is the root of joy and well-being. Its attainment alone is the fruit; all other means are but flowers.
सठ सुधरहिं सतसंगति पाई। पारस परस कुधात सुहाई॥ बिधि बस सुजन कुसंगत परहीं। फनि मनि सम निज गुन अनुसरहीं॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
saṭha sudharahiṃ satasangati pāī। pārasa parasa kudhāta suhāī॥ bidhi basa sujana kusangata parahīṃ। phani mani sama nija guna anusarahīṃ॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
Even the wicked improve upon receiving holy company, just as iron becomes beautiful by the touch of the philosopher's stone. But if, by fate, good people fall into bad company, they still follow their own qualities, like a gem in a snake's hood: a saint in evil company still gives light to others, and the wicked have no effect on him.
बिधि हरि हर कबि कोबिद बानी। कहत साधु महिमा सकुचानी॥ सो मो सन कहि जात न कैसें। साक बनिक मनि गुन गन जैसें॥ ६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bidhi hari hara kabi kobida bānī। kahata sādhu mahimā sakucānī॥ so mo sana kahi jāta na kaisēṃ। sāk banika mani guna gana jaisēṃ॥ 6 ॥
Meaning:
Even the speech of Brahma, Hari, Hara, poets, and scholars shrinks back from describing the greatness of saints. Why should it not be beyond me to speak of it, just as one would not speak of the qualities of gems to a vegetable seller?
बंदउँ संत समान चित हित अनहित नहिं कोइ। अंजलि गत सुभ सुमन जिमि सम सुगंध कर दोइ॥ ३ (क) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bandaũ santa samāna cita hita anahita nahiṃ koi। añjali gata subha sumana jimi sama sugandha kara doi॥ 3 (a) ॥
Meaning:
I bow to saints whose minds are equal toward all, for whom there is neither friend nor enemy. Just as fragrant flowers placed in a folded palm scent both the hand that picked them and the hand that holds them, so saints equally bless both friend and foe.
संत सरल चित जगत हित जानि सुभाउ सनेहु। बालबिनय सुनि करि कृपा राम चरन रति देहु॥ ३ (ख) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
santa sarala cita jagata hita jāni subhāu sanehu। bālabinaya suni kari kṛpā rāma carana rati dehu॥ 3 (b) ॥
Meaning:
Saints are simple-hearted and beneficent to the world. Knowing their nature and affection, I make this humble plea: hearing my childlike prayer, kindly grant me devotion to the feet of Rama.