Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji · Dasam Bani · Savaiyya
Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji: grant me this one wish
A savaiyya from the Chandi Charitra in the Dasam Granth, the collection of works attributed to Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji and his court. This stanza stands apart from the mythological narrative around it and has become one of the best-known Sikh prayers, recited before difficult undertakings and sung as an anthem. The 'fight' is read as any struggle for the right, not only a literal battle.
Attribution of the surrounding Chandi material to Guru Ji is debated; this stanza is universally accepted in Sikh practice as expressing his outlook.
- 1ਦੇਹ ਸਿਵਾ ਬਰੁ ਮੋਹਿ ਇਹੈ ਸੁਭ ਕਰਮਨ ਤੇ ਕਬਹੂੰ ਨ ਟਰੋ ॥dheh sivaa bar moh ihai subh karaman te kabahoon na Taro
Grant me this, Lord: may I never turn away from doing right.
Note. 'Siva' is addressed here to the divine as the benevolent one. Sikh reading takes it as a name for God rather than the Hindu deity Shiva, though the question is debated.
- 2ਨ ਡਰੋ ਅਰਿ ਸੋ ਜਬ ਜਾਇ ਲਰੋ ਨਿਸਚੈ ਕਰਿ ਅਪੁਨੀ ਜੀਤ ਕਰੋ ॥n ddaro ar so jab jai laro nisachai kar apunee jeet karo
May I go into battle without fear of any enemy, and win with certainty.
- 3ਅਰੁ ਸਿਖ ਹੌ ਆਪਨੇ ਹੀ ਮਨ ਕੋ ਇਹ ਲਾਲਚ ਹਉ ਗੁਨ ਤਉ ਉਚਰੋ ॥ar sikh hau aapane hee man ko ieh laalach hau gun tau ucharo
May I teach my own mind to crave one thing only: to speak of your qualities.
- 4ਜਬ ਆਵ ਕੀ ਅਉਧ ਨਿਦਾਨ ਬਨੈ ਅਤਿ ਹੀ ਰਨ ਮੈ ਤਬ ਜੂਝ ਮਰੋ ॥੨੩੧॥jab aav kee aaudh nidhaan banai at hee ran mai tab joojh maro
And when my time finally runs out, let me fall fighting in the thick of battle.
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]