Ab Main Kaun Upao Karoon - Raag Dhanasri

Following is a recording of Guru Tegh Bahadur's shabad "Ab Main Kaun Upao Karoon" that I recently finished mastering. The original recording was made in 1999. This is the first of six shabads I collaborated with Pandit Rajendra Prasanna, an eminent classical musician from Delhi. The shabad is sung in Raag Dhanasri, and a downloadable version of this shabad, like others, is available on Reverbnation. Hopefully I will post some more shabads from that collaboration, and from others that I currently am in.

Aug 2015 Update - This recording was published after 16 years of lying dormant: 
 


Lyrics and Translation


ਧਨਾਸਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੯ ॥
धनासरी महला ९ ॥
Ḏẖanāsrī mėhlā 9.
Dhanaasaree, Ninth Mehl:

ਅਬ ਮੈ ਕਉਨੁ ਉਪਾਉ ਕਰਉ ॥
अब मै कउनु उपाउ करउ ॥
Ab mai kaun upāo karao.
Now, what efforts should I make?

ਜਿਹ ਬਿਧਿ ਮਨ ਕੋ ਸੰਸਾ ਚੂਕੈ ਭਉ ਨਿਧਿ ਪਾਰਿ ਪਰਉ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
जिह बिधि मन को संसा चूकै भउ निधि पारि परउ ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
Jih biḏẖ man ko sansā cẖūkai bẖao niḏẖ pār parao. ||1|| rahāo.
How can I dispel the anxieties of my mind? How can I cross over the terrifying world-ocean? ||1||Pause||

ਜਨਮੁ ਪਾਇ ਕਛੁ ਭਲੋ ਨ ਕੀਨੋ ਤਾ ਤੇ ਅਧਿਕ ਡਰਉ ॥
जनमु पाइ कछु भलो न कीनो ता ते अधिक डरउ ॥
Janam pāe kacẖẖ bẖalo na kīno ṯā ṯe aḏẖik darao.
Obtaining this human incarnation, I have done no good deeds; this makes me very afraid!

ਮਨ ਬਚ ਕ੍ਰਮ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਨ ਨਹੀ ਗਾਏ ਯਹ ਜੀਅ ਸੋਚ ਧਰਉ ॥੧॥
मन बच क्रम हरि गुन नही गाए यह जीअ सोच धरउ ॥१॥
Man bacẖ karam har gun nahī gāe yėh jīa socẖ ḏẖarao. ||1||
In thought, word and deed, I have not sung the Lord's Praises; this thought worries my mind. ||1||

ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਸੁਨਿ ਕਛੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਉਪਜਿਓ ਪਸੁ ਜਿਉ ਉਦਰੁ ਭਰਉ ॥
गुरमति सुनि कछु गिआनु न उपजिओ पसु जिउ उदरु भरउ ॥
Gurmaṯ sun kacẖẖ giān na upjio pas jio uḏar bẖarao.
I listened to the Guru's Teachings, but spiritual wisdom did not well up within me; like a beast, I fill my belly.

ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਬਿਰਦੁ ਪਛਾਨਉ ਤਬ ਹਉ ਪਤਿਤ ਤਰਉ ॥੨॥੪॥੯॥੯॥੧੩॥੫੮॥੪॥੯੩॥
कहु नानक प्रभ बिरदु पछानउ तब हउ पतित तरउ ॥२॥४॥९॥९॥१३॥५८॥४॥९३॥
Kaho Nānak parabẖ biraḏ pacẖẖānao ṯab hao paṯiṯ ṯarao. ||2||4||9||9||13||58||4||93||
Says Nanak, O God, please confirm Your Law of Grace; for only then can I, the sinner, be saved. ||2||4||9||9||13||58||4||93||

My additional thoughts on Ab Main Kaun Upao Karoon:


How should I find the boat
That sails the sea of life
How should I find the star
That shows the path thats right

I've got the gift of life
But deeds are far from good
I've got the gift of heart
but true love has withstood

I've got the gift of tongue
but it doesn't chanting do
In thought, speech and deed
I haven't remembered you

I've got my daily bread
There is all reason to grow
A beautiful mind to learn
all there is to know.

I know I've got your help
But wisdom fails to sprout
As a pig I flood my belly
my mind remains in drought

Take me on the boat
That sails me across
Be my guiding star
so I am never lost

3 Comments

  1. Taranjeet SinghJuly 22, 2010 at 10:57 AM

    Superb :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. carl von bailiffJune 29, 2013 at 10:44 AM

    Guru Tegh Bahadur was such a spiritual person- no, not person- a Star- sir tussi aisja tarannum deetta hai, mai raatti so nai sakeya-te tuadda translation te alokik hai- satt naam wahe guru-sarbatt da bhala hove...

    ReplyDelete
  3. pulkit guptaSeptember 4, 2022 at 9:42 PM

    Ati sundar, shabad. relatable and fascinating. Thank you :) looking for more such compositions.

    ReplyDelete