Payoji Maine Ram Ratan Dhan Payo
पायो जी म्हें तो राम रतन धन पायो
Payoji Maine Ram Ratan Dhan Payo, "I have found the treasure of the jewel of Ram's name", is a devotional song of Meera Bai, the Rajput princess who gave her life to Krishna. In six short lines it describes a wealth that no thief can take and that grows each day.
- Written by
- Meera Bai (died 1547)
- Music
- Traditional
- In the video
- Lata Mangeshkar
- Context
- Pad (devotional song) of Meera Bai
- Year
- 16th century
- Language
- Hindi
Payoji Maine Ram Ratan Dhan Payo lyrics with English translation
Text as transcribed by Kavita Kosh; its six lines are grouped here in three couplets. Sung versions vary slightly in wording (for example maine for mhen to).
पायो जी म्हें तो राम रतन धन पायो। वस्तु अमोलक दी म्हारे सतगुरू, किरपा कर अपनायो॥
Payo ji mhen to Ram ratan dhan payo Vastu amolak di mhare Satguru, kirpa kar apnayo
I have found it, I have found the treasure of the jewel of Ram's name. My true Guru gave me this priceless thing and, in his grace, made me his own.
जनम-जनम की पूँजी पाई, जग में सभी खोवायो। खरच न खूटै चोर न लूटै, दिन-दिन बढ़त सवायो॥
Janam-janam ki poonji pai, jag mein sabhi khovayo Kharach na khootai chor na lootai, din-din badhat savayo
I have gained the savings of many lifetimes and let go of all the world holds. Spending cannot use it up, no thief can steal it; day by day it grows still more.
सत की नाँव खेवटिया सतगुरू, भवसागर तर आयो। 'मीरा' के प्रभु गिरिधर नागर, हरख-हरख जस पायो॥
Sat ki naav khevatiya Satguru, bhavsagar tar aayo Meera ke Prabhu Giridhar Nagar, harakh-harakh jas payo
In the boat of truth, with the true Guru at the oars, I have crossed the ocean of worldly life. Meera's Lord is Giridhar Nagar; with joy upon joy she sings his praise.
Translation: Lyriccs (original translation). Transliteration: Lyriccs.
The story behind Payoji Maine Ram Ratan Dhan Payo
Meera Bai was born into the Rathore royal family of Merta in Rajasthan around 1498 and married into the ruling house of Mewar. Tradition holds that she refused the expectations of royal widowhood, sang and danced in temples, and faced hostility from her in-laws before leaving to live as a wandering devotee in Vrindavan and Dwarka, where she is said to have died around 1547.
Meera's songs, called pads, were sung and passed on for centuries in a mix of Rajasthani, Braj and Gujarati, so many versions exist and their exact authorship cannot always be fixed. Most end with her signature line naming her Lord Giridhar Nagar, Krishna who lifted the Govardhan hill.
This song names Ram and gives thanks to the satguru, the true teacher, for the gift. It became one of the best-known Meera bhajans in India through Lata Mangeshkar's recording, and it is sung at prayer meetings and in classical and light-music concerts.
What Payoji Maine Ram Ratan Dhan Payo means
The song is built on the image of treasure. The name of God is a priceless jewel given by the guru out of kindness, and receiving it is like gaining the savings of many lifetimes. Next to it, everything the world values is lost without regret.
Unlike ordinary wealth, this treasure cannot be used up by spending or stolen by thieves; instead it grows more every day. In the final couplet the image changes to a voyage: with truth as the boat and the guru as the boatman, the devotee crosses the ocean of worldly existence. Meera ends in joy, singing the glory of her Lord Giridhar Nagar.
Quick facts
- Meera Bai was born into the royal family of Merta, Rajasthan, around 1498.
- Her songs usually end with her signature naming Giridhar Nagar, a name of Krishna.
- This song thanks the satguru, the true teacher, for the gift of God's name.
- Lata Mangeshkar's recording made it one of the best-known Meera bhajans.