The Sikh Gurus never believed in the exclusivity of their teachings. The Gurus undertook travels to spread their message to peoples of different cultures in their own native languages. The Gurus did not believe in the ideas of any language being ‘sacred’ or ‘special’. It is in this spirit that various Sikh scholars have undertaken efforts to translate Sri Guru Granth Sahib into a number of languages in order to spread the teachings of the Gurus and to bring the Sikh religion to the people of the world as Guru Nanak wished.

“Enshrine the Lord’s Name within your heart. The Word of the Guru’s Bani prevails throughout the world; through this Bani, the Lord’s Name is obtained.” (Guru Amar Das, Maru, pg. 1066)

All Virtues are in our True Lord and Master; we are utterly without virtue. || 1 || O Creator Lord, all are in Your Power. I dwell upon the One Word of the Shabad. You are mine – what else do I need? || 1 || Pause || Go, and ask the happy soul-brides, “By what virtuous qualities do you enjoy your Husband Lord?” “We are adorned with intuitive ease, contentment and sweet words. We meet with our Beloved, the Source of Joy, when we listen to the Word of the Guru’s Shabad.” || 2 || You have so many Creative Powers, Lord; Your Bountiful Blessings are so Great. So many of Your beings and creatures praise You day and night. You have so many forms and colors, so many classes, high and low. || 3 || Meeting the True One, Truth wells up. The truthful are absorbed into the True Lord. Intuitive understanding is obtained and one is welcomed with honor, through the Guru’s Word, filled with the Fear of God. O Nanak, the True King absorbs us into Himself. || 4 || 10 || SIREE RAAG, FIRST MEHL: It all worked out – I was saved, and the egotism within my heart was subdued. The evil energies have been made to serve me, since I placed my faith in the True Guru.

I have renounced my useless schemes, by the Grace of the True, Carefree Lord. || 1 || O mind, meeting with the True One, fear departs. Without the Fear of God, how can anyone become fearless? Become Gurmukh, and immerse yourself in the Shabad. || 1 || Pause || How can we describe Him with words? There is no end to the descriptions of Him. There are so many beggars, but He is the only Giver. He is the Giver of the soul, and the praanaa, the breath of life; when He dwells within the mind, there is peace. || 2 || The world is a drama, staged in a dream. In a moment, the play is played out. Some attain union with the Lord, while others depart in separation. Whatever pleases Him comes to pass; nothing else can be done. || 3 || The Gurmukhs purchase the Genuine Article. The True Merchandise is purchased with the True Capital. Those who purchase this True Merchandise through the Perfect Guru are blessed. O Nanak, one who stocks this True Merchandise shall recognize and realize the Genuine Article. || 4 || 11 || SIREE RAAG, FIRST MEHL: As metal merges with metal, those who chant the Praises of the Lord are absorbed into the Praiseworthy Lord. Like the poppies, they are dyed in the deep crimson color of Truthfulness. Those contented souls who meditate on the Lord with single-minded love, meet the True Lord.

|| 1 || O Siblings of Destiny, become the dust of the feet of the humble Saints. In the Society of the Saints, the Guru is found. He is the Treasure of Liberation, the Source of all good fortune. || 1 || Pause || Upon that Highest Plane of Sublime Beauty, stands the Mansion of the Lord. By true actions, this human body is obtained, and the door within ourselves which leads to the Mansion of the Beloved, is found. The Gurmukhs train their minds to contemplate the Lord, the Supreme Soul. || 2 || By actions committed under the influence of the three qualities, hope and anxiety are produced. Without the Guru, how can anyone be released from these three qualities? Through intuitive wisdom, we meet with Him and find peace. Within the home of the self, the Mansion of His Presence is realized when He bestows His Glance of Grace and washes away our pollution. || 3 || Without the Guru, this pollution is not removed. Without the Lord, how can there be any homecoming? Contemplate the One Word of the Shabad, and abandon other hopes. O Nanak, I am forever a sacrifice to the one who beholds, and inspires others to behold Him.

|| 4 || 12 || SIREE RAAG, FIRST MEHL: The life of the discarded bride is cursed. She is deceived by the love of duality. Like a wall of sand, day and night, she crumbles, and eventually, she breaks down altogether. Without the Word of the Shabad, peace does not come. Without her Husband Lord, her suffering does not end. || 1 || O soul-bride, without your Husband Lord, what good are your decorations? In this world, you shall not find any shelter; in the world hereafter, being false, you shall suffer. || 1 || Pause || The True Lord Himself knows all; He makes no mistakes. He is the Great Farmer of the Universe. First, He prepares the ground, and then He plants the Seed of the True Name. The nine treasures are produced from Name of the One Lord. By His Grace, we obtain His Banner and Insignia. || 2 || Some are very knowledgeable, but if they do not know the Guru, then what is the use of their lives? The blind have forgotten the Naam, the Name of the Lord. The self-willed manmukhs are in utter darkness. Their comings and goings in reincarnation do not end; through death and rebirth, they are wasting away.

|| 3 || The bride may buy sandalwood oil and perfumes, and apply them in great quantities to her hair; she may sweeten her breath with betel leaf and camphor, but if this bride is not pleasing to her Husband Lord, then all these trappings are false. || 4 || Her enjoyment of all pleasures is futile, and all her decorations are corrupt. Until she has been pierced through with the Shabad, how can she look beautiful at Guru’s Gate? O Nanak, blessed is that fortunate bride, who is in love with her Husband Lord. || 5 || 13 || SIREE RAAG, FIRST MEHL: The empty body is dreadful, when the soul goes out from within. The burning fire of life is extinguished, and the smoke of the breath no longer emerges. The five relatives (the senses) weep and wail painfully, and waste away through the love of duality. || 1 || You fool: chant the Name of the Lord, and preserve your virtue. Egotism and possessiveness are very enticing; egotistical pride has plundered everyone.

|| 1 || Pause || Those who have forgotten the Naam, the Name of the Lord, are attached to affairs of duality. Attached to duality, they putrefy and die; they are filled with the fire of desire within. Those who are protected by the Guru are saved; all others are cheated and plundered by deceitful worldly affairs. || 2 || Love dies, and affection vanishes. Hatred and alienation die. Entanglements end, and egotism dies, along with attachment to Maya, possessiveness and anger. Those who receive His Mercy obtain the True One. The Gurmukhs dwell forever in balanced restraint. || 3 || By true actions, the True Lord is met, and the Guru’s Teachings are found. Then, they are not subject to birth and death; they do not come and go in reincarnation. O Nanak, they are respected at the Lord’s Gate; they are robed in honor in the Court of the Lord. || 4 || 14 || SIREE RAAG, FIRST MEHL: The body is burnt to ashes; by its love of Maya, the mind is rusted through. Demerits become one’s enemies, and falsehood blows the bugle of attack. Without the Word of the Shabad, people wander lost in reincarnation. Through the love of duality, multitudes have been drowned.

|| 1 || O mind, swim across, by focusing your consciousness on the Shabad. Those who do not become Gurmukh do not understand the Naam; they die, and continue coming and going in reincarnation. || 1 || Pause || That body is said to be pure, in which the True Name abides. One whose body is imbued with the Fear of the True One, and whose tongue savors Truthfulness, is brought to ecstasy by the True Lord’s Glance of Grace. That person does not have to go through the fire of the womb again. || 2 || From the True Lord came the air, and from the air came water. From water, He created the three worlds; in each and every heart He has infused His Light. The Immaculate Lord does not become polluted. Attuned to the Shabad, honor is obtained. || 3 || One whose mind is contented with Truthfulness, is blessed with the Lord’s Glance of Grace. The body of the five elements is dyed in the Fear of the True One; the mind is filled with the True Light. O Nanak, your demerits shall be forgotten; the Guru shall preserve your honor.

|| 4 || 15 || SIREE RAAG, FIRST MEHL: O Nanak, the Boat of Truth will ferry you across; contemplate the Guru. Some come, and some go; they are totally filled with egotism. Through stubborn-mindedness, the intellect is drowned; one who becomes Gurmukh and truthful is saved. || 1 || Without the Guru, how can anyone swim across to find peace? As it pleases You, Lord, You save me. There is no other for me at all. || 1 || Pause || In front of me, I see the jungle burning; behind me, I see green plants sprouting. We shall merge into the One from whom we came. The True One is pervading each and every heart. He Himself unites us in Union with Himself; the True Mansion of His Presence is close at hand. || 2 || With each and every breath, I dwell upon You; I shall never forget You. The more the Lord and Master dwells within the mind, the more the Gurmukh drinks in the Ambrosial Nectar. Mind and body are Yours; You are my Master. Please rid me of my pride, and let me merge with You.