Dhan Dhan oye Raam behn bajjey – Raag Mali Gauraa – Ang 988

SGGS Angg 988

Raag Mali Gauraa – Bhagat Namdev Ji.

Bhagat Ji sings Praises of the All Pervading Lord. The Bhagats were surrounded by idol worshippers, but they broke from such worship, and adored the All Pervading Lord – Raam. In Bhagat Bani especially, there is invariably some reference to Raameiya – the Remiaya hoya, the All Pervading Lord.

In this Shabad, Bhagat Ji sings Praises of the All Pervading One. Krishan Ji is famous for playing his flute. In this Shabad, Bhagat Ji says that Flute blown by the Lord (Raam, not Krishan), is blessed, blessed; (and the sweet melody of the Lord’s Flute), can be heard as sweet unstruck music, resounding within ourselves.

“Dhan Dhan oye Raam behn bajjey; madhur madhur dhun anhat gajjey.”

Most Bani Praises Nirankar in His Formless State.
(“ustat mann me kar Nirankaar”). But, there are instances where the Sargun roop is also praised, since
“Nirgun Aap Sargun bhi Ohee.” (Ang 287).

One such instance is at Angg 567, where Guru Nanak Dev Ji says

“Tere banke loyen dantt risalaa…”

Bhagat Ji says, blessed is the wool of the sheep from which a blanket which Krishan Ji wore, was made. (Bhagat Ji is not saying we should pray to such physical objects. He says such objects are blessed because they were worn by Krishan Ji).

(On a related note therefore, the Chaur Sahib, the Chandova Sahib, the Manji Sahib, the Palki Sahib all physical objects, are treated with reverence, because they are used in Guru Sahib’s sewa. The Chaur may have hair from yaks, and yaks are certainly not to be worshipped, but the Chaur used in Guru Ghar is treated with reverence).

“Dhan Dhan mega romavalee; Dhan Dhan Krishan oday kamblee.”

Next, Bhagat Ji says Mata Devki is blessed. Mata Devki gave birth to Krishan Ji. But in the next line, Bhagat Ji says Mata Devki is blessed because in her greh (home, body) the All Pervading Lord, the Lord of maya resides. (my translation differs from that on the net).

“Dhan Dhan tu Mata Devaki; jit greh Rameiya Kavlapati.”

Blessed blessed are the forests of Brindaban; where Sported the Supreme Detached Lord. not Krishna, the Avtar).

“Dhan Dhan ban khand Brindrabana; jeh khelay Sri Narayana.”

Krishan Ji stayed in Bridrabhan the city. In Punjabi and in Hindi, Bindra means the crest of a hill, a hilltop. Since Bhagat Ji has said earlier there are anhat vajay, he is making reference to inside our bodies. Bindraban here is not the Brindraban of Krishna, but is a reference to the crest of our heads, the Daswa Dwar.

He Plays the Flute, (the first line of this Shabad has indicated Bhagat Ji is speaking about the All Pervading Lord, Raam, not Krishan Ji) and herds the cows. (in Sadh bhasaha cows are references to our foolish thoughts); the Lord of Namdev is in Bliss.

“Behn bajave godhan charey; Namey ka Suami anand kare.”

Shabad Viakhya by Bhai Manjeet Singh Ji

Shabad kirtan available on YouTube