Praising Shri Krishna in the Guru Granth Sahib - Dhan Dhan O Raam Ben by Bhagat Namdev

I made a new composition for this shabad today. Hopefully I will get to record it one day.

I'd like to focus our discussion on this particular shabad, as it appears to be perplexing for some individuals. There's a divergence of opinion regarding whether Bhagat Namdev is extolling Shri Krishna within the pages of the Guru Granth Sahib. Some view it as a celebration of Shri Krishna's praise in the Guru Granth Sahib, while others may find it somewhat bewildering.

The unambiguous truth lies in the words themselves. There is no doubt that Bhagat Namdev is indeed praising the human manifestation of Shri Krishna in this shabad. Just as we hold dear the kalgi and baaj of Guru Gobind Singh, as well as the khadaon (slippers) of Guru Nanak, and Muslims cherish Hazrat Muhammad's black blanket, Bhagat Namdev cherishes every aspect of love: his flute, music, his blanket, his Vrindavan, and his parents. Bhai Nandlal eloquently expresses his profound affection for every facet of Guru Gobind Singh. This profound bond between disciple and guru is celebrated and held in high regard within the Guru Granth Sahib. 

I can offer many shabads that explain this. Here are a couple of lines from a shabad that I love and sing: 
Satgur ki seva saphal hai 
"The service of the guru brings success." 

Nanak jo gur sevai aapna haon tin balihaarai jaon 
"Whoever serves their guru, I love them!"

Satgur ki seva saphal hai


Nevertheless, any doubts should be dispelled. According to both Advaita philosophy and the teachings of the Guru Granth Sahib, Krishna is none other than the Atman or the pure consciousness residing in the hearts of all beings, encompassing the beginning, middle, and end of all creation. In the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna reaffirms this in the Aatma Gyaan chapter, stating, "There has never been a time when you or I have ceased to exist, or will ever cease to exist, for we are, in truth, the ultimate reality, Satchidananda – indestructible, infinite, the Aatma."

It's important to note that all shabads and sections in the Guru Granth Sahib are titled with either the complete Mool Mantra (Ekonkar through Gur Prasad) or a shortened form thereof. In the case of this shabad, the title is "Ekonkar Satgurprasad." This signifies the oneness of Onkaar and the Guru's blessings. Krishna, too, embodies this oneness and is a manifestation of the Guru's blessings.

There are other shabads that praise Krishna and his deeds in the Guru Granth Sahib. In Ab Rakho Daas Bhaat ki Laaj, there is a mention of how Shri Krishna saves Draupadi.  

Ab Rakho Daas Bhaat Ki Laaj



Composition Details


New Composition
Recorded on iPhone - without Serial Number
Dhan Dhan O Raam Ben Baajai
Would be great to have Shehnai or flute on an eventual recording
Raag Maligaura (also Maaligaura)
September 18, 2018; 10:30PM
Voice Record on iPhone

ਧਨਿ ਧੰਨਿ ਓ ਰਾਮ ਬੇਨੁ ਬਾਜੈ ॥
ਮਧੁਰ ਮਧੁਰ ਧੁਨਿ ਅਨਹਤ ਗਾਜੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥


ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥
ੴ सतिगुर प्रसादि ॥
Ik oaʼnkār saṯgur parsāḏ.
One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:

ਧਨਿ ਧੰਨਿ ਓ ਰਾਮ ਬੇਨੁ ਬਾਜੈ ॥
धनि धंनि ओ राम बेनु बाजै ॥
Ḏẖan ḏẖan o rām ben bājai.
Blessed, blessed is that flute which the Lord plays.

ਮਧੁਰ ਮਧੁਰ ਧੁਨਿ ਅਨਹਤ ਗਾਜੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
मधुर मधुर धुनि अनहत गाजै ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
Maḏẖur maḏẖur ḏẖun anhaṯ gājai. ||1|| rahā o.
The sweet, sweet unstruck sound current sings forth. ||1||Pause||

ਧਨਿ ਧਨਿ ਮੇਘਾ ਰੋਮਾਵਲੀ ॥
धनि धनि मेघा रोमावली ॥
Ḏẖan ḏẖan megẖā romāvalī.
Blessed, blessed is the wool of the sheep;

ਧਨਿ ਧਨਿ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨ ਓਢੈ ਕਾਂਬਲੀ ॥੧॥
धनि धनि क्रिसन ओढै कांबली ॥१॥
Ḏẖan ḏẖan krisan odẖai kāʼnblī. ||1||
blessed, blessed is the blanket worn by Krishna. ||1||

ਧਨਿ ਧਨਿ ਤੂ ਮਾਤਾ ਦੇਵਕੀ ॥
धनि धनि तू माता देवकी ॥
Ḏẖan ḏẖan ṯū māṯā ḏevkī.
Blessed, blessed are you, O mother Dayvakee;

ਜਿਹ ਗ੍ਰਿਹ ਰਮਈਆ ਕਵਲਾਪਤੀ ॥੨॥
जिह ग्रिह रमईआ कवलापती ॥२॥
Jih garih rama ī ā kavalāpaṯī. ||2||
into your home the Lord was born. ||2||

ਧਨਿ ਧਨਿ ਬਨ ਖੰਡ ਬਿੰਦ੍ਰਾਬਨਾ ॥
धनि धनि बन खंड बिंद्राबना ॥
Ḏẖan ḏẖan ban kẖand binḏrābanā.
Blessed, blessed are the forests of Brindaaban;

ਜਹ ਖੇਲੈ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਨਾਰਾਇਨਾ ॥੩॥
जह खेलै स्री नाराइना ॥३॥
Jah kẖelai sarī nārā inā. ||3||
the Supreme Lord plays there. ||3||

ਬੇਨੁ ਬਜਾਵੈ ਗੋਧਨੁ ਚਰੈ ॥
बेनु बजावै गोधनु चरै ॥
Ben bajāvai goḏẖan cẖarai.
He plays the flute, and herds the cows;

ਨਾਮੇ ਕਾ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਆਨਦ ਕਰੈ ॥੪॥੧॥
नामे का सुआमी आनद करै ॥४॥१॥
Nāme kā su āmī ānaḏ karai. ||4||1||
Naam Dayv's Lord and Master plays happily. ||4||1||

1 Comments

  1. Hritik AwasthyFebruary 22, 2024 at 5:49 PM

    हर कण में विद्यमान कृष्ण को मेरा प्रणाम🙏 एवं गुरु के शब्द हृदय को आकर्षित करते हैं❤️. सनातन धर्म की जय। सतनाम श्री वाहेगुरु ।

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