Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji · Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji · Ang 473 · Asa
Asa di Var: why call her lesser?
From the Var of Asa, a composition of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji's sung in the early morning in gurdwaras. This salok is often quoted on the standing of women. It lists birth, marriage, friendship and the family line, and asks why the person at the centre of them all should be called lesser.
- 1ਭੰਡਿ ਜੰਮੀਐ ਭੰਡਿ ਨਿੰਮੀਐ ਭੰਡਿ ਮੰਗਣੁ ਵੀਆਹੁ ॥bhandd janmeeaai bhandd ninmeeaai bhandd mangan veeaahu
We are conceived in a woman and born of a woman, and to a woman we are engaged and married.
Note. 'Bhand' is an everyday word for a woman, and its repetition drives the verse.
- 2ਭੰਡਹੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਦੋਸਤੀ ਭੰਡਹੁ ਚਲੈ ਰਾਹੁ ॥bhanddahu hovai dhosatee bhanddahu chalai raahu
Through women come our friendships and ties, and through women the line of life goes on.
- 3ਭੰਡੁ ਮੁਆ ਭੰਡੁ ਭਾਲੀਐ ਭੰਡਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਬੰਧਾਨੁ ॥bhandd muaa bhandd bhaaleeaai bhandd hovai bandhaan
When a wife dies a man seeks another, and marriage ties him to a woman again.
- 4ਸੋ ਕਿਉ ਮੰਦਾ ਆਖੀਐ ਜਿਤੁ ਜੰਮਹਿ ਰਾਜਾਨ ॥so kiau mandhaa aakheeaai jit janmeh raajaan
So why call her lesser, when she gives birth to kings?
- 5ਭੰਡਹੁ ਹੀ ਭੰਡੁ ਊਪਜੈ ਭੰਡੈ ਬਾਝੁ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥bhanddahu hee bhandd uoopajai bhanddai baajh na koi
Women are born of women too, and no one exists without a woman.
- 6ਨਾਨਕ ਭੰਡੈ ਬਾਹਰਾ ਏਕੋ ਸਚਾ ਸੋਇ ॥naanak bhanddai baaharaa eko sachaa soi
Nanak says the one true Lord alone is not born of a woman.
- 7ਜਿਤੁ ਮੁਖਿ ਸਦਾ ਸਾਲਾਹੀਐ ਭਾਗਾ ਰਤੀ ਚਾਰਿ ॥jit mukh sadhaa saalaaheeaai bhaagaa ratee chaar
The mouth that always gives praise is blessed and beautiful.
- 8ਨਾਨਕ ਤੇ ਮੁਖ ਊਜਲੇ ਤਿਤੁ ਸਚੈ ਦਰਬਾਰਿ ॥੨॥naanak te mukh uoojale tit sachai dharabaar
Nanak says those faces will shine in the true court.
Our line is a reading of the intent. For the Gurmukhi source text and reference translations seeSikhiToTheMax and SikhRI's Guru Granth Sahib Project.[DB][EoS][EoS]