જગત હિંડોળેના રે (રાગ - મલાર છપ્પે)

નાદબ્રહ્મ પદ - ૫૮૮, રાગ - મલાર છપ્પે
Nādbrahma pada 588, rāga - malār chhappe

જગત હિંડોળેના રે, માંહી ઝુલે હૈ સબ કોઈ;
jagat hiňdole-nā re, māňhi jhule hai sab ko-ii

પાપ પુન્ય સ્થંભ દોઉ, મેર માયા જાન;
મોહ મરૂવા લોભ ભ્રમર, કામકેલિ શું ઠામ;
શુભ અશુભ વિચિત્ર દાંડી, ગ્રહી હૈ દોઉ પ્રાન;
કર્મ પટુલી બૈઠકે, કહો કોન ઝુલે આયી ... ૧
pāp punya sthambh do-u, mer māyā jān
moh maruvā lobh bhramar, kām-keli shuň thām
shubh a-shubh vichitra dāňdi, grahi hai do-u prān
karma patuli baitha-ke, kaho kon jhule āyi ... 1

ઝુલે વિરંચિ મહેશ ઝુલત, ઝુલે સુરજ ઇન્દ્ર;
ગંધર્વ કિન્નર યક્ષ ઝુલે, ઝુલે સુરિનર ચંદ્ર;
ઝુલે નારદ શારદા રે, ઝુલે શેષ સુનંદ;
દશવાર આપ સગુણ હોયે, ઝુલે હૈ ગોવિંદ ... ૨
jhule viraňchi mahesh jhulat, jhule suraj indra
gaňdharv kinnar yaksha jhule, jhule suri-nar chaňdra
jhule nārad shārad re, jhule shesh sunaňd
dash-vār āpa sagun hoye, jhule hai goviňd ... 2

ક્ષણેક ઉંચે ક્ષણેક નીચે, સ્વર્ગ ભૂતલ જાય;
એહ ભર્મ હિંડોળેના, ક્ષણેક નાહિં ઠરાય;
ઝુલત ઝુલત કલ્પ વીતે, તોયે ન છોડે આશ;
સુરદાસ ગોપાલ કૌતુક, ચતુર્જુગ ચોમાસ ... ૩
ksha-nek uňche ksha-nek niche, svarg bhutal jāy
eh bharma hiňdole-nā, ksha-nek nāhi tharāy
jhulat jhulat kalpa vite, toye na chhode āsh
sur-dās gopāl ka-u-tuk, chatur-jug chomās ... 3

YouTube video(s):
1. Shree Ramkabir Mandir Bhajan Mandal (playlist)

English translation (by AI):
This bhajan, titled "Jagat Hindolo" (The Worldly Swing), is a profound allegorical composition rooted in the Nirguni Sant tradition of Indian spiritual poetry. The entire poem uses the extended metaphor of a Hindolo (a traditional Indian swing) to illustrate the nature of Samsara (the material world) and the restless bondage of the human soul.

0. "The world is a swing, and everyone is swaying within it." It illustrates that the material world acts as a swinging cradle of illusion where every living soul is caught up in its continuous, unstable motion.

1. The Structure of the Swing: The poet begins by deconstructing the mechanics of this cosmic swing. The structural pillars that hold the swing up are Sin (Paap) and Virtue (Punya). This highlights that as long as a soul is bound by the duality of good and bad deeds, it remains trapped in the worldly structure. The supporting ropes and frame are made of Illusion (Maya) and Attachment (Moh), while greed (Lobha) and lust (Kama) form the seat and pivot. The person riding this swing sits on a plank made of Karma, completely driven by their own desires (Patuli). The poet asks a piercing question: "Who is this that has come to swing?"—forcing the listener to introspect on the true nature of the self.

2. The Universality of the Illusion: The second verse establishes that no one is immune to this cosmic play. The poet lists the highest entities of Hindu cosmology: Viranchi (Brahma the creator), Mahesh (Shiva), Indra, the Sun, and the Moon. Even celestial musicians (Gandharvas), mystical beings (Yaxas, Kinnaras), and great sages like Narada and Sharada are swinging. Most remarkably, Govinda (the Supreme Divine) Himself takes form through his ten avatars (Dashavatar) to enter this material realm and participate in this cosmic swinging. This emphasizes that Maya is an all-encompassing force that binds the entire universe.

3. The Endless, Restless Cycle: The final verse captures the sheer instability of human existence. The swing goes up to heaven (Swarga) in one moment and down to earth (Bhutal) the next, representing the temporary rewards of good deeds and the punishments of bad ones. The soul never finds a moment of stillness (Kshanek naahin tharaay). Even though entire cosmic epochs (Kalpas) pass by while swinging, the human soul stubbornly refuses to give up its worldly hopes and desires (toye na chhode aash). The poem concludes by calling this entire cycle a wondrous, divine play (Kautuk) of Lord Gopal that spans across the four cosmic ages (Chaturjug).

The Ultimate Spiritual Message:
The overarching message of the bhajan is a call to awakening and detachment. By showing that even gods are caught in the movement of the swing, the poet warns the seeker against seeking temporary heavenly pleasures. True liberation (Moksha) does not mean swinging higher into heaven; it means stepping off the swing entirely by cutting the ropes of Maya and moving beyond the duality of Paap and Punya.