Waheguru Jee Ka Khalsa!
Waheguru Jee Kee Fateh!

The writings of Bhai Gurdas Jee are commonly believed to be a key to understanding the immaculate depths of Gurbani. Bhai Gurdas Jee first turned toward the Sikh path under the blessing of Guru Ram Das Jee, and did an in-depth study of Gurmat under the guidance of Guru Arjan Dev Ji. He soon became very proficient in myriad languages including Punjabi, Hindi, and Sanskrit, and delved into the theological depths of Islam, Hinduism, and Sikhism.

Considered to be one of the very first interpreters of Gurbani, Bhai Gurdas Jee wrote 40 Vaars and 556 Kabits that capture the true nature of Sikh philosophy as only a contemporary of Guru Sahib could. In Mahan Kosh, Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha even goes so far as to say that: “No code of conduct (Rehitnama) is of more importance than the works of Bhai Gurdas.” Bhai Gurdas Jee is most famously known for his role as a scribe for Guru Arjan Dev Ji during the long and arduous process of compiling the Adi Granth.

The purpose of this post is to highlight the beauty of Bhai Gurdas Jee’s writings and hopefully inspire readers of this post to make the effort of delving into the mind of one of the first exponents of the Sikh way of life. Specifically, this post focuses on Pauris 5, 6, 7, and 13 in Vaar 28 of Bhai Gurdas Jee’s writings which lovingly answer the question: “What are the signs of a Gursikhi Jeevan?” If you have had the luck of ever meeting a true lover of Guru Sahib, your eyes will well up with tears as you see how timeless Bhai Gurdas Jee’s observations are. Translations for these selected Pauris were hand-typed as they are not available anywhere on the web.

And there is one more treat! A rare 20-minute clip of Bhai Tejinderpal Singh Jee (Dulla) singing these pauris is also included in this post. Bhai Gurdas Jee spent his entire life exploring Gurmat and has lovingly shared his knowledge — please try to devote 20 minutes of pure concentration by clicking the play button below, and start enjoying this piaaree piaaree naam

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Vaar 28 Pauri 13

???? ????? ???? ?? ???? ???? ????? ?????
dhharathee pairaan haeth hai dhharathee haeth vasandhaa paanee||
The earth is under our feet, but under the earth is water.

???? ??? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ???? ??????
paanee chalai neevaan no niramal seethal sudhh paraanee||
Water flows downward, and makes others cool and clean.

??? ???? ?? ???? ?? ????? ????? ??? ?????
bahu rangee eik rang hai sabhanaan andhar eiko jaanee||
Mixed with various colors it assumes those colors, but in itself, it is colorless and common to all.

??? ???? ??? ???? ???? ???? ????? ?????
thathaa hovai dhhup vich shhaavai thandtaa virathee haanee||
It becomes hot in the sun and cool in the shade – that is, it acts in consonance with its companions (sun and shade).

???? ??????? ?? ???? ??????? ???????
thapadhaa paroupakaar no thandtae paroupakaar vihaanee||
Whether hot or cold, its purpose is always other’s good.

???? ????? ???? ???? ???? ???? ????? ? ????
agan bujhaaeae thapath vich thandtaa hovai bilam n aanee||
Though itself is warm, it still extinguishes the fire and takes no time to get cold again.

???? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ??
gur sikhee dhee eaehu neesaanee ||||
These are the virtuous marks of the Sikh culture (Gursikhi).

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Vaar 28 Pauri 7

??? ???? ?? ????? ???? ??? ???? ???? ?????
gur sikhee dhaa sikhanaa gur sikh sikhan bajar bhaaraa||
Learning the Sikh way of life is as tough as the thunderbolt and only Sikhs of the Guru learn it.

??? ???? ?? ????? ???? ????? ? ?????????
gur sikhee dhaa likhanaa laekh alaekh n likhanehaaraa||
Writing about the Sikh-life is also beyond all accounts – none can write.

??? ???? ?? ????? ???? ? ???? ???? ????????
gur sikhee dhaa tholanaa thul n thol thulai thuladhhaaraa||
No scale can weigh the Sikh way of life.

??? ???? ?? ????? ??????? ???????? ?????????
gur sikhee dhaa dhaekhanaa guramukh saadhhasangath guradhuaaraa||
The glimpse of the Sikh life can be had only in the holy congregation and the Gurudwara, the door of the Lord.

??? ???? ?? ???? ???????? ???? ???? ???????
gur sikhee dhaa chakhanaa saadhhasangath gur sabadh veechaaraa||
Pondering upon the word of the Guru in the holy congregation is like tasting the Sikh way of life.

??? ???? ?? ????? ???? ???? ??????????
gur sikhee dhaa samajhanaa jothee joth jagaavanehaaraa||
Understanding the Sikh life is like kindling the flame of the Lord.

??????? ????? ????? ????? ??
guramukh sukhafal piram piaaraa ||a||
The pleasure-fruit of the Gurmukhs is the love of the dear Lord.

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Vaar 28 Pauri 6

??? ???? ?? ????? ??? ??? ???? ???? ? ?????
gur sikhee dhaa bolanaa hue mith bolaa likhai n laekhai||
In the Sikh life, one speaks mildly and never gets on noticed – ego is repudiated.

??? ???? ?? ???? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?????
gur sikhee dhaa chalanaa chalai bhai vich leethae bhaekhai||
Maintaining the Sikh form and moving in the fear of the Lord constitute the Sikh way of living.

??? ???? ?? ??? ??? ??????? ??? ??? ?? ?????
gur sikhee dhaa raah eaehu guramukh chaal chalai so dhaekhai||
Sikh living means following the footsteps of Gursikhs.

???? ??? ???? ??? ??? ?????? ????? ???????
ghaal khaae saevaa karai gur oupadhaes avaes visaekhai||
One should eat the fruit of one’s own labor, do service, and should always remain inspired by the teachings of the Guru.

??? ???? ? ???? ??? ???? ??? ? ?????
aap ganaae n aparrai aap gavaaeae roop n raekhai||
The supreme one is not attained through egotism, and only after losing the sense of ego can one identify oneself with the formless and limitless Lord.

????? ????? ????? ??? ??? ???? ??? ??? ??????
muradhae vaang mureedh hoe gur goree varr alakh alaekhai||
A disciple becoming like a dead person and entering into the guru-grave can merge in that imperceptible Lord who is beyond all writs (human edicts).

???? ? ???? ? ??? ????? ??
anth n manth n saekh saraekhai ||||
Sesanags could not under the mystery of His mantra.

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Vaar 28 Pauri 5

??? ???? ?? ????? ??? ????? ???????? ?????
gur sikhee dhaa sikhanaa shabadh surath sathisangath sikhai||
To learn about the Sikh life, one ought to merge one’s consciousness in the Word in the holy congregation.

??? ???? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ???? ?????
gur sikhee dhaa likhanaa gurabaanee sun samajhai likhai||
Writing about Sikh life is to go on listening, understanding, and continuously writing.

??? ???? ?? ?????? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ????
gur sikhee dhaa simarano sathigur manth koloo ras eikhai||
Simran, meditation in Sikh life, is learning the Guru-mantra (Vaheguru) which is sweet like sugarcane juice.

??? ???? ?? ??????? ???? ???? ?????? ???????
gur sikhee dhaa varathamaan chandhan vaas nivaas birikhai||
The spirit of Sikhism is like the fragrance residing in the sandalwood trees.

??? ???? ?? ????? ???? ????? ???? ?? ?????
gur sikhee dhaa bujhanaa bujh abujh hovai lai bhikhai||
The understanding of a Sikh of the Guru consists in the fact that even after having received the gifted alms (of Naam), and being fully knowledgeable, he considers himself as ignorant.

???????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ??????
saadhhasangath gur sabadh sun naam dhaan eisanaan sarikhai||
The Sikh of the Guru, in the holy congregation, listens to the word of the Guru and practices meditation, charity, and ablution.

??????? ???? ??? ????? ??
varathamaan langh bhooth bhavikhai ||a||
Thus, he goes across the past and present to a new future.