janwaro me sidha sadha
ye hai ek jo paya
janwaro me sidha sadha
ye hai ek jo paaya
mehant karta rahta
jo bhi lado wahi ladaya
samjh me aaya tullu ji
nahi aaya

kuda karkat ghas paat
jo bhi paya so khaya
kuda karkat ghas paat
jo bhi paya so khaya
dil ka saccha akal ka kaccha
ye prabhu ki maya
samjh me aaya, haan aaya
to bolo kya hai
to bolo kya hai, gadha

fagun me khush hota hai vo
par sawan me rota hai vo
ale baap re ye to bahut rota hai
dullu ji ye kyu rota hai
fagun me sukha haryala uske najar na aaye
sab kuch usne khaya samjh ke phula na samaye
saaf na paye jidhar vo apni najar ghumaye
kuch bhi chara nahi usne aisa munh banaye
aur mote mote ask bahaye
to bolo kya hai, kya hai
to bolo kya hai, kya hai, gadha

insano me bhi hote hai
gadhe tumhe batlaye
jo apni aukat ko bhule
bolo to vo kya hai
insano me bhi hote hai
gadhe tumhe batlaye
jo apni aukat ko bhule
bolo to vo kya hai
aise gadhe ko kya samjhe
ho chand se aankh milaye
chand chakor ka pyar jo ho to
apni samjh me aaye
gadha bawra chand se aankh milaye
chand se aankh milaye
gadha bawra, bawra, bawra

Among beasts, a simple soul,
A quadruped, taking its toll.
Among beasts, a simple soul,
A quadruped, taking its toll.
Laboring, ever true,
Bearing burdens, old and new.
Do you grasp, my friend?
Or is understanding at an end?

Garbage, weeds, and blades of grass,
Whatever it finds, it does amass.
Garbage, weeds, and blades of grass,
Whatever it finds, it does amass.
A heart of gold, a mind so green,
A riddle of the Lord, unseen.
Do you understand, yes I do,
Then tell me, what am I speaking to?
The donkey.

In spring, it finds a fleeting joy,
But weeps when summer days annoy.
Oh my, it weeps with all its might,
Why does it weep, in darkest night?
Spring's verdant hues, it cannot see,
Having devoured all, thoughtlessly.
Where it wanders, no clean space is found,
A face of woe, upon the ground.
No grazing grace, its hunger deep,
And tears of sorrow, it does weep.
So tell me, what is this, this beast?
So tell me, what is this, this beast?
The donkey.

Among humans, they also dwell,
Donkeys, I have come to tell.
Who forget their humble place,
Tell me, what is their disgrace?
Among humans, they also dwell,
Donkeys, I have come to tell.
Who forget their humble place,
Tell me, what is their disgrace?
What shall we make of such a fool,
Who dares to gaze upon the moon's cool rule?
A love of moon and moon-bird true,
Then understanding comes to you.
The donkey raves, the moon it sees,
The donkey raves, if you please.
A donkey, mad, mad, mad.