Deh Shiva Bar Mohe Eha

Deh Shiva bar Mohe is a 17th-century hymn (shabad) written by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, in the Dasam Granth.

The language used is Braj Bhasha.

The hymn is a part of Chandi Charitar which describes the glory of Shakti (power), a section of the Dasam Granth.

Lyrics

ਦੇਹ ਸਿਵਾ ਬਰੁ ਮੋਹਿ ਇਹੈ ਸੁਭ ਕਰਮਨ ਤੇ ਕਬਹੂੰ ਨ ਟਰੋਂ ॥
ਨ ਡਰੋਂ ਅਰਿ ਸੋ ਜਬ ਜਾਇ ਲਰੋਂ ਨਿਸਚੈ ਕਰਿ ਅਪੁਨੀ ਜੀਤ ਕਰੋਂ ॥
ਅਰੁ ਸਿਖ ਹੋਂ ਆਪਨੇ ਹੀ ਮਨ ਕੌ ਇਹ ਲਾਲਚ ਹਉ ਗੁਨ ਤਉ ਉਚਰੋਂ ॥
ਜਬ ਆਵ ਕੀ ਅਉਧ ਨਿਦਾਨ ਬਨੈ ਅਤਿ ਹੀ ਰਨ ਮੈ ਤਬ ਜੂਝ ਮਰੋਂ ॥੨੩੧॥

Deh siva bar mohe eh-hey subh karman te kabhu na taro.
Na daro arr seo jab jaye laro nischey kar apni jeet karo.
Arr Sikh ho apne he mann ko, eh laalach hou gun tau ucharo.
Jab aav ki audh nidan bane att he rann me tabh joojh maro.

देह शिवा बर मोहे ईहे, शुभ कर्मन ते कभुं न टरूं
न डरौं अरि सौं जब जाय लड़ौं, निश्चय कर अपनी जीत करौं,
अरु सिख हों आपने ही मन कौ इह लालच हउ गुन तउ उचरों,
जब आव की अउध निदान बनै अति ही रन मै तब जूझ मरों ॥२३१॥

Translation: The first two lines are contentious; the direct translation is as follows:

The physical body (deh) is greater than any of mythological god Siva's superpowers, therefore I should not fear (and have no need for miracles) when committing myself to good deeds.
That I shall not fear when I go into combat. And with determination I will be victorious.
That I may teach myself this creed alone, to speak only of Thy (allmighty lord Waheguru) praises.
And when the last days of my life come, I may die in the might of the battlefield.||231||
-- Guru Gobind Singh

Context

The entire 'Chandi di vaar' is a graphic violent battlefield scene written with the primary intent of desensitizing the docile Sikh population to horrific scenes they would experience in forthcoming battles to defend their human rights. This poem is a commentary found within 'Chandi di vaar' written by Guru Gobind Singh, which can be interpreted as a criticism of the notion that only a deity such as Shiva could help the downtrodden as they possessed superpowers beyond the reach of the common man or woman. However, being an astute general and more importantly a man steeped in the philosophy of gurmat (non belief in superstitions and mythological tales like those found in Hinduism as well as in other polytheistic traditions) , he realized that the literature from mythology can be used to prepare for life's real battles. By equating the human body to mythological superpowers he invoked humankind to seek protection by means of the self, declaring every Sikh to be greater than Siva, the mythological Hindu deity of strength. This served the purpose of psychologically breaking Sikhs away from the Hindu paradigm of seeking protection from mythological gods thru priests that was prevelant in india at the time.

References

sikhiwiki.org

External links

• Lyrics of this Hymn
• www.sridasamgranth.com
• History and scripture of the Dasam Granth
• Recording by Atam Ras Kirtan
• Nation following Guru’s maxim on border: PM