Prayers of the lost soul
Dhan joban ar fulrhaa naathee-arhay din chaar.
Wealth, the beauty of youth and flowers are guests for only a few days.
paban kayray pat ji-o dhal dhul jummanhaar.
Like the leaves of the water-lily, they wither and fade and finally die.
rang maan lai pi-aari-aa jaa joban na-o hulaa.
Be happy, dear beloved, as long as your youth is fresh and delightful.
din thorh-rhay thakay bha-i-aa puraanaa cholaa.
But your days are few-you have grown weary, and now your body has grown old.
sajan mayray rangulay jaa-ay sutay jaaraan.
My playful friends have gone to sleep in the graveyard.
haN bhee vanjaa dumnee rovaa jheenee baan.
In my double-mindedness, I shall have to go as well. I cry in a feeble voice.
ayk su-aan du-ay su-aanee naal.
The dogs of greed are with me.
bhalkay bha-ukahi sadaa ba-i-aal.
In the early morning, they continually bark at the wind.
koorh chhuraa muthaa murdaar.
Falsehood is my dagger; through deception, I eat the carcasses of the dead.
Dhaanak roop rahaa kartaar.
I live as a wild hunter, O Creator!
mai pat kee pand na karnee kee kaar.
I have not followed good advice, nor have I done good deeds.
ha-o bigrhai roop rahaa bikraal.
I am deformed and horribly disfigured.
tayraa ayk naam taaray sansaar.
Your Name alone, Lord, saves the world.
mai ayhaa aas ayho aaDhaar.
This is my hope; this is my support.
mukh nindaa aakhaa din raat.
With my mouth I speak slander, day and night.
par ghar johee neech sanaat.
I spy on the houses of others-I am such a wretched low-life!
kaam kroDh tan vaseh chandaal.
Unfulfilled s3xual desire and unresolved anger dwell in my body, like the outcasts who
cremate the dead.
Dhaanak roop rahaa kartaar.
I live as a wild hunter, O Creator!
faahee surat malookee vays.
I make plans to trap others, although I appear gentle.
ha-o thagvaarhaa thagee days.
I am a robber-I rob the world.
kharaa si-aanaa bahutaa bhaar.
I am very clever-I carry loads of sin.
Dhaanak roop rahaa kartaar.
I live as a wild hunter, O Creator!
mai keetaa na jaataa haraamkhor.
I have not appreciated what You have done for me, Lord; I take from others and
exploit them.
ha-o ki-aa muhu daysaa dusat chor.
What face shall I show You, Lord? I am a sneak and a thief.
bahut darab kar man na aghaanaa.
Even with vast sums of wealth, the mind is not satisfied.
anik roop daykh nah patee-aanaa.
Gazing upon countless beauties, the man is not satisfied.
putar kaltar urjhi-o jaan mayree.
He is so involved with his wife and sons - he believes that they belong to him.
oh binsai o-ay bhasmai dhayree.
That wealth shall pass away, and those relatives shall be reduced to ashes.
bin har bhajan daykh-a-u billaatay.
Without meditating and vibrating on the Lord, they are crying out in pain.
Dharig tan Dharig Dhan maa-i-aa sang raatay.
Their bodies are cursed, and their wealth is cursed - they are imbued with Maya.
ji-o bigaaree kai sir deejeh daam.
The servant carries the bags of money on his head,
o-ay khasmai kai garihi un dookh sahaam.
but it goes to his master's house, and he receives only pain.
ji-o supnai ho-ay baisat raajaa.
The man sits as a king in his dreams,
naytar pasaarai taa niraarath kaajaa.
but when he opens his eyes, he sees that it was all in vain.
ji-o raakhaa khayt oopar paraa-ay.
The watchman oversees the field of another,
khayt khasam kaa raakhaa uth jaa-ay.
but the field belongs to his master, while he must get up and depart.
us khayt kaaran raakhaa karhai.
He works so hard, and suffers for that field,
tis kai paalai kachhoo na parhai.
but still, nothing comes into his hands.
baho rang maa-i-aa baho biDh paykhee.
I have gazed upon the many forms of Maya, in so many ways.
kalam kaagad si-aanap laykhee.
With pen and paper, I have written clever things.
mahar malook ho-ay daykhi-aa khaan.
I have seen what it is to be a chief, a king, and an emperor,
taa tay naahee man tariptaan.
but they do not satisfy the mind.
so sukh mo ka-o sant bataavhu.
Show me that peace, O Saints,
tarisnaa boojhai man tariptaavho.
which will quench my thirst and satisfy my mind.
as pavan hasat asvaaree.
You may have horses as fast as the wind, elephants to ride on,
cho-aa chandan sayj sundar naaree.
sandalwood oil, and beautiful women in bed,
nat naatik aakhaaray gaa-i-aa.
actors in dramas, singing in theaters
taa meh man santokh na paa-i-aa.
- but even with them, the mind does not find contentment.
takhat sabhaa mandan doleechay.
You may have a throne at the royal court, with beautiful decorations and soft carpets,
sagal mayvay sundar baageechay.
all sorts of luscious fruits and beautiful gardens,
aakhayrh birat raajan kee leelaa.
the excitement of the chase and princely pleasures
man na suhaylaa parpanch heelaa.
- but still, the mind is not made happy by such illusory diversions.
dukh vich jaman dukh maran dukh vartan sansaar.
In pain, we are born; in pain, we die. In pain, we deal with the world.
dukh dukh agai aakhee-ai parhH parhH karahi pukaar.
Hereafter, there is said to be pain, only pain; the more the mortals read, the more
they cry out.
dukh kee-aa pandaa khulHee-aa sukh na nikli-o ko-ay.
The packages of pain are untied, but peace does not emerge.
dukh vich jee-o jalaa-i-aa dukhee-aa chali-aa ro-ay.
In pain, the soul burns; in pain, it departs weeping and wailing.
pankaj moh nighrat hai paraanee gur nighrat kaadh kadhaavaigo.
The mortal beings are sinking in the swamp of emotional attachment; the Guru lifts
them up, and saves them from sinking.
taraahi taraahi saran jan aa-ay gur haathee day niklaavaigo.
Crying, "Save me! Save me!", the humble come to His Sanctuary; the Guru reaches
out His Hand, and lifts them up.
janan pitaa lok sut banitaa ko-ay na kis kee Dhari-aa.
Mothers, fathers, friends, children and spouses-no one is the support of anyone else.
sir sir rijak sambaahay thaakur kaahay man bha-o kari-aa.
For each and every person, our Lord and Master provides sustenance. Why are you so
afraid, O mind?
ooday ood aavai sai kosaa tis paachhai bachray chhari-aa.
The flamingoes fly hundreds of miles, leaving their young ones behind.
tin kavan khalaavai kavan chugaavai man meh simran kari-aa.
Who feeds them, and who teaches them to feed themselves? Have you ever thought
of this in your mind?
bhuj bal beer barahm sukh saagar garat parat geh layho anguree-aa.
O Brave and Powerful God, Ocean of Peace, I fell into the pit - please, take my hand.
sarvan na surat nain sundar nahee aarat du-aar ratat pinguree-aa.
My ears do not hear, and my eyes are not beautiful. I am in such pain; I am a poor
cripple, crying at Your Door.
deenaa naath anaath karunaa mai saajan meet pitaa mahatree-aa.
O Master of the poor and helpless, O Embodiment of Compassion, You are my Friend
and Intimate, my Father and Mother.
charan kaval hirdai geh naanak bhai saagar sant paar utree-aa.
Nanak holds tight to the Lord's Lotus Feet in his heart; thus the Saints cross over the
terrifying world-ocean.
Wealth, the beauty of youth and flowers are guests for only a few days.
paban kayray pat ji-o dhal dhul jummanhaar.
Like the leaves of the water-lily, they wither and fade and finally die.
rang maan lai pi-aari-aa jaa joban na-o hulaa.
Be happy, dear beloved, as long as your youth is fresh and delightful.
din thorh-rhay thakay bha-i-aa puraanaa cholaa.
But your days are few-you have grown weary, and now your body has grown old.
sajan mayray rangulay jaa-ay sutay jaaraan.
My playful friends have gone to sleep in the graveyard.
haN bhee vanjaa dumnee rovaa jheenee baan.
In my double-mindedness, I shall have to go as well. I cry in a feeble voice.
ayk su-aan du-ay su-aanee naal.
The dogs of greed are with me.
bhalkay bha-ukahi sadaa ba-i-aal.
In the early morning, they continually bark at the wind.
koorh chhuraa muthaa murdaar.
Falsehood is my dagger; through deception, I eat the carcasses of the dead.
Dhaanak roop rahaa kartaar.
I live as a wild hunter, O Creator!
mai pat kee pand na karnee kee kaar.
I have not followed good advice, nor have I done good deeds.
ha-o bigrhai roop rahaa bikraal.
I am deformed and horribly disfigured.
tayraa ayk naam taaray sansaar.
Your Name alone, Lord, saves the world.
mai ayhaa aas ayho aaDhaar.
This is my hope; this is my support.
mukh nindaa aakhaa din raat.
With my mouth I speak slander, day and night.
par ghar johee neech sanaat.
I spy on the houses of others-I am such a wretched low-life!
kaam kroDh tan vaseh chandaal.
Unfulfilled s3xual desire and unresolved anger dwell in my body, like the outcasts who
cremate the dead.
Dhaanak roop rahaa kartaar.
I live as a wild hunter, O Creator!
faahee surat malookee vays.
I make plans to trap others, although I appear gentle.
ha-o thagvaarhaa thagee days.
I am a robber-I rob the world.
kharaa si-aanaa bahutaa bhaar.
I am very clever-I carry loads of sin.
Dhaanak roop rahaa kartaar.
I live as a wild hunter, O Creator!
mai keetaa na jaataa haraamkhor.
I have not appreciated what You have done for me, Lord; I take from others and
exploit them.
ha-o ki-aa muhu daysaa dusat chor.
What face shall I show You, Lord? I am a sneak and a thief.
bahut darab kar man na aghaanaa.
Even with vast sums of wealth, the mind is not satisfied.
anik roop daykh nah patee-aanaa.
Gazing upon countless beauties, the man is not satisfied.
putar kaltar urjhi-o jaan mayree.
He is so involved with his wife and sons - he believes that they belong to him.
oh binsai o-ay bhasmai dhayree.
That wealth shall pass away, and those relatives shall be reduced to ashes.
bin har bhajan daykh-a-u billaatay.
Without meditating and vibrating on the Lord, they are crying out in pain.
Dharig tan Dharig Dhan maa-i-aa sang raatay.
Their bodies are cursed, and their wealth is cursed - they are imbued with Maya.
ji-o bigaaree kai sir deejeh daam.
The servant carries the bags of money on his head,
o-ay khasmai kai garihi un dookh sahaam.
but it goes to his master's house, and he receives only pain.
ji-o supnai ho-ay baisat raajaa.
The man sits as a king in his dreams,
naytar pasaarai taa niraarath kaajaa.
but when he opens his eyes, he sees that it was all in vain.
ji-o raakhaa khayt oopar paraa-ay.
The watchman oversees the field of another,
khayt khasam kaa raakhaa uth jaa-ay.
but the field belongs to his master, while he must get up and depart.
us khayt kaaran raakhaa karhai.
He works so hard, and suffers for that field,
tis kai paalai kachhoo na parhai.
but still, nothing comes into his hands.
baho rang maa-i-aa baho biDh paykhee.
I have gazed upon the many forms of Maya, in so many ways.
kalam kaagad si-aanap laykhee.
With pen and paper, I have written clever things.
mahar malook ho-ay daykhi-aa khaan.
I have seen what it is to be a chief, a king, and an emperor,
taa tay naahee man tariptaan.
but they do not satisfy the mind.
so sukh mo ka-o sant bataavhu.
Show me that peace, O Saints,
tarisnaa boojhai man tariptaavho.
which will quench my thirst and satisfy my mind.
as pavan hasat asvaaree.
You may have horses as fast as the wind, elephants to ride on,
cho-aa chandan sayj sundar naaree.
sandalwood oil, and beautiful women in bed,
nat naatik aakhaaray gaa-i-aa.
actors in dramas, singing in theaters
taa meh man santokh na paa-i-aa.
- but even with them, the mind does not find contentment.
takhat sabhaa mandan doleechay.
You may have a throne at the royal court, with beautiful decorations and soft carpets,
sagal mayvay sundar baageechay.
all sorts of luscious fruits and beautiful gardens,
aakhayrh birat raajan kee leelaa.
the excitement of the chase and princely pleasures
man na suhaylaa parpanch heelaa.
- but still, the mind is not made happy by such illusory diversions.
dukh vich jaman dukh maran dukh vartan sansaar.
In pain, we are born; in pain, we die. In pain, we deal with the world.
dukh dukh agai aakhee-ai parhH parhH karahi pukaar.
Hereafter, there is said to be pain, only pain; the more the mortals read, the more
they cry out.
dukh kee-aa pandaa khulHee-aa sukh na nikli-o ko-ay.
The packages of pain are untied, but peace does not emerge.
dukh vich jee-o jalaa-i-aa dukhee-aa chali-aa ro-ay.
In pain, the soul burns; in pain, it departs weeping and wailing.
pankaj moh nighrat hai paraanee gur nighrat kaadh kadhaavaigo.
The mortal beings are sinking in the swamp of emotional attachment; the Guru lifts
them up, and saves them from sinking.
taraahi taraahi saran jan aa-ay gur haathee day niklaavaigo.
Crying, "Save me! Save me!", the humble come to His Sanctuary; the Guru reaches
out His Hand, and lifts them up.
janan pitaa lok sut banitaa ko-ay na kis kee Dhari-aa.
Mothers, fathers, friends, children and spouses-no one is the support of anyone else.
sir sir rijak sambaahay thaakur kaahay man bha-o kari-aa.
For each and every person, our Lord and Master provides sustenance. Why are you so
afraid, O mind?
ooday ood aavai sai kosaa tis paachhai bachray chhari-aa.
The flamingoes fly hundreds of miles, leaving their young ones behind.
tin kavan khalaavai kavan chugaavai man meh simran kari-aa.
Who feeds them, and who teaches them to feed themselves? Have you ever thought
of this in your mind?
bhuj bal beer barahm sukh saagar garat parat geh layho anguree-aa.
O Brave and Powerful God, Ocean of Peace, I fell into the pit - please, take my hand.
sarvan na surat nain sundar nahee aarat du-aar ratat pinguree-aa.
My ears do not hear, and my eyes are not beautiful. I am in such pain; I am a poor
cripple, crying at Your Door.
deenaa naath anaath karunaa mai saajan meet pitaa mahatree-aa.
O Master of the poor and helpless, O Embodiment of Compassion, You are my Friend
and Intimate, my Father and Mother.
charan kaval hirdai geh naanak bhai saagar sant paar utree-aa.
Nanak holds tight to the Lord's Lotus Feet in his heart; thus the Saints cross over the
terrifying world-ocean.
31-35, M
