The Music
The original composition that this melody is inspired from was from Bhai Gopal Singh Ragi. This is one of the shabads I loved listening to from childhood and I have put my own twist to the melody and especially the arrangement. While the shlok is listed under Raag Sorath in the Guru Granth Sahib, Bhai Gopal Singh ji composed this in Raag Bhairavi.
The Shabad
This shabad is actually a Shlok written by Guru Amar Das from Guru Ram Das' Vaar, Sorath Ki Vaar:
ਸਲੋਕੁ ਮਃ ੩ ॥
सलोकु मः ३ ॥
Salok mėhlā 3.
Shalok, Third Mehl:
ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਸਫਲੁ ਹੈ ਜੇ ਕੋ ਕਰੇ ਚਿਤੁ ਲਾਇ ॥
सतिगुर की सेवा सफलु है जे को करे चितु लाइ ॥
Saṯgur kī sevā safal hai je ko kare cẖiṯ lāe.
Service to the True Guru is fruitful and rewarding, if one performs it with his mind focused on it.
ਮਨਿ ਚਿੰਦਿਆ ਫਲੁ ਪਾਵਣਾ ਹਉਮੈ ਵਿਚਹੁ ਜਾਇ ॥
मनि चिंदिआ फलु पावणा हउमै विचहु जाइ ॥
Man cẖinḏiā fal pāvṇā haumai vicẖahu jāe.
The fruits of the mind's desires are obtained, and egotism departs from within.
ਬੰਧਨ ਤੋੜੈ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਹੋਇ ਸਚੇ ਰਹੈ ਸਮਾਇ ॥
बंधन तोड़ै मुकति होइ सचे रहै समाइ ॥
Banḏẖan ṯoṛai mukaṯ hoe sacẖe rahai samāe.
His bonds are broken, and he is liberated; he remains absorbed in the True Lord.
ਇਸੁ ਜਗ ਮਹਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਅਲਭੁ ਹੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਵਸੈ ਮਨਿ ਆਇ ॥
इसु जग महि नामु अलभु है गुरमुखि वसै मनि आइ ॥
Is jag mėh nām alabẖ hai gurmukẖ vasai man āe.
It is so difficult to obtain the Naam in this world; it comes to dwell in the mind of the Gurmukh.
ਨਾਨਕ ਜੋ ਗੁਰੁ ਸੇਵਹਿ ਆਪਣਾ ਹਉ ਤਿਨ ਬਲਿਹਾਰੈ ਜਾਉ ॥੧॥
नानक जो गुरु सेवहि आपणा हउ तिन बलिहारै जाउ ॥१॥
Nānak jo gur sevėh āpṇā hao ṯin balihārai jāo. ||1||
O Nanak, I am a sacrifice to one who serves his True Guru. ||1||
Another Shlok With Similar Beginning
There is another shabad that uses the first line. This one is also a Shlok by Guru Amar Das from a vaar in Bihaagra by Guru Ram Das.
ਸਲੋਕ ਮਃ ੩ ॥
सलोक मः ३ ॥
Salok mėhlā 3.
Shalok, Third Mehl:
ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਸਫਲ ਹੈ ਜੇ ਕੋ ਕਰੇ ਚਿਤੁ ਲਾਇ ॥
सतिगुर की सेवा सफल है जे को करे चितु लाइ ॥
Saṯgur kī sevā safal hai je ko kare cẖiṯ lāe.
Fruitful is service to the True Guru, if one does so with a sincere mind.
ਨਾਮੁ ਪਦਾਰਥੁ ਪਾਈਐ ਅਚਿੰਤੁ ਵਸੈ ਮਨਿ ਆਇ ॥
नामु पदारथु पाईऐ अचिंतु वसै मनि आइ ॥
Nām paḏārath pāīai acẖinṯ vasai man āe.
The treasure of the Naam, is obtained, and the mind comes to be free of anxiety.
ਜਨਮ ਮਰਨ ਦੁਖੁ ਕਟੀਐ ਹਉਮੈ ਮਮਤਾ ਜਾਇ ॥
जनम मरन दुखु कटीऐ हउमै ममता जाइ ॥
Janam maran ḏukẖ katīai haumai mamṯā jāe.
The pains of birth and death are eradicated, and the mind is rid of egotism and self-conceit.
ਉਤਮ ਪਦਵੀ ਪਾਈਐ ਸਚੇ ਰਹੈ ਸਮਾਇ ॥
उतम पदवी पाईऐ सचे रहै समाइ ॥
Uṯam paḏvī pāīai sacẖe rahai samāe.
One achieves the ultimate state, and remains absorbed in the True Lord.
ਨਾਨਕ ਪੂਰਬਿ ਜਿਨ ਕਉ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਤਿਨਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਆਇ ॥੧॥
नानक पूरबि जिन कउ लिखिआ तिना सतिगुरु मिलिआ आइ ॥१॥
Nānak pūrab jin kao likẖiā ṯinā saṯgur miliā āe. ||1||
O Nanak, the True Guru comes and meets those who have such pre-ordained destiny. ||1||
Singing oneness!
