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For, if I Break With You, With Whom Would I Join?

ਤੁਮ ਸਿਉ ਤੋਰਿ ਕਵਨ ਸਿਉ ਜੋਰਹਿ ॥

Monday
,
27
March
2017

For, if I Break With You, With Whom Would I Join?

ਤੁਮ ਸਿਉ ਤੋਰਿ ਕਵਨ ਸਿਉ ਜੋਰਹਿ ॥

Monday
,
27
March
2017
Sabad of the Week
Bhagat Ravidas
Rag Sorathi
Guru Granth Sahib
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For, if I Break With You, With Whom Would I Join?

ਤੁਮ ਸਿਉ ਤੋਰਿ ਕਵਨ ਸਿਉ ਜੋਰਹਿ ॥

Monday
,
27
March
2017

In the melodic embrace of Rag Sorath, Bhagat Ravidas ji's Sabad paints a canvas of profound devotion and love, using the simplicity and sweetness of the rag to convey the depth of spiritual connection.

In the melodic embrace of Rag Sorath, Bhagat Ravidas ji's Sabad paints a canvas of profound devotion and love, using the simplicity and sweetness of the rag to convey the depth of spiritual connection. Sorath, a serious rag with a mood of detachment, becomes a poignant medium for expressing bhakti-bhav, devotional love.

The imagery unfolds with vivid symbolism. If the Divine were a beautiful mountain, the seeker would become the peacock, displaying vibrant hues of surrender and adoration. The reference to the moon and the chakor, a bird enamored with the moon, signifies an intense and often unrequited love, poignantly capturing the essence of the seeker's relationship with the Divine.

The refrain echoes a plea to the Master-Illusionist not to sever the connection, emphasizing the bond between the seeker and the Divine. The contemplative call to reflect adds a layer of introspection, prompting consideration of the consequences of breaking this divine connection – a poignant question of with whom else could one find solace.

Continuing with the metaphor, the seeker expresses willingness to become the wick to the beautiful lamp or the pilgrim to the sacred pilgrimage. These symbolic gestures embody a profound readiness for total surrender and devotion. The assertion of being joined to the Divine in Eternal Love, breaking off from all others, underscores the exclusivity and intensity of the seeker's spiritual commitment.

The final verses bring forth a sense of duty and unwavering allegiance. The servant serves the Divine wherever they go, recognizing no other Ruler. The imagery of songs cutting the noose of death reinforces the transformative power of devotion, with Bhagat Ravidas singing to attain this elevated state.

If You were the beautiful mountain, I would become the peacock. 
If You were the moon, I would become the chakor¹. 1.

O Master-Illusionist! If You won’t break with me, I won’t break with You.
For, if I break with You, with whom would I join? 1. Reflect.

If You were the beautiful lamp, I would become the wick.
If You were the pilgrimage, I would become the pilgrim. 2.

I am joined to You in Eternal Love.
I have joined with You, broken off with others. 3.  

I serve You wherever I go. 
I see no other Ruler, O! Divine. 4.  

Your songs cut the noose of death,
Ravidas sings to attain devotion. 5.

¹ Moon-Bird who is in love with the Moon and gazes at it constantly. It symbolizes intense and often unrequited love.

     Bhagat Ravidas ji in Rag Sorath | Guru Granth Sahib 658
ਜਉ ਤੁਮ ਗਿਰਿਵਰ ਤਉ ਹਮ ਮੋਰਾ ॥
ਜਉ ਤੁਮ ਚੰਦ ਤਉ ਹਮ ਭਏ ਹੈ ਚਕੋਰਾ ॥੧॥

ਮਾਧਵੇ ਤੁਮ ਨ ਤੋਰਹੁ ਤਉ ਹਮ ਨਹੀ ਤੋਰਹਿ ॥
ਤੁਮ ਸਿਉ ਤੋਰਿ ਕਵਨ ਸਿਉ ਜੋਰਹਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

ਜਉ ਤੁਮ ਦੀਵਰਾ ਤਉ ਹਮ ਬਾਤੀ ॥
ਜਉ ਤੁਮ ਤੀਰਥ ਤਉ ਹਮ ਜਾਤੀ ॥੨॥

ਸਾਚੀ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਹਮ ਤੁਮ ਸਿਉ ਜੋਰੀ ॥
ਤੁਮ ਸਿਉ ਜੋਰਿ ਅਵਰ ਸੰਗਿ ਤੋਰੀ ॥੩॥

ਜਹ ਜਹ ਜਾਉ ਤਹਾ ਤੇਰੀ ਸੇਵਾ ॥
ਤੁਮ ਸੋ ਠਾਕੁਰੁ ਅਉਰੁ ਨ ਦੇਵਾ ॥੪॥

ਤੁਮਰੇ ਭਜਨ ਕਟਹਿ ਜਮ ਫਾਂਸਾ ॥
ਭਗਤਿ ਹੇਤ ਗਾਵੈ ਰਵਿਦਾਸਾ ॥੫॥੫॥

About Sabad of the Week

We are finite; our understanding is finite. Our understanding was different yesterday and may evolve tomorrow as we deepen our relationship with the Sabad. In this trans-creation, we have chosen to keep the repeating words in the Sabad same. We aspire to learn and retain the Divine attribute used in the original Sabad and avoid terms like God or Lord.

Revised:

This Content has been made available for educational purposes only. SikhRI does not make any representation concerning the completeness of the Content. This Content is not intended to substitute research or a deeper understanding of the topic. SikhRI encourages readers to read multiple authors to gain a complete understanding of the topic.

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Written By

Senior Fellow, Research & Policy

Harinder Singh is the Senior Fellow at the Sikh Research Institute. He holds a BS in Aerospace Engineering from Wichita State University, an MS in Engineering Management from the University of Kansas, and an MPhil from Punjab University in the linguistics of the Guru Granth Sahib. 

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Creative Director

Inni Kaur is Creative Director at the Sikh Research Institute (SikhRI). She has served SikhRI in several capacities since 2010, including Chair of the Board, and most recently as CEO. 

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