In Praise of the Guru
Hey dinbandhu, dayal guru, kehi bhanti tav gun gaaun main
Tumhre pavitra charitra kehi vidhi, naath kahi ke sunaau main
Jihva apaavan hai meri, guru naam kaise lijiye
O kind and benevolent Guru! You are friend of the weak and the helpless! How should I sing your praise and describe your qualities?
In what way can I express and sing about your unblemished character?
My words and my tongue are impure, so how should I utter your name?
Mun phuns rahaa bhav-jaal mein, vuh kis tarah prabhu dijiye
Dhun dhaanya maaya roop hein, kyon kur nichhavar kijiye
Sansaar saagar mein phunsaa, guru-dhyaan kaise kijiye
My mind is engrossed in worldly matters. How do I give such a mind (to you)?
Worldly wealth are only forms of Maya (ever changing and perishable), how can I offer them to you!
I am deep into worldly matters and don’t know not how to concentrate my mind on you!
Tun kaise arpan kur sakun, wuh to mahaa paapi adham
Dhun-dhaanya au mun deke guru, tumse nahin udhhaar hum
Shradhhaa sumirini bhent kari, main deen ho charno padaa
How can I offer my sinful body, in your service! I cannot even repay a small fraction of your love and compassion by offering to you worldly riches and my impure mind!
I have nothing to offer to you, but devotion and remembrance. So, I humbly offer these (devotion and remembrance) at your feet!
In Praise of the Guru
Main patit hoon tum patitpaawan, aapkaa hai aasaraa
Bhav – sindhu mein phuns rahaa, gurudev mujhe uthaayie
Gahi banh deenaanaath apradhee ko paar lagayie
I am impure & sinful and you are cleanser and purifier of such people! I only have you to look up to!
I am caught in the whirlpool of worldly desires. Gurudev please lift me up (and out of it)!
The savior of the weak, please catch hold me by my arm and take me beyond this world, to true freedom (Nirvana)!
Jo deen ho charno pade, hey naath wey saare tare
Tera bhikhaaree tun bina, prabhu aasaraa kiskaa kare
Main deen hoon tum deenbandhu, main adham tum tum naath ho
Gurudev, all those who bow at your feet, do attain true freedom (Nirvana)!
I am a beggar at your doorstep, Gurudev with no one else to rely on!
I am weak and helpless, you are protector of the weak and helpless! I am sinful and you are the purifier!
Main hoon anaath kripaanidhan, to tum annathon ke naath ho
Maataa pitaa sut bhraat bhaarya, koi saath na jayenge
Oos paap kumbhee narak mein, koi na haath bataayenge
I don’t have anyone Gurudev, you are the Guardian and Master of all!
Mother, father, spouse, children or siblings, none of them will accompany me after death!
No one will share the punishments for my sins in Hell
Yuh soch ke tuv sharan aaya, ub thikaanaa hai nahin
Bus paar kardo meri Nauka, aur apanaa hai nahin
Realizing this Gurudev! I seek your refuge. I have nowhere else to go!
Gurudev take me across the river (the world), to true freedom (Nirvana)! There is no one else (but you!) who is mine!
