Shivpreet Singh
Shivpreet Singh
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Listening to this Surdas bhajan today: 
Sabse oonchi prem sagai 

Jagjit Singh's rendition (which has the same tune as Anup Jalota's, so that's interesting!):


There are two versions of this poem I have found; one has 4 antaras, and another has 7 antaras. It was probably an ashtapadi. Will be interesting to find the complete ashtapadi. Write to me if you find it!

Short Version: Translation/Meaning in English & Lyrics in Hindi


The highest is the relation of love

The best bond is the bond of love. The Lord renounced the fifty-six kinds of food of the house of Duryodhana, and ate the simple greens of Vidur's house with love. The lord accepted the love of Shabri and ate fruit that was tasted by her. He had also accepted to be the charioteer of Arjuna's chariot without regards to his high position. His love for Vrindavan was so great that he also danced with the gopis. Surdas says: Lord, I am a lowly person and unworthy of such love, then how much can I praise you?

सबसे ऊँची प्रेम सगा‌ई

दुर्योधन को मेवा त्याग्यो
साग बिदुर घर पा‌ई

झूठे फल सबरी के खाए
बहु बिध प्रेम लगाई

प्रेम के बस अर्जुन रथ हांक्यो, 
भूल गए ठकुराई

प्रेमके बस अर्जुन-रथ हाँक्यो, 
भूल गये ठकुराई ।। २ ।।

ऐसी प्रीति बढी ब्रिंदाबन, 
गोपिन नाच नचाई ।।

सूर क्रूर इस लायक नाहीं, 
कहं लगि करौं बडाई ।। ३ ।। 


भावार्थ                                                               

सर्वश्रेष्ठ बँधन प्यार का बँधन है। भगवान ने दुर्योधन के घर का छपपन-भोग त्याग दिया, और विदुरजी के घर का साग प्रेम से खाया था। शबरी भीलनी थी, उसके जूठे बेर को भी भगवान ने बहुत स्वाद ले ले कर खाते थे।  अपने उच्च पद (ईश्वरत्व) का कोई ध्यान रखे बिना उन्होंने अर्जुन के रथ का सारथि बनना भी स्वीकार किया था। वृन्दावन के साथ तो उनका प्रेम इतना अधिक था कि उन्होंने गोपियों के साथ नृत्य भी किया था। सूरदास कहते हैं: हे प्रभु, मैं तो नीच व्यक्ति हूँ और इस तरह के प्यार के अयोग्य हूं, फिर मैं आपकी कितनी प्रशंसा कर सकता हूँ ?

Longer Version of this Bhajan - Lyrics and Translation in English


sabse ūńcī prema sagāī

(1)
duryodhana ko mevā tyāgo
sāga vidura ghara pāī

(2)
jūṭhe phala sabarī ke khāye
bahu vidhi prema lagāī

(3)
prema ke bas nṛpa sevā kīnhī
āp bane hari nāī

(4)
rājasuya yajña yudhiṣṭhira kīno
tāmai jūṭha uṭhāī

(5)
prema ke basa arjuna ratha hāńkhyo
bhūla gaye ṭhakurāī

(6)
aisi prīti baḍhī vṛndāvana
gopina nāca nacāī

(7)
sūra krūra is lāyaka nāhī
kaha lag karau baḍāī


TRANSLATION

Refrain: Of all forms of worship of the Lord, love is the best.

1) Lord Krsna renounced the delicacies that Duryodhana offered, and ate vegetables at Vidura's house.

2) As Lord Ramacandra, He ate fruits which were already filled with love from Sabari.

3) Love is indeed the best way to serve and please the Lord.

4) In Maharaja Yuddhistira's Rajasuya Yajna sacrifice, Lord Krsna served the brahmanas and picked up their eating utensils.

5) Out of pure love for Arjuna, He took the position of being his charioteer, and He forgot that He was the Lord.

6) Such love did Lord Krsna portray in Vrndavana when He danced with the gopis in the rasa lila.

7) Sura Dasa asks, "In what way could I worship the merciful and magnanimous Lord?"
I was listening to Soyi Rasna Jo Hari Gun Gaave by Bhagat Surdas and collected some information about this 16th-century devotional poet and singer. He lived between 1483 and 1573 BC and is said to have been blind from birth. 



Short Biography of Bhagat Surdas 


Surdas was a poet and Bhakti saint who lived in India in the 16th century. He is most known for his devotional poetry and songs in praise of Lord Krishna. He primarily wrote his poems in Braj Bhasha, one of the two literary dialects of Hindi (the other being Awadhi).

Historians believe that he was born in 1478 C.E. in the village of Sihi, Faridabad, Haryana, although some sources claim that he was born in Runkta, near Agra. He is said to have been influenced by the teachings of Vallabha Acharya, whom he is believed to have met in 1510.

Surdas' work mainly consists of three compilations: "Sur Saravali," "Sahitya Lahiri," and "Sur Sagar." "Sur Saravali" is based on the festival of Holi and originally had 100 verses. In this poem, Surdas attempted to create a theory of genesis with Lord Krishna as the Creator. "Sahitya Lahiri" is mainly focused on devotion towards the Supreme Lord. "Sur Sagar" is considered to be his most significant work, it is woven around the life of Lord Krishna and originally contained 100,000 poems or songs, of which only 8,000 have survived the test of time. Many of the poems in the book may have been written by later poets in Surdas' name who were likely inspired by him, similar to the writings of Kabir and Guru Nanak's followers.

Surdas was also one of the most prominent poets among the group known as the Aṣṭachāp (eight seals) within the Vallabha Sampradaya. He passed away on the 16th century and his birth anniversary is celebrated according to the Hindu lunar calendar on the fifth day of the bright half of the month of Vaishakha.


Some of his poetry can be found here: Surdas on Kavita Kosh

Influence on Gurbani


The following line of his poetry is included in the Guru Granth Sahib:

Chhaadd man hari bimukhan ko sa(n)g ||
O mind, do not even associate with those who have turned their backs on the Lord Hari.

Guru Arjan continued Bhagat Surdas thought and wrote the following Shabad in Raag sarang:

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

ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਸੰਗ ਬਸੇ ਹਰਿ ਲੋਕ ॥
हरि के संग बसे हरि लोक ॥
Har ke sang base har lok.
The people of the Lord dwell with the Lord.

ਤਨੁ ਮਨੁ ਅਰਪਿ ਸਰਬਸੁ ਸਭੁ ਅਰਪਿਓ ਅਨਦ ਸਹਜ ਧੁਨਿ ਝੋਕ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
तनु मनु अरपि सरबसु सभु अरपिओ अनद सहज धुनि झोक ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
Ŧan man arap sarbas sabẖ arpi▫o anaḏ sahj ḏẖun jẖok. ||1|| rahā▫o.
They dedicate their minds and bodies to Him; they dedicate everything to Him. They are intoxicated with the celestial melody of intuitive ecstasy. ||1||Pause||

ਦਰਸਨੁ ਪੇਖਿ ਭਏ ਨਿਰਬਿਖਈ ਪਾਏ ਹੈ ਸਗਲੇ ਥੋਕ ॥
दरसनु पेखि भए निरबिखई पाए है सगले थोक ॥
Ḏarsan pekẖ bẖae nirbikẖaī pāe hai sagle thok.
Gazing upon the Blessed Vision of the Lord's Darshan, they are cleansed of corruption. They obtain absolutely everything.

ਆਨ ਬਸਤੁ ਸਿਉ ਕਾਜੁ ਨ ਕਛੂਐ ਸੁੰਦਰ ਬਦਨ ਅਲੋਕ ॥੧॥
आन बसतु सिउ काजु न कछूऐ सुंदर बदन अलोक ॥१॥
Ān basaṯ sio kāj na kacẖẖūai sunḏar baḏan alok. ||1||
They have nothing to do with anything else; they gaze on the beauteous Face of God. ||1||

ਸਿਆਮ ਸੁੰਦਰ ਤਜਿ ਆਨ ਜੁ ਚਾਹਤ ਜਿਉ ਕੁਸਟੀ ਤਨਿ ਜੋਕ ॥
सिआम सुंदर तजि आन जु चाहत जिउ कुसटी तनि जोक ॥
Siām sunḏar ṯaj ān jo cẖāhaṯ jio kustī ṯan jok.
But one who forsakes the elegantly beautiful Lord, and harbors desire for anything else, is like a leech on the body of a leper.

ਸੂਰਦਾਸ ਮਨੁ ਪ੍ਰਭਿ ਹਥਿ ਲੀਨੋ ਦੀਨੋ ਇਹੁ ਪਰਲੋਕ ॥੨॥੧॥੮॥
सूरदास मनु प्रभि हथि लीनो दीनो इहु परलोक ॥२॥१॥८॥
Sūrḏās man parabẖ hath līno ḏīno ih parlok. ||2||1||8||
Says Sur Daas, God has taken my mind in His Hands. He has blessed me with the world beyond. ||2||1||8||

Chhaad man Hari Bemukhan Ko Sang -


Some of the older versions of Adi Granth have the whole shabad from Bhagat Surdas.  It goes something like this: 

Chhaad Man Har Bemukhan Ko Sang
Kahaa Bhae Peepaaye Peeyaaye, Bikh Ta Tajai Bhuyang

Kaagaa Kahaa Kapoor Chugaaye, Swaan Navaayieh Gang
Khar Ko Kahaa Agar Ko Lepan, Markat Bhookan Ang

Paahan patit baan nahee bedhe, reete hoye nikhang
Soordas oye kaari kamree, chadhat na dooje rang

Very interesting research on this shabad and Bhagat Surdas can be found here: https://www.jstor.org/stable/1559536

Similar Shabad by Bhagat Kabir 


ਆਸਾ ॥
आसा ॥
Āsā.
Aasaa:

ਕਹਾ ਸੁਆਨ ਕਉ ਸਿਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਸੁਨਾਏ ॥
कहा सुआन कउ सिम्रिति सुनाए ॥
Kahā suān kao simriṯ sunāe.
Why bother to read the Simritees to a dog?

ਕਹਾ ਸਾਕਤ ਪਹਿ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਨ ਗਾਏ ॥੧॥
कहा साकत पहि हरि गुन गाए ॥१॥
Kahā sākaṯ pėh har gun gāe. ||1||
Why bother to sing the Lord's Praises to the faithless cynic? ||1||

ਰਾਮ ਰਾਮ ਰਾਮ ਰਮੇ ਰਮਿ ਰਹੀਐ ॥
राम राम राम रमे रमि रहीऐ ॥
Rām rām rām rame ram rahī▫ai.
Remain absorbed in the Lord's Name, Raam, Raam, Raam.

ਸਾਕਤ ਸਿਉ ਭੂਲਿ ਨਹੀ ਕਹੀਐ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
साकत सिउ भूलि नही कहीऐ ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
Sākaṯ sio bẖūl nahī kahīai. ||1|| rahā▫o.
Do not bother to speak of it to the faithless cynic, even by mistake. ||1||Pause||

ਕਊਆ ਕਹਾ ਕਪੂਰ ਚਰਾਏ ॥
कऊआ कहा कपूर चराए ॥
Kaūā kahā kapūr cẖarāe.
Why offer camphor to a crow?

ਕਹ ਬਿਸੀਅਰ ਕਉ ਦੂਧੁ ਪੀਆਏ ॥੨॥
कह बिसीअर कउ दूधु पीआए ॥२॥
Kah bisīar kao ḏūḏẖ pīāe. ||2||
Why give the snake milk to drink? ||2||

ਸਤਸੰਗਤਿ ਮਿਲਿ ਬਿਬੇਕ ਬੁਧਿ ਹੋਈ ॥
सतसंगति मिलि बिबेक बुधि होई ॥
Saṯsangaṯ mil bibek buḏẖ hoī.
Joining the Sat Sangat, the True Congregation, discriminating understanding is attained.

ਪਾਰਸੁ ਪਰਸਿ ਲੋਹਾ ਕੰਚਨੁ ਸੋਈ ॥੩॥
पारसु परसि लोहा कंचनु सोई ॥३॥
Pāras paras lohā kancẖan soī. ||3||
That iron which touches the Philosopher's Stone becomes gold. ||3||

ਸਾਕਤੁ ਸੁਆਨੁ ਸਭੁ ਕਰੇ ਕਰਾਇਆ ॥
साकतु सुआनु सभु करे कराइआ ॥
Sākaṯ suān sabẖ kare karāiā.
The dog, the faithless cynic, does everything as the Lord causes him to do.

ਜੋ ਧੁਰਿ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਸੁ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਇਆ ॥੪॥
जो धुरि लिखिआ सु करम कमाइआ ॥४॥
Jo ḏẖur likẖiā so karam kamāiā. ||4||
He does the deeds pre-ordained from the very beginning. ||4||

ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਲੈ ਲੈ ਨੀਮੁ ਸਿੰਚਾਈ ॥
अम्रितु लै लै नीमु सिंचाई ॥
Amriṯ lai lai nīm sincẖāī.
If you take Ambrosial Nectar and irrigate the neem tree with it,

ਕਹਤ ਕਬੀਰ ਉਆ ਕੋ ਸਹਜੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥੫॥੭॥੨੦॥
कहत कबीर उआ को सहजु न जाई ॥५॥७॥२०॥
Kahaṯ Kabīr uā ko sahj na jāī. ||5||7||20||
still, says Kabeer, its natural qualities are not changed. ||5||7||20||


Summarizing this shabad by Kabir: One should always meditate on God. Don't waste your time singing good deeds for a cynic.  It is pointless to try and change someone's nature, just as it is pointless to feed a crow with musk or a snake with milk. Goodness of evil are inherent qualities that come from God. Anyone can become wise in the company of Sadhus, just as iron turns to gold when it comes into contact with the Philosopher's Stone. A person's actions are determined by their past deeds, just as a dog follows its instincts. Kabir states that even if one were to constantly water a neem tree with ambrosia, it would not change its bitter nature. A person's past actions will always shape them, and education alone cannot change that. But, if a cynic themself joins the company of holy men, they will develop new habits and ultimately become pure and good.

Punjabi

ਆਸਾ ॥ ਕਹਾ ਸੁਆਨ ਕਉ ਸਿਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਸੁਨਾਏ ॥ ਕਹਾ ਸਾਕਤ ਪਹਿ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਨ ਗਾਏ ॥੧॥ ਰਾਮ ਰਾਮ ਰਾਮ ਰਮੇ ਰਮਿ ਰਹੀਐ ॥ ਸਾਕਤ ਸਿਉ ਭੂਲਿ ਨਹੀ ਕਹੀਐ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਕਊਆ ਕਹਾ ਕਪੂਰ ਚਰਾਏ ॥ ਕਹ ਬਿਸੀਅਰ ਕਉ ਦੂਧੁ ਪੀਆਏ ॥੨॥ ਸਤਸੰਗਤਿ ਮਿਲਿ ਬਿਬੇਕ ਬੁਧਿ ਹੋਈ ॥ ਪਾਰਸੁ ਪਰਸਿ ਲੋਹਾ ਕੰਚਨੁ ਸੋਈ ॥੩॥ ਸਾਕਤੁ ਸੁਆਨੁ ਸਭੁ ਕਰੇ ਕਰਾਇਆ ॥ ਜੋ ਧੁਰਿ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਸੁ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਇਆ ॥੪॥ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਲੈ ਲੈ ਨੀਮੁ ਸਿੰਚਾਈ ॥ ਕਹਤ ਕਬੀਰ ਉਆ ਕੋ ਸਹਜੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥੫॥੭॥੨੦॥ {ਪੰਨਾ 481}

ਪਦ ਅਰਥ: ਕਹਾ = ਕੀਹ ਲਾਭ? ਕੋਈ ਲਾਭ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦਾ। ਸੁਆਨ = ਕੁੱਤਾ। ਸਾਕਤ = ਰੱਬ ਤੋਂ ਟੁੱਟਾ ਹੋਇਆ ਜੀਵ। ਪਹਿ = ਪਾਸ, ਕੋਲ।1।

ਰਮੇ ਰਮਿ ਰਹੀਐ = ਸਦਾ ਸਿਮਰਦੇ ਰਹੀਏ। ਭੂਲਿ = ਭੁੱਲ ਕੇ, ਕਦੇ ਭੀ। ਕਹੀਐ = ਸਿਮਰਨ ਦਾ ਉਪਦੇਸ਼ ਕਰੀਏ।1। ਰਹਾਉ।

ਕਪੂਰ = ਮੁਸ਼ਕ-ਕਾਫ਼ੂਰ। ਚਰਾਏ = ਖੁਆਇਆਂ। ਕਹ = ਕੀਹ ਲਾਭ? ਬਿਸੀਅਰ = ਸੱਪ।2।

ਬਿਬੇਕ ਬੁਧਿ = ਚੰਗਾ-ਮੰਦਾ ਪਰਖਣ ਦੀ ਅਕਲ। ਪਰਸਿ = ਛੋਹ ਕੇ। ਕੰਚਨੁ = ਸੋਨਾ। ਸੋਈ = ਉਹੀ ਲੋਹਾ।3।

ਧੁਰਿ = ਧੁਰ ਤੋਂ, ਮੁੱਢ ਤੋਂ, ਜੀਵ ਦੇ ਕੀਤੇ ਕਰਮਾਂ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ।4।

ਨੀਮੁ = ਨਿੰਮ ਦਾ ਬੂਟਾ। ਸਿੰਚਾਈ = ਪਾਣੀ ਦੇਈਏ। ਉਆ ਕੋ = ਉਸ ਨਿੰਮ ਦੇ ਬੂਟੇ ਦਾ। ਸਹਜੁ = ਜਮਾਂਦਰੂ ਸੁਭਾਉ।5।

ਅਰਥ: (ਜਿਵੇਂ) ਕੁੱਤੇ ਨੂੰ ਸਿੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੀਆਂ ਸੁਣਾਉਣ ਦਾ ਕੋਈ ਲਾਭ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦਾ, ਤਿਵੇਂ ਸਾਕਤ ਦੇ ਕੋਲ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦੇ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਵਿਆਂ ਸਾਕਤ ਉੱਤੇ ਅਸਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਪੈਂਦਾ।1।

(ਹੇ ਭਾਈ! ਆਪ ਹੀ) ਸਦਾ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦਾ ਸਿਮਰਨ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ, ਕਦੇ ਭੀ ਕਿਸੇ ਸਾਕਤ ਨੂੰ ਸਿਮਰਨ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਸਿੱਖਿਆ ਨਹੀਂ ਦੇਣੀ ਚਾਹੀਦੀ।1। ਰਹਾਉ।

ਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਮੁਸ਼ਕ-ਕਾਫ਼ੂਰ ਖੁਆਉਣ ਤੋਂ ਕੋਈ ਗੁਣ ਨਹੀਂ ਨਿਕਲਦਾ (ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਕਾਂ ਦੀ ਗੰਦ ਖਾਣ ਦੀ ਆਦਤ ਨਹੀਂ ਜਾ ਸਕਦੀ, ਇਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ) ਸੱਪ ਨੂੰ ਦੁੱਧ ਪਿਲਾਉਣ ਨਾਲ ਭੀ ਕੋਈ ਫ਼ਾਇਦਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋ ਸਕਦਾ (ਉਹ ਡੰਗ ਮਾਰਨੋਂ ਫਿਰ ਭੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਟਲੇਗਾ)।2।

ਇਹ ਚੰਗੇ-ਮੰਦੇ ਕੰਮ ਦੀ ਪਰਖ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੀ ਅਕਲ ਸਾਧ-ਸੰਗਤ ਵਿਚ ਬੈਠਿਆਂ ਹੀ ਆਉਂਦੀ ਹੈ, ਜਿਵੇਂ ਪਾਰਸ ਨੂੰ ਛੋਹ ਕੇ ਉਹ ਲੋਹਾ ਭੀ ਸੋਨਾ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।3।

ਕੁੱਤਾ ਤੇ ਸਾਕਤ ਜੋ ਕੁਝ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਪ੍ਰੇਰਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੀ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਪਿਛਲੇ ਕੀਤੇ ਕਰਮਾਂ-ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਜੋ ਕੁਝ ਮੁੱਢ ਤੋਂ ਇਸ ਦੇ ਮੱਥੇ ਉੱਤੇ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਹੈ (ਭਾਵ, ਜੋ ਸੰਸਕਾਰ ਇਸ ਦੇ ਮਨ ਵਿਚ ਬਣ ਚੁਕੇ ਹਨ) ਉਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਹੀ ਹੁਣ ਕਰੀ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।4।

ਕਬੀਰ ਆਖਦਾ ਹੈ– ਜੇ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ (ਭਾਵ, ਮਿਠਾਸ ਵਾਲਾ ਜਲ) ਲੈ ਕੇ ਨਿੰਮ ਦੇ ਬੂਟੇ ਨੂੰ ਮੁੜ ਮੁੜ ਸਿੰਜਦੇ ਰਹੀਏ, ਤਾਂ ਭੀ ਉਸ ਬੂਟੇ ਦਾ ਜਮਾਂਦਰੂ (ਕੁੜਿੱਤਣ ਵਾਲਾ) ਸੁਭਾਉ ਦੂਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋ ਸਕਦਾ।5।7। 20।

ਸ਼ਬਦ ਦਾ ਭਾਵ = ਹਰੇਕ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਆਪਣੇ ਪਿਛਲੇ ਕੀਤੇ ਕਰਮਾਂ ਦੇ ਸੰਸਕਾਰਾਂ ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰੇਰਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਪੁਰਾਣੀਆਂ ਲੀਹਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਤੁਰਿਆ ਜਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। ਸੋ, ਕਿਸੇ ਨੂੰ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਹੋਈ ਸਿੱਖਿਆ ਕੋਈ ਕਾਟ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰਦੀ। ਪਰ, ਜੇ ਵਿਕਾਰੀ ਬੰਦਾ ਕਿਸੇ ਸਬੱਬ ਸਾਧ-ਸੰਗਤ ਵਿਚ ਆ ਜਾਏ, ਉੱਥੇ ਸਹਿਜੇ ਸਹਿਜੇ ਨਵੀਂ ਘਸਰ ਲੱਗਣ ਨਾਲ ਪੁਰਾਣੇ ਮੰਦੇ ਸੰਸਕਾਰ ਮਿਟਣੇ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ, ਤੇ ਆਖ਼ਰ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਸੁੱਧ ਸੋਨਾ ਬਣ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। 20।

Soyi rasna jo hari gun gaave
by Surdas


Lyrics in Hindi

सोई रसना जो हरी गुण गावे
नैनं की छवि यह चतुरता जो मुकुंद मकरंद ही ध्यावे

निर्मल चित्त तो सोई साँचो कृष्ण बिना जिहिं और ना भावें
स्रवनन की जू यह अधिकाई सुनी हरि कथा सुधा रस पावे

कर तेई जे स्याम ही सेवे चरनन चल वृन्दावन जावे
सूरदास जै ये बलि बांकि जो हरि जू सो प्रीती बढ़ावे


English Lyrics

Soyi rasna jo harigun gaave
nainan ki chhavi yahe chaturta, jyun makarand mukundahi dhyave

nirmal chit tau soyi saacho, krishna bina jiya aur na bahve
sravanan ki joo yeh adhikayi, suni hari katha sudha ras pyave

kar teyi je shyamahi seve charnani chali brindaban jaave
surdas jaiye bali take, jo hari ji su preeti badhave


Meaning/Translation

That tongue is sweet that sings the glory of Hari
That eye is discerning that sees the flower like the bumblebee

That mind is pure which doesn't anything but Krishna
The ears are blessed that hear the story of Hari

Blessed are hands that serve Shyam, and feet that take you to Brindavan
Says Surdas, I am in love with the one, who is in love with the lord


Connection with Bhagwad Gita Philosophy 

The dense philosophy of karma yoga is so beautifully described by Surdas here. It reminds me of the following shloka from Bhagwad Gita (chapter 18, verse 9) where Shri Krishna explains "satvik tyaag" or good renunciation to Arjuna:

कार्यमित्येव यत्कर्म नियतं क्रियतेऽर्जुन |
सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलं चैव स त्याग: सात्त्विको मत: || 9||

kāryam ity eva yat karma niyataṁ kriyate ‘rjuna
saṅgaṁ tyaktvā phalaṁ chaiva sa tyāgaḥ sāttviko mataḥ

kāryam—as a duty; iti—as; eva—indeed; yat—which; karma niyatam—obligatory actions; kriyate—are performed; arjuna—Arjun; saṅgam—attachment; tyaktvā—relinquishing; phalam—reward; cha—and; eva—certainly; saḥ—such; tyāgaḥ—renunciation of desires for enjoying the fruits of actions; sāttvikaḥ—in the mode of goodness; mataḥ—considered

Translation
BG 18.9: When actions are taken in response to duty, Arjun, and one relinquishes attachment to any reward, it is considered renunciation in the nature of goodness.

Guru Nanak's Har Bin Jio Jal Bal Jao


Gur Nanak in Raag Sri says Har Bin Jio Jal Bal Jao: 

Moṯī ṯa manḏar ūsrėh raṯnī ṯa hohi jaṛāo.
Kasṯūr kungū agar cẖanḏan līp āvai cẖāo.
Maṯ ḏekẖ bẖūlā vīsrai ṯerā cẖiṯ na āvai nāo. ||1||

Har bin jīo jal bal jāo.
Mai āpṇā gur pūcẖẖ ḏekẖiā avar nāhī thāo. ||1|| rahāo.

If I had a palace made of pearls, inlaid with jewels,
scented with musk, saffron and sandalwood, a sheer delight to behold -
seeing this, I might go astray and forget You, and Your Name would not enter into my mind. ||1||

Without the Lord, my soul is scorched and burnt.
I consulted my Guru, and now I see that there is no other place at all. ||1||Pause||

Other Relevant Posts and Readings


More on Surdas - The Blind Poet of the 16th Century 
Another Surdas Bhajan: Sabse Oonchi Prem Sagai

Older Posts Home

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