"Bala jo jo re" is a traditional lullaby describing the story of Shri Ram. There is a lot of debate around the language used in the song. Some have asserted it is in Marathi while native Konkani speakers can identify Konkani in it and have grown up hearing this song from their grandparents and parents. The song is clearly influenced by Marathi, Sanskrit and Konkani languages.
The debate around the language aside; it is such a beautiful song sung in Raaga Madhyamavathi, I am sure it will stay in your mind and heart once heard. Written by a poet who goes by the name of Vitthal Das (as mentioned in the last line of the poem), it was first recorded by Prasen Kumar Mallaya in 1980 and re-sung beautifully again recently by Priya R Pai and daughters. Hope you enjoy listening to it.
बाळा जो जो रे... कुळभूषणा... दशरथनंदना... ।
निद्रा करि बाळा... मनमोहना... रामा लक्ष्मणा... ॥धृ॥
bāḻā jo jo re kuḻabhūṣaṇā । daśarathanaṁdanā ।
nidrā kari bāḻā manamohanā । rāmā lakṣmaṇā ॥dhr̥॥
O Child rock back and forth (in your cradle)...the jewel of our leniage...one who brings joy to Dasharatha
Sleep O Child...the one who enchants our mind..Rama and Lakshmana
Jo Jo is a colloquial verbal representation of the act of rocking a cradle. This is similar to the usage of the word YoYo in English for a repetitive back and forth action.
पाळण्य घ्हातले... अयोध्येसी दशरथाचे वंशी... ।
पुत्र जन्मला... हृषीकेशी कौसल्येचे कुशी... ॥१॥
pāḻaṇya ghhātale ayodhyesī । daśarathāce vaṁśī ।
putra janmalā hr̥ṣīkeśī । kausalyece kuśī ॥1॥
A cradle was set up in Ayodhya where the heir of Dasharatha's lineage, a son, was born - Hrishkesh ( Lord of all Senses - Shri Vishnu) in the womb of Kaushalya
रन्तजडित पालण्य... झळके अमौलिक... ।
वरती पहुडले... कुलदिपक त्रिभुवननायक... ॥२॥
rantajaḍita pālaṇya । jhaḻake amāulika ।
varatī pahuḍale kuladipaka । tribhuvananāyaka ॥2॥
Cradle encrusted with precious stones...dazzling and on top of that lies the light of the lineage - the lord of the three world (Shri Vishnu)
हालवी कौसल्या... सुंदरी धरुनी ज्ञानदोरी... ।
पुष्प वर्षिलि... सुरवरी गर्जती जयजयकारी... ॥३॥
hālavī kausalyā suṁdarī । dharunī jñānadorī ।
puṣpa varṣili suravarī । garjatī jayajayakārī ॥3॥
Kausalya moves (the cradle)...the beautiful lady holding the rope of knowledge. The best amongst Gods (Indra) shower flowers and there is resounding cheering
विश्वव्यापकां... रघुराया निद्रा करी बा सखयां... ।
तुजवर कुरवंडी करुनिया... धरणी सांडित आपुली काया ...॥४॥
viśvavyāpakāṁ raghurāyā । nidrā karī bā sakhayāṁ ।
tujavara kuravaṁḍī karuniyā dharanī । sāṁḍita āpulī kāyā ॥4॥
The all pervading one...the king of the Raghu family sleep O friend. The earth is ready to sacrifice herself to ward off any evils from you.
Kuravandi is a practice to ward off evil by waving around an offering (rice grains, lemon, salt etc) around a person and then discarding these items.
येऊनि वसिष्ठ सत्वर... सांगे जन्मांतर... ।
राम परब्रम्ह... साचार सातव अवतार ॥५॥
yeūni vasiṣṭha satvara । sāṁge janmāṁtara ।
rāma parabramha sācāra । sātava avatāra ॥5॥
Vashistha came immediately and declared this as as divine birth of Parabrahma Rama, the seventh incarnation (of Lord Vishnu)
यागु रक्षुनिया.. अवधारा मारुनि नीशाचर।।। ।
जाती सीतेच्या... स्वयंवरा उद्धरि गौतमदारा ॥६॥
yāgu rakṣuniyā avadhārā । māruni nīśācarā ।
jātī sītecyā svayaṁvarā । uddhari gautamadārā ॥6॥
Protecting the Yadnya (divine sacrifical fire), be mindful of(he) killed those who roamed in the night (the Rakshasas)
Went to Sita's swayamwar and liberated Gautama's wife
पर्णिले जानकी... सुरुप भंगुनिया शिवचापा ।
रावण लाज्जत... महाकोप गेला करूनि शोख ॥७॥
parṇile jānakī surupā । bhaṁguniyā śivacāpā ।
rāvaṇa lājjata mahākopā । gelā karūni śokha ॥7॥
Vowed to the beautiful Janaki, to break Shiva's bow
Embarrassed Ravana went away very angry and sad
सिंधूजलराशी... अवलीळा नामे तरतिल शिळा ।
त्यावरी उतरुनिया... दयाळा ने वानरमेळा ॥८॥
siṁdhūjalarāśī avalīḻā । nāme taratila śiḻā ।
tyāvarī utaruniyā dayāḻā । ne vānarameḻā ॥8॥
In the vast ocean, your name helped float the rocks.
Landing on them O compassionate one you led the group of monkeys
समूळ मर्दूनि... रावण स्थापिल बिभीषण ।
देव सोडविल... संपूर्ण आनंदले त्रिभुवन ॥९॥
samūḻa mardūni rāvaṇa । sthāpila bibhīṣaṇa ।
deva soḍavila saṁpūrṇa । ānaṁdale tribhuvana ॥9॥
Completely destroying Ravana you established Vibhishan (on the throne). Released all the Gods and all the three worlds were delighted.
राम भावाचा भुकेला... भक्ताधीन झाला ।
दास विठ्ठले ऎकिला । पाळणा गाईला ॥१०॥
rāma bhāvācā bhukelā । bhaktādhīna jhālā ।
dāsa viṭhṭhale ऎkilā । pāḻaṇā gāīlā ॥10॥
Rama is hungry of devotion, surrendering to the devotees
Vitthal Das (the poet) heard these and sang this lullaby.