How Can I Swim Across?

[Gurpreet Singh]

gauVI bYrwgix

gourree bairaagani

Gauree Bairaagan:

<> siqgur pRswid ]ik oa(n)kaar sathigur prasaadh ||

One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:

sqjuig squ qyqw jgI duAwpir pUjwcwr ]

sathajug sath thaethaa jagee dhuaapar poojaachaar ||

In the Golden Age of Sat Yuga, was Truth; in the Silver Age of Trayta Yuga, charitable feasts; in the Brass Age of Dwaapar Yuga, there was worship.

qInO jug qInO idVy kil kyvl nwm ADwr ]1]

theena jug theena dhirrae kal kaeval naam adhhaar ||1||

In those three ages, people held to these three ways. But in the Iron Age of Kali Yuga, the Name of the Lord is your only Support. ||1||

pwru kYsy pwiebo ry ]

paar kaisae paaeibo rae ||

How can I swim across?

mo sau koaU n khY smJwie ]

mo so kooo n kehai samajhaae ||

No one has explained to me,

jw qy Awvw gvnu iblwie ]1] rhwau ]

jaa thae aavaa gavan bilaae ||1|| rehaao ||

so that I might understand how I can escape reincarnation. ||1||Pause||

bhu ibiD Drm inrUpIAY krqw dIsY sB loie ]

bahu bidhh dhharam niroopeeai karathaa dheesai sabh loe ||

So many forms of religion have been described; the whole world is practicing them.

kvn krm qy CUtIAY ijh swDy sB isiD hoie ]2]

kavan karam thae shhootteeai jih saadhhae sabh sidhh hoe ||2||

What actions will bring emancipation, and total perfection? ||2||

krm Akrm bIcwrIAY sMkw suin byd purwn ]

karam akaram beechaareeai sa(n)kaa sun baedh puraan ||

One may distinguish between good and evil actions, and listen to the Vedas and the Puraanas,

sMsw sd ihrdY bsY kaunu ihrY AiBmwnu ]3]

sa(n)saa sadh hiradhai basai koun hirai abhimaan ||3||

but doubt still persists. Skepticism continually dwells in the heart, so who can eradicate egotistical pride? ||3||

bwhru audik pKwrIAY Gt BIqir ibibiD ibkwr ]

baahar oudhak pakhaareeai ghatt bheethar bibidhh bikaar ||

Outwardly, he washes with water, but deep within, his heart is tarnished by all sorts of vices.

suD kvn pr hoiebo suc kuMcr ibiD ibauhwr ]4]

sudhh kavan par hoeibo such ku(n)char bidhh biouhaar ||4||

So how can he become pure? His method of purification is like that of an elephant, covering himself with dust right after his bath! ||4||

riv pRgws rjnI jQw giq jwnq sB sMswr ]

rav pragaas rajanee jathhaa gath jaanath sabh sa(n)saar ||

With the rising of the sun, the night is brought to its end; the whole world knows this.

pwrs mwno qwbo Cuey knk hoq nhI bwr ]5]

paaras maano thaabo shhueae kanak hoth nehee baar ||5||

It is believed that with the touch of the Philosopher's Stone, copper is immediately transformed into gold. ||5||

prm prs guru BytIAY pUrb ilKq illwt ]

param paras gur bhaetteeai poorab likhath lilaatt ||

When one meets the Supreme Philosopher's Stone, the Guru, if such pre-ordained destiny is written on one's forehead,

aunmn mn mn hI imly Cutkq bjr kpwt ]6]

ounaman man man hee milae shhuttakath bajar kapaatt ||6||

then the soul blends with the Supreme Soul, and the stubborn doors are opened wide. ||6||

Bgiq jugiq miq siq krI BRm bMDn kwit ibkwr ]

bhagath jugath math sath karee bhram ba(n)dhhan kaatt bikaar ||

Through the way of devotion, the intellect is imbued with Truth; doubts, entanglements and vices are cut away.

soeI bis ris mn imly gun inrgun eyk ibcwr ]7]

soee bas ras man milae gun niragun eaek bichaar ||7||

The mind is restrained, and one attains joy, contemplating the One Lord, who is both with and without qualities. ||7||

Aink jqn ingRh kIey twrI n trY BRm Pws ]

anik jathan nigreh keeeae ttaaree n ttarai bhram faas ||

I have tried many methods, but by turning it away, the noose of doubt is not turned away.

pRym Bgiq nhI aUpjY qw qy rivdws audws ]8]1]

praem bhagath nehee oopajai thaa thae ravidhaas oudhaas ||8||1||

Love and devotion have not welled up within me, and so Ravi Daas is sad and depressed. ||8||1||