Syed Ibrahim Khan (1548? – 1628 CE) was born a Muslim, perhaps in Amroha, although some say in Kabul, and adopted Raskhan as his pen name. He came from a wealthy family, and although he may have been trained as a Sufi, at some point he became a devotee of Krishna, settling in Vrindavan for the rest of his life. ‘Govinda’, meaning ‘who gives pleasure to the land and to the senses’, is one of the epithets of Krishna.

Listen to everyone, but don’t say a word.
     In this manner, remain in the world.

Perform your vows and practices with sincerity —
     they will carry you across
          the mind ocean.

Greet all without negativity, and
     remain in the illumination of
          devotional association.

Raskhan says,
“Worship Govinda the way a village woman
     balances a water jug upon her head,
          with effortless concentration.”

Translation Shyamdas