Prabh Paas Jan Ki Ardaas: My humble prayer



This is part of Kirpa Dhaar project done to record uplifting tracks during the Pandemic of 2020. I am going to start a new project starting next week that will be focused on Bhagat Namdev. 

Origin of the word "Ardaas"


Ardaas comes from the Arabic Ardzasht.  It is also used in Farsi as Ardz.  The meaning is the same: petition, supplication, prayer, request.  It is also related to the Sanskrit verb ard (अर्द) which means "request, ask, beg". 

This "z" in "Ardzasht is one of the 4 z's in Arabic ... and this one is derived from "d" and therefore in Punjabi and Hindi we say "Ardaas" (just like Ramadaan for Ramzaan, and Nadar for Nazar).  It is pronounced like a mix of a soft "d" and "z" ... just like pizza is pronounced as Peetzaah with a "t" and "z".  

Other Recordings

This is one of three recordings of this composition. I composed this in 1996. It was done in my last year when I was a student at Berkeley and used to live in the Sikh Ashram, 2 blocks north of the campus.  It was included in the the first album I released in 1997. A second studio version was recorded with bansuri, piano, sax (Jeremy Marais) and cello (Suellen Primost) and released in 2014: https://youtu.be/AuboP0kQpMM

Where does the Shabad Come From?


The shabad comes from Guru Amardas and is part of a "vaar" ... a ballad, in Raag Gujri and can be found on Page 512. The heading (sirlekh) of the ballad can be found on GGS Page 508. 

ਗੂਜਰੀ ਕੀ ਵਾਰ ਮਹਲਾ ੩ ਸਿਕੰਦਰ ਬਿਰਾਹਿਮ ਕੀ ਵਾਰ ਕੀ ਧੁਨੀ ਗਾਉਣੀ
गूजरी की वार महला ३ सिकंदर बिराहिम की वार की धुनी गाउणी
Gūjrī kī vār mėhlā 3 sikanḏar birāhim kī vār kī ḏẖunī gā▫uṇī
Goojaree Ki Vaar, Third Mehl, Sung In The Tune Of The Vaar Of Sikandar & Biraahim:

There must have been a popular tune that sang the praises of Sikandar and Ibrahim Lodi, the two rulers of the Lodi dynasty during the time of Guru Nanak.  I have heard that Patiala university researchers under the direction of Dr. Gurnam Singh have done some research on this "tune."  

Where does the quote in the beginning of the shabad come from?


This quote comes from the same vaar; it is a shloka written by Guru Amardas that is an introduction to the Pauri: 

ਮਃ ੩ ॥
मः ३ ॥
Mėhlā 3.
Third Mehl:

ਮਿਠਾ ਸੋ ਜੋ ਭਾਵਦਾ ਸਜਣੁ ਸੋ ਜਿ ਰਾਸਿ ॥
मिठा सो जो भावदा सजणु सो जि रासि ॥
Miṯẖā so jo bẖāvḏā sajaṇ so jė rās.
That which is pleasing is sweet, and one who is sincere is a friend.

ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜਾਣੀਐ ਜਾ ਕਉ ਆਪਿ ਕਰੇ ਪਰਗਾਸੁ ॥੨॥
नानक गुरमुखि जाणीऐ जा कउ आपि करे परगासु ॥२॥
Nānak gurmukẖ jāṇī▫ai jā ka▫o āp kare pargās. ||2||
O Nanak, he is known as a Gurmukh, whom the Lord Himself enlightens. ||2||


Lyrics Transliterated in English


Prabh Paas Jan Ki Ardaas
Prabh Paas Jan Ki Ardaas
Tu Sacha Saayin

Tu Rakhvaala Sadaa Sadaa 
Haun Tudh Dhyaayin

Jee Jant Sab Tereya
Tu Raheya Samaayin

Jo daas Tere Ki Ninda Karai
Tis Maar Pachaayin

Chintaa Chad Achint Raho
Nanak Lag Paayin


My humble prayer to Prabhu

Prabhu, this is my humble petition: 
that you are the true master

that you always protect me 
and I meditate on You.

that all life and creatures are yours
and you permeate all

that one who slanders your servant
is vanquished completely

that renouncing my worries, I am carefree
at your feet

Sahib Singh Translation


ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਦੇ ਸੇਵਕ ਦੀ ਅਰਦਾਸਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਦੀ ਹਜ਼ੂਰੀ ਵਿਚ (ਇਉਂ ਹੁੰਦੀ) ਹੈ-(ਹੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ!) ਤੂੰ ਸਦਾ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਮਾਲਕ ਹੈਂ, ਤੂੰ ਸਦਾ ਹੀ ਰਾਖਾ ਹੈਂ, ਮੈਂ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਸਿਮਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ, ਸਾਰੇ ਜੀਆ ਜੰਤ ਤੇਰੇ ਹੀ ਹਨ, ਤੂੰ ਇਹਨਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਮੌਜੂਦ ਹੈਂ। ਜੋ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਤੇਰੀ ਬੰਦਗੀ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਦੀ ਨਿੰਦਿਆ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ ਤੂੰ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ (ਆਤਮਕ ਮੌਤੇ) ਮਾਰ ਕੇ ਖ਼ੁਆਰ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈਂ। ਹੇ ਨਾਨਕ! ਤੂੰ ਭੀ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਦੀ ਚਰਨੀਂ ਲੱਗ ਤੇ (ਦੁਨੀਆ ਵਾਲੀ) ਚਿੰਤਾ ਛੱਡ ਕੇ ਬੇ-ਫ਼ਿਕਰ ਹੋ ਰਹੁ।੨੧।


पद्अर्थ: जन = प्रभु का सेवक। हउ = मैं। पाई = पैरों में।21।

अर्थ: प्रभु के सेवक की अरदास प्रभु की हजूरी में (यूँ होती) है: (हे प्रभु!) तू सदा रहने वाला मालिक है, तू सदा ही रखवाला है, मैं तुझे स्मरण करता हूँ, सारे जीव-जंतु तेरे ही हैं, तू इनमें मौजूद है। जो मनुष्य तेरी बंदगी करने वाले की निंदा करता है तू उसको (आत्मिक मौत) मार के ख्वार करता है।हे नानक! तू भी प्रभु के चरणों में लग और (दुनियावी) चिंताएं त्याग के बेफिक्र रह।21।


Gurbani, Transliteration and Translation


ਪਉੜੀ ॥
पउड़ी ॥
Pa▫oṛī.
Pauree:

ਪ੍ਰਭ ਪਾਸਿ ਜਨ ਕੀ ਅਰਦਾਸਿ ਤੂ ਸਚਾ ਸਾਂਈ ॥
प्रभ पासि जन की अरदासि तू सचा सांई ॥
Parabẖ pās jan kī arḏās ṯū sacẖā sāʼn▫ī.
O God, Your humble servant offers his prayer to You; You are my True Master.

ਤੂ ਰਖਵਾਲਾ ਸਦਾ ਸਦਾ ਹਉ ਤੁਧੁ ਧਿਆਈ ॥
तू रखवाला सदा सदा हउ तुधु धिआई ॥
Ŧū rakẖvālā saḏā saḏā ha▫o ṯuḏẖ ḏẖi▫ā▫ī.
You are my Protector, forever and ever; I meditate on You.

ਜੀਅ ਜੰਤ ਸਭਿ ਤੇਰਿਆ ਤੂ ਰਹਿਆ ਸਮਾਈ ॥
जीअ जंत सभि तेरिआ तू रहिआ समाई ॥
Jī▫a janṯ sabẖ ṯeri▫ā ṯū rahi▫ā samā▫ī.
All the beings and creatures are Yours; You are pervading and permeating in them.

ਜੋ ਦਾਸ ਤੇਰੇ ਕੀ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਕਰੇ ਤਿਸੁ ਮਾਰਿ ਪਚਾਈ ॥
जो दास तेरे की निंदा करे तिसु मारि पचाई ॥
Jo ḏās ṯere kī ninḏā kare ṯis mār pacẖā▫ī.
One who slanders Your slave is crushed and destroyed.

ਚਿੰਤਾ ਛਡਿ ਅਚਿੰਤੁ ਰਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਗਿ ਪਾਈ ॥੨੧॥
चिंता छडि अचिंतु रहु नानक लगि पाई ॥२१॥
Cẖinṯā cẖẖad acẖinṯ rahu Nānak lag pā▫ī. ||21||
Falling at Your Feet, Nanak has renounced his cares, and has become care-free. ||21||



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