Ai riṣhi too ne halaahal peekar
Zindagee dee hamko dard mė jeekar
Tere ehsaanȯ kaa badlaa na chukaa paayenge
Sadiyaa guzarengee tumko na bhulaa paayenge
Koee khanjar dikhaataa thaa
Koee patthar barsaataa thaa
Kahee the roṭee ke laale,
to koee zeher pilaataa thaa
Duniya kaa melaa thaa
Dayanand akelaa thaa
Saaraa jahaa thaa ek taraf
Aur riṣhi albelaa thaa
Aarya divaanȯ se,
kitne parvaanȯ se
Jagmagaa dee mehfil
ved ke gaanȯ se
Shammaan jo tumne kee roshan,
use phailaayenge
Vikaṭ bijalee chamaktee ho
Bhayankar dhan gajarate ho
Uṭhee ho aandhiyaa bheeṣhan
Nirantar jal barastaa ho
Shabnam ke dhaarȯ mė
Patajhaṛ mė khaarȯ mė
Aandhee ho yaa toofaan,
yaa jalte angaarȯ mė
Har taraf dhoome,
mastee mė jhoome
Aaj saaree duniyaa teraa dar choome
Tere balidaanȯ kee gaathaa
aaj ham gaayenge
For audio of this song, click this link
O Sage, you even drank poison, a bitter cup of strife,
By living in pain, you have given us life.
A debt for your grace, we can never repay,
Through ages to come, you will not fade away.
One brandished a dagger, one pelted with stone,
You begged for your bread, faced the poison alone.
The world was a crowd, yet Dayananda stood free,
The world on one side, and unique, there was he.
With followers fervent, like moths to a fire,
You lit up the gathering with the Vedic choir.
The lamp that you kindled, a bright, steady flame,
We pledge we will spread it and honor your name.
Though fearsome lightning may flash in the sky,
Though terrible thunder and storms may pass by,
Through dewdrops or thorns, in the sun or the rain,
Through gales or on embers, your path will remain.
We’ll wander the world in a rapturous haze,
Today the whole world at your doorstep gives praise.
The saga of all that you sacrificed then,
Is the story we sing, again and again.
– meaning rendered by Dr Yog Mahadeo
O Rishi Dayanand Ji, you sacrificed everything for us. You took poison, you took pain, you took insults and criticisms for our benefit. We can never repay this debt of gratitude. Centuries may come and go, but the world will not forget you.
There was a dire need for wisdom. The world was hungry for deliverance, and Maharishi Dayanand stood alone, lighting the pathway for the world. Some were attacking him with weapons, some were pelting stones, and yet others were sharing poison. But the Maharishi Dayanand inspired and taught everyone. He spread the light of Vedic wisdom and infused his followers with that light. His followers gladly followed his light, and so, the light of Vedic Wisdom was lit, which spread all over the world.
Today and always, we sing your praises, O Rishivar. Even if the worst of difficulties and challenges come upon us like storms and disasters, we will still revel in the joy of Vedic enlightenment that you delivered to us. You emancipated the world. Today, the whole world bows to your glory. Today, we remember and sing of the sacrifices you made for us.
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