A Hymn from Shri Guru Granth Sahib

A Hymn from Shri Guru Granth Sahib(SGGS) 

On occasion of Women’s Day, I most humbly post the translation of a very apt hymn from SGGS regarding the Status of Women in Sikhism. 

This hymn,originally in Gurmukhi script,was composed by Shri Guru Nanak Dev ji and it is on page 473 of SGGS. 

The most common and literal meaning of the hymn is expressed herebelow :  

One translation goes thus : 

” From woman, man is born; within woman, man is conceived; to woman he is engaged and married.  Woman becomes his friend; through woman, the future generations come.  When his woman dies, he seeks another woman; to woman he is bound.  So why call her bad? From her, kings are born.  From woman, woman is born; without woman, there would be no one at all.”   

Another translation, in slightly different words,goes like this : 

“In a woman man is conceived,
From a woman he is born,
With a woman he is betrothed and married,
With a woman he contracts friendship.
Why denounce her, the one from whom even kings are born ?
From a woman a woman is born,
None may exist without a woman.” 
 
The most appealing and important original line in Gurmukhi from the hymn,according to my understanding, is :
 
So kyon mandda aakhiey, jitt jammey raajan !” 
 
The meanings of the above words are as under :
 
So = her, kyon = why , mandda = bad , aakhiey = say, call , jitt = who, jammey = gave birth to, rajjan = kings 
 
Let us therefore, realise the correct status of a woman in our society and accord her all due recognition and respect she deserves.
This entry was posted in Sikhism, Social Commentry. Bookmark the permalink.

3 Responses to A Hymn from Shri Guru Granth Sahib

  1. g s p rao says:

    Brocaji, very profound thoughts on the role and stature of women. Every religion loudly proclaims equality of sexes and the ennobling role of women in society. It is only men who have pulled them down to serve their own interests.

    G S P Rao, Hyderabad
    Mar 10, 2010

  2. I am really glad to encounter this post that I was searching for a long time. This made me truly satisfied… This blog has given us very helpful content. Many thanks

  3. Junko Glista says:

    You could definitely see your enthusiasm in the work you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to say how they believe. Always follow your heart.

Leave a Reply