Karminder Singh, PhD (Boston)

The Shabd of Guru Arjun Pathshah appears in Dhnasree Raag on page 681 of the SGGS. It is a popular shabd.  It is among the first few shabds that kirtan leaners are taught and many Sikhs have committed it to memory.    

This article makes an attempt to explore the meanings of the Shabd by applying the Gurbani Framework – using Gurbani to explain Gurbani concepts; thus refraining from relying on non-Gurbani sources.

ਧਨਾਸਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥  Dhnasree Mehla 5.

Dhnasree Fifth Guru.

ਚਤੁਰ ਦਿਸਾ ਕੀਨੋ ਬਲੁ ਅਪਨਾ ਸਿਰ ਊਪਰਿ ਕਰੁ ਧਾਰਿਓ ॥ Chatar Disha Keeno Bel Apna Ser Upar Kar Dhareyo.

ਚਤੁਰ ਦਿਸਾ Chatar Disha – Four directions of North, South East and West; all directions, everywhere. ਬਲੁ Bel – Lit. power, reign. ਸਿਰ ਊਪਰਿ Ser Upar – Lit. On the head; above all, reigns. ਕਰੁ ਧਾਰਿਓ Kar Dhareyo – Lit. Place one’s hand; protection.

The Creator’s Supremacy Reigns in the Entirety of His Creation; His Protection Reigns Over all of Creation.

ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਕਟਾਖ ਅਵਲੋਕਨੁ ਕੀਨੋ ਦਾਸ ਕਾ ਦੂਖੁ ਬਿਦਾਰਿਓ ॥ ੧ ॥ Kirpa Ketaakh Avlokan Keeno Daas Ka Dookh Bidareyo.

ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ Kirpa – Blessings, grace.  ਕਟਾਖ Kataakh – Lit. to keep an eye; oversees. ਅਵਲੋਕਨੁ ਕੀਨੋ Avlokan Keeno – Watches over.  ਦੂਖੁ Dookh – distress, anxiety.  ਬਿਦਾਰਿਓ  Bidareyo – Eliminated, taken away.

The Creator Oversees His Creation and Watches Over in His Grace; He has thus Removed My Anxiety.

ਹਰਿ ਜਨ ਰਾਖੇ ਗੁਰ ਗੋਵਿੰਦ ॥ ਕੰਠਿ ਲਾਇ ਅਵਗੁਣ ਸਭਿ ਮੇਟੇ ਦਇਆਲ ਪੁਰਖ ਬਖਸੰਦ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ Har Jun Rakhey Gur Govind. Kanth Laye Avgun Sabh Metey Dyaal Purakh Bakhshund. Rahao.

ਰਾਖੇ  Rakhey – Lit. takes care of; guides. ਗੁਰ ਗੋਵਿੰਦ Gur Govind – Govind (Creator) connecting Guru; ਕੰਠਿ ਲਾਇ Kanth Laye – Take in embrace.  ਅਵਗੁਣ Avgun – human vices.  ਮੇਟੇ Metey – Eliminates. ਦਇਆਲ Dyaal – Benevolent.  ਪੁਰਖ Purakh – Being. ਬਖਸੰਦ Bakhsund – Grace provider

The Creator-connecting Guru Guides my Spiritual Journey. In His Benevolence and Grace He Links me with Him, Embraces me and Eliminates my Vices. Rahao.

ਜੋ ਮਾਗਹਿ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਅਪੁਨੇ ਤੇ ਸੋਈ ਸੋਈ ਦੇਵੈ ॥ Jo Mangey Thakur Apney Tey Soyee Soyee Devey.

ਜੋ ਮਾਗਹਿ Jo Mangey – All that is asked and needed; sustenance. ਠਾਕੁਰ Thakur – Creator, Master. ਸੋਈ Soyee – That which is needed. ਸੋਈ Soyee – He, the same Creator Master. ਦੇਵੈ Devey – Provides, makes available.

The Creator Provides for all the Sustenance Needed by His Creation; He Himself Makes it all Available.

ਨਾਨਕ ਦਾਸੁ ਮੁਖ ਤੇ ਜੋ ਬੋਲੈ ਈਹਾ ਊਹਾ ਸਚੁ ਹੋਵੈ ॥ ੨ ॥ Nanak Daas Tey Mukh Jo Boley Eha Uha Sach Hovey. 2. SGGS 681.

ਮੁਖ ਤੇ  Mukh Tey – Speaks. ਜੋ ਬੋਲੈ  Jo Boley – That which is spoken in accordance with. ਈਹਾ Eha – Here and Now, ਊਹਾ Uha – Next, Future.  ਸਚੁ Sach –  Creator who is in existence ਹੋਵੈ Hovey –will be in in existence.

His Servant Nanak Speaks (the above) in Accordance with the Command of the Creator Who is in Existence Here and Now as He Always Will Be.