દેખ હો વસુદેવ હરિમુખ (રાગ - બિહાગ ફેર)

નાદબ્રહ્મ પદ - ૬૨૦, રાગ - બિહાગ ફેર
Nādbrahma pada 620, rāga - bihāg fer

Shree Ramkabir Mandir Bhajan Mandal (Recorded on Janmashtami 2011)

Syadla Bhajan Mandal (Recorded in 1982 in Mumbai)

Tarsadi Bhajan Mandal (Recorded on January 7, 2007 at Tarsadi Mandir)

Panama Bhakta Bhajan Mandal

દેખ હો વસુદેવ હરિમુખ, દેખ હો વસુદેવ;
કોટિ કામ સ્વરૂપ સુંદર, કોઇ ન જાણે ભેવ ... ટેક
dekh ho vasu-dev hari-mukh, dekh ho vasu-dev
koti kām svarup suňdar, koii na jāne bhev ... repeat

જાકે ચાર ભુજા ચાર આયુધ, નીરખી લે નિરધાર;
અજહું મન પ્રતીત નાહિ, નંદ ગ્રહે લે જાય ... ૧
jāke chār bhujā chār āyudh, nirakhi le nira-dhār
ajahuň man paratit nāhi, naňda gruhe le jāy ... 1

જાકે પોલી પાલા જડે તાળાં, નાહિ ન માર્ગ ભેવ;
નિશા અંધારી વીજ ચમકે, સઘન વર્ષે મેહ ... ૨
jāke poli pālā jade tālā, nāhi na mārg bhev
nishā aňdhāri vij chamake, saghan varshe meh ... 2

જા કે શ્વાન પડત પહોરવા, હુઆ મુક્ત દ્વાર;
બંધન બેડી સબ છુટી, ભયો એહ વિચાર ... ૩
jā ke shvān padat pahor-vā, hu-ā mukta dvār
baňdhan bedi sab chhuti, bhayo eh vichār ... 3

ઝાલર ઝાંઝ પખાવ બાજે, ઓર બાજે કિરતાલ;
દેવકી ગૃહે કૃષ્ણ પગટે, કંસકો હૈ કાલ ... ૪
jhālar jhānjh pakhāv bāje, or bāje kir-tāl
devaki gruhe krishna pragate, kaňs-ko hai kāl ... 4

સિંહ આગે શેષ પીછે, વહત જમુના પૂર;
નાસિકા લો નીર આયે, પાર પેલે દૂર ... ૫
siňh āge shesh pichhe, vahat jamunā pur
nāsikā lo nir āye, pār pele dur ... 5

ગોદ તેં અહંકાર કીનો, નદી પાયો ભેવ;
પરસી જમુના માર્ગ દીનો, ઉતરે વસુદેવ ... ૬
god teň ahaňkār kino, nadi pāyo bhev
parasi jamunā mārg dino, utare vasu-dev ... 6

બાવાનંદ શું મનોહાર કીજે, સુનો કહે વસુદેવ;
કહેત કવિ સુત જાની અપનો, કીજો હરીજીકી સેવ ... ૭
bāvā-naňda shuň mano-hār kije, suno kahe vasu-dev
kahet kavi sut jāni apano, kijo hari-ji-ki sev ... 7

YouTube Video(s):
1. SRBS-Houston (playlist)
2. Orna Bhajan Mandal (playlist)
3. SRBS-Southern California (playlist)
4. Shree Ramkabir Mandir Bhajan Mandal (playlist)

English Translation:
[This Bhajan was rendered by the great poet Surdas. Saint Surdas was a 16th century blind Hindu devotional poet and singer, who is known for his lyrics written in praise of Krishna. They are usually written in Braj Bhasha, one of the two literary dialects of Hindi.]

0. Looking at the striking look of her just born son, Devaki was amazed. Repeatedly she tells her husband Vasudev to come and look at the face of their son carefully. She exclaims, "O' Vasudev, I have never seen such a child of gorgeousness of millions of Kamdev (Cupids).

1. Amazed Devaki says, "My son resembles Bhagvan Vishnu with four hands. He has held weapons in his four hands." At that moment, Lord Vishnu, who was born as Shri Krishna appears before them and says, "You prayed me for taking birth as your son. Here I am! Now, stop getting awed and take me to the house of Nand Ji, across the river Jamuna."

[In each hand he holds an object or a weapon rather objects with purpose: a LOTUS (Kamal) that represents purity and beauty; a CONCH SHELL (Shankha), standing for the sound AUM, which is said to be the vibration of primordial creation; MACE (Gadaa), for strength and the destruction of evil; and a CHAKRA (Chakra), emblematic of the mind, intelligence, and the end of self-delusion.]

2. Waking them up from their stupor, Lord Vishnu says, "Look now your handcuffs are opened. The prison doors have no locks, and none is aware of this mystery.  The night is pitch dark with lightening is blazing and clouds are showering torrential rains.

3. The prison doors are ajar, where the dogs and sentries on guard have fallen to deep sleep. The doors of Mathura are open for you. Now all your lashings and handcuffs are snapped open. What are you waiting for? Just think of escaping now.

4. Once saint Narad had cursed King of Mathura, Kans that eighth son of his sister Devaki would kill him. Since then King Kans killed all seven children born to Devaki. As if signalled by divine making musical sounds of Jhala, Jhanjh, Pakhawaj and Kirtal began playing rhythmic sounds announcing time birth of the eighth child to Devaki, who was destined to be a messenger of death of Kans.

5. After child Krishna was born, Vasudev placed his new born son in a basket to take him to his friend Nand across the river to Gokul. With a lion guarding his path in front and massive Sheshnag (giant hooded snake) sheltering the infant, Vasudev stepped in deluging waters of Jamuna. There was long distance to cover, and rising waters reached up to the nose.

6. When rising waters of Jamuna, as if by arrogance, reached the nostrils of Shri Krishna angrily he made noise. Soon the river Jamuna realized the mystery. Politely Jamuna pleaded, "Vasudev Ji, you are ferrying Trilokinath (the Master of Three Universe) in the basket on your head lifted high with arrogance. Lower down your head with humility. Let me kiss the feet of Trilokinath with affection." As soon as Vasudev lowered his head, waters of Jamuna touched the toe of right foot of Shri Krishna dangling out of the basket. Soon the rising water level receded and Vasudev could easily cross over to the opposite bank.

7. Wading through the river, finally Vasudev reached the house of Nand Baba. Vasudev Ji described his experience in the prison, and how Lord Vishnu himself directed him to visit his friend Nand Ji. Listening to Vasudev Ji, Nand Baba was delighted. Vasudev said, "Nand Ji! Treat this child as your own son. Upbringing this child would be like worshiping Lord Vishnu."