Bhai Balbir Singh – Ab Main Apni Katha
Dust Daman, the previous incarnation of Guru Gobind Singh
ਅਬ ਮੈ ਅਪਨੀ ਕਥਾ ਬਖਾਨੋ ॥
ਤਪ ਸਾਧਤ ਜਿਹ ਬਿਧਿ ਮੁਹਿ ਆਨੋ ॥
ab mai apnī kathā bakhānō ॥
tap sādhat jih bidhi muhi ānō ॥
Now I relate my own story as to how I was brought here,
while I was absorbed in deep meditation.
ਹੇਮ ਕੁੰਟ ਪਰਬਤ ਹੈ ਜਹਾਂ ॥
ਸਪਤ ਸ੍ਰਿੰਗ ਸੋਭਿਤ ਹੈ ਤਹਾਂ ॥੧॥
hēm kuṇṭ parbat hai jahāń ॥
sapat sriṅg sōbhit hai tahāń ॥1॥
The site was the mountain named Hemkunt,
with seven peaks and looks there very impressive.1.
ਸਪਤ ਸ੍ਰਿੰਗ ਤਿਹ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਹਾਵਾ ॥
ਪੰਡੁ ਰਾਜ ਜਹ ਜੋਗੁ ਕਮਾਵਾ ॥
sapat sriṅg tih nāmu kahāvā ॥
paṇḍu rāj jah jōgu kamāvā ॥
That mountain is called Sapt Shring (seven-peaked mountain),
where the Pandavas Practised Yoga.
ਤਹ ਹਮ ਅਧਿਕ ਤਪੱਸਿਆ ਸਾਧੀ ॥
ਮਹਾਕਾਲ ਕਾਲਿਕਾ ਅਰਾਧੀ ॥੨॥
tah ham adhik tapssiā sādhī ॥
mahākāl kālikā arādhī ॥2॥
There I was absorbed in deep meditation on the Primal Power, the Supreme KAL.2.
ਇਹ ਬਿਧਿ ਕਰਤ ਤਪਸਿਆ ਭਯੋ ॥
ਦ੍ਵੈ ਤੇ ਏਕ ਰੂਪ ਹ੍ਵੈ ਗਯੋ ॥
ih bidhi karat tapsiā bhayō ॥
dvai tē ēk rūp hvai gayō ॥
In this way, my meditation reached its zenith and
I became One with the Omnipotent Lord.
ਤਾਤ ਮਾਤ ਮੁਰ ਅਲਖ ਅਰਾਧਾ ॥
ਬਹੂ ਬਿਧਿ ਜੋਗ ਸਾਧਨਾ ਸਾਧਾ ॥੩॥
tāt māt mur alakh arādhā ॥
bahū bidhi jōg sādhnā sādhā ॥3॥
My parents also meditated for the union with the Incomprehensible Lord and
performed many types of disciplines for union.3.
ਤਿਨ ਜੋ ਕਰੀ ਅਲਖ ਕੀ ਸੇਵਾ ॥
ਤਾ ਤੇ ਭਏ ਪ੍ਰਸੰਨ ਗੁਰਦੇਵਾ ॥
tin jō karī alakh kī sēvā ॥
tā tē bhaē prasann gurdēvā ॥
The service that they rendered the Incomprehensible Lord,
caused the pleasure of the Supreme Guru (i.e. Lord).
ਤਿਨ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਜਬ ਆਇਸ ਮੁਹਿ ਦੀਆ ॥
ਤਬ ਹਮ ਜਨਮ ਕਲੂ ਮਹਿ ਲੀਆ ॥੪॥
tin prabh jab āis muhi dīā ॥
tab ham janam kalū mahi līā ॥4॥
When the Lord ordered me,
I was born in this Iron age.4.
ਚਿਤ ਨ ਭਯੋ ਹਮਰੋ ਆਵਨ ਕਹ ॥
ਚੁਭੀ ਰਹੀ ਸ੍ਰੁਤਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਚਰਨਨ ਮਹ ॥
chit na bhayō hamrō āvan kah ॥
chubhī rahī sruti prabhu charnan mah ॥
I had no desire to come,
because I was totally absorbed in devotion for the Holy feet of the Lord.
ਜਿਉ ਤਿਉ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਹਮ ਕੋ ਸਮਝਾਯੋ ॥
ਇਮ ਕਹਿ ਕੈ ਇਹ ਲੋਕ ਪਠਾਯੋ ॥੫॥
jiu tiu prabh ham kō samjhāyō ॥
im kahi kai ih lōk paṭhāyō ॥5॥
But the Lord made me understand His Will and
sent me in this world with the following words.5.
ਅਕਾਲ ਪੁਰਖ ਬਾਚ ਇਸ ਕੀਟ ਪ੍ਰਤਿ ॥
akāl purakh bāc is kīṭ prati ॥
The Words of the Non-temporal Lord to this insect:
In the sixth canto, beginning with the words ab mai apani katha bakhano (now I relate my own story), the narrative becomes more personal. The poet tells us how in a previous life he practised intense meditation and austerity on the mount Hem Kunt until his spirit merged with the Divine.
Then, how despite his desire to stay absorbed in harmony at His feet, he was told by the Almighty to take birth in the Kali age to show the world the path of truth, to rid it of superstition, and to teach it to worship God alone.
Guru Gobind Singh accepted the charge humbly: “Thy word shall prevail in the world, with Thy support.” Without fear or malice, he would, he said, proclaim what God had told him. Lest people should start worshipping him instead of God, he warns them,
“Those who call me God shall into the pit of Hell be cast. I am but the slave of the Supreme Being come to watch the world spectacle.” Guru Gobind Singh adored none but God and attached no importance to any religious garb or practice except the constant remembrance of God’s Name.
BACHITRA NATAK
Dr. Jodh Singh
Head, Encyclopedia of Sikhsim.
Punjabi University, Patiala.
Bhai Balbir Singh Ji Sidki was born in his maternal village Mrigindpura near Bhikhiwind (Amritsar), Punjab on March 23rd, 1933 to Mata Prasan Kaur Ji and Bhai Santa Singh Ji. Bhai Sahib Ji was the eldest of the four brothers. His father Bhai Santa Singh Ji was a famous tabla/pakhawaj exponent who taught at the Gurmat Vidyalaya in Taran Tarn (Amritsar). Bhai Balbir Singh Ji received his initial training in Gurbani Kirtan from his father, his grandfather Bhai Kundan Singh Ji, and great-grandfather Bhai Hira Singh Ji.
Bhai Balbir Singh Ji began learning singing at the tender age of four. Bhai Sahib Ji made his debut at the Darbar Sahib, Taran Taran at the tender age of seven where he sang two compositions. Bhai Balbir Singh Ji accompanied his father who travelled extensively to Benaras, Lucknow, Gwalior, Pune, Calcutta and Delhi for music conferences. Bhai Sahib Ji was able to listen to and seek blessings from some of the finest names in Indian classical music.
https://www.sikhnet.com/gurbani/artist/bhai-balbir-singh
Gur Vichar 