Written by Dr. Devinder Singh Sekhon PhD Saturday, 12 January 2013
C (1) Chaandna Chaandan Aangun Prabh Jeeo
NOTE: Our Hindu brothers perform many religious rituals to please gods. They light up lamps throughout the night on certain occasions and worship gods and goddesses. Some of them renounce the world and go to some secluded places to find salvation while some others ask for mundane comforts from their gods and stay up all the night to please gods. Some concentrate on an idol to have their wishes fulfilled. In this holy Shabad, Guru Arjun Dev Ji explains how to use such rituals to worship the Supreme Power – Waheguru.
Meaning: Rather than lighting up lamps to brighten your yard, enlighten you mind (with Divine Knowledge) oh, dear folks! Worshipping is very good, but worship Waheguru, my friends. It is nice to renounce, but only if you renounce lust, rage and greed. It is good to beg as long as you beg from the Guru, and beg for (singing) the praise of Waheguru. It is good to stay up late at night as long as you stay awake to sing the praise of Waheguru. Likewise, it is good to dedicate yourself as long as you dedicate your mind to the feet of the Guru (to mould your life according to His Teachings). But only those individuals perform these rituals who have good fortune written on their foreheads (are pre-destined to follow this advice). (Guru) Nanak says that everything a devotee, who takes Waheguru’s shelter, does is good. (A devotee of Waheguru will not do any thing bad).
(2) Chatur Disha keeno Bal Apna (Jo Maangay Thakur Aapne tay)
Another very popular and devotional Shabad by Guru Arjun Dev Ji with a similar theme as the previous Shabad.
Word Meaning: Harijun or (dass) = slave: a profound devotee who is either connected to God or very close to that stage. Ker = Hand; Dhaariyo = placed (provide support); Kirpa = kindness Ktaakh = (to cast) sight; Avloken = to look; Bidaariyo = removed; Kanth = Neck (to hug); Avgun = bad or undesirable qualities; Maytay = obliterated; Dayal = kind; Purkh = Omnipresent God; Bakhshand = forgiving; Thakur = master; Eehan = This world; Oohan = Next world ( God’s court)
Meaning: The kind God protects His devotees all the time. The forgiving and omnipresent Waheguru lovingly embraces His devotees and removes (ignores) all their bad deeds (sins). Pause. The Waheguru, Whose power is working in every direction, places His kind hand on the heads of His devotees and destroys all their discomforts by casting a kind sight on them. His devotees receive all what they desire from their dear Waheguru. Whatever a devotee utters (in praise of Waheguru) is honoured in both the worlds – here and there.
(3) Dass Tayray Ki Baynti
ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ ਮ:5॥ ਦਾਸ ਤੇਰੇ ਕੀ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਰਿਦ ਕਰਿ ਪਰਗਾਸੁ॥ ਤੁਮ੍ਹਰੀ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਤੇ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਦੋਖਨ ਕੋ ਨਾਸੁ॥ ਚਰਨ ਕਮਲ ਕਾ ਆਸਰਾ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਪੁਰਖ ਗੁਣਤਾਸੁ॥ ਕੀਰਤਨ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਿਮਰਤ ਰਹਉ ਜਬ ਲਗੁ ਘਟਿ ਸਾਸੁ॥ ਰਹਾਉ॥ ਮਾਤ ਪਿਤਾ ਬੰਧਪ ਤੂ ਹੈ ਤੂ ਸਰਬ ਨਿਵਾਸੁ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਸਰਣਾਗਤੀ ਜਾ ਕੋ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਜਾਸੁ॥
Word Meaning: Dass = slave (devotee); Rid = heart; Ker Pargaas = enlighten; Kirpa = kindness; Parbraham = Waheguru (God); Dokhan = discomforts; Naas = destruction; Charan = feet; Kamal = lotus flower; Purakh = omnipresent Waheguru; Goontass = treasure of good qualities; Keertan = sing praise; Ghut = heart; Saas = breath; Bandhap = relative; Serb = all; Nivaas = resides; Sharnaagtee = sought refuge; Nirmal = pure; Jaas = great reputation
This is a prayer in the form of a beautiful Shabad by Guru Arjun Dev Ji
Meaning: Oh my Waheguru! Your slave, (Guru) Nanak requests humbly to enlighten my heart. All discomforts of life get destroyed by Your kindness. 1. I seek the support of the lotus-like feet of the omnipresent Waheguru who is the treasure of all the good qualities. I wish to sing Your praise and recite Your name for as long as I have the last breath in my body, oh Waheguru! You are my mother, my father, and all my other relatives as you reside in every heart. Oh, Waheguru! Your slave (Guru) Nanak seeks Your shelter who commands a great respect!.
(4) Dershun Daykh Jeevaan Gur Tayra
Word Meaning: Pooran = complete; Kerm = kindness; Chayray = disciple; Shern = refuge, protection; Daatay = oh Provider; Gur Persaad = by Guru’s grace; Virlaiy = rare; Jaatay = come to know, got connected; Binou = request; Meeta = friend, supporter; Churn Kamal = lotus-like feet; Vussay = reside; Cheeta = mind, memory; Visser = get forgotten; Pooran Goon Tass = complete treasure of noble qualities;
Meaning: I live only by seeing You, oh Guru Ji! (Please give the gift of Your sight to me). This will be a perfect kindness to me, oh my Waheguru! Please listen to my request and grant me Your Naam (the ability to worship You) by making me Your disciple, oh my Waheguru! Oh kind Guru! Please always keep me under Your shelter. Only some rare individual has come to know You (got connected to You) by Guru’s grace. Listen to another request, my Waheguru! Your lotus-like soft feet should reside in my mind (I must always remember You). My only request to You is that I should never forget you, oh Waheguru - the treasure of all the noble qualities!
(5) Ders Teray Ki Pyaas Mun Laagi
Word Meaning: Charan = feet; Kamal = lotus flower (soft like); Piyaaray = dear; Jum = Angel of death; Kunker = assistant; Vichaaray = helpless; Chit = mind (memory); Mayya = kindness; Simrat = Remembering; Sagal = all; Roag = troubles; Khayya = destroyed; Anik = many; Uvraanh = others; Ders = sight; Pyaas = thirst; Sehj = stage where mind quits wandering; Aanand = bliss; Bussay = resides; Bairaagi = detached from worldly attractions; Keval = only,
This Shabad is also written by Guru Arjun Dev Ji in which He expresses His longing for Waheguru.
Meaning: Hey Waheguru! It is because of your kindness that I remember You. All my troubles have disappeared and the helpless assistants of the angel of death have run away (I’ve lost all the fear of death) by reciting your Naam with full concentration. Pause. I live with the hope to touch your lotus-like soft feet (to connect with You). Even though the marshal of justice punishes others in many ways, he cannot come even close to your devotees. I have an undying thirst to see you so that I may become selfless and my unwavering mind may experience bliss. (Guru) Nanak requests to Waheguru, please, listen to my prayer that your Naam should be the only wish of my heart.
NOTE: Waheguru does not need any marshals of justice, any angel of death, or any other assistant of some kind. These words have been used just to express feelings and to clarify the meanings.
(6) Dhunn Su Wayla Jit Dershun Kerna
Word Meaning: Dhunn = great, lucky; Wayla = time; Dershun = see the sight; Houn = I am; Bulihaari = wish to offer my life; Satgur Churna = Satguru’s feet; Daatay = provider; Preetam = dear; Jeevaiy = lives; Chitayre = remembering; Munter = word of praise; Amrit Baani = Your word is spiritually uplifting; Seetal = comforting; Purakh = omnipresent; Drisht = sight; Sujaani = perfect in evaluation, never-failing judgment; Huqam = laws; Tukhat Nivaasi = who occupies throne, rules the whole world; Abinaashi = everlasting, who never dies; Mehrvaan = kind; Dass = slave; Bhurpoor Leena = present everywhere.
Meaning: It is a highly lucky moment for me when I see my SatGuru (Who is a manifestation of Waheguru). I will gladly lay down my life for His feet (Him). My life has been given by my dear Waheguru, and I live only if I remember His Naam. The word of Your Praise is eternal (His dedicated praise always connects the devotee to Waheguru) and is uplifts my spirit. You are omnipresent, are comforting and Your judgment is perfect. Your laws are perfect, and You rule the whole world. My Waheguru is never dies or takes birth, and is everlasting. My Waheguru is omnipresent, and is very kind. His kindness has enslaved me.
(7) Eikaiy Eikaiy Eik Toohi
It is a beautiful Shabad by Guru Arjun Dev Ji in which He describes the bliss when you are close to Waheguru.
Word Meaning: Daana = know-all, omniscient; Ubchal = non-destructible, ever- lasting; Jaat = (high) caste; Paat = (noble) clan; Udoal = worry-free; dolay = worry; Kaisi Taati = what kind of worry; Eikaiy = alone; Raaya = Rajah; Taou = Your; Kirpa = kindness; Sookh = comforts; Saagar = sea; Hunss = swans; Maanak Laala = precious stones, pearls; Til Shunk = not even slightest doubt (hesitation); Bhoonchay = enjoy; Nihaala = satisfied; Baarak = children; Mookh = in the mouth; Kheera = milk; Khayleh = play, have fun; Laad ludaavhe = enjoy the love where even excessive demands are met; Gooni Guheera = possessing great qualities and yet very calm; Pooran = complete, perfect; Poor Ruhay = present everywhere; Sampooran = completely filling all the space, omnipresent; Bhee = too; Aghaaye = satisfied; Milat Milat = in constant effort to connect; Kehin Nah Jaaye = cannot describe (the mental bliss);
Meaning: You are omniscient and completely worry-free oh my Waheguru! For me, my connection with You is my high caste and my noble clan (I don’t care about my social status in terms of my caste and my clan). When I have Your support, why should I have any worries because you are free from all worries. You and You alone are the real ruler, oh Waheguru! I enjoy all the comforts with Your kindness. You are like a sea which is full of pearls and other precious stones (noble qualities), and we are like swans in the sea. You do not hesitate even a little, and provide us with all the comforts which we enjoy and therefore, we are always very happy. We are your children, and You are our father who feeds us milk. We are spoiled and enjoy Your affection and our demands are excessive, but You are always calm and fulfill all our demands. You are perfect in every which way, and are omnipresent; so we too are fully satisfied under Your care. In our constant effort to connect with You, we have finally connected with You permanently, and we cannot describe the bliss (of our connection with You).