Bhagat Ravidas · Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji · Ang 345 · Gauri
Begampura: the city without sorrow
This hymn by Bhagat Ravidas is in Raag Gauri at ang 345, and is given here complete. Little is known for certain of his life. The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism says he lived near Varanasi and worked in the family trade of tanning hides and making shoes. It counts 40 of his hymns in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, while Wikipedia gives 41.
The city in the hymn has no taxes, no fear and no ranks. The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism cites this ang for his rejection of distinctions of caste and creed. Prof. Sahib Singh reads the city as a spiritual state reached within a person.
In modern times the hymn is also read as a vision of a just society. Wikipedia notes that a political party founded by his followers in 2012 took the name Begumpura. The composition itself is undated.
- 1ਬੇਗਮ ਪੁਰਾ ਸਹਰ ਕੋ ਨਾਉ ॥begam puraa sahar ko naau
The city is called Begampura, where no sorrow comes.
Note. The name is usually explained from the Persian 'be-gham', without grief. Much of the hymn's vocabulary is Persian.
- 2ਦੂਖੁ ਅੰਦੋਹੁ ਨਹੀ ਤਿਹਿ ਠਾਉ ॥dhookh andhoh nahee teh Thaau
Pain and grief have no home there.
- 3ਨਾਂ ਤਸਵੀਸ ਖਿਰਾਜੁ ਨ ਮਾਲੁ ॥naan tasavees khiraaj na maal
There is no worry there, no tribute, and no goods to be taxed.
Note. 'Khiraj' is a land tribute. Prof. Sahib Singh reads 'mal' as worldly property, with no tax on it because there is none.
- 4ਖਉਫੁ ਨ ਖਤਾ ਨ ਤਰਸੁ ਜਵਾਲੁ ॥੧॥khauf na khataa na taras javaal
No dread, no wrongdoing, no terror and no decline.
- 5ਅਬ ਮੋਹਿ ਖੂਬ ਵਤਨ ਗਹ ਪਾਈ ॥ab moh khoob vatan geh paiee
Now I have found a fine homeland.
- 6ਊਹਾਂ ਖੈਰਿ ਸਦਾ ਮੇਰੇ ਭਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥uoohaan khair sadhaa mere bhaiee
All is always well there, my brother.
- 7ਕਾਇਮੁ ਦਾਇਮੁ ਸਦਾ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹੀ ॥kaim dhaim sadhaa paatisaahee
Its rule stands firm and lasts for ever.
Note. One English translation makes this God's kingdom. Prof. Sahib Singh reads it as an inner spiritual state, and takes the whole city in that sense.
- 8ਦੋਮ ਨ ਸੇਮ ਏਕ ਸੋ ਆਹੀ ॥dhom na sem ek so aahee
No second rank and no third: all there are one.
Note. 'Dom' and 'sem' are Persian for second and third. This follows Prof. Sahib Singh and one English translation, which read equal standing. Another English translation reads 'he alone is there', meaning God.
- 9ਆਬਾਦਾਨੁ ਸਦਾ ਮਸਹੂਰ ॥aabaadhaan sadhaa masahoor
It is full of life, and its name is known always.
- 10ਊਹਾਂ ਗਨੀ ਬਸਹਿ ਮਾਮੂਰ ॥੨॥uoohaan ganee baseh maamoor
Its people have plenty, and want for nothing.
Note. Prof. Sahib Singh takes the wealth as inner: they no longer hunger for the world.
- 11ਤਿਉ ਤਿਉ ਸੈਲ ਕਰਹਿ ਜਿਉ ਭਾਵੈ ॥tiau tiau sail kareh jiau bhaavai
They walk wherever they wish.
- 12ਮਹਰਮ ਮਹਲ ਨ ਕੋ ਅਟਕਾਵੈ ॥maharam mahal na ko aTakaavai
They are at home in the palace, and nobody stops them.
Note. A 'mahram' is an intimate, someone admitted to the private rooms of a house.
- 13ਕਹਿ ਰਵਿਦਾਸ ਖਲਾਸ ਚਮਾਰਾ ॥keh ravidhaas khalaas chamaaraa
So says Ravidas, the freed leather-worker:
Note. The original word, 'chamar', names the community who worked with hides, and Bhagat Ravidas uses it of himself. 'Khalas' means set free.
- 14ਜੋ ਹਮ ਸਹਰੀ ਸੁ ਮੀਤੁ ਹਮਾਰਾ ॥੩॥੨॥jo ham saharee su meet hamaaraa
my friend is the one who shares that city with me.
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][Web]