Uth Jaag Musafir Bhor Bhai - Lyrics and Meaning

A powerful hymn that serves as a wake-up call for the soul on its spiritual journey.

Hindi Lyrics

उठ जाग मुसाफिर भोर भई, अब रैन कहाँ जो सोवत है।
जो जागत है सो पावत है, जो सोवत है सो खोवत है।

टुक नींद से अँखियाँ खोल जरा, और अपने प्रभु से ध्यान लगा,
यह प्रीति करन की रीति नहीं, प्रभु जागत है तू सोवत है।

जो कल करना है आज कर ले, जो आज करना है अब कर ले,
जब चिड़ियों ने चुग खेत लिया, फिर पछताये क्या होवत है।

नादान भुगत करनी अपनी, ऐ पापी पाप में चैन कहाँ,
जब पाप की गठरी शीश धरी, फिर शीश पकड़ क्यों रोवत है।
उठ जाग मुसाफिर...
              

English (Roman) Lyrics

Uth jaag musafir bhor bhai, ab rain kahan jo sovat hai.
Jo jaagat hai so paavat hai, jo sovat hai so khovat hai.

Tuk neend se ankhiyan khol jara, aur apne prabhu se dhyan laga,
Yeh preeti karan ki reeti nahi, prabhu jaagat hai tu sovat hai.

Jo kal karna hai aaj kar le, jo aaj karna hai ab kar le,
Jab chidiyon ne chug khet liya, phir pachtaye kya hovat hai.

Nadan bhugat karni apni, ae paapi paap mein chain kahan,
Jab paap ki gathri sheesh dhari, phir sheesh pakad kyon rovat hai.
Uth jaag musafir...
              

This bhajan uses the metaphor of a traveler (musafir) to represent the human soul and the morning (bhor) to symbolize spiritual enlightenment.

• Wake Up from Ignorance: The opening lines urge the soul to wake up from the slumber of ignorance ("neend se ankhiyan khol jara"). The "night" (rain) represents the darkness of worldly attachments and desires, which has now passed.
• The Vigilant Seeker: "Jo jaagat hai so paavat hai" (He who is awake, attains) emphasizes that spiritual realization is only for the vigilant seeker. The one who remains asleep in materialism will lose the precious opportunity of human life.
• The Urgency of Now: The bhajan stresses the importance of immediate action in spiritual life ("Jo kal karna hai aaj kar le"). It warns against procrastination, comparing it to a farmer who regrets his inaction after birds have eaten his crops.
• Accountability for Karma: The final verse reminds us that we are responsible for our own actions ("Nadan bhugat karni apni"). There can be no peace in a life of sin, and regretting it later is futile.

This bhajan is a timeless masterpiece of the Bhakti movement, adopted by Arya Samaj for its powerful and direct message. It calls for discipline, self-awareness, and a sense of urgency on the spiritual path. It reminds every "musafir" that the dawn of opportunity is now, and it is time to awaken and seek the divine.