Famous Dohe by Sant Surdas

Surdas was born in a Brahmin family in 1483 AD at the home of Pandit Ramdas Ji in Runkata village. He was a devotee of Shri Krishna. He was a prominent poet of the Bhakti period. He is said to be a scholar of Hindi literature. Krishna Bhakti is mentioned in the compositions of Surdas.

He has beautifully described the childhoods and childhood stories of Shri Krishna. His compositions are extremely popular in Indian literature. Scholars differ as to whether he was born blind or not, but he had a good knowledge of the language.

Five famous couplets of Surdas with meaning

Doha: 1

Charan Kamal bando hari rai …
Jaki kripa pangu giri langhey, Andhare ko sab kachhu darsai …
Bahiro sune … mook puni bole, Rank chale sir chhatra dharai …
Surdas swami karunamaya Barambar namo sir naayi, Charan kamal bando hari rai

दोहा : 1

चरन कमल बंदौ हरि राई।
जाकी कृपा पंगु गिरि लंघै आंधर कों सब कछु दरसाई॥
बहिरो सुनै मूक पुनि बोलै रंक चले सिर छत्र धराई।
सूरदास स्वामी करुनामय बार.बार बंदौं तेहि पाई॥

Meaning: I pray to the lotus feet of Shree Hari by whose grace the lame crosses the mountain the blind could see everything the deaf can hear, the dumb can speak again and the beggar moves with a royal canopy over his head Surdas Ji says Oh merciful Lord I felicitate you by bringing my heads down over and over again.

Doha: 2

Hari darshan ki pyasi akhiyaan hari darshan ki pyasi
dekhyo chahe kamal nayan ko nis din rahat udaasi
akhiyaan hari darshan ki pyasi
kesar tilak motin ki maala vrindavana ke vaasi
neh lagaai tyag gayen trin sam daal gayen gal phansi
akhiyan hari darshan ki ……
kahoo ke mana ki ko jaanat logan ke man haasi
surdas prabhu tumhare daras bin leho karvat kashi ankhiyaan
hari darshan ki pyasi hari darshan ki……..

दोहा : 2

अखियाँ हरी दर्शन की प्यासी | अखियाँ हरी दर्शन की प्यासी |

देखियो चाहत कमल नैन को, निसदिन रहेत उदासी |

अखियाँ हरी दर्शन की प्यासी |
केसर तिलक मोतीयन की माला, ब्रिन्दावन को वासी |

आये उधो फिरी गए आँगन, दारी गए गर फँसी |
अखियाँ हरी दर्शन की प्यासी |

काहू के मन की कोवु न जाने, लोगन के मन हासी |
सूरदास प्रभु तुम्हारे दरस बिन, लेहो करवट कासी |

अखियाँ हरी दर्शन की प्यासी |

Meaning: Gopis after Krishna’s departure from Gokul become very sad and at this they say – our eyes are thirsty for a glance of the lord. they want to see lotus eyes and so they remain sad each day. He has a mark of saffron on his forehead and who wears the necklace of pearl and who is the resident of Vrindavan, binding us in the bond of love has left like a straw and it seems that he has fastened us with the rope around our neck. The Gopis say who knows the inside of anyone’s mind, people just keep on laughing in their mind about one’s situation. Surdas Ji says that the gopi’s are saying that oh lord without your presence Kashi has also become restless ….then what about us?

Doha: 3

Deenan dukh haran dev santan hitkari
ajamil geedh byadh inme kah kaun saadh
panchhi ko pad padhaat ganika si taari
dhruva ke sar chhatra det prahalad ko ubari det
bhakta hetu bandhyo setu lankpuri jaayi
gaj ko jab grah grasyo
duhshashan cheer khasyo
sabha beech krishna krishna draupati pukari
itne hari aaye gaye basnan aaroorh bhaye
surdas dware khado aanadhro bhikhari

दोहा : 3

दीनन दुःख हरण देव संतन हितकारी ॥टेक॥
दीनन दुःख हरण देव संतन हितकारी ॥टेक॥

अजामील गीध व्याध इनमें कहो कौन साध ।
पंछी को पद पढ़ात गणिका सी तारी ॥१॥

ध्रुव के सिर छत्र देत प्रह्लाद को उबार लेत ।
भगत हेतु बांध्यो सेतु लंकपुरी जारी ॥२॥

तंडुल देत रीझ जात सागपात सों अघात ।
गिनत नहीं जूठे फल खाटे मीठे खारी ॥३॥

गज को जब ग्राह ग्रस्यो दुस्सासन चीर खस्यो ।
सभाबीच कृष्ण कृष्ण द्रौपदी पुकारी ॥४॥

इतने में हरि आय गए बसनन आरुढ़ भये ।
सूरदास द्वारे ठाढ़ो आन्धरो भिखारी ॥५॥

Meaning: The Lord who removes the pain of the poor and the well doer of the saints Azamil, the vulture, the hunter, say who was perfect among them, Who gave a higher destination to a bird and made the Ganika (a man who lives with a prostitute. -here Azamil ) move across this bhavasagar… Who versed Druva’s head with canopy and saved PrahaladFor the sake of devotee who constructed the bridge by going to Lanka puri. When the alligator grabbed the Gajraj (the elephant) in his jaws …who came to save him …When Duhshashan unwinded the clothes (of Draupadi), Draupadi called up “Krishna Krishna ” in the Hall… Just then,( you) Hari reached there and adjoined Himself in the clothes. Surdas, a blind beggar, is standing on Your doorsteps –When You can do so much and show your grace upon these people, Please be kind towards me too.

Doha: 4

Tum meri rakho laaj hari
Tum jaanat sab antaryami
karani kachhu na kari
Avaguna mose bichudat nahi
Pal chhin ghadi ghadi
Sab prapanch ki pot bandhi kari
Apne sheesh dhari
Dara sut dhan moh liye hain
Sud bud sab bicchadi
Sur patit ko begi ubaro
Ab mori naav bhari

दोहा : 4

तुम मेरी राखो लाज हरि
तुम जानत सब अन्तरयामी
करनी कछु न करी
औगुन मोसे बिसरत नाहीं
पल चिन घरी घरी
दारा, सुत, धन, मोह लिये हौं
सुध बुध सब बिसरी
सूर पतित को बेगि उबारो
अब मोरी नांव भरी

Meaning: Oh hari! keep my pudency
you know everything the work doesnt decide anything
I am not able to deliver my demerits the time passes out each while
Wife, son and the wealth have deluded me I have lost my reminiscence .
Surdas ji says please relieve me soon Now my life (here expressed as boat )has fiiled

Doha: 5

Maiyaa mori, Main nahin maakhan khaayo
Bhor bhai gaiyan ke paachhe, Madhuban mohe pathaayo
Chaar pahar bansi bat bhatakyo, Saanjh pari ghar aayo
Main balak bahiyan ko choto, Jhik ko kis bidhi paaiyo
Gwal bal sab bair pare hai, Bar bas mukh laptayo
Tu janani man ki ati bhori inke kahe patiyayo
Jiya tere kachu bhed upji hai jani parayo jayo
yeh le apani lakuṭa kamariya, bahuta hi naca nacayo
suradas tab hasi yasoda, le ura kaṇṭha lagayo

दोहा : 5

“मैया मोहि मैं नही माखन खायौ ।
भोर भयो गैयन के पाछे ,मधुबन मोहि पठायो ।
चार पहर बंसीबट भटक्यो , साँझ परे घर आयो ।।
मैं बालक बहियन को छोटो ,छीको किहि बिधि पायो ।
ग्वाल बाल सब बैर पड़े है ,बरबस मुख लपटायो ।।
तू जननी मन की अति भोरी इनके कहें पतिआयो ।
जिय तेरे कछु भेद उपजि है ,जानि परायो जायो ।।
यह लै अपनी लकुटी कमरिया ,बहुतहिं नाच नचायों।
सूरदास तब बिहँसि जसोदा लै उर कंठ लगायो ।।”

Meaning: My (dearest) mother, Early morning, (to watch) after the cows, I did not eat the butter.
Early morning, (to watch) after the cows, you sent me out to the forest.
All-day, I have been roaming playing the flute, in the evening, I came home.
But a child, younger than my friends, how could I reach up to the butter?
All the gopas are against me, on my face they wipe the butter,
You mother, are much too innocent, you believe all their chatter.
There is a flaw in your behavior, you consider me not yours,
Take your herd-stick and the blanket, I’ll dance to your tune no longer.
Surdas, Yasoda then laughed and took the boy in her arms.