Tulsidas's Doha And Translation

1
'Tulsi Tulsi sab kahe,Tulsi ban ki ghaas
Ho gayi kirpa Ram ki, to ban gaye Tulsidas’

Tulsi Tulsi says every body, (it) is just a jungle grass. (The Tulsi plant is revered as holy grass by association with Lord Vishnu)
It is only with God’s grace that (I- Tulsidas) became God’s servant.

2
'Tulsi meethe bachan te sukh upjaat chahu or
Basikaran ek mantra hain pariharu bachan kathor'

Tulsi (says) pleasant words invoke happiness all around
Giving up harsh words is the mantra (secret) of power.

3
'Bina tej ke purush ki avshi avagya hoy
Aagi bujhe jyo raakh ki aap chuvay sab koy'

Without valor a man is certainly ignored (disrespected).
Like fire after loss of flame, is touched as ash by all.

4
'Tulsi saathi vipatti ke vidya vinay vivek
Sahas sukriti sustyavat, Ram bharose ek'

Tulsi (says) companion in trouble are knowledge, humility and wisdom.
Good name comes easy by trusting God.

5
'Kaam krodh mad lobh ki jou lou man mein khan
Tau lou Pandit moorkhou Tulsi ek saman'

As long as one has mines of desire, anger, arrogance and greed in heart
Knowledgeable and fools are equal so says Tulsidaas.

6
'Ram naam mani deep dharoo jih dehari dwar
Tulsi bheeter bahrao jo chahasi ujiyar'

(when) Light of Ram’s name is placed on whichever door and doorstep
Tulsi (says) inside and out side (of that heart and world around it) both are lighted.


Note: Goswami Tulsidas was a 16th century saint and Hindi poet. He was devoted to Lord Rama. He is most famous for his Epic Ramcharitmanas Written in Hindi dilect of Avadhi. A retelling of Story of Ramayan. Vinaya Patrika and Hanuman Chalisa are other famous works besides many other Hindi and Sanskrit devotional hymns. The whole Epic Ramcharitmanas has been written in English transliteration for the benefit of readers who can not read Hindi but would like to enjoy the melodious rhythm and sublime devotional music of this highly enriching literary poetry. Around the festival of Ramnavami very often the whole Tulsi Ramayan is recited in temples, community gatherings and private homes.

Here I have translated only few of his Doha that I read on PoemHunter poetry site. Original doha is written in English transliteration of Hindi.

Savita Tyagi

Life River

River of life flows calmly ‘mid plains.

Alluvium of grief and joy settle at the bottom.  

An intense emptiness stretches upon surface.

Ripples of memory circle out gingerly to create a stir.

It crashes thunderously at the mouth of ocean.

The deep breast of ocean fragments it to disperse,

On the beach, in the air, under the sunshine.

A new rhythmic motion takes place beyond stars.

The agile Cosmic Energy fashions life

From pliable matter again and again.

My petty joy and grief and stretched out emptiness 

Feels so small in this vast process 

Yet enormously big to drown me in!

A Heart Full Of Love

Life is wonderful when heart is full of love.

It searches not for any object of love,

But falls in love with its own being,

While loving the world as it is.

Housed in your body is the source eternal 

For happiness; likewise It resides in each existence. 

Sorrows of everyday life lessens not for It, 

The tasteful delight of existence.

Potholes of grief are there to pull you down

But resist the temptation to dwell in there long.

Soil not your heart and soul in that muddy swamp.

Let the mystic river of love wash you clean.

Greetings And Prayers

A very happy new year to all .

Hope your day is filled with love and laughter.

May joy and peace wrap your heart in its cozy arms,

Like sunshine wraps snow and winter cold.

Blessed are the prayers that give strength

To deal with pleasure and pain equally.

Blessed are the families that pray together

To sail through turmoils of high wind and waves.

Possible is not to change the ways of world alone.

Possible is to pray and make an effort to transform.

Possible is to purge your self from evil thoughts.

Possible is to spread the message of goodness.

Savita Tyagi

1. 1. 2019