Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji · Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji · Ang 938 · Ramkali
Siddh Gosht: the opening exchange with the Siddhas
Siddh Gosht, 'discourse with the Siddhas', is a composition of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Raag Ramkali, beginning at ang 938. The Siddhas were yogic adepts credited with supernatural powers. All the questions in it come from them and all the answers from Guru Ji. It has 73 stanzas.
The text gives no time or place. The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism says it is generally placed in Guru Ji's last years at Kartarpur, and suggests it may be a later distillation of many such discussions and not the record of one. Its argument is that a seeker does not need to leave the world, and that the Word and inner purity matter more than a yogi's dress or wandering.
These lines are the prologue, the pause, the Siddhas' first questions and the start of the reply. The reply opens a new stanza, which BaniDB holds under a separate shabad number. Several lines here are read differently by different commentators, and the notes say which reading is followed.
- 1ਸਿਧ ਸਭਾ ਕਰਿ ਆਸਣਿ ਬੈਠੇ ਸੰਤ ਸਭਾ ਜੈਕਾਰੋ ॥sidh sabhaa kar aasan baiThe sant sabhaa jaikaaro
The Siddhas have made their assembly and sit in their places. A greeting to this company of the holy.
Note. Who speaks is debated. The English translations held by BaniDB make the greeting a demand from the Siddhas. Prof. Sahib Singh reads the whole line as Guru Ji's own salute to an assembly of saints settled in God. This rendering does not name a speaker.
- 2ਤਿਸੁ ਆਗੈ ਰਹਰਾਸਿ ਹਮਾਰੀ ਸਾਚਾ ਅਪਰ ਅਪਾਰੋ ॥tis aagai raharaas hamaaree saachaa apar apaaro
My own salutation goes before the One who is true, beyond any limit.
Note. 'Rahras' is a salutation or humble offering, the same word that names the evening prayer. This follows the English translations and the Encyclopaedia of Sikhism. Prof. Sahib Singh takes it as offered to the saints' assembly, in which God is present.
- 3ਮਸਤਕੁ ਕਾਟਿ ਧਰੀ ਤਿਸੁ ਆਗੈ ਤਨੁ ਮਨੁ ਆਗੈ ਦੇਉ ॥masatak kaaT dharee tis aagai tan man aagai dheau
I would cut off my head and set it before the One, and give up body and mind as well.
- 4ਨਾਨਕ ਸੰਤੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਸਚੁ ਪਾਈਐ ਸਹਜ ਭਾਇ ਜਸੁ ਲੇਉ ॥੧॥naanak sant milai sach paieeaai sahaj bhai jas leau
Nanak says: meeting a saint, one finds the True One, and in a natural peace takes up God's praise.
Note. 'Jas' can be praise or renown. Prof. Sahib Singh reads singing God's praises, followed here. The English translations read being blessed with distinction.
- 5ਕਿਆ ਭਵੀਐ ਸਚਿ ਸੂਚਾ ਹੋਇ ॥kiaa bhaveeaai sach soochaa hoi
Why roam from place to place? Truth is what makes a person clean.
Note. This couplet is marked 'rahau', the pause. The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism treats it as the substance of the whole composition.
- 6ਸਾਚ ਸਬਦ ਬਿਨੁ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥saach sabadh bin mukat na koi
Nobody is set free except by the true Word.
- 7ਕਵਨ ਤੁਮੇ ਕਿਆ ਨਾਉ ਤੁਮਾਰਾ ਕਉਨੁ ਮਾਰਗੁ ਕਉਨੁ ਸੁਆਓ ॥kavan tume kiaa naau tumaaraa kaun maarag kaun suaao
Who are you, and by what name? Which road do you walk, and what do you seek by it?
Note. Prof. Sahib Singh names the questioner here as Charpat. The text itself does not.
- 8ਸਾਚੁ ਕਹਉ ਅਰਦਾਸਿ ਹਮਾਰੀ ਹਉ ਸੰਤ ਜਨਾ ਬਲਿ ਜਾਓ ॥saach kahau aradhaas hamaaree hau sant janaa bal jaao
Speak truly, this is our request. We give ourselves up for the holy.
Note. This follows the English translations, which continue the Siddhas' speech. Prof. Sahib Singh reads the line as Guru Ji's reply: 'I speak of the True One, and I am devoted to the saints.'
- 9ਕਹ ਬੈਸਹੁ ਕਹ ਰਹੀਐ ਬਾਲੇ ਕਹ ਆਵਹੁ ਕਹ ਜਾਹੋ ॥keh baisahu keh raheeaai baale keh aavahu keh jaaho
Where do you settle and make your home, young man? From what place have you come, and to what place will you go?
Note. Prof. Sahib Singh takes the sitting and staying as where the mind rests.
- 10ਨਾਨਕੁ ਬੋਲੈ ਸੁਣਿ ਬੈਰਾਗੀ ਕਿਆ ਤੁਮਾਰਾ ਰਾਹੋ ॥੨॥naanak bolai sun bairaagee kiaa tumaaraa raaho
Nanak recounts it: listen, one free of attachment, what is your way?
Note. This follows Prof. Sahib Singh, who keeps Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji as the narrator. The English translations have the Siddhas calling on Guru Ji by name.
- 11ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਬੈਸਿ ਨਿਰੰਤਰਿ ਰਹੀਐ ਚਾਲਹਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਭਾਏ ॥ghaT ghaT bais nirantar raheeaai chaaleh satigur bhaae
We stay rooted in the One who dwells in every heart, and we walk as the True Guru wills.
- 12ਸਹਜੇ ਆਏ ਹੁਕਮਿ ਸਿਧਾਏ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਦਾ ਰਜਾਏ ॥sahaje aae hukam sidhaae naanak sadhaa rajaae
We came by God's natural order and we go at God's command. Nanak says we live always within that will.
Note. One English translation sets these two lines out as direct answers to the questions above, in turn.
Our line is a reading of the intent. For the Gurmukhi source text and reference translations seeSikhiToTheMax (part 1), SikhiToTheMax (part 2) and SikhRI's Guru Granth Sahib Project.[DB][EoS]