Sri Guru Arjun Dev Ji · Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji · Ang 133 · Majh
Barah Maha in Raag Majh: the opening and the month of Chet
Barah Maha, 'the twelve months', is a form of Indian folk poetry in which the moods of the year mirror a heart separated from the one it loves. Two such poems stand in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji's, in Raag Tukhari, is the earlier. This page gives Sri Guru Arjun Dev Ji's, in Raag Majh, at angs 133 to 136.
This one is chosen because of its place in Sikh life. It is recited in congregations and at home on the first day of each solar month. Its opening stanza states the theme, a soul parted from God by its own deeds and asking to return, and each following stanza begins with a month, starting with Chet.
The lines here are the start and close of the opening stanza and the whole of the Chet stanza. Six lines in the middle of the opening stanza, with images of a dry cow and a withered crop, are left out.
- 1ਕਿਰਤਿ ਕਰਮ ਕੇ ਵੀਛੁੜੇ ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਮੇਲਹੁ ਰਾਮ ॥kirat karam ke veechhuRe kar kirapaa melahu raam
Our own deeds have parted us from you. Be kind, Lord, and bring us back.
Note. 'Ram' here addresses God, as the Encyclopaedia of Sikhism renders it in this line.
- 2ਚਾਰਿ ਕੁੰਟ ਦਹ ਦਿਸ ਭ੍ਰਮੇ ਥਕਿ ਆਏ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੀ ਸਾਮ ॥chaar kunT dheh dhis bhrame thak aae prabh kee saam
We have roamed the four corners and ten directions, and now, worn out, we come to God's shelter.
- 3ਨਾਨਕ ਕੀ ਬੇਨੰਤੀਆ ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਦੀਜੈ ਨਾਮੁ ॥naanak kee benanteeaa kar kirapaa dheejai naam
This is Nanak's plea: be kind and give me your Name.
- 4ਹਰਿ ਮੇਲਹੁ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਸੰਗਿ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਜਿਸ ਕਾ ਨਿਹਚਲ ਧਾਮ ॥੧॥har melahu suaamee sang prabh jis kaa nihachal dhaam
Lord and Master, hold me close to you, God, whose home stands forever unmoved.
- 5ਚੇਤਿ ਗੋਵਿੰਦੁ ਅਰਾਧੀਐ ਹੋਵੈ ਅਨੰਦੁ ਘਣਾ ॥chet govindh araadheeaai hovai anandh ghanaa
Meditate on the Lord of the world in Chet, and joy comes in abundance.
Note. Chet is the first month of the Bikrami year, about mid-March to mid-April. 'Govind' is a name for God.
- 6ਸੰਤ ਜਨਾ ਮਿਲਿ ਪਾਈਐ ਰਸਨਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਭਣਾ ॥sant janaa mil paieeaai rasanaa naam bhanaa
Among God's devoted people this is gained: the Name spoken on the tongue.
Note. This follows Prof. Sahib Singh. The English translations held by BaniDB take what is gained to be the Lord.
- 7ਜਿਨਿ ਪਾਇਆ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਆਪਣਾ ਆਏ ਤਿਸਹਿ ਗਣਾ ॥jin paiaa prabh aapanaa aae tiseh ganaa
Only those who have found their God can be counted as having truly come into the world.
- 8ਇਕੁ ਖਿਨੁ ਤਿਸੁ ਬਿਨੁ ਜੀਵਣਾ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਜਨਮੁ ਜਣਾ ॥eik khin tis bin jeevanaa birathaa janam janaa
To live one moment apart from God is to waste one's birth.
- 9ਜਲਿ ਥਲਿ ਮਹੀਅਲਿ ਪੂਰਿਆ ਰਵਿਆ ਵਿਚਿ ਵਣਾ ॥jal thal maheeal pooriaa raviaa vich vanaa
God fills water, land and sky, and is there in the forests.
- 10ਸੋ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਚਿਤਿ ਨ ਆਵਈ ਕਿਤੜਾ ਦੁਖੁ ਗਣਾ ॥so prabh chit na aaviee kitaRaa dhukh ganaa
If such a God does not come to mind, how can that pain be counted?
- 11ਜਿਨੀ ਰਾਵਿਆ ਸੋ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਤਿੰਨਾ ਭਾਗੁ ਮਣਾ ॥jinee raaviaa so prabhoo tinnaa bhaag manaa
How fortunate are those who have taken God into their hearts.
- 12ਹਰਿ ਦਰਸਨ ਕੰਉ ਮਨੁ ਲੋਚਦਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਪਿਆਸ ਮਨਾ ॥har dharasan kanau man lochadhaa naanak piaas manaa
To see God is what my mind longs for. This mind, Nanak says, is thirsty.
- 13ਚੇਤਿ ਮਿਲਾਏ ਸੋ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਤਿਸ ਕੈ ਪਾਇ ਲਗਾ ॥੨॥chet milaae so prabhoo tis kai pai lagaa
Whoever brings me to God in Chet, I will bow at that person's feet.
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]