This is the story of a well-known poet from the fifteenth century and his well-known hymn “Dridha Ina Charanan Kero Bharoso“, also known as “Āshray Pad”.
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When I was first introduced to Āshray Pad
As a child, I used to live as a joint family with my grand dad, my immediate family, uncles, cousins, and their families. I called my grandfather “Dādā ji”, and he was in his eighties and was a very knowledgeable person in Vedic Karmakānd shāstra. He had an accident when he was in his forties that left him blind with no visibility. The entire house used to gather in front of Dādā ji every evening after dinner to do the “nitya pāth,” or daily prayers, before we all went to bed. Some lovely recollections from my childhood days.
Ashray Pad was one of the songs we used to sing during the daily prayers. I have sung this hymn/song several times because it is one of my favourites, and was always curious about the song’s true meaning and the poet’s intended message. This was because the daily prayer had to end with Ashray Pad, but I could not understand the reasons behind it. After all these years, I’ve finally found the time to research the answers to the questions I had as a child.
About the hymn/song – Ashray Pad
We will first go over the context in which this was sung by the poet, then will present the lyrics and finally the meaning. When the content of this song is understood in the context of why and when it was composed, it becomes an incredibly meaningful and powerful hymn. Please read it through to the end, you will be fascinated to know the real meaning of this song.
The poet is none other than Śri Surdās ji. Just as my Dādā ji, he was blind and could not see anything.
An Introduction of the Poet – Śri Surdās ji
Śri Surdās ji was born in the 15th century. He was a poet and singer who composed and sang devotional poems dedicated to lord Krishna in Brajabhāshā, a vernacular of Hindi. He has written more than 100,00 pads (hymns). In his own compositions, he has been identified as Surdas, Surajdas, Sur and Surshyam.
There is disagreement over whether Surdās ji was blind from birth or not, he possibly went blind when he was very small. People who lived during his time claimed that even when Surdās was blind, he used to help people locate lost cattle with his magical powers (Pragyāchakśu). He used to perform bhajans and songs while sitting under a tree for the whole day.
It is said that Surdās used to sing songs about the miseries of life, his humilities, life and about other challenges. He relocated to a place called Gau Ghat to get away from the wordly things. This is where he met the great saint Śri Vallabhāchārya, the founder of Pushti sampradāya (sect). It is said that Śri Vallabh narrated the Tenth chapter of Śrimad Bhāgwat, Subhodhini, to Surdās which immediately transformed his heart. From this day Surdās fell in love with the stories of Śri Krśna and Śri Rādhā ji, and started singing hymns in their name. Śri Vallabh initiated Surdās as his disciple and took him along.
Surdās ji used to sing bhajans/kirtans in Śrināthji’s temple in Gokul that was established by Śri Vallabh, and lived in Parsauli, near Chandra Sarovar, where thakorji once played mahā rās with Rādhārāni and other Gopis 1.
Śri Surdās was one of the aśTachāp, a group/friends of eight poets, created by Śri Vitthalnath ji Gosāin, son of Śri Vallabhachārya. This group was created by Vitthalnāthji by taking four of the disciples of his father, and another four of his own disciples.
Historical Context – When and How Was This Song Written
After many years, one morning Surdās ji realised that he was growing old and weak, and that it was time for him to go from this world to join Śri Krśna in Vaikuntha (heaven). So after the first darshan of Śrināth ji, Mangala darshan, he decided to go to Parsauli, his home. When Vitthalnāthji saw that Surdās ji was absent from other darshans, he quickly gathered all of the disciples and went to be with Surdās ji.
At his home, Surdās ji apologised to Vitthalnāth ji and said that he has failed to live the words of his guru, Śri Vallabhacharya. He could only compose 100,000 pad/hymns (short poetries), whereas he should have completed 125,000 as per his guru’s wishes. Vitthalnath ji said that the remaining 25000 has already been completed by Śri Krśna himself, and hence the compilation is now known as Śur-Shyam 2.
Chaturbhujdās ji, one of the AśtaChāps, asked Surdāsji, “If you have always composed poetris for Śri Krśna and Śri Rādhā rāni, then why have you never composed anything for your guru, Śri Vallabh?” To this he replied, that he never saw any difference between Śri Krśna and Śri Vallabhāchārya ji, and sang the Ashray pad/hymn, “dridh ina charanan kero”.3
The Lyrics of Ashray Pad
भरोसो दुढ़ इन चरनन केरो। [1]
श्रीवल्लभ नख चन्द्र छटा बिनु सब जगमांझ अँधेरो॥ [2]
साधन और नाहीं या कलिमें जासों होत निवेरो। [3]
‘सूर’ कहा कहे द्विविध आंधरो बिना मोल को चेरो॥ [4]
Bharoso, dridh ina charanan kero [1]
Shri Vallabh nakh chandra chhatā binu, sub jugmanjh andhero [2]
sādhan aur nahi aa kali mein, jasat hot nivero [3]
‘sur’ kahā kahe, dwividha āndharo, binā mol ko chero [4]
The Meaning and Translation of the hymn, Āshray Pad
Śri Surdās ji says, submitting oneself and having faith in his guru, Śri Vallabhāchārya, is the only way to avoid living in ignorance. In Kaliyug, surrendering to one’s guru, is the only tool and the only way one can overcome life’s challenges. Śri Surdas ji says, he is blind both from a materialist (body) and spiritual perspective, and without his guru nothing was possible, as Surdās by himself is of no worth. Śurdās says, he is just Śri Vallabh’s humble servant. Śri Vallabhāchārya helps in overcoming the darkness of ignorance, as wisdom is derived from the moonlight that flows from his feet.
After singing the above and another pad, Śri Surdas ji’s eyes were full of tears because of his love and respect for Rādhāni 4. On watching this Gosāin ji asked Śri Surdas ji, what were his views on the properties/characteristics of the eyes. Surdāsji then sang the one below which was his final hymn,
खंजन-नैन रूप-रस-माते। [1]
अतिसै चारु, चपल, अनियारे पल-पिंज़रा न समाते। [2]
चलि-चलि जात निकट स्रवनन के उलटि-उलटि ताटंक फँदाते। [3]
‘सूरदास’ अंजन गुन अटके, नातरु अब उड़ि जाते। [4] 5
Khanjan nain roop ras māte [1]
atishay chāru, chapal, aniyāre pal-pinjarā na samāte [2]
chali-chali jāt nikaT stravanan ke ulti-ulti tāTańka fańdāte [3]
‘surdās’ anjan gun aTake, nātaru ab uDi jāte [4]
The eyes, like the Khanjan bird, are sensitive and very delicate. They are swift and speedy and cannot be held in a cage. In the same way, it was time for Surdās’s eyes to fly away as well.
Eight Centuries Later – Mānas Vishwavidyālay – Morari Bapu in Cambridge
Āshray Pad was sung for the first time by Surdās ji eight centuries ago, and people still sing it now as a symbol of their faith and trust in the Lord and their guru. In his recently completed Ram Katha, Mānas Vishwavidyālay, from Cambridge, UK, Morari Bapu decided to conclude the daily katha with Ashray Pad6, such is the wisdom relayed by Surdāsji in his masterpiece.
When questioned how a Pushti sampradāya (Pushti sect) prayer could be sung here in Rāmkathā, bapu replied that Vallabh signifies both vahālo, the one we love, or the husband, i.e. sitāpati Rāma. The Āshray Pad is meant to serve as a reminder that everyone can place their trust in their guru or deity, regardless of their own beliefs.7
Our attempt to sing the Āshray Pad
Concluding Remarks
For Śurdās ji, his guru Śri Vallabhāchārya and Śri Krśna were one and the same, and he never saw them differently. After composing 100,000 hymns, Surdās ji gives the essence of the knowledge he gathered in his entire life. Surrendering to Krśna, and his guru, is the only path to enlightenment. Hence this hymn is called, Āshray pad, “the hymn of shelter”.
He departed from this world to go to Vaikuntha with his master and guru, Śri Krśna. Vitthalnāth ji noted that “the ship of pushtimārg has sailed” after witnessing this with tearful eyes. Such was the extent to which Surdās ji’s poetries and bhakti contributed to Pushtimārg and the bhakti movement.
All glories to the bhakt (devotee), glory to their bhakti (devotion), glory to guru Śri Vallabh mahāprabhu (Teacher), and all glories to Śri Krśna (The Lord).
Śri Vallabhādhish Ki Jai.
Jai Śri Krśna.
References
- About Parasauli, https://hinduguru.com.au/2021/11/12/surdas-the-devotional-poet/ ↩︎
- Photographs of Parasauli, https://www.brajrasik.org/media/surdas-kuti-chandra-sarovar-parasauli ↩︎
- Song sung by Pt. Ajoy Chakravarti ji, and the story of Surdas, https://www.sonarupa.co.uk/Sur-Ke-Shyam—Surdas_0_4 ↩︎
- The story of the last three pad sung by Surdās ji, https://www.sanatan.org/hindi/a/31128.html ↩︎
- The lyrics have been taken from here, https://www.hindwi.org/aalochna/mahatma-surdas-shyam-bihari-mishra-aalochna ↩︎
- Ashray Pad included by Morari Bapu as concluding prayer during Ram Katha. This was the occassion when it was first sung as daily prayer, after 4:23:00 – Day 8 – Manas Vishwavidyalay | Ram Katha 921 – University of Cambridge | 19/08/2023 | Morari Bapu – YouTube ↩︎
- Day 9 Cambridge Rāmkathā after 4:14:25, https://www.youtube.com/live/GYRnECkgVDE?si=IAPPzmit3CcthBg2 ↩︎
About the Author
Bhavin Shukla has been working as an IT Consultant in the data space for more than 25 Years. As a Data and Analytics professional, he has worked extensively for years on complex IT Transformation Programmes within Healthcare, Finance, Insurance and Telco domains.
Bhavin is driven by a sincere desire to embrace a spiritual existence rooted in values, while genuinely striving to enhance societal culture by fostering a supportive community where we stand by each other.
Bhavin Shukla 
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