1st - 10th Chaupai
ੴ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕੀ ਫਤਿਹ
Ik Oa[n]kaar Sree Vaahiguroo Jee Kee Fathih
That One God = the Non-Dual Form, Oa[n]kaar = the One who gives existence (illumines) everyone, Shree = Shiromani = the Highest/Ultimate; Vaheguru = the Wonderful and the Form of Consciousness Akaal Purakh; Jee Kee = the Respected’s Fateh = Victory
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ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹੀ ੧੦
Paathishaahee Dasvee[n]
This Bani is written by the Tenth Paatshah - Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Just like in Sir Guru Granth Saib Ji, they have - Mahul-aa written... in Dasam Bani, Patshahi 10 is written:
ਕਬ੍ਯੋ ਬਾਚ ਬੇਨਤੀ ॥
Kabyo Baach Baenthee
In Chaupai Sahib, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji refer to themselves as Kavi/the Poet i.e. Kavee-O/Kabyo. They write in the form of a Benti/Plea addressed to Akaal Purakh Vaheguru
ਚੌਪਈ ॥ Chaupaee
According to traditional poetic rules, Chaupaee is a type of chhand/poetic metre which is composed of 4 lines (pangthees) each stanza. It is a Mathrik Chhand (meaning a Chhand/Poetic Metre which is distinguished by it’s use of long-short syllable counts). In one line there are 15 or 16 syllables.
ਹਮਰੀ ਕਰੋ ਹਾਥ ਦੈ ਰਛਾ ॥ ਪੂਰਨ ਹੋਇ ਚਿਤ ਕੀ ਇਛਾ ॥
Hamree Karo Haathh Dhai Rachhaa; Pooran Ho-i Chith Kee Ichhaa
Guru Sahib are decreeing: Oh Akaal Purakh Vaheguru Ji! Place Your Grace-Bestowing Hand and bless with protection and fulfill the desire in my mind which Maharaj speak about next:
ਤਵ ਚਰਨਨ ਮਨ ਰਹੈ ਹਮਾਰਾ ॥ ਅਪਨਾ ਜਾਨ ਕਰੋ ਪ੍ਰਤਿਪਾਰਾ ॥੩੭੭॥
Thav Charnan Man Rahai Hamaaraa; Apanaa Jaan Karo Prathipaaraa
Oh Vaheguru Ji: May my mind remain connected to Your Feet and know me to be Your lowly servant and raise/nourish me
ਹਮਰੇ ਦੁਸਟ ਸਭੈ ਤੁਮ ਘਾਵਹੁ ॥ ਆਪੁ ਹਾਥ ਦੈ ਮੋਹਿ ਬਚਾਵਹੁ ॥
Hamrae Dhusht Sabhai Thum Ghaavah[u]; Aap[u] Haathh Dhai Moh[i] Bachaavah[u]
May You please destroy all of our enemies (both internal [i.e. five vices] and external [those who stand against Dharam and cruelly upon others]) and please place Your Blessing Hand upon this honourless servant and protect us from all of the attacks of the enemy...
ਸੁਖੀ ਬਸੈ ਮੋਰੋ ਪਰਿਵਾਰਾ ॥ ਸੇਵਕ ਸਿਖ੍ਯ ਸਭੈ ਕਰਤਾਰਾ ॥੩੭੮॥
Sukhee Basai Moro Parivaaraa; Saevak Sikhy Sabhai Karthaaraa
May my entire family flourish peacefully. Which family? Oh Creator Waheguru Ji! All of the Servant Sikhs within the Guru’s House, they are all part of my family. Meaning: this prayer is for both the spiritual and biological family.
ਮੋ ਰਛਾ ਨਿਜੁ ਕਰ ਦੈ ਕਰਿਯੈ ॥ ਸਭ ਬੈਰਿਨ ਕੌ ਆਜ ਸੰਘਰਿਯੈ ॥
Mo Rachhaa nij[u] Kar Dhai Kareeai; Sabh Bairin Kau Aaj Sa[n]ghareeai
Oh Vaheguru Ji! Please give Your Blessing Hand and always protect me and destroy the enemies of the Guru’s House today, ie immediately...
ਪੂਰਨ ਹੋਇ ਹਮਾਰੀ ਆਸਾ ॥ ਤੋਰਿ ਭਜਨ ਕੀ ਰਹੈ ਪਿਯਾਸਾ ॥੩੭੯॥
Pooran Ho-i Hamaaree Aasaa; Thor[i] Bhajan Kee Rahai Piyaasaa
May this desire be fulfilled: my mind not go anywhere else besides You and May I always have yearning for Your Worship (Meaning: Naam-Simran)
ਤੁਮਹਿ ਛਾਡਿ ਕੋਈ ਅਵਰ ਨ ਧ੍ਯਾਊ ॥ ਜੋ ਬਰ ਚਾਹੌ ਸੁ ਤੁਮ ਤੇ ਪਾਊ ॥
Thumah[i] Chhaad[i] Koee Avar na Dhyaaoo; Jo Bar Chaahau Su Thum Thae Paaoo
Let we have unwavering conviction/faith that we not let go of You and worship any other deities/gods/goddesses and any desire for a boon/blessing, may I attain it after asking for it from You
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Guru Sahib are doing an Ardaas in front of Akaal Purakh Vaheguru Ji:
ਸੇਵਕ ਸਿਖ੍ਯ ਹਮਾਰੇ ਤਾਰਿਯਹਿ ॥ ਚੁਨ ਚੁਨ ਸਤ੍ਰੁ ਹਮਾਰੇ ਮਾਰਿਯਹਿ ॥੩੮੦॥
Saevak Sikhy Hamaarae Thaareeah[i]; Chun Chun Sathr[u] Hamaarae Maareeah[i]
Oh Vaheguru Ji! As many Servant Sikhs of the Guru’s House (meaning: those who have applied Guru Sahib’s Teachings in their lives, do seva, and all of the male and female GurSikhs) know them as Your Own and carry them across this Scary Ocean of the World and individually select our enemies and destroy them
ਆਪੁ ਹਾਥ ਦੈ ਮੁਝੈ ਉਬਰਿਯੈ ॥ ਮਰਨ ਕਾਲ ਕਾ ਤ੍ਰਾਸ ਨਿਵਰਿਯੈ ॥
Aap[u] Haath Dhai Mujhai Ubareeai; Maran Kaal Kaa Thraas nivareeai
Oh Akaal Purakh Vaheguru Ji! Please give Your Blessing Hand and protect me from all angles/ways, and destroy the fear of the time of death. Meaning: everyone fears when it is their time of death, destroy this fear of the arrival of the time of death.
ਹੂਜੋ ਸਦਾ ਹਮਾਰੇ ਪਛਾ ॥ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਸਿਧੁਜ ਜੂ ਕਰਿਯਹੁ ਰਛਾ ॥੩੮੧॥
Hoojo Sadhaa Hamaarae Pachhaa; Sree Asidhhuj Joo Kareeah[u]
Oh Akaal Purakh - the One with the Sri Sahib (Kirpaan) as part of the Nishaan Sahib, May You always be on our side and protect us from all types of enemies
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Next, the word ‘Kaal’ is used to describe the Almightiness/Power of Akaal Purakh Vaheguru!
ਕਾਲ ਪਾਇ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਬਪੁ ਧਰਾ ॥ ਕਾਲ ਪਾਇ ਸਿਵ ਜੂ ਅਵਤਰਾ ॥
Kaal Paa-i Brahmaa Bap[u] Dhharaa Kaal Paa-i Siv Joo Avtharaa
Kaal = Through the Command of Akaal Purakh Brahma took on a [physical] body and Through Akaal Purakh’s Command Shiv Ji came to be. Or: Kaal = after some time. Or: With the Permission of Vaheguru Ji.
ਕਾਲ ਪਾਇ ਕਰਿ ਬਿਸਨ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸਾ ॥ ਸਕਲ ਕਾਲ ਕਾ ਕੀਯਾ ਤਮਾਸਾ ॥੩੮੩॥
Kaal Paa-i Kar[i] Bisan Prakaasaa Sakal Kaal Kaa Keeaa Thamaasaa
Vaheguru Ji take on their [Maya] Shakti and manifested Vishnu. The entire spectacle of nature/Vaheguru Ji’s Creative Power. Vaheguru Ji are witnessing this Play of the World. All of this has been created by Akaal Purakh Vaheguru Ji.
ਜਵਨ ਕਾਲ ਜੋਗੀ ਸਿਵ ਕੀਯੋ ॥ ਬੇਦ ਰਾਜ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਜੂ ਥੀਯੋ ॥
Javan Kaal Jogee Siv Keeo; Baedh Raaj Brahmaa Joo Thheeyo
That Akaal Purakh who made Shiv Ji into a Yogi and made Brahma - the King of the Veda’s. Meaning: causing Shivji to do Yogic meditation and made Brahma into the Reciter of the Veda’s.
ਜਵਨ ਕਾਲ ਸਭ ਲੋਕ ਸਵਾਰਾ ॥ ਨਮਸਕਾਰ ਹੈ ਤਾਹਿ ਹਮਾਰਾ ॥੩੮੪॥
Javan Kaal Sabh Lok Savaaraa; namaskaar Hai Thaah[i] Hamaara
That same One Kaal - Akaal Purakh has made all realms/created all of the Universe - I bow down to that Creator...
ਜਵਨ ਕਾਲ ਸਭ ਜਗਤ ਬਨਾਯੋ ॥ ਦੇਵ ਦੈਤ ਜਛਨ ਉਪਜਾਯੋ ॥
Javan Kaal Sabh Jagath Banaayo; Dhaev Dhaith Jachhan Upjaayo
That Kaal - God Vaheguru Ji made the entire Universe/Creation. [including the] deities/angels and demons. Meaning: the 3 gun (Sato, Rajo, Tamo) world was created by Parameshwar-Vaheguru Ji
[Translator's Note: It is important to understand the 3 gun and Maya. Vaheguru Ji developed a thought which formed their Initial Source Power. Within that power and thought, came a 3 fold motion: creation, sustenance, destruction. These 3 fold motions then have sub motions that fall underneath them. Creation has activity, energy, desire, birth, etc. within it. People began to worship this motion as a separate entity called Brahma. Likewise, Sustenance has nourishment, protection, saintliness among other similar traits. People began to worship this motion as a separate entity called Vishnu. In the same way, Destruction has inertia, laziness, darkness, among other categorized traits. The Initial Source Power where all of this appears within and from is called Maya. Some people began to worship this Initial Source Power as Shakti/Devi. Guru Sahib are telling us that actually, all of these seemingly different entities/traits all come from Akaal Purakh Vaheguru Ji. People have personified these different traits but they are actually powers wielded by the Almighty-Vaheguru Ji].
ਆਦਿ ਅੰਤਿ ਏਕੈ ਅਵਤਾਰਾ ॥ ਸੋਈ ਗੁਰੂ ਸਮਝਿਯਹੁ ਹਮਾਰਾ ॥੩੮੫॥
Aadh[i] A[n]th[i] Aekai Avthaaraa; So-ee Guroo Samjheeyah[u] Hamaaraa
From the Creation of the Universe until the end of the Universe, It is only Vaheguru Ji which appear. Meaning: the One who never takes birth nor has any end. That very Vaheguru Ji (who have the Eternal Form) are our Guru = Religious Figure/Center/Leader...
ਨਮਸਕਾਰ ਤਿਸ ਹੀ ਕੋ ਹਮਾਰੀ ॥ ਸਕਲ ਪ੍ਰਜਾ ਜਿਨ ਆਪ ਸਵਾਰੀ ॥
namaskaar This Hee Ko Hamaaree; Sakal Prajaa Jin Aap Savaaree
Bowing down to this very Akaal Purakh that have created all of the subjects = the Creation/World. Meaning: Bow down/revere the One Doer who Gives birth to all of the Srishti/Creation
ਸਿਵਕਨ ਕੋ ਸਿਵਗੁਨ ਸੁਖ ਦੀਯੋ ॥ ਸਤ੍ਰੁਨ ਕੋ ਪਲ ਮੋ ਬਧ ਕੀਯੋ ॥੩੮੬॥
Sivkan Ko Sivgun Sukh Dheeo; Sathrun Ko Pal Mo Badhh Keeyo
The One who gives all qualities to Their Servants. Meaning: they bless with lots of pleasure/peace. And: Sivgun = the Qualities/Attributes of the Very Form of Liberation/Bliss = the Blessing of the Peace of Spiritual Realization and that very Akaal Purakh who destroys the enemies in an instant
ਘਟ ਘਟ ਕੇ ਅੰਤਰ ਕੀ ਜਾਨਤ ॥ ਭਲੇ ਬੁਰੇ ਕੀ ਪੀਰ ਪਛਾਨਤ ॥
Ghat Ghat Kae A[n]thar Kee Jaanath; Bhalae Burae Kee Peer Pachhaanath
That Vaheguru Ji know of ‘ghat-ghat’, meaning: in the heart of the beings - They know everyone’s thoughts/feelings and They recognize the suffering of both - the good and bad people...
ਚੀਟੀ ਤੇ ਕੁੰਚਰ ਅਸਥੂਲਾ ॥ ਸਭ ਪਰ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਦ੍ਰਿਸਟਿ ਕਰਿ ਫੂਲਾ ॥੩੮੭॥
Cheetee Thae Ku[n]char Asthhoolaa; Sabh Par Kripaa Dhrist[i] Kar[i] Phoolaa
(Cheetee =) Ant to a (Kunchar =) elephant; all smallest and subtlest to largest of beings; Vaheguru Ji have Their Blessing-filled Sight upon everyone and are pleased looking at them all...
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