Amrit ki saar soyee jaane je Amrit ka vaparee jio – Raag Maroo – Ang 993

SGGS Angg 993

Raag Maroo (Maru) M.1

A delightful 6 pada Shabad where Guru Ji tells us about the jeev smitten with love for God. In contrast with such a jeev, one is stuck in maya mamta and bondages of loving attachment to the world. This is a Shabad in Raag Maru, a martial raag, and some theme of battle/war invariably is found in most Shabads in this raag.

In this Shabad, there is reference to the merciless attacks by jamms armed with swords.

Guru Amardas Ji has a similar Shabad at Angg 1016. It is a Shabad in ghar 5 too just like the Shabad by Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

Guru Amardas Ji has many Shabads which echo closely the Bani and wordings of Shabads by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. For example Guru Nanak Dev Ji has 5 Shabads of Alahnian in Raag Vadhans. Guru Amardas Ji too has 4 Shabads written in the Alahnian style, although the title Alahnian is not given there.

There are some 40 plus instances of Shabads and Shabadavli where Guru Amardas Ji closely mirrors the Bani of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. In Raag Gauri Shantt for example, Guru Nanak Dev Ji says at Angg 243.

“Sunn Naha Jio ekalerhi bann mahe.”

At Angg 244, Guru Amardas Ji says.

“Dhan ekalerhi jio bin Naha Pyare.”

In Majh Ki Vaar, Guru Nanak Dev Ji ends the Slok at Angg 145 “kall katee raaje kasayee,” and says there seems to be darkness everywhere.

“andhere raah na koyee.”

Guru Ji ends the Slok with a poser.

“Kaho Nanak kitt bidh gatt hoyee.”

This question is answered by Guru Amardas Ji in the next Slok.

“Kall kirta pargatt chanan sansaar.”

In Slok Vaaran tey Vadheek, Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s famous Slok about

“Lahore shaher sava pahar jahar kahar,”

is replied with a blessing by Guru Amardas Ji

“Lahore shaher Amrit Sar siftee da ghar.”

The interweaving of the Sloks also leaves us in wonder at the Divine Genius of Guru Arjun Dev Ji in setting such a delightful arrangement.

As stated earlier, there are numerous other delightful examples.

In this Shabad, Guru Ji starts by telling us about the jeev isteri who is in love with God. She remains awake day and night in His remembrance, and never succumbs to sleep; only one who feels such pangs of separation from her Beloved would understand this; her body is pierced by arrows of love (Bani), how can any physician know the cure for this?

“Ahiniss jaage neend na sovay; so jaane jis vedhan hovay; prem ke kaan laage tann bhittar vaid ke jaane kari jio.”

(Guru Amardas Ji’s Shabad starts “jis nu prem mann vasaaye; Sache Shabad sahaj subhai; eha vedhan soyee jaane avar ke jaane kari jio.”)

The Lord attaches a rare gurmukh to sing His Praises; only one who deals in Ambrosia (Naam) himself, would appreciate the value of the Ambrosial Nectar.

“Jis nu Sacha siftee laaye; gurmukh virlay kissay bujhaye; Amrit ki saar soyee jaane je Amrit ka vaparee jio.” (rahao).

(Guru Amardas Ji “Aape melay Aap milaye; Aapna pyar Aape laaye; prem ki saar soyee jaane jis nu nadar Tumari Jio.”)

The soul bride is in love with her Husband Lord; she sets her heart on the Guru’s Shabad; she finds inner peace and joy, and her hunger and thirst are taken away.

“Pir seti dhan prem rachaye; Gur ke Shabad thatha chit laaye; sahaj seti dhan khari suheli trishna tikha nivaree jio.”

Her restlessness of the mind is torn down and her doubts disappear; lovingly, with care, she draws the Bow in Praise of the Lord; with the aid of the Guru’s Shabad, she subdues her mind, she is a beautiful United warrior of the Lord.

“Sahsa torhay bharam chukaye; sahaje siftee dhanakh charhaye;Gur ke Shabad mann marey sundar jogadharee jio.”

In contrast.

Burning with ego he forgets the Lord from his mind; in the city of death, he is attacked with massive swords; what can be said now, it is too late to receive Naam, O soul, you will just have to endure the terrible punishment.

“Haumai jalliya manho visarey; jamm pur vajjey kharag kararey; ab keh kehiye Naam na mileiyi tu shaho jiarhe bharee jio.”

Attracted to maya your thoughts go to her; you will get entangled by the net of miseries in the city of death; as you cannot break the bondages of loving attachment, the messenger of death shall torture you.

“Maya mamta pavhe khyaali; jamm pur fasihga jamm jaali; heth ke bandhan torh na sakey ta jamm kare khuari jio.”

In conclusion the jeev now says.

I have done nothing, nor can I do anything now; (I was blessed, it was not due to my own effort) the Satguru blessed me with Ambrosial Naam; Nanak has taken Your Sanctuary – what claims to effort can one make, when it is received as Your blessing?

“Na hao karta na mai kiya; Amrit Naam Satgur diya; jis Tu deh tissay kya chara Nanak Sharan Tumari Jio.”

Shabad Viakhya by Manjeet Singh 

Shahad Kirtan available on YouTube