Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji · Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji · Ang 360 · Asa

Babarvani: did you feel no pain?

1. 1

   ਖੁਰਾਸਾਨ ਖਸਮਾਨਾ ਕੀਆ ਹਿੰਦੁਸਤਾਨੁ ਡਰਾਇਆ ॥

   khuraasaan khasamaanaa keeaa hindhusataan ddaraiaa

   Khurasan was taken in hand, and Hindustan was put in terror.

   Note. The line names no subject. The Faridkot Tika, and the verse rendering in the Encyclopaedia of Sikhism, read God as siding with Khurasan. Prof. Sahib Singh reads Babur as handing Khurasan to others and then frightening Hindustan. The English translations held by BaniDB read Babur as the conqueror. This rendering leaves the line open, as the original does.

2. 2

   ਆਪੈ ਦੋਸੁ ਨ ਦੇਈ ਕਰਤਾ ਜਮੁ ਕਰਿ ਮੁਗਲੁ ਚੜਾਇਆ ॥

   aapai dhos na dheiee karataa jam kar mugal chaRaiaa

   The Creator takes no blame on himself, yet made the Mughal into death and sent him in.

3. 3

   ਏਤੀ ਮਾਰ ਪਈ ਕਰਲਾਣੇ ਤੈਂ ਕੀ ਦਰਦੁ ਨ ਆਇਆ ॥੧॥

   etee maar piee karalaane tain kee dharadh na aaiaa

   Such blows fell that people cried out in agony. Did you feel no pain for them?

   Note. 'Dard' is both pain and pity. This is the question for which the hymn is best known.

4. 4

   ਕਰਤਾ ਤੂੰ ਸਭਨਾ ਕਾ ਸੋਈ ॥

   karataa toon sabhanaa kaa soiee

   Creator, you are the one who looks after everyone.

5. 5

   ਜੇ ਸਕਤਾ ਸਕਤੇ ਕਉ ਮਾਰੇ ਤਾ ਮਨਿ ਰੋਸੁ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

   je sakataa sakate kau maare taa man ros na hoiee

   When the strong fight the strong, the heart holds no grievance.

6. 6

   ਸਕਤਾ ਸੀਹੁ ਮਾਰੇ ਪੈ ਵਗੈ ਖਸਮੈ ਸਾ ਪੁਰਸਾਈ ॥

   sakataa seeh maare pai vagai khasamai saa purasaiee

   But when a mighty lion falls on a herd and kills, the herd's owner has to answer for it.

   Note. 'Sihu' is a lion and 'vag' a herd. Prof. Sahib Singh pictures cows, standing for defenceless people. Some English translations have a tiger, and one has a flock of sheep. The owner is God, to whom the complaint is addressed.

7. 7

   ਰਤਨ ਵਿਗਾੜਿ ਵਿਗੋਏ ਕੁਤਂੀ ਮੁਇਆ ਸਾਰ ਨ ਕਾਈ ॥

   ratan vigaaR vigoe kutanee muiaa saar na kaiee

   Dogs have wrecked what was precious and thrown it away, and no one tends the dead.

   Note. Readers differ on both images. Prof. Sahib Singh takes the jewels ('ratan') as the people and the dogs as the Mughal soldiers. The English translations held by BaniDB take the jewel as the country. The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism's rendering makes the dogs the corrupt rulers of India.

8. 8

   ਆਪੇ ਜੋੜਿ ਵਿਛੋੜੇ ਆਪੇ ਵੇਖੁ ਤੇਰੀ ਵਡਿਆਈ ॥੨॥

   aape joR vichhoRe aape vekh teree vaddiaaiee

   Joining and parting are both your own doing. Look at this greatness of yours.

9. 9

   ਜਿਨ ਸਿਰਿ ਸੋਹਨਿ ਪਟੀਆ ਮਾਂਗੀ ਪਾਇ ਸੰਧੂਰੁ ॥

   jin sir sohan paTeeaa maangee pai sandhoor

   Women whose hair lay in fine braids, with vermilion in the parting:

10. 10

    ਸੇ ਸਿਰ ਕਾਤੀ ਮੁੰਨੀਅਨਿੑ ਗਲ ਵਿਚਿ ਆਵੈ ਧੂੜਿ ॥

    se sir kaatee munneeani(h) gal vich aavai dhooR

    their heads are now cut bare with shears, and dust fills their mouths.

    Note. 'Gal' can mean the throat, as most English translations have it. Prof. Sahib Singh reads the mouth.

11. 11

    ਮਹਲਾ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਹੋਦੀਆ ਹੁਣਿ ਬਹਣਿ ਨ ਮਿਲਨਿੑ ਹਦੂਰਿ ॥੧॥

    mahalaa andhar hodheeaa hun bahan na milani(h) hadhoor

    Once at home within palace walls, they are now refused a place to sit anywhere near.

12. 12

    ਸਾਹਾਂ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਗਵਾਈਆ ਰੰਗਿ ਤਮਾਸੈ ਚਾਇ ॥

    saahaan surat gavaieeaa rang tamaasai chai

    The rulers had let go of their senses, taken up with pleasure and spectacle.

    Note. 'Surat' is awareness. Prof. Sahib Singh reads it here as the rulers' sense of duty.

13. 13

    ਬਾਬਰਵਾਣੀ ਫਿਰਿ ਗਈ ਕੁਇਰੁ ਨ ਰੋਟੀ ਖਾਇ ॥੫॥

    baabaravaanee fir giee kuir na roTee khai

    Now Babur's rule has been cried through the land, and not even a prince can get bread to eat.

    Note. This line gives the hymns their name. 'Vani' here means command or sway, following the Encyclopaedia of Sikhism.