Guru Gobind Singh's 'Mittar Pyare Nu' - Video, Lyrics and Translation

Correction to the video: The year given in inscription in the start of  the Shabad  that is 1699 is  incorrect. The correct date is Dec 1704. My apologies for the mistake. - Shivpreet (May, 2020)

 

Historical Backgroud for Mittar Pyare Nu

‘Mittar Pyare Nu’ is a shabad, by the tenth guru Guru Gobind Singh ji, who has said to have recited it in the Machivara Forest when separated from everyone after the Mughal's attacked Anandpur Sahib. The Guru had lost his mother, two elder sons in battle, two younger sons by execution and faced further hardships in battle facing an army of 100,000 against his fearless 40.  Despite all the losses, the Guru is only concerned about his separation from Waheguru, not from his family, friends or property. 

Lyrics - Punjabi/English/Alternative Translations

ਮਿੱਤਰ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਨੂੰ ਹਾਲ ਮੁਰੀਦਾ ਦਾ ਕਹਿਣਾ ॥

ਤੁਧੁ ਬਿਨੁ ਰੋਗੁ ਰਜਾਈਆ ਦਾ ਓਢਣ ਨਾਗ ਨਿਵਾਸਾ ਦੇ ਹਹਿਣਾ ॥

ਸੂਲ ਸੁਰਾਹੀ ਖੰਜਰ ਪਿਆਲਾ ਬਿੰਗ ਕਸਾਈਆਂ ਦਾ ਸਹਿਣਾ ॥

ਯਾਰੜੇ ਦਾ ਸਾਨੂੰ ਸੱਥਰੁ ਚੰਗਾ ਭਠ ਖੇੜਿਆ ਦਾ ਰਹਿਣਾ ॥

mithr piaarae noo(n) haal mureedhaa dhaa kehinaa ॥

thudhh bin rog rajaaeeaa dhaa oudtan naag nivaasaa dhae hehinaa ॥

sool suraahee kha(n)jar piaalaa bi(n)g kasaaeeaaa(n) dhaa sehinaa ॥

yaararrae dhaa saanoo(n) saathhar cha(n)gaa bhat(h) khaerriaa dhaa rehinaa ॥

Alternative Translation 1

Tell the beloved friend (the Lord) the plight of his disciples.

Without You, rich blankets are a disease and the comfort of the house is like living with snakes.

.... Our water pitchers are stakes, our cups have edges like daggers.

....Like the suffering of animals at the hands of butchers.

Our Beloved Lord's straw bed is more pleasing to us than living in costly furnace-like mansions.

Alternative Translation 2

Tell the condition of the believers to my Beloved friend.

[Tell Him that] Without You, using bed sheets is like a sickness and like living as being wrapped by snakes.

The pitcher is a thorn and the glass is a dagger which are like tolerating being butchered.

Death bed with my Beloved is better than body burning [living with vice] without Him.