I have worked on this shabad off and on for 6 years. Thanks to music contributions by Bhai Gopal Singh ji, Rajhesh Vaidhya (Veena), Janapriyan Levine (Guitar) and Suellen Primost (cello).
This sacred hymn serves as a heartfelt homage to Guru Ramdas by his devoted disciple and the fifth guru, Guru Arjan Dev. It is meant to be sung and contemplated with the profound love of a disciple, with a special focus on the disciple's affection for the divine wisdom imparted by the Guru.
Lyrics and Alternative Translation
ਰਾਮਦਾਸ ਸਰੋਵਰਿ ਨਾਤੇ ॥
रामदास सरोवरि नाते ॥
Rāmḏās sarovar nāṯe.
Bathing in the nectar tank of Ram Das,
ਸਭਿ ਉਤਰੇ ਪਾਪ ਕਮਾਤੇ ॥
सभि उतरे पाप कमाते ॥
Sabẖ uṯre pāp kamāṯe.
all sins are erased.
ਨਿਰਮਲ ਹੋਏ ਕਰਿ ਇਸਨਾਨਾ ॥
निरमल होए करि इसनाना ॥
Nirmal hoe kar isnānā.
One becomes immaculately pure, taking this cleansing bath.
ਗੁਰਿ ਪੂਰੈ ਕੀਨੇ ਦਾਨਾ ॥੧॥
गुरि पूरै कीने दाना ॥१॥
Gur pūrai kīne ḏānā. ||1||
The Perfect Guru has bestowed this gift. ||1||
ਸਭਿ ਕੁਸਲ ਖੇਮ ਪ੍ਰਭਿ ਧਾਰੇ ॥
सभि कुसल खेम प्रभि धारे ॥
Sabẖ kusal kẖem parabẖ ḏẖāre.
God has blessed all with peace and pleasure.
ਸਹੀ ਸਲਾਮਤਿ ਸਭਿ ਥੋਕ ਉਬਾਰੇ ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਵੀਚਾਰੇ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
सही सलामति सभि थोक उबारे गुर का सबदु वीचारे ॥ रहाउ ॥
Sahī salāmaṯ sabẖ thok ubāre gur kā sabaḏ vīcẖāre. Rahāo.
Everything is safe and sound, as we contemplate the Word of the Guru's Shabad. ||Pause||
ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਮਲੁ ਲਾਥੀ ॥
साधसंगि मलु लाथी ॥
Sāḏẖsang mal lāthī.
In the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, filth is washed off.
ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਭਇਓ ਸਾਥੀ ॥
पारब्रहमु भइओ साथी ॥
Pārbarahm bẖaio sāthī.
The Supreme Lord God has become our friend and helper.
ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਇਆ ॥
नानक नामु धिआइआ ॥
Nānak nām ḏẖiāiā.
Nanak meditates on the Naam, the Name of the Lord.
ਆਦਿ ਪੁਰਖ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥੨॥੧॥੬੫॥
आदि पुरख प्रभु पाइआ ॥२॥१॥६५॥
Āḏ purakẖ parabẖ pāiā. ||2||1||65||
He has found God, the Primal Being. ||2||1||65||
Singing oneness!
