Saas Saas Simro Gobind - Meaning
Listening to the complete Guru
I come in the vicinity of oneness
Remembering oneness in every breath
I erase all the pain inside
Asking for the dust of Saints' feet
I abandon fleeting waves of desire
Renouncing my ego, praying with Saints
I cross life's ocean of fire
Bowing down to the complete Guru
I fill my coffers with divine wealth
Remember always, in every breath. We all know what is right. What is good to do. Yet there are moments where we forget what is right and good. This is when transgressions happen. We all know anger is bad. Kindness is good. We all know greed is bad and lust is bad. But we all fall into the trap. Momentarily.
Story of Karna and Arjuna. Karna knew how to kill arjun. But he had a momentary lapse. That was the cause of his defeat. He forgot. And Krishna reminds Arjun this which is why he is able to vanquish Karna.
Abandon the waves of fleeting desire,
and pray for the dust of the feet of the Saints.
Renounce your selfishness and conceit and offer your prayers.
In the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, cross over the ocean of fire.
I come in the vicinity of oneness
Remembering oneness in every breath
I erase all the pain inside
Asking for the dust of Saints' feet
I abandon fleeting waves of desire
Renouncing my ego, praying with Saints
I cross life's ocean of fire
Bowing down to the complete Guru
I fill my coffers with divine wealth
- Guru Arjan (Translated by Shivpreet Singh)
Lyrics - Saas Saas Simro Gobind
Sās sās simro gobinḏ
Man anṯar kī uṯrai cẖinḏ
Pūre gur kā sun upḏes
Pārbarahm nikat kar pekẖ
Ās aniṯ ṯyāgo ṯarang
Sanṯ janā kī ḏẖūr man mang
Āp cẖẖod benṯī karho
Sāḏẖsang agan sāgar ṯarho
Har ḏẖan ke bẖar leho bẖandār
Nānak gur pūre namaskār
For lyrics and meanings in Punjabi and Hindi see below.
The Music
The music was done in collaboration with two local musicians from the bay area - Jeremy Marais on the Saxophone and Suellen Primost on the cello. Music for the entire album was recorded within 2 hours by the instrumentalists; then it took 2-3 years to mix. Like my previous arrangements, the chordal structure is highly repetitive, which is important in spiritual music. With the repetitiveness, the music is doing a meditation and disappears into the essence of the words.
The melodic composition is not mine. The oldest version I have heard from is Bhai Tarlochan Singh; but it is possible that the tune came from before. The shabad is sung in this dhanasri bandish that seems to have been passed from generations. Guru Arjan wrote the shabad in Raag Gauri in which depth, fearlessness beauty, and removal of the dirt of ego are oft repeated themes. I have composed the shabad in raag Gauri as well.
Key Themes in The Shabad
The melodic composition is not mine. The oldest version I have heard from is Bhai Tarlochan Singh; but it is possible that the tune came from before. The shabad is sung in this dhanasri bandish that seems to have been passed from generations. Guru Arjan wrote the shabad in Raag Gauri in which depth, fearlessness beauty, and removal of the dirt of ego are oft repeated themes. I have composed the shabad in raag Gauri as well.
Key Themes in The Shabad
Saas Saas Simro Gobind comes from Guru Arjan's poem Sukhmani Sahib, or the Pearl of Bliss. The words are relatively simple and beautiful. Incessant remembrance of oneness, relinquishing of the ego through the help of the true guru, and the resulting bliss and proximity to the supreme are key themes of the shabad.
Incessant Remembrance of Oneness: Truth, Love, and Beauty
Remember always, in every breath. We all know what is right. What is good to do. Yet there are moments where we forget what is right and good. This is when transgressions happen. We all know anger is bad. Kindness is good. We all know greed is bad and lust is bad. But we all fall into the trap. Momentarily.
What’s a good time? Every second is the right time. Guru Arjan says Pal Pal Nimakh Sadaa Har Japne in Bilawal in the shabad Charan Kamal.
Story of Karna and Arjuna. Karna knew how to kill arjun. But he had a momentary lapse. That was the cause of his defeat. He forgot. And Krishna reminds Arjun this which is why he is able to vanquish Karna.
In Deh Shiva Bar Mohe, Guru Gobind reminds himself never to forget what is right. Kabhu naa Taron ... never shirk he says. He doesn’t have to tell us what is good or bad. We can often make the discretion. It is hard to remember to do good all the time. It is difficult to remember to do right Always. But it is right to always fight the courageous fight of life. Guru Nanak sings of this fight in Jaisi Main Aveh.
Saas Saas Simro Gobind - Alternative English Meanings
Ashtapadee
Listen to the Teachings of the Perfect Guru;
see the Supreme Lord God near you.
With each and every breath, meditate in remembrance on the Lord of the Universe,
Ashtapadee
Listen to the Teachings of the Perfect Guru;
see the Supreme Lord God near you.
With each and every breath, meditate in remembrance on the Lord of the Universe,
and the anxiety within your mind shall depart.
Abandon the waves of fleeting desire,
and pray for the dust of the feet of the Saints.
Renounce your selfishness and conceit and offer your prayers.
In the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, cross over the ocean of fire.
Fill your stores with the wealth of the Lord.
Nanak bows in humility and reverence to the Perfect Guru. ||1||
Nanak bows in humility and reverence to the Perfect Guru. ||1||
Lyrics in Gurmukhi
ਪੂਰੇ ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸੁਨਿ ਉਪਦੇਸੁ ॥
ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਨਿਕਟਿ ਕਰਿ ਪੇਖੁ ॥
ਸਾਸਿ ਸਾਸਿ ਸਿਮਰਹੁ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ॥
ਮਨ ਅੰਤਰ ਕੀ ਉਤਰੈ ਚਿੰਦ ॥
ਆਸ ਅਨਿਤ ਤਿਆਗਹੁ ਤਰੰਗ ॥
ਸੰਤ ਜਨਾ ਕੀ ਧੂਰਿ ਮਨ ਮੰਗ ॥
ਆਪੁ ਛੋਡਿ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਕਰਹੁ ॥
ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਅਗਨਿ ਸਾਗਰੁ ਤਰਹੁ ॥
ਹਰਿ ਧਨ ਕੇ ਭਰਿ ਲੇਹੁ ਭੰਡਾਰ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰ ਪੂਰੇ ਨਮਸਕਾਰ ॥੧॥
Lyrics and Meanings in Hindi - Prof. Sahib Singh
पूरे गुर का सुनि उपदेसु ॥ पारब्रहमु निकटि करि पेखु ॥ सासि सासि सिमरहु गोबिंद ॥ मन अंतर की उतरै चिंद ॥ आस अनित तिआगहु तरंग ॥ संत जना की धूरि मन मंग ॥ आपु छोडि बेनती करहु ॥ साधसंगि अगनि सागरु तरहु ॥ हरि धन के भरि लेहु भंडार ॥ नानक गुर पूरे नमसकार ॥१॥
पद्अर्थ: निकटि = नजदीक। करि = कर के। पेखु = देख। मन अंतर की = मन के अंदर की। चिंद = चिन्ता। अनित = ना नित्य रहने वालियां। तरंग = लहरें। मन = हे मन! आपु छोडि = अपना आप छोड़ के। अगनि सागरु = (विकारों की) आग का समुंदर। भंडार = खजाने।1।
अर्थ: (हे मन!) पूरे सतिगुरु की शिक्षा सुन, और, अकाल-पुरख को (हर जगह) नजदीक जान के देख।
(हे भाई!) हर दम प्रभु को याद कर, (ताकि) तेरे मन के अंदर की चिन्ता मिट जाए।
हे मन! नित्य ना रहने वाली (चीजों की) आशाओं की लहरें त्याग दे, और संत जनों के पैरों की ख़ाक मांग।
(हे भाई!) स्वैभाव छोड़ के (प्रभु के आगे) अरदास कर, (और इस तरह) साधसंगति में (रह के) (विकारों की) आग के समुंदर से पार लांघ।
हे नानक! प्रभु-नाम-रूपी धन के खजाने भर ले और पूरे सतिगुरु को नमस्कार कर।1।
Every Breath (Poem by Shivpreet Singh)
Every breath.
This word
reminds me
of your name
every breath.
I imagine you unseen
From the little that I see
And inhale your wonder
in every breath.
O resident
of every atom
O enlivener
of every motion
Every breath
O pervader
Of every direction
O permeator
Of every conscience
Every breath
I have felt
your power
in every breath.
Your hue
in every color,
Your essence
In every perfume
Your whisper
In every breath.
Brings
This word
From numb chaos
To a vibrant stillness
This oneness
Instills my breath
In every other breath
Every breath
Saas saas.
Singing oneness!
12 Comments
You rocked this one, listened to this one like 100 times! Wahe Guru!!...I'm a south indian (tamil speaking) and imagine if this had this kinda impact on me, I'm sure this is a hit with many many others. Continue the good work!
ReplyDeleteWonderful to hear from you dear brother! May Waheguru continue to bless you always!
DeleteThank you Dear Brother! And I sincerely pray for Waheguru / God's message to be spread around thru your mesmerizing sweet voice / composition. Over the last 2 days, I learnt this song fully and the credit goes to you. Many Thanks to you _/\_ - Raj
DeleteWaheguru, Waheguru, Waheguru.....
ReplyDeleteLove all the shabads you have published. It touches my soul.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kindness!
DeleteEternally grateful to you dear brother!
ReplyDeleteThrough your translations and explanations, I've been introduced to the beauty and greatness of Guru Granth Sahib.
Thank you.
Excellent composition. Heard it thousands of time. Always helps me meditate. Thanks so much.
ReplyDeleteyour compositions have been blessing every morning in our home. Thankyou for being you. Feel an unexplainable connection to your voice. Thankyou so much :)
ReplyDeleteThis has helped me connect mind, consciousness and thought. My day must starts with Every Breath, the days have become more complete. I make it a point to mention every breath matters when I get an opportunity to speak at any gathering or event. We love what you do and may your love and lyrics play to eternity.
ReplyDeleteLove all your shabads.. my morning starts listening to them.God bless you
ReplyDeleteYou just connected me back to God dear Shivy
ReplyDelete