Narsinh Mehta Treasury.
Part I — “નારાયણનું નામ જ લેતા”
Narāyaṇ Nuṁ Nām Ja Letā
A Song of Fearless Bhakti
Narsinh Mehta
This is not a mild bhajan.
It is a bold declaration of spiritual priorities.
Narsinh is asking:
What happens when devotion and worldly pressure collide?
Which will you choose?
His answer is uncompromising.
Opening Verse
Gujarati
નારાયણનું નામ જ લેતા, વારે તેને તજીએ રે
મનસા વાચા કર્મણા કરીને, લક્ષ્મીવરને ભજીએ રે
Transliteration
Nārāyaṇ nuṁ nām ja letā, vāre tene tajiye re
Manasā vācā karmaṇā karīne, Lakṣmī-var ne bhajiye re
Meaning
Whoever or whatever obstructs the taking of Narayana’s Name — let it be abandoned.
With mind, speech, and action, worship the Lord of Lakshmi.
“Mind, Speech, Action” — Why These Three?
Manasā — mind
Vācā — speech
Karmaṇā — action
This comes from ancient Sanskrit ethical language.
Narsinh is saying:
Do not worship partially.
Not only by singing.
Not only by thinking.
Not only by ritual.
Let devotion permeate:
your thoughts
your words
your conduct
Whole-person bhakti.
Verse 2
Gujarati
કુળને તજીએ, કુટુંબને તજીએ, તજીએ માં ને બાપ રે
ભગિની સુત દારાને તજીએ, જેમ તજે કંચુકી સાપ રે
Transliteration
Kul ne tajiye, kuṭumb ne tajiye, tajiye mā ne bāp re
Bhaginī sut dārā ne tajiye, jem taje kanchukī sāp re
Meaning
Leave attachment to clan, family, even parents if they obstruct devotion.
Leave attachment to relatives, children, spouse—
as a snake sheds its old skin.
Now, this needs careful understanding.
Narsinh is not teaching cruelty or neglect.
Bhakti traditions honour family dharma.
He is speaking about binding attachment, not loving responsibility.
The question is:
When truth, conscience, and devotion demand courage — will social pressure rule you?
The Powerful Image — Snake Shedding Skin
“જેમ તજે કંચુકી સાપ”
As a snake sheds its skin.
A remarkable metaphor.
The snake does not argue with the old skin.
It simply outgrows it.
Narsinh implies:
Some attachments are not “evil.”
They are merely too small for the soul’s next step.
Prahlada Appears
Gujarati
પ્રથમ પિતા પ્રહલાદે તજિયો, ના તજિયું હરિનું નામ રે
Transliteration
Pratham pitā Prahlāde tajiyo, nā tajiuṁ Hari nuṁ nām re
Meaning
Prahlada endured rejection by his father—
but never abandoned Hari’s Name.
Here Narsinh invokes Prahlada.
Prahlada did not stop loving his father.
But he refused to surrender truth.
Bhakti here becomes moral courage.
Bharata and Shatrughna
Gujarati
ભરત શત્રુઘ્ને તજી જનેતા, નવ તજિયા શ્રીરામ રે
Meaning
Bharata and Shatrughna endured separation from their mother—
but never abandoned Sri Rama.
The allusion is to Bharata and Kaikeyi.
Blood ties could not override dharma.
The Rishi-Patnis
Gujarati
ઋષિપત્નીએ હરિને કાજે, તજિયા નિજ ભરથાર રે
The wives of the sages ran to Krishna despite opposition.
A beautiful Bhagavata episode.
They recognized divine presence immediately.
Their husbands had ritual learning.
The wives had living devotion.
Narsinh quietly asks:
Is religion merely formal knowledge?
Or
Does the heart recognise God faster than scholarship?
The Gopis Enter
વ્રજવનિતા વિઠ્ઠલને કાજે, સર્વ તજી વન ચાલી રે
The women of Vraja left everything for Krishna.
Now Narsinh reaches the summit of madhura bhakti.
The Gopis represent:
single-pointed love.
Not social rebellion for its own sake—
but love that forgets self.
The Hidden Theme of the Entire Bhajan
The whole song revolves around one principle:
What is highest in your life?
Family? Reputation? Fear? Convention?
Or the Divine?
Narsinh's answer is clear.
Why This Bhajan Still Feels Relevant
Modern life has its own obstacles.
Not kings or demons.
But:
endless busyness
image management
social expectations
distraction
inward exhaustion.
The question survives:
What quietly prevents remembrance?
This is why Narsinh still speaks across centuries.
He asks uncomfortable, beautiful questions.
And sings them.
Next comes Part II: “Akhil Brahmāṇḍ Māṁ Ek Tuṁ Śrī Hari” — one of Narsinh’s most profound mystical songs.
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