ਮਾਰੂ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ॥
maaroo mahalaa 1 |

Maaroo, First Mehl:

ਕੇਤੇ ਜੁਗ ਵਰਤੇ ਗੁਬਾਰੈ ॥
kete jug varate gubaarai |

For many ages, only darkness prevailed;

ਤਾੜੀ ਲਾਈ ਅਪਰ ਅਪਾਰੈ ॥
taarree laaee apar apaarai |

the infinite, endless Lord was absorbed in the primal void.

ਧੁੰਧੂਕਾਰਿ ਨਿਰਾਲਮੁ ਬੈਠਾ ਨਾ ਤਦਿ ਧੰਧੁ ਪਸਾਰਾ ਹੇ ॥੧॥
dhundhookaar niraalam baitthaa naa tad dhandh pasaaraa he |1|

He sat alone and unaffected in absolute darkness; the world of conflict did not exist. ||1||

ਜੁਗ ਛਤੀਹ ਤਿਨੈ ਵਰਤਾਏ ॥
jug chhateeh tinai varataae |

Thirty-six ages passed like this.

ਜਿਉ ਤਿਸੁ ਭਾਣਾ ਤਿਵੈ ਚਲਾਏ ॥
jiau tis bhaanaa tivai chalaae |

He causes all to happen by the Pleasure of His Will.

ਤਿਸਹਿ ਸਰੀਕੁ ਨ ਦੀਸੈ ਕੋਈ ਆਪੇ ਅਪਰ ਅਪਾਰਾ ਹੇ ॥੨॥
tiseh sareek na deesai koee aape apar apaaraa he |2|

No rival of His can be seen. He Himself is infinite and endless. ||2||

ਗੁਪਤੇ ਬੂਝਹੁ ਜੁਗ ਚਤੁਆਰੇ ॥
gupate boojhahu jug chatuaare |

God is hidden throughout the four ages - understand this well.

ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਵਰਤੈ ਉਦਰ ਮਝਾਰੇ ॥
ghatt ghatt varatai udar majhaare |

He pervades each and every heart, and is contained within the belly.

ਜੁਗੁ ਜੁਗੁ ਏਕਾ ਏਕੀ ਵਰਤੈ ਕੋਈ ਬੂਝੈ ਗੁਰ ਵੀਚਾਰਾ ਹੇ ॥੩॥
jug jug ekaa ekee varatai koee boojhai gur veechaaraa he |3|

The One and Only Lord prevails throughout the ages. How rare are those who contemplate the Guru, and understand this. ||3||

ਬਿੰਦੁ ਰਕਤੁ ਮਿਲਿ ਪਿੰਡੁ ਸਰੀਆ ॥
bind rakat mil pindd sareea |

From the union of the sperm and the egg, the body was formed.

ਪਉਣੁ ਪਾਣੀ ਅਗਨੀ ਮਿਲਿ ਜੀਆ ॥
paun paanee aganee mil jeea |

From the union of air, water and fire, the living being is made.

ਆਪੇ ਚੋਜ ਕਰੇ ਰੰਗ ਮਹਲੀ ਹੋਰ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹ ਪਸਾਰਾ ਹੇ ॥੪॥
aape choj kare rang mahalee hor maaeaa moh pasaaraa he |4|

He Himself plays joyfully in the mansion of the body; all the rest is just attachment to Maya's expanse. ||4||

ਗਰਭ ਕੁੰਡਲ ਮਹਿ ਉਰਧ ਧਿਆਨੀ ॥
garabh kunddal meh uradh dhiaanee |

Within the mother's womb, upside-down, the mortal meditated on God.

ਆਪੇ ਜਾਣੈ ਅੰਤਰਜਾਮੀ ॥
aape jaanai antarajaamee |

The Inner-knower, the Searcher of hearts, knows everything.

ਸਾਸਿ ਸਾਸਿ ਸਚੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਮਾਲੇ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਉਦਰ ਮਝਾਰਾ ਹੇ ॥੫॥
saas saas sach naam samaale antar udar majhaaraa he |5|

With each and every breath, he contemplated the True Name, deep within himself, within the womb. ||5||

ਚਾਰਿ ਪਦਾਰਥ ਲੈ ਜਗਿ ਆਇਆ ॥
chaar padaarath lai jag aaeaa |

He came into the world to obtain the four great blessings.

ਸਿਵ ਸਕਤੀ ਘਰਿ ਵਾਸਾ ਪਾਇਆ ॥
siv sakatee ghar vaasaa paaeaa |

He came to dwell in the home of the Shiva and Shakti, energy and matter.

ਏਕੁ ਵਿਸਾਰੇ ਤਾ ਪਿੜ ਹਾਰੇ ਅੰਧੁਲੈ ਨਾਮੁ ਵਿਸਾਰਾ ਹੇ ॥੬॥
ek visaare taa pirr haare andhulai naam visaaraa he |6|

But he forgot the One Lord, and he has lost the game. The blind person forgets the Naam, the Name of the Lord. ||6||

ਬਾਲਕੁ ਮਰੈ ਬਾਲਕ ਕੀ ਲੀਲਾ ॥
baalak marai baalak kee leelaa |

The child dies in his childish games.

ਕਹਿ ਕਹਿ ਰੋਵਹਿ ਬਾਲੁ ਰੰਗੀਲਾ ॥
keh keh roveh baal rangeelaa |

They cry and mourn, saying that he was such a playful child.

ਜਿਸ ਕਾ ਸਾ ਸੋ ਤਿਨ ਹੀ ਲੀਆ ਭੂਲਾ ਰੋਵਣਹਾਰਾ ਹੇ ॥੭॥
jis kaa saa so tin hee leea bhoolaa rovanahaaraa he |7|

The Lord who owns him has taken him back. Those who weep and mourn are mistaken. ||7||

ਭਰਿ ਜੋਬਨਿ ਮਰਿ ਜਾਹਿ ਕਿ ਕੀਜੈ ॥
bhar joban mar jaeh ki keejai |

What can they do, if he dies in his youth?

ਮੇਰਾ ਮੇਰਾ ਕਰਿ ਰੋਵੀਜੈ ॥
meraa meraa kar roveejai |

They cry out, "His is mine, he is mine!"

ਮਾਇਆ ਕਾਰਣਿ ਰੋਇ ਵਿਗੂਚਹਿ ਧ੍ਰਿਗੁ ਜੀਵਣੁ ਸੰਸਾਰਾ ਹੇ ॥੮॥
maaeaa kaaran roe vigoocheh dhrig jeevan sansaaraa he |8|

They cry for the sake of Maya, and are ruined; their lives in this world are cursed. ||8||

ਕਾਲੀ ਹੂ ਫੁਨਿ ਧਉਲੇ ਆਏ ॥
kaalee hoo fun dhaule aae |

Their black hair eventually turns grey.

ਵਿਣੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਗਥੁ ਗਇਆ ਗਵਾਏ ॥
vin naavai gath geaa gavaae |

Without the Name, they lose their wealth, and then leave.

ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਅੰਧੁਲਾ ਬਿਨਸਿ ਬਿਨਾਸੈ ਮੂਠੇ ਰੋਇ ਪੂਕਾਰਾ ਹੇ ॥੯॥
duramat andhulaa binas binaasai mootthe roe pookaaraa he |9|

They are evil-minded and blind - they are totally ruined; they are plundered, and cry out in pain. ||9||

ਆਪੁ ਵੀਚਾਰਿ ਨ ਰੋਵੈ ਕੋਈ ॥
aap veechaar na rovai koee |

One who understands himself, does not cry.

ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਤ ਸੋਝੀ ਹੋਈ ॥
satigur milai ta sojhee hoee |

When he meets the True Guru, then he understands.

ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਰ ਬਜਰ ਕਪਾਟ ਨ ਖੂਲਹਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਨਿਸਤਾਰਾ ਹੇ ॥੧੦॥
bin gur bajar kapaatt na khooleh sabad milai nisataaraa he |10|

Without the Guru, the heavy, hard doors are not opened. Obtaining the Word of the Shabad, one is emancipated. ||10||

ਬਿਰਧਿ ਭਇਆ ਤਨੁ ਛੀਜੈ ਦੇਹੀ ॥
biradh bheaa tan chheejai dehee |

The body grows old, and is beaten out of shape.

ਰਾਮੁ ਨ ਜਪਈ ਅੰਤਿ ਸਨੇਹੀ ॥
raam na japee ant sanehee |

But he does not meditate on the Lord, His only friend, even at the end.

ਨਾਮੁ ਵਿਸਾਰਿ ਚਲੈ ਮੁਹਿ ਕਾਲੈ ਦਰਗਹ ਝੂਠੁ ਖੁਆਰਾ ਹੇ ॥੧੧॥
naam visaar chalai muhi kaalai daragah jhootth khuaaraa he |11|

Forgetting the Naam, the Name of the Lord, he departs with his face blackened. The false are humiliated in the Court of the Lord. ||11||

ਨਾਮੁ ਵਿਸਾਰਿ ਚਲੈ ਕੂੜਿਆਰੋ ॥
naam visaar chalai koorriaaro |

Forgetting the Naam, the false ones depart.

ਆਵਤ ਜਾਤ ਪੜੈ ਸਿਰਿ ਛਾਰੋ ॥
aavat jaat parrai sir chhaaro |

Coming and going, dust falls on their heads.

ਸਾਹੁਰੜੈ ਘਰਿ ਵਾਸੁ ਨ ਪਾਏ ਪੇਈਅੜੈ ਸਿਰਿ ਮਾਰਾ ਹੇ ॥੧੨॥
saahurarrai ghar vaas na paae peeearrai sir maaraa he |12|

The soul-bride finds no home in her in-laws' home, the world hereafter; she suffers in agony in this world of her parents' home. ||12||

ਖਾਜੈ ਪੈਝੈ ਰਲੀ ਕਰੀਜੈ ॥
khaajai paijhai ralee kareejai |

She eats, dresses and plays joyfully,

ਬਿਨੁ ਅਭ ਭਗਤੀ ਬਾਦਿ ਮਰੀਜੈ ॥
bin abh bhagatee baad mareejai |

but without loving devotional worship of the Lord, she dies uselessly.

ਸਰ ਅਪਸਰ ਕੀ ਸਾਰ ਨ ਜਾਣੈ ਜਮੁ ਮਾਰੇ ਕਿਆ ਚਾਰਾ ਹੇ ॥੧੩॥
sar apasar kee saar na jaanai jam maare kiaa chaaraa he |13|

One who does not distinguish between good and evil, is beaten by the Messenger of Death; how can anyone escape this? ||13||

ਪਰਵਿਰਤੀ ਨਰਵਿਰਤਿ ਪਛਾਣੈ ॥
paraviratee naravirat pachhaanai |

One who realizes what he has to possess, and what he has to abandon,

ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਸੰਗਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਘਰੁ ਜਾਣੈ ॥
gur kai sang sabad ghar jaanai |

associating with the Guru, comes to know the Word of the Shabad, within the home of his own self.

ਕਿਸ ਹੀ ਮੰਦਾ ਆਖਿ ਨ ਚਲੈ ਸਚਿ ਖਰਾ ਸਚਿਆਰਾ ਹੇ ॥੧੪॥
kis hee mandaa aakh na chalai sach kharaa sachiaaraa he |14|

Do not call anyone else bad; follow this way of life. Those who are true are judged to be genuine by the True Lord. ||14||

ਸਾਚ ਬਿਨਾ ਦਰਿ ਸਿਝੈ ਨ ਕੋਈ ॥
saach binaa dar sijhai na koee |

Without Truth, no one succeeds in the Court of the Lord.

ਸਾਚ ਸਬਦਿ ਪੈਝੈ ਪਤਿ ਹੋਈ ॥
saach sabad paijhai pat hoee |

Through the True Shabad, one is robed in honor.

ਆਪੇ ਬਖਸਿ ਲਏ ਤਿਸੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਹਉਮੈ ਗਰਬੁ ਨਿਵਾਰਾ ਹੇ ॥੧੫॥
aape bakhas le tis bhaavai haumai garab nivaaraa he |15|

He forgives those with whom He is pleased; they silence their egotism and pride. ||15||

ਗੁਰ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਤੇ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਪਛਾਣੈ ॥
gur kirapaa te hukam pachhaanai |

One who realizes the Hukam of God's Command, by the Grace of the Guru,

ਜੁਗਹ ਜੁਗੰਤਰ ਕੀ ਬਿਧਿ ਜਾਣੈ ॥
jugah jugantar kee bidh jaanai |

comes to know the lifestyle of the ages.

ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਹੁ ਤਰੁ ਤਾਰੀ ਸਚੁ ਤਾਰੇ ਤਾਰਣਹਾਰਾ ਹੇ ॥੧੬॥੧॥੭॥
naanak naam japahu tar taaree sach taare taaranahaaraa he |16|1|7|

O Nanak, chant the Naam, and cross over to the other side. The True Lord will carry you across. ||16||1||7||

Sri Guru Granth Sahib
Shabad Information

Title: Raag Maaroo
Writer: Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Page: 1026 - 1027
Line No.: 14

Raag Maaroo

Maru was traditionally sung on the battlefield in preparation for war. This Raag has an aggressive nature, which creates an inner strength and power to express and emphasise the truth, regardless of the consequences. Maru’s nature conveys the fearlessness and strength that ensures the truth is spoken, no matter what the cost.