⟵ Back to Articles

O! People, if I Meet a Trader of the Charmer-Divine...

ਕੋ ਬਨਜਾਰੋ ਰਾਮ ਕੋ ਮੇਰਾ ਟਾਂਡਾ ਲਾਦਿਆ ਜਾਇ ਰੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

Sunday
,
12
February
2017

O! People, if I Meet a Trader of the Charmer-Divine...

ਕੋ ਬਨਜਾਰੋ ਰਾਮ ਕੋ ਮੇਰਾ ਟਾਂਡਾ ਲਾਦਿਆ ਜਾਇ ਰੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

Sunday
,
12
February
2017
Sabad of the Week
Rag Gauri
Bhagat Ravidas
Guru Granth Sahib
⟵ Back to articles

O! People, if I Meet a Trader of the Charmer-Divine...

ਕੋ ਬਨਜਾਰੋ ਰਾਮ ਕੋ ਮੇਰਾ ਟਾਂਡਾ ਲਾਦਿਆ ਜਾਇ ਰੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

Sunday
,
12
February
2017

Explore the Sabad (Shabad) of Bhagat Ravidas in the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred scripture of the Sikhs. Read the translation done by Harinder Singh and Inni Kaur. Listen to Inni Kaur’s reflection on this Sabad.

This composition by Bhagat Ravidas is in Rag Gauri Bairagan, a musical mode sung in the morning. It is a rag (musical measure) of sadness, separation, and longing. Bhagat Ravidas uses the trader as a metaphor and says, “I am a trader of the Charmer-Divine. Now everything is flowing naturally within me. I have now acquired the wealth of Nam-divine virtues while the worldly people have acquired and live with the poisons.”

The path is mountainous and very treacherous,
All I have is this virtue-less ox-mind.
O! Charmer-Divine, this is my one plea:
Protect my capital, O! Darkness-Destroyer. 1.

O! People, if I meet a trader of the Charmer-Divine,
then my caravan of ox-carts will be loaded. 1. Reflect.

I am a trader of the Charmer-Divine,
trading for intuitive wisdom.
I have loaded the wealth of Charmer-Divine’s Nam,
The world has loaded the poison. 2.

Knowers of this world and beyond,
write whatever pleases you.
The Messenger of Death cannot punish me,
for I have cast aside all entanglements. 3.

The world is like the temporary color of the safflower,
The color-love of my Charmer-Divine is permanent,
like the dye of the madder plant, says Ravidas, the tanner. 4.
     Bhagat Ravidas ji in Rag Gauri Bairagan  | Guru Granth Sahib 345
ੴ ਸਤਿ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥
ਗਉੜੀ ਬੈਰਾਗਣਿ ਰਵਿਦਾਸ ਜੀਉ ॥
ਘਟ ਅਵਘਟ ਡੂਗਰ ਘਣਾ ਇਕੁ ਨਿਰਗੁਣੁ ਬੈਲੁ ਹਮਾਰ ॥.
ਰਮਈਏ ਸਿਉ ਇਕ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਪੂੰਜੀ ਰਾਖੁ ਮੁਰਾਰਿ ॥੧॥
ਕੋ ਬਨਜਾਰੋ ਰਾਮ ਕੋ ਮੇਰਾ ਟਾਂਡਾ ਲਾਦਿਆ ਜਾਇ ਰੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
ਹਉ ਬਨਜਾਰੋ ਰਾਮ ਕੋ ਸਹਜ ਕਰਉ ਬ੍ਯ੍ਯਾਪਾਰੁ ॥
ਮੈ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਧਨੁ ਲਾਦਿਆ ਬਿਖੁ ਲਾਦੀ ਸੰਸਾਰਿ ॥੨॥
ਉਰਵਾਰ ਪਾਰ ਕੇ ਦਾਨੀਆ ਲਿਖਿ ਲੇਹੁ ਆਲ ਪਤਾਲੁ ॥
ਮੋਹਿ ਜਮ ਡੰਡੁ ਨ ਲਾਗਈ ਤਜੀਲੇ ਸਰਬ ਜੰਜਾਲ ॥੩॥
ਜੈਸਾ ਰੰਗੁ ਕਸੁੰਭ ਕਾ ਤੈਸਾ ਇਹੁ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥
ਮੇਰੇ ਰਮਈਏ ਰੰਗੁ ਮਜੀਠ ਕਾ ਕਹੁ ਰਵਿਦਾਸ ਚਮਾਰ ॥੪॥੧॥

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.

The Sikh Research Institute recognizes its responsibility to correct any factual, minor, or significant errors promptly. Please contact us via email to request a correction if you have identified one.

Suggest a correction →
No items found.

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. 

View profile ⟶
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. 

View profile ⟶

Share on Social Media

Latest Articles

Tuesday
,
9
April
2024

Whispers of the Beloved

Whispers of the Beloved: Reflections in Spring is a poetic odyssey intertwining the beauty of nature's awakening with the seeker's quest for spiritual connection.

Whispers of the Beloved: Reflections in Spring is a poetic odyssey intertwining the beauty of nature's awakening with the seeker's quest for spiritual connection.

READ More ⟶
Tuesday
,
26
March
2024

No More Blue Stars

In recent years, diasporic Sikhs have been moving to consciously avoid using the terms Operation Blue Star or Holocaust and instead use terms like the Battle of Amritsar, genocide, or Ghallughara when speaking about June and November 1984.

In recent years, diasporic Sikhs have been moving to consciously avoid using the terms Operation Blue Star or Holocaust and instead use terms like the Battle of Amritsar, genocide, or Ghallughara when speaking about June and November 1984.

READ More ⟶
Tuesday
,
27
February
2024

Paigham-i-Goya: An Expression of Love

A new translation and brief essay on the fifty-fifth ghazal from Bhai Nand Lal’s Divan-i-Goya.‍

A new translation and brief essay on the fifty-fifth ghazal from Bhai Nand Lal’s Divan-i-Goya.‍

READ More ⟶

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Stay informed with our weekly updates, important events and more at SikhRI.

Thank you! Your submission has been received.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.