॥ Payoji Maine Ram Ratan Dhan Payo ॥
Composed by Saint Mirabai — 16th Century Rajput Princess and Great Devotee of Lord Krishna
Full Text
Pāyo jī maiṃne, Rāma ratana dhana pāyo
Vastu amolaka dī mere satguru, kirapā kara apanāyo
Meaning: I have found it — I have truly found the precious jewel-treasure of the name of Rama! My true Guru gave me this priceless gift; with his grace, he made me his own.
Verse 1
Janama-janama kī pūṃjī pāī, jaga meṃ sabhī khovāyo
Kharce nahīṃ koī, cora na leve, dina-dina baḍhata savāyo
Meaning: The wealth I had accumulated over many lifetimes — I had wasted it all in the world! But this wealth (of Ram’s name) — no one can spend it away, no thief can steal it, and day by day it grows by one-and-a-quarter more!
Verse 2
Sataguru kī kirapā se pāyo, jaga meṃ sabhī bisarāyo
Mīrā ke prabhu giradhar nāgara, harakh-harakh jasa gāyo
Meaning: By my true Guru’s grace I found it; I forgot everything else in the world. Mira’s Lord is Giridhar Nagar (the one who lifted Mount Govardhan — Krishna) — with overflowing joy, she sings his praises!
The Story of Mirabai
Mirabai (c. 1498–1547) was a Rajput princess of Merta, in present-day Rajasthan. She was married into the royal family of Chittor, but her heart remained entirely devoted to Lord Krishna, whom she considered her true husband since childhood.
Her devotion was so complete and so unconventional that it scandalised the royal court. She sang openly in temples, danced before Krishna’s image, and refused to observe the social customs expected of a royal widow. The royal family reportedly tried to poison her — but the poison turned to nectar.
Her bhajans — simple, passionate songs addressed directly to Lord Krishna — are among the most beloved devotional compositions in the entire Hindi literary tradition.
The Metaphor of Wealth
The bhajan uses the metaphor of wealth with extraordinary spiritual precision:
“Ram Ratan Dhan” = The treasure/wealth of the jewel of Ram’s name
The metaphor reveals several profound truths:
| Property of Ordinary Wealth | Property of Ram Naam (Divine Name) |
|---|---|
| Can be spent | Cannot be spent |
| Can be stolen | Cannot be stolen |
| Diminishes with use | Increases with use |
| Causes anxiety when held | Brings peace when held |
| Creates attachment | Destroys attachment |
| Accompanies you in this life only | Accompanies you through all lives |
The final line — “dina-dina baDhat savayo” (it grows by one-and-a-quarter more each day) — is a beautiful poetic image: unlike worldly wealth which depreciates, the wealth of divine devotion appreciates constantly.
“Satguru” — The True Teacher
Mirabai attributes her discovery of this spiritual wealth entirely to her Satguru (true teacher). In her tradition, this is generally understood to be the saint Raidas (also called Ravidas) — a cobbler-saint of Benares who was one of the greatest figures of the Bhakti movement.
Raidas is said to have appeared to Mirabai in a vision or meeting, and she recognized him as her teacher despite his low social caste — a radical act in 16th-century Rajput society. This connection is itself a teaching: divine knowledge comes without respect for social hierarchy.
Why the Song Begins with “Payo Ji”
The opening — “Payo ji maine” — is not a neutral announcement. Ji is a term of respect added to express a feeling of reverence. The full phrase means something like: “With great reverence and wonder, I have found it!”
This is the sound of authentic discovery — not the announcement of an achievement but the exclamation of grace received. The spiritual journey often culminates not in effort but in a moment of recognition: I did not create this. I did not earn it. I only found it — it was given.
Musical Form
The bhajan is composed in the classical Dhrupad style and is typically sung in the Bhairav or Bhairavi ragas — morning ragas that carry the quality of devotional yearning and the peace of early morning prayer.
When to Sing
- Morning puja — before beginning any work
- Satsang (community gathering) — this bhajan invariably creates a devotional atmosphere
- Kirtan — the repetitive chorus “Payo ji maine Ram Ratan Dhan Payo” is perfect for extended kirtan
- Moments of gratitude — when something beautiful has happened in life
- Ram Navami — birthday of Lord Rama
Phala Shruti
Mīrā ke prabhu giradhar nāgara — harkha harkha jasa gāyo
“Whoever sings this bhajan with the same overflowing joy that Mira herself felt — that person discovers the same hidden treasure: the inexhaustible wealth of divine love that once found, can never be lost.”