Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10 - Sabad 01: Renunciation Redefined

Introducing Sabad Hajare Patshahi 10, new translations and commentaries of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib's composition. Harinder Singh (Innovation Director) and Jasleen Kaur (Research Associate) discuss their learnings and challenges while engaging with the words of this composition. The unique contexts and subversions these compositions reveal are a treat for those who yearn to get to know Guru Gobind Singh Sahib and those who yearn to celebrate Guru Gobind Singh Sahib.

In the first composition of the “Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10” (popularly Shabad Hazare Patshahi 10) series, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib redefines everything yogic. Yoga is reframed as the original idea of union or the connection with the 1. Guru Sahib disrupts yogic rituals with practical things an everyday person can do, including those in the family.

In this second podcast, Harinder Singh and Jasleen Kaur explore the context of Indic paradigms, rituals, systems, and popular understandings that the Guru addresses in his reframing of renunciation and non-attachment. We also discuss translation decisions and challenges.

Sabad

ਰਾਮਕਲੀ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹੀ ੧੦
ਰੇ ਮਨ   ਐਸੋ ਕਰਿ ਸੰਨਿਆਸਾ॥
ਬਨ ਸੇ ਸਦਨ   ਸਭੈ ਕਰਿ ਸਮਝਹੁ   ਮਨ ਹੀ ਮਾਹਿ ਉਦਾਸਾ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ॥
ਜਤ ਕੀ ਜਟਾ   ਜੋਗ ਕੋ ਮੱਜਨੁ   ਨੇਮ ਕੇ ਨਖੁਨ ਬਢਾਓ॥
ਗਿਆਨੁ ਗੁਰੂ   ਆਤਮ ਉਪਦੇਸਹੁ   ਨਾਮ ਬਿਭੂਤਿ ਲਗਾਓ॥੧॥
ਅਲਪ ਅਹਾਰੁ   ਸੁਲਪ ਸੀ ਨਿੰਦ੍ਰਾ   ਦਯਾ ਛਿਮਾ ਤਨ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ॥
ਸੀਲ ਸੰਤੋਖ ਸਦਾ ਨਿਰਬਾਹਿਬੋ   ਹ੍ਵੈਬੋ ਤ੍ਰਿਗੁਣ ਅਤੀਤਿ॥੨॥
ਕਾਮ ਕ੍ਰੋਧ ਹੰਕਾਰ ਲੋਭ ਹਠ   ਮੋਹ ਨ ਮਨ ਸਿਉ ਲਯਾਵੈ॥
ਤਬ ਹੀ ਆਤਮਤਤ ਕੋ ਦਰਸੈ   ਪਰਮ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਕਹ ਪਾਵੈ॥੩॥੧॥

Translation

Renunciation Redefined
What kind of renunciation?

Ramkali Sovereign 10
O mind, adopt this kind of renunciation:
Consider all houses as the forest; remain non-attached within the mind. Pause-reflect.
Sexual restraint is matted hair, connection with the 1 is pilgrimage bathing; daily commitment is growing nails.
Wisdom is the Guru; let it instruct the inner-self, apply the ash of Nam -Identification.
Consume less, sleep even less; consider compassion and forgiveness as the love for the body.
Always be gentle and content; transcend three prescribed Indic virtues.
Do not bring lust, anger, pride, greed, stubbornness, and attachment into the mind.
Only then can inner-self envision the essence and realize the Supreme Being.