Har ki Gat Neh Kou Janai - Guru Tegh Bahadur

Listening to Guru Tegh Bahadur's shabad Har ki Gat Neh Kou Janai ("No one knows the state of the Lord") today by Bhai Manmohan Singh; he mentioned that the same tune was used by Bhai Dharam Singh Zakhmi and also Bhai Nirmal Singh.  The lyrics and translation of the shabad are at the bottom of this note. 

I found a recording of an old version from youtube. Perhaps this would be good to add to the list of shabads to celebrate Guru Tegh Bahdur's 250th birth anniversary that is upcoming later this year. 





Essence of the Shabad

Many yogis, many ascetics, and many other wise people have tried and failed but no person has been able to understand what Hari is like. He makes the poor a king and in an instant he makes a pauper the king. He fills empty pots and empties the filled ones; that is just the way he is. He is found in so many colors and forms, yet he remains separate from all forms. His qualities cannot be counted. He is infinite, he is invisible, he is immortal himself, and he makes the whole world wander in Maya. Only the person who has submitted his mind to hari's feet stops wandering in illusion.


On Gati 

Gat or Gati is an interesting word; in common hindi today it means speed, but it can most likely be related to condition, state or stature. According to the dictionary Gati can have many meanings as below: 

Gaṯ(i). 1. ਹਾਲਤ, ਅਵਸਥਾ, ਦਸ਼ਾ। 2. ਛੁਟਕਾਰਾ, ਗਤੀ, ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤੀ, ਮੁਕਤੀ। 3. ਉਚੀ/ਗਿਆਨ ਵਾਲੀ ਅਵਸਥਾ। 4. ਰਸਤਾ, ਮਾਰਗ। 5. ਉਚੀ ਪਦਵੀ ਭਾਵ ਮੁਕਤੀ। 6. ਗਤੀ ਭਾਵ ਜੀਵਨ ਦਾ ਅੰਤਮ ਲਕਸ਼ (ਮਨੋਰਥ)। 7. ਜੁਗਤਿ, ਤਰੀਕਾ ਢੰਗ (ਪਾਰ ਪਹੁੰਚਾਉਣ ਦਾ)। 8. ਪਹੁੰਚ, ਗਮਤਾ, ਸਮਰਥਾ। 9. ਭਾਵ ਸਫਲਤਾ, ਸੁਖ। 10. ਭਾਵ ਸ਼ੁਧੀ, ਪਵਿੱਤਰਤਾ। 11. ਅਸਲੀਅਤ, ਸਾਰ। 12. ਸੋਝੀ, ਸਾਰ। 13. ਵਡਿਆਈ, ਮਹਾਨਤਾ। 14. ਚੰਗੇ (ਭਾਵ)। 1. condition. 2. salvation, deliverance. 3. higher state of knowledge/awakening. 4. way; state of emancipation. 5. higher status viz., salvation. 6. emancipation. 7. way/tact of salvation. 8. capability. 9. salvation. 10. emancipation. 11. essence. 12. awareness, consciousness. 13. praise, greatness. 14. emancipation, good. 


This shabad reminds me of the following:

  • Bhagat Namdev's, Jee Ki Jot Na Janai Koi: No one knows the true lamp of the life. 
  • Guru Nanak's Manne ki gat kahi na Jae from Japji Sahib. ਮੰਨੇ ਕੀ ਗਤਿ ਕਹੀ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥ Japujee, Guru Nanak 12:1 (P: 3). No one knows the condition of the one who has completely surrendered. 
  • Bhai Nandlal's Gahe Sufi Gahe Zaahid - Sometimes he appears as a sufi, sometimes as zaahid and sometimes as kalandar. he comes in so many colors. 
  • Stanza 2 (Nana roop dhare bahu rangi) reminds me of Guru Nanak's Rang Ratta Mera Sahib: He is himself the fish, the fisherman, his net and the weights of the net. 
  • Meera's Karam ki gati Nyaari. Especially the line "moorakh ko tum raaj diyat ho / pandit phirat bhikhaari."  Strange is the result of karam, she says. The stupid person becomes a king and the wise one is asking for alms. 
  • Also Meera's Hari bin koon gati meri. Here gati has a slightly different meaning. This is a song of birha, or separation. Says Meera, without Hari what is my plight!
Har Ki Gat Neh Kou Jaanai - Lyrics and Translation

ਰਾਗੁ ਬਿਹਾਗੜਾ ਮਹਲਾ ੯ ॥
रागु बिहागड़ा महला ९ ॥
Rāg bihāgaṛā mėhlā 9.
Raag Bihaagraa, Ninth Mehl:

ਹਰਿ ਕੀ ਗਤਿ ਨਹਿ ਕੋਊ ਜਾਨੈ ॥
हरि की गति नहि कोऊ जानै ॥
Har kī gaṯ nėh ko▫ū jānai.
No one knows the state of the Lord.

ਜੋਗੀ ਜਤੀ ਤਪੀ ਪਚਿ ਹਾਰੇ ਅਰੁ ਬਹੁ ਲੋਗ ਸਿਆਨੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
जोगी जती तपी पचि हारे अरु बहु लोग सिआने ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
Jogī jaṯī ṯapī pacẖ hāre ar baho log si▫āne. ||1|| rahā▫o.
The Yogis, the celibates, the penitents, and all sorts of clever people have failed. ||1||Pause||

ਛਿਨ ਮਹਿ ਰਾਉ ਰੰਕ ਕਉ ਕਰਈ ਰਾਉ ਰੰਕ ਕਰਿ ਡਾਰੇ ॥
छिन महि राउ रंक कउ करई राउ रंक करि डारे ॥
Cẖẖin mėh rā▫o rank ka▫o kar▫ī rā▫o rank kar dāre.
In an instant, He changes the beggar into a king, and the king into a beggar.

ਰੀਤੇ ਭਰੇ ਭਰੇ ਸਖਨਾਵੈ ਯਹ ਤਾ ਕੋ ਬਿਵਹਾਰੇ ॥੧॥
रीते भरे भरे सखनावै यह ता को बिवहारे ॥१॥
Rīṯe bẖare bẖare sakẖnāvai yėh ṯā ko bivhāre. ||1||
He fills what is empty, and empties what is full - such are His ways. ||1||

ਅਪਨੀ ਮਾਇਆ ਆਪਿ ਪਸਾਰੀ ਆਪਹਿ ਦੇਖਨਹਾਰਾ ॥
अपनी माइआ आपि पसारी आपहि देखनहारा ॥
Apnī mā▫i▫ā āp pasārī āpėh ḏekẖanhārā.
He Himself spread out the expanse of His Maya, and He Himself beholds it.

ਨਾਨਾ ਰੂਪੁ ਧਰੇ ਬਹੁ ਰੰਗੀ ਸਭ ਤੇ ਰਹੈ ਨਿਆਰਾ ॥੨॥
नाना रूपु धरे बहु रंगी सभ ते रहै निआरा ॥२॥
Nānā rūp ḏẖare baho rangī sabẖ ṯe rahai ni▫ārā. ||2||
He assumes so many forms, and plays so many games, and yet, He remains detached from it all. ||2||

ਅਗਨਤ ਅਪਾਰੁ ਅਲਖ ਨਿਰੰਜਨ ਜਿਹ ਸਭ ਜਗੁ ਭਰਮਾਇਓ ॥
अगनत अपारु अलख निरंजन जिह सभ जगु भरमाइओ ॥
Agnaṯ apār alakẖ niranjan jih sabẖ jag bẖarmā▫i▫o.
Incalculable, infinite, incomprehensible and immaculate is He, who has misled the entire world.

ਸਗਲ ਭਰਮ ਤਜਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ ਚਰਨਿ ਤਾਹਿ ਚਿਤੁ ਲਾਇਓ ॥੩॥੧॥੨॥
सगल भरम तजि नानक प्राणी चरनि ताहि चितु लाइओ ॥३॥१॥२॥
Sagal bẖaram ṯaj Nānak parāṇī cẖaran ṯāhi cẖiṯ lā▫i▫o. ||3||1||2||
Cast off all your doubts; prays Nanak, O mortal, focus your consciousness on His Feet. ||3||1||2||

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