Meri matt bauri mai Ram bisarreyio kin bidh rehan raho re – Raag Assa – Ang 482

SGGS Angg 482.

Raag Assa Bhagat Kabir Ji.

A jeev isteri has a deep look at herself. She says I must have been insane to have forsaken the Lord. Now how can I lead a virtuous life?
The Lord rests on the same Bed as me but I cannot see Him with these eyes. Oh! To whom can I confide my sufferings?

“Meri matt bauri mai Ram bisarreyio kin bidh rehan raho re; Sejay rammat nain nahi pekho eh dukh ka sio kaho re? (rahao).

Bhagat Ji uses Sadh Bhasha. Language of the Saints. Just like accountants will speak of balance sheets, profit and loss, suspense accounts, losses brought forward etc, Saints too used a certain Speak where common symbols and metaphors are used. Reading the symbols, another Saint would understand what is being said.

In Sadh Bhasha, the common relationships we see around us – mother-in-law, father-in-law, sisters-in-law, husband’s elder brother, etc, carry a different meaning altogether.

Sass – mother-in-law refers to maya.

Saura – father-in-law is God Himself. (Sabna Sauray vanjna). In certain places however saura has been used for an argumentative mind – “sasura vadee” (Ang 963)

Jeth – husband’s elder brother is death. (….”Jetho bhao bhao luhay”- Ang 963).

Nennann Or Nanadd – husband’s sister is a symbol for misunderstanding and mischievous gossip and strife.

Devar – husband’s younger brother is used to represent Divine knowledge.

Baap Sawka – step father represents ego.

Maieya – mother is matt as in “mata mat pita santokh” (Ang 151).

Bada bhai – elder brother is simran.

Sometimes the symbols can mean different things from that stated above as local imageries and symbols were used by some Saints but the above shows the symbols commonly used by most.

In the 1st line Bhagat Ji says maya bothers me but the Lord loves me; I tremble at the name of death.

“Saas ki dukhi sasur ki pyaree jeth ke naam daro re”

Misunderstanding has seized me and I pine for Divine Knowledge.

“Sakhi saheli nanadd gaheli devar ke birhe jaro re”

Ego brawls with me and my understanding is always intoxicated (with maya)

“Baap sawka kare laraiyee maya matt matvaree”

When I sat in meditation I felt the Lord’s Love.

“Badey bhai ke jab sang hotee tab hao naah pyaree”

Kabir Ji says I argue often with the five evil dispositions and have wasted my life in these arguments.

“Kahat Kabir panch ko chagra chagrat janam gavaeiya”

I find perishable (illusory) maya has bound the whole world but I was saved by chanting the Name of the All Pervading Lord.

“Jhuthi maya sabh jag bandheya mai Ram ramatt sukh paaya”

Shabad Viakhya by Bhai Manjeet Singh Ji

Shabad Kirtan available on YouTube