Spirit Voyage

Mantra-pedia

Gagan may thaal rav chand deepak banay

Taarikaa mandal janak motee

Dhoop mal aanlo pavan chavro kare

Sagal banraa-ay foolant jotee(1)

Kaisee aartee ho-ay

Bhav khandanaa tayree aartee

Anhataa shabad vaajant bhayree

Rahao

Sahes tav nain nan nain hai tohe kau

Sahes moorat nanaa ayk tohee

Sahes pad bimal nan ek pad

Gandh bin sahes tav gandh iv chalat mohee(2)

Sabh meh jot jot hai soee

Tis day chaanan sabh mai chaanan hoay

Gur saakhee jot pargat hoay

Jo tis bhaavay su aartee hoay(3)

Har charan kaval makrand lobhit mano

Anadino mohay aahee peeaasaa

Kripaa jal dayh naanak saaring kau

Hoay jaa tay tayray naaee vaasaa(4)

The sky is the azure salver,

The sun and moon are thy lamps,

The stars are thy scattered pearls,

The sandal forests are thy incense,

And the breeze is thy fan.

These, along with the flowers of vegetation

Are laid as offerings at thy feet(1)

O Destroyer of Fear,

What other worship can be compared

To nature's own festival of lights,

While the divine music resounds within?

-pause-

Thousand are thine eyes, yet thou hast no eyes;

Thousand are thy forms, yet thou hast no form;

Thousand are thy lotus feet, and yet thou hast no feet;

Thousand are thy noses to smell, yet thou hast no nose.

I am enchanted with thy play.(2)

It is the light which lives in every heart,

And thy light which illumines every soul.

It is only through the Guru's teachings

That the light comes to be shown.

Whatever is pleasing to thee,

That is the true worship.(3)

My soul yearns for the honey of Thy lotus feet.

Night and day I am athirst for thee.

I am like that bird who cries, "Peeoo, Peeoo,"

Waiting to receive the drop of water

Which is the nectar of Thy kindness,

So that I may live in the ecstasy of Thy Name.(4)

This is a shabad written by Guru Nanak which is part of Kirtan Sohilaa, a prayer read at bedtime by the Sikhs. 

Translation courtesy of Peace Lagoon, by Sardarni Premka Kaur, Copyright 1984 G.T. International.