Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji · Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji · Ang 8 · Asa

Rehras: So Dar, the door where all creation sings

1. 1

   ਸੋ ਦਰੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਕੇਹਾ ਸੋ ਘਰੁ ਕੇਹਾ ਜਿਤੁ ਬਹਿ ਸਰਬ ਸਮਾਲੇ ॥

   so dhar teraa kehaa so ghar kehaa jit beh sarab samaale

   What kind of door is yours, and what kind of house, from which you watch over everyone?

   Note. 'Keha' asks what kind of thing this is. Prof. Sahib Singh hears wonder in it: how marvellous that door must be. Some English translations read 'where' or 'which'.

2. 2

   ਵਾਜੇ ਤੇਰੇ ਨਾਦ ਅਨੇਕ ਅਸੰਖਾ ਕੇਤੇ ਤੇਰੇ ਵਾਵਣਹਾਰੇ ॥

   vaaje tere naadh anek asankhaa kete tere vaavanahaare

   Countless instruments sound for you there, in many notes, with so many to play them.

3. 3

   ਕੇਤੇ ਤੇਰੇ ਰਾਗ ਪਰੀ ਸਿਉ ਕਹੀਅਹਿ ਕੇਤੇ ਤੇਰੇ ਗਾਵਣਹਾਰੇ ॥

   kete tere raag paree siau kahe'eeh kete tere gaavanahaare

   So many ragas and their companion melodies are named, and so many sing to you.

   Note. 'Pari' are the raginis, the melodies paired with each raga, on Prof. Sahib Singh's reading.

4. 4

   ਗਾਵਨਿ ਤੁਧਨੋ ਪਵਣੁ ਪਾਣੀ ਬੈਸੰਤਰੁ ਗਾਵੈ ਰਾਜਾ ਧਰਮੁ ਦੁਆਰੇ ॥

   gaavan tudhano pavan paanee baisantar gaavai raajaa dharam dhuaare

   The wind sings you, and water and fire. At your door Dharam Raj, judge of deeds, sings too.

   Note. On Prof. Sahib Singh's reading, for the elements to 'sing' is for them to move within God's will.

5. 5

   ਗਾਵਨਿ ਤੁਧਨੋ ਚਿਤੁ ਗੁਪਤੁ ਲਿਖਿ ਜਾਣਨਿ ਲਿਖਿ ਲਿਖਿ ਧਰਮੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੇ ॥

   gaavan tudhano chit gupat likh jaanan likh likh dharam beechaare

   Chitr and Gupt, who know how to keep the record, sing you, and from their writing Dharam Raj weighs each life.

   Note. Chitr and Gupt are the scribes who record good and bad deeds in Indian tradition.

6. 6

   ਗਾਵਨਿ ਤੁਧਨੋ ਈਸਰੁ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਦੇਵੀ ਸੋਹਨਿ ਤੇਰੇ ਸਦਾ ਸਵਾਰੇ ॥

   gaavan tudhano ieesar brahamaa dhevee sohan tere sadhaa savaare

   Made beautiful by you, and radiant always, Shiva, Brahma and the goddesses sing you.

   Note. The deities of Indian tradition appear here as praising the one God. Prof. Sahib Singh reads 'devi' as many goddesses, and some English translations as one.

7. 7

   ਗਾਵਨਿ ਤੁਧਨੋ ਇੰਦ੍ਰ ਇੰਦ੍ਰਾਸਣਿ ਬੈਠੇ ਦੇਵਤਿਆ ਦਰਿ ਨਾਲੇ ॥

   gaavan tudhano indhr indhraasan baiThe dhevatiaa dhar naale

   Enthroned, Indra sings you, and the gods stand with him at your door.

8. 8

   ਗਾਵਨਿ ਤੁਧਨੋ ਸਿਧ ਸਮਾਧੀ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਗਾਵਨਿ ਤੁਧਨੋ ਸਾਧ ਬੀਚਾਰੇ ॥

   gaavan tudhano sidh samaadhee andhar gaavan tudhano saadh beechaare

   Siddhas deep in meditation sing you, and holy people sing you as they reflect.

9. 9

   ਗਾਵਨਿ ਤੁਧਨੋ ਜਤੀ ਸਤੀ ਸੰਤੋਖੀ ਗਾਵਨਿ ਤੁਧਨੋ ਵੀਰ ਕਰਾਰੇ ॥

   gaavan tudhano jatee satee santokhee gaavan tudhano veer karaare

   The celibate, the truthful and the contented sing you, and so do the strong and brave.

   Note. 'Sati' is read as truthful in one English translation and as charitable by Prof. Sahib Singh.

10. 10

    ਗਾਵਨਿ ਤੁਧਨੋ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਪੜਨਿ ਰਖੀਸੁਰ ਜੁਗੁ ਜੁਗੁ ਵੇਦਾ ਨਾਲੇ ॥

    gaavan tudhano panddit paRan rakheesur jug jug vedhaa naale

    Pandits and great sages who study sing you through every age, with their Vedas.

11. 11

    ਗਾਵਨਿ ਤੁਧਨੋ ਮੋਹਣੀਆ ਮਨੁ ਮੋਹਨਿ ਸੁਰਗੁ ਮਛੁ ਪਇਆਲੇ ॥

    gaavan tudhano mohaneeaa man mohan surag machh piaale

    Enchanting women who captivate the mind sing you, in heaven, this world and the regions below.

    Note. Some English translations make these heavenly beings. Prof. Sahib Singh reads beautiful women, and takes the three realms as singers in their own right.

12. 12

    ਗਾਵਨਿ ਤੁਧਨੋ ਰਤਨ ਉਪਾਏ ਤੇਰੇ ਅਠਸਠਿ ਤੀਰਥ ਨਾਲੇ ॥

    gaavan tudhano ratan upaae tere aThasaTh teerath naale

    Sixty-eight pilgrim places sing you, and so do the jewels of your making.