Aath pahar salahe Sirjanhaar tu – Raag Assa – Ang 397

 SGGS Angg 397.

Raag Assa M.5.

Lots of lovely Multani boli is used in this Shabad.

Guru Ji tells us our prayer to God should be constant. In the rahao, Guru Ji says we must sing praises of the Lord “aath pahar”, i.e twenty four hours. And we must have this in our minds, that we live only by His Bountiful Gifts – please shower Your Mercy upon me.

(It is physically impossible to sing Praises twenty four hours. Guru Ji is making reference to the fact that after much prayer and sewa, in His Grace, He blesses you with “ajapaa jaap,” i.e. an inner continuous singing of Praises gets triggered and the Sikh sings Praises internally, while awake, sleeping, or doing his daily tasks).

“Ajapaa Jaap na visrey aad jugaad samaaiye” (Ang 1291)
(the Praises of the Lord are now continuously recited without conscious effort, and you merge into the Lord of all times).

“Aath pahar salahe Sirjanhaar tu; jiva Teri Daat Kirpa karo mu” (rahao).

The Shabad starts with Guru Ji telling us to lay aside all anxieties and dwell upon the Lord alone; lay aside your false pride, and dedicate your mind and body to Him.

“Habe thokh vissar hiko khyaal kar; jhutha lahe ghuman man tan arpp dhar.”

Engage in that task which will make your face radiant; O Lord one only becomes attached to Truth when You give such blessings.

“Soye kam kamaaiye jit mukh ujlaa; soye lagge Sach jis Tu deh Allah”

Construct an (inner) house which will never be destroyed; enshrine the Immortal Lord in your heart.

“Jo na dhahondo mool so ghar raas kar; hiko chit vasaaiye kade na jaye mar”

The Lord becomes dear to those who are pleasing to the Will of God; by the Guru’s Grace, Nanak describes the Indescribable Lord.

“Tina pyara Ram jo Prabh bhaneiya; Gur Parsad Akath Nanak vakhaneeiya”

Shabad Viakhya by Bhai Manjeet Singh Ji

Shabad Kirtan available on YouTube