Maatrurunam and Pitrurunam

Runam (rinam) means a debt. A human is said to have various debts - towards his parents, the gods etc. I called a number recently when I heard what seemed to be a bhajan as the caller tune. Intrigued I looked it up and found this. I am reproducing the lyrics of the bhajan here. The song beautifully summarizes the various 'pious' things man does. But at the end of the day what is important is also implementation and intention. I am typing all of this. I don't know how much I will finally implement! My father told me something once. Dhritarashtra tried to warn Duryodhana to mend his ways. Duryodhana's response was, "I know what is right and wrong, but I shall do this anyway." So today the world is full of such Duryodhanas! In case there is someone who does not understand Hindi there is an English translation at the end.

KABHI PYASE KO PANI PILAYA NAHI

BAAD AMRIT PILANE SE KYA FAIDA

KABHI GIRTE HUVE KO UTHAYA NAHI

BAAD AASU BAHANE SE KYA FAIDA

MEI TO MANDIR GAYA, PUJA AARTI KI

PUJA KARTE HUVE YE KHAYAL AA GAYA

KABHI MAA BAAP KI SEVA KI HI NAHI

SIRF PUJA KE KARNE SE KYA FAIDA

MEI TO SATSANG GAYA GURUVANI SUNI

GURUVANI KO SUNKAR KHAYAL AA GAYA

JANMA MANAV KA LEKE DAYA NA KARI

FIR MANAV KAHLANE SE KYA FAIDA

MAINE DAAN KIYA MAINE JAPTAP KIYA

DAAN KARTE HUVE YE KHAYAL AA GAYA

KABHI BHUKHE KO BHOJAN KHILAYA NAHI

DAAN LAKHO KA KARNE SE KYA FAIDA

GANGAA NAHANE HARIDVAR KASI GAYA

GANGAA NAHATE HI MANME KHAYAL AA GAYA

TAN KO DHOYA MAGAR MAN KO DHOYA NAHI

FIR GANGAA NAHANE SE KYA FAIDA

MAINE VED PADHE MAINE SHASHTRA PADHE

SHASHTRA PADHTE HUVE YE KHAYAL AA GAYA

MAINE GNAN HI KISI KO BATA NAHI

FIR GNANI KAHELANE SE KYA FAIDA

MAAT PITAA KE HI CHARNOME CHARO DHAM HE

AAJA AAJA YAHI MUKTI KA DHAM HE

PITAA MAATA KI SEVA KI HI NAHI

FIR TIRTHO ME JANE SE KYA FAIDA

Translation:

Never gave water to a thirst soul

What is gained by offering ambrosia afterwards?

Never propped up a fallen soul

What is gained by shedding tears afterwards?

I went to a temple, offered worship

While worshiping it occurred to me

Never served my mother and father

What is gained by only worship?

I went to a ministry, heard the words of my guru

By hearing them it occurred to me

Took the birth of a man, but never showed any mercy

So of what is calling myself human?

I have given to charity, I have prayed and meditated

When donating a thought occurred to me

Never fed a hungry man some food

Of what use are all the donations I made?

I went to Haridwar and Kasi to bathe in the Ganga

When bathing a thought occurred in my mind

I cleansed my body but not my mind

Then of what use is bathing in the Ganga?

I studied the Vedas and the scriptures

When studying them a thought occurred to me

I never spread knowledge to anybody

Then of what use is calling myself an enlightened one?

The four dhams can be found at the feet of parents

Come, come, this is the place for salvation

If you have never served your parents

Then of what use is going on a pilgrimage?