Karta Sab Ko Terai Jor - Guru Nanak's Song of The Spiritual Companions

Every time I am reminded of how powerless we are, I am reminded of this shabad by Guru Nanak: karta sab ko terai jor.  Perhaps for Guru Nanak's 551st birthday I can work on a new version of this shabad. I have a composition of this shabad in Raag Shri (purvi thaat), but this one is in the rarer kafi thaat Raag Shri. I recorded a concept version yesterday (project 20168: Bb Kafi thaat Shri, 130 bpm).  

Karta Sab Ko Terai Jor
Ek Shabad Beechariye Jaa Tu Taa Kya Hor

Poem
O Doer, you have ultimate control 
I remember One shabad, and that is you, what else?




Preliminary thoughts on the shabad - when spiritual companions come together, what do they sing: 

Your one shabad is the ultimate doer. 

Come and embrace spiritual companions, 
Let's meet to tell the stories of the powerful one
all virtues are his, all vices are ours!

Your one shabad is the ultimate doer, the karṯā

Ask the fortunate ones how they remain in bliss
Through effortless, contentment and sweet words
Flavorful love is found through listening of the shabad

Your one shabad is the ultimate doer, the karṯā

Your powers are boundless, your gifts bountiful
numerous life forms sing your praise
your forms, colors and classes are innumerable

Your one shabad is the ultimate doer, the karṯā

obtaining truth we grow truth and finally absorb in the truth 
understanding brings true honor and vanquishes fear 
the true king himself is the one that helps you meet him

ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ॥
सिरीरागु महला १ ॥
Sirīrāg mėhlā 1.
Siree Raag, First Mehl:

ਆਵਹੁ ਭੈਣੇ ਗਲਿ ਮਿਲਹ ਅੰਕਿ ਸਹੇਲੜੀਆਹ ॥
आवहु भैणे गलि मिलह अंकि सहेलड़ीआह ॥
Āvhu bẖaiṇe gal milah ank sahelṛīāh.
Come, my dear sisters and spiritual companions; hug me close in your embrace.

ਮਿਲਿ ਕੈ ਕਰਹ ਕਹਾਣੀਆ ਸੰਮ੍ਰਥ ਕੰਤ ਕੀਆਹ ॥
मिलि कै करह कहाणीआ सम्रथ कंत कीआह ॥
Mil kai karah kahāṇīā samrath kanṯ kīāh.
Let's join together, and tell stories of our All-powerful Husband Lord.

ਸਾਚੇ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਸਭਿ ਗੁਣ ਅਉਗਣ ਸਭਿ ਅਸਾਹ ॥੧॥
साचे साहिब सभि गुण अउगण सभि असाह ॥१॥
Sācẖe sāhib sabẖ guṇ augaṇ sabẖ asāh. ||1||
All Virtues are in our True Lord and Master; we are utterly without virtue. ||1||

ਕਰਤਾ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਤੇਰੈ ਜੋਰਿ ॥
करता सभु को तेरै जोरि ॥
Karṯā sabẖ ko ṯerai jor.
O Creator Lord, all are in Your Power.

ਏਕੁ ਸਬਦੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੀਐ ਜਾ ਤੂ ਤਾ ਕਿਆ ਹੋਰਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
एकु सबदु बीचारीऐ जा तू ता किआ होरि ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
Ėk sabaḏ bīcẖārīai jā ṯū ṯā kiā hor. ||1|| rahāo.
I dwell upon the One Word of the Shabad. You are mine-what else do I need? ||1||Pause||

ਜਾਇ ਪੁਛਹੁ ਸੋਹਾਗਣੀ ਤੁਸੀ ਰਾਵਿਆ ਕਿਨੀ ਗੁਣੀ ॥
जाइ पुछहु सोहागणी तुसी राविआ किनी गुणीं ॥
Jāe pucẖẖahu sohāgaṇī ṯusī rāviā kinī guṇī.
Go, and ask the happy soul-brides, "By what virtuous qualities do you enjoy your Husband Lord?

ਸਹਜਿ ਸੰਤੋਖਿ ਸੀਗਾਰੀਆ ਮਿਠਾ ਬੋਲਣੀ ॥
सहजि संतोखि सीगारीआ मिठा बोलणी ॥
Sahj sanṯokẖ sīgārīā miṯẖā bolṇī.
We are adorned with intuitive ease, contentment and sweet words.

ਪਿਰੁ ਰੀਸਾਲੂ ਤਾ ਮਿਲੈ ਜਾ ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਸੁਣੀ ॥੨॥
पिरु रीसालू ता मिलै जा गुर का सबदु सुणी ॥२॥
Pir rīsālū ṯā milai jā gur kā sabaḏ suṇī. ||2||
We meet with our Beloved, the Source of Joy, when we listen to the Word of the Guru's Shabad." ||2||

ਕੇਤੀਆ ਤੇਰੀਆ ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਕੇਵਡ ਤੇਰੀ ਦਾਤਿ ॥
केतीआ तेरीआ कुदरती केवड तेरी दाति ॥
Keṯīā ṯerīā kuḏraṯī kevad ṯerī ḏāṯ.
You have so many Creative Powers, Lord; Your Bountiful Blessings are so Great.

ਕੇਤੇ ਤੇਰੇ ਜੀਅ ਜੰਤ ਸਿਫਤਿ ਕਰਹਿ ਦਿਨੁ ਰਾਤਿ ॥
केते तेरे जीअ जंत सिफति करहि दिनु राति ॥
Keṯe ṯere jīa janṯ sifaṯ karahi ḏin rāṯ.
So many of Your beings and creatures praise You day and night.

ਕੇਤੇ ਤੇਰੇ ਰੂਪ ਰੰਗ ਕੇਤੇ ਜਾਤਿ ਅਜਾਤਿ ॥੩॥
केते तेरे रूप रंग केते जाति अजाति ॥३॥
Keṯe ṯere rūp rang keṯe jāṯ ajāṯ. ||3||
You have so many forms and colors, so many classes, high and low. ||3||

ਸਚੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਸਚੁ ਊਪਜੈ ਸਚ ਮਹਿ ਸਾਚਿ ਸਮਾਇ ॥
सचु मिलै सचु ऊपजै सच महि साचि समाइ ॥
Sacẖ milai sacẖ ūpjai sacẖ mėh sācẖ samāe.
Meeting the True One, Truth wells up. The truthful are absorbed into the True Lord.

ਸੁਰਤਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਪਤਿ ਊਗਵੈ ਗੁਰਬਚਨੀ ਭਉ ਖਾਇ ॥
सुरति होवै पति ऊगवै गुरबचनी भउ खाइ ॥
Suraṯ hovai paṯ ūgvai gurbacẖnī bẖao kẖāe.
Intuitive understanding is obtained and one is welcomed with honor, through the Guru's Word, filled with the Fear of God.

ਨਾਨਕ ਸਚਾ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹੁ ਆਪੇ ਲਏ ਮਿਲਾਇ ॥੪॥੧੦॥
नानक सचा पातिसाहु आपे लए मिलाइ ॥४॥१०॥
Nānak sacẖā pāṯisāhu āpe lae milāe. ||4||10||
O Nanak, the True King absorbs us into Himself. ||4||10||

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