Bhai Gurdas · Vaaran Bhai Gurdas · Var 1
Bhai Gurdas, Var 1 pauri 23: the coming of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Bhai Gurdas's first Var is among the earliest accounts of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji's life. Its author knew several of the Gurus and wrote out the Adi Granth for Sri Guru Arjun Dev Ji. This pauri sums up Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji's work: answering a world in distress, joining the castes into one, and bringing the proud to bow.
- 1ਸੁਣੀ ਪੁਕਾਰਿ ਦਾਤਾਰ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਗੁਰੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਜਗ ਮਾਹਿ ਪਠਾਇਆ।sunee pukaar dhaataar prabh gur naanak jag maeh paThaiaa
The generous Lord heard the world's cry and sent Guru Nanak into it.
- 2ਚਰਨ ਧੋਇ ਰਹਰਾਸਿ ਕਰਿ ਚਰਣਾਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਸਿਖਾਂ ਪੀਲਾਇਆ।charan dhoi raharaas kar charanaamrit sikhaan peelaiaa
He washed his feet, offered praise, and had his Sikhs drink the water.
Note. This describes charan pahul, the early form of initiation, in which disciples drank water that had washed Guru Ji's feet.
- 3ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਪੂਰਨ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਕਲਿਜੁਗਿ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਇਕੁ ਦਿਖਾਇਆ।paarabraham pooran braham kalijug andhar ik dhikhaiaa
In this dark age he showed that the God beyond all things and the God present in all things are one.
- 4ਚਾਰੇ ਪੈਰ ਧਰੱਮ ਦੇ ਚਾਰਿ ਵਰਨਿ ਇਕੁ ਵਰਨੁ ਕਰਾਇਆ।chaare pair dhara'm dhe chaar varan ik varan karaiaa
He set dharma right on all four of its feet again, and made the four castes one.
Note. In the traditional scheme, dharma stands on four legs in the first age and loses one in each age after.
- 5ਰਾਣਾ ਰੰਕੁ ਬਰਾਬਰੀ ਪੈਰੀ ਪਾਵਣਾ ਜਗਿ ਵਰਤਾਇਆ।raanaa rank baraabaree pairee paavanaa jag varataiaa
Ruler and beggar were made equal, and the world learned to bow at one another's feet.
- 6ਉਲਟਾ ਖੇਲੁ ਪਿਰੰਮ ਦਾ ਪੈਰਾ ਉਪਰਿ ਸੀਸੁ ਨਿਵਾਇਆ।aulaTaa khel piranm dhaa pairaa upar sees nivaiaa
Love plays the game backwards: proud heads came to bow down at feet.
- 7ਕਲਿਜੁਗੁ ਬਾਬੇ ਤਾਰਿਆ ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਪੜ੍ਹਿ ਮੰਤ੍ਰੁ ਸੁਣਾਇਆ।kalijug baabe taariaa sat naam paReh mantr sunaiaa
Baba Nanak carried this age across, teaching everyone the mantra of the true Name.
- 8ਕਲਿ ਤਾਰਣਿ ਗੁਰੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਆਇਆ ॥੨੩॥kal taaran gur naanak aaiaa
Guru Nanak came to save this dark age.
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]