Ghazal
Mother, Brother Teases Me So
In this devotional poem, young Krishna innocently complains to Mother Yashoda that his elder brother Balarama teases him by claiming he was bought and not her real son. Deeply upset by these taunts, Krishna refuses to go out and play. The verse tenderly captures childlike innocence, fraternal teasing, and profound maternal affection.
Source: Sankshipt Sursagar (Indian Press, 1924) · HI
Listen
1
मैया मोहिं दाऊ बहुत खिझायो ।
मोसों कहत मोलको लीनो तू जसुमति कब जायो ॥
O Mother, elder brother Dau teases me so sore; He taunts me saying, 'You were bought for a price, Jasumati never gave birth to you!'
Krishna complains to Mother Yashoda saying, "Mother, elder brother Dau teases me a lot; he tells me that I was bought for a price and that Yashoda never gave birth to me."
2
कहा कहौ एहि रिसके मारे खेलन हौं नहिं जातु ।
पुनि पुनि कहत कौन है माता कोहै तुमरो तातु ॥
What shall I say? Out of sheer rage, I no longer go to play; Time and again they taunt me asking: who is your mother, and who your sire?
What can I say? Because of this anger I do not go out to play; again and again they ask me, who is your mother and who is your father?
3
गोरेनंद जसोदा गोरी तुम कत स्याम शरीर ।
चुटुकी दैदै हँसत ग्वाल सब सिखै देत बलवीर ॥
Fair is Nanda, and fair is Yashoda—why then is your body dark as night? Snapping fingers, the cowherd boys all mock and laugh, as Balram spurs them on with delight.
Nanda is fair and Yashoda is fair, so why is your complexion dark? Prompted by Balarama, all the cowherd boys snap their fingers and mockingly laugh at you.
4
तू मोही को मारन सीखी दाउहि कबहुँ न खीझै ।
मोहन को मुख रिस समेत लखि जसुमति सुनि सुनि रीझै ॥
You have learned to chastise only me, while never venting anger upon Dau; beholding Mohan's face flushed with sweet indignation, Yashoda overflows with tender joy.
Krishna complains to mother Yashoda that she has only learned to scold and beat him while never getting angry at Dau (Balaram); seeing Mohan's face flushed with anger and hearing his complaints, Yashoda feels sheer delight.
5
सुनहु कान्ह बलभद्र चबाई जनमतहीको धूत ।
सूर स्याम मो गोधनकी सौं हौं माता तू पूत ॥
Listen, Kanha, Balbhadra is a slanderer, a rogue from the moment of his birth; Surdas sings: O Shyam, I swear by my sacred herd, I am your mother and you are my son.
Listen, Kanha, Balram is a slanderer and deceitful right from birth. Surdas says that Yashoda swears by her cattle that she is indeed his mother and he is her son.
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