Singing to kids is one of the easiest ways to submerge them (and you) in a different language. More importantly, it's fun! Some of my fondest memories are of my mom singing me lullabies and nursery rhymes, and it is so special to have her sing those same lullabies and rhymes to my own daughter, years later. If you are like me, you might find it hard to memorize the various Gujarati songs we have, but don't worry-- VedInk has you covered! Each week we will try to upload the lyrics of a different Gujarati nursery rhyme in both Gujarati and English, along with the translation. This week's rhyme is "Ek Hato Raja". Nursery Rhyme: એક હતો રાજા
રાજા વગાડે વાજા
વાજા ભોલે રામનું નામ
કૌશલ્ય નંદન નું નામ
રામ ચાલ્યા વનમાં
સાથે લક્ષ્મણ સીતા
ત્યાં આવ્યો રાવણ
સીતાનું કર્યું હરણ
હૂપ હૂપ કરતા વાનર આવ્યા
સાથે હનુમાન લાવ્યા
હનુમાને માર્યો કૂદકો
રાવણના ઘરમાં ઘુસ્યો
હનુમાને બાળી લંકા
રાવણના મનમાં શંકા
રામ રાવણ યુદ્ધ કરે
સીતારામ રાજ કરે!
Transliteration:
Ek hato raajaa
Raajaa vagaade vaajaa
Vaajaa bole Raamnu naam
Kaushalya nandan nu naam
Raam chaalyaa vanmaa
Saathe Laxman Sitaa
Tyaa aavyo Raavana
Sitaanu karyu harana
Hoop Hoop kartaa vaanar aavyaa
Saathe Hanumaan laavyaa
Hanumaan maaryo kudko
Raavananaa gharmaa ghoosyo
Hanumane baadi Lankaa
Raavananaa manmaa shankaa
Raam Ravanaa yuddha kare
SitaRaam raaj kare!
Translation:
There was once a king.
The king played a harmonium.
The harmonium told the story of Ram.
It told the story of Kaushalya’s pride.
Ram left to go to the forest,
with Sita and Laxman by his side.
There, Ravan came
and kidnapped Sita.
The monkey army came, crying “hoop hoop”
bringing Hanuman along with them.
Hanuman jumped high
and snuck into Ravan’s palace.
Hanuman burned down Lanka,
and doubt crept into Ravan’s mind.
Ram and Ravan fought,
and SitaRam reigned!