Guru Ramdas ji was our fourth guru, son of father Haridas and mother Dayavati and son-in-law of Guru Amardas ji.

I know Guru Sahib mostly from his shabads. I tend to listen to a lot of shabads and often look up their meanings. This not only gives me a solid understanding of the shabad but also deepens my experience of the sentiments expressed in the shabad. I have listened to many shabads by Guru Ramdas ji and they have inspired me immensely in my own spiritual journey. In this article, I invite you to join me.

In this shabad, Guru Ramdas ji expresses the feeling of pain from being separated from Waheguru. I really liked the rendition of the shabad, sung by Bhai Harjinder Singh ji (Srinagarwale). One day while I was singing along, I experienced the emotions as described and I began painting.

My interpretation below:

ਗੋਂਡ ਮਹਲਾ ੪ ॥

In Rag Gaund, by Guru Ramdas.

ਹਰਿ ਦਰਸਨ ਕਉ ਮੇਰਾ ਮਨੁ ਬਹੁ ਤਪਤੈ ਜਿਉ ਤ੍ਰਿਖਾਵੰਤੁ ਬਿਨੁ ਨੀਰ ॥੧॥

My mind yearns so deeply for the vision of Hari, the way a thirsty man yearns for a drink of  cool water.

ਮੇਰੈ ਮਨਿ ਪ੍ਰੇਮੁ ਲਗੋ ਹਰਿ ਤੀਰ ॥

ਹਮਰੀ ਬੇਦਨ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਜਾਨੈ ਮੇਰੇ ਮਨ ਅੰਤਰ ਕੀ ਪੀਰ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

My mind has been pierced by the arrow of His love; only He understands my pain, the pain I feel from having been separated from Him.

ਮੇਰੇ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮ ਕੀ ਕੋਈ ਬਾਤ ਸੁਨਾਵੈ ਸੋ ਭਾਈ ਸੋ ਮੇਰਾ ਬੀਰ ॥੨॥

Whoever tells me stories of Hari, whoever talks about my Beloved, he is my brother, my true brother.

ਮਿਲੁ ਮਿਲੁ ਸਖੀ ਗੁਣ ਕਹੁ ਮੇਰੇ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੇ ਲੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਮਤਿ ਧੀਰ ॥੩॥

Come together my friends and sing the praises of my Lord, and listen to the patient Satguru.

ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੀ ਹਰਿ ਆਸ ਪੁਜਾਵਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਦਰਸਨਿ ਸਾਂਤਿ ਸਰੀਰ ॥੪॥੬॥ ਛਕਾ ੧॥

Guru Ramdas ji prays, “O Hari please fulfill our desires to unite with You. When we see You, when we get a glimpse of Your true form, we find peace.”

I urge you to listen to this shabad with me. It can be found in the Sikhnet Media Center.

My paintings are available for purchase at SikhiArt.com and please connect with me on Facebook or Blogspot.