Ardas in English
ARDAS is a Sanskrit word, from the root, 'ard' to ask, to beg, to pray, and 'aas' means wish, hope, desire. Some refer to this word as 'Arz'+'Daasht' of Persian which means Presenting Prayer. Ardas to God is a basic religious activity in the Sikh religion.
ਸੁਖਦਾਤਾ ਭੈ ਭੰਜਨੋ ਤਿਸੁ ਆਗੈ ਕਰਿ ਅਰਦਾਸਿ ॥
He, Who has the power to confer fearlessness and solace, before Him, pray.
ਆਪੇ ਜਾਣੈ ਕਰੇ ਆਪਿ ਆਪੇ ਆਣੈ ਰਾਸਿ ॥ ਤਿਸੈ ਅਗੈ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਖਲਿਇ ਕੀਚੈ ਅਰਦਾਸਿ ॥੧॥
God is omniscient, He is omnipotent, He can right that which hath gone wrong; Nanak, therefore advises, in humility stand up and pray before Him alone and no other.
Ik Oankar Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh
Sri Bhagauti Ji Sahaay, Vaar Sri Bhagauti Ji Ki Paatshahi Dasvi
Prithm Bhagauti Simar Kai Guru Nanak Lyi Dhyaay. Pher Angad Gur Te Amar Daas, Ram Daasai Hoin Sahaay. Arjan Hargobind Nau Simrau Sri Har Rai. Sri Harkrishan Dhyayiyai Jis Ditthe Sabh Dukh Jaaye. Teg Bahadur Simriye Ghar Nau Nidh Aavai Dhaay. Sabh Thaayin Hoye Sahaay. Daswein Patshah Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Sabh Thayin Hoye Sahaay. Dasaa Patshahiyan Di Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib De Path Deedar Da Dhyan Dhar Ke Bolo Ji Waheguru.
Panjaan Pyareyan, Chauha Sahibzaadeyan, Chaaliyan Mukteyan, Hathiyan, Japiyan, Tapiyan, Jinhan Naam Japeya, Vand Chhakeya, Deg Chalayi, Teg Vaahi, Dekh Ke Anndith Keeta, Tinha Pyareyan Sachyareyan Di Kamai Da Dhyan Dhar Ke, Khalsa Ji! Bolo Ji Waheguru.
Jinha Singha, Singhniyan Ne Dharm Het Sees Ditte, Band Band Kataaye, Khopriyan Luhayian, Charkhadiyan Te Chadhe, Aareyan Naal Chiraaye Gaye, Gurdwareyan Di Sewa Layi Kurbaniyan Kitiyan, Dharm Nahi Haareya, Sikhi Kesaan Suaasan Naal Nibaahi, Tinha Di Kamayi Da Dhyan Dhar Ke, Khalsa Ji! Bolo Ji Waheguru.
Panja Takhtan, Sarbatt Guruwareyan Da Dhyan Dhar Ke Bolo Ji Waheguru. Prithme Sarbatt Khalsa Ji Ki Ardaas Hai Ji, Sarbatt Khalsa Ji Ko Waheguru, Waheguru, Waheguru Chitt Aave, Chitt Aavan Ka Sadka Sarb Sukh Hove. Jahan Jahan Khalsa Ji Sahib, Tahan Tahan Rachhiya Riyayat, Degh Tegh Fateh, Birdh Ki Paij, Panth Ki Jeet, Sri Sahib Ji Sahaay, Khalse Ji Ke Bol Baale, Bolo Ji Waheguru.
Sikha Nu Sikhi Daan, Kes Daan, Rahat Daan, Bibek Daan, Visaah Daan, Bharosa Daan, Daana Sir Daan Naam Daan, Sri Amritsar Ji De Ishnan, Chaukiyan, Jhande, Bunge, Jugo Jug Atal, Dharm Ka Jaikar, Bolo Ji Waheguru.
Sikha Da Man Neevan, Matt Uchchi, Matt Patt Da Raakha Aap Waheguru. He Akal Purakh, Aapne Panth De Sada Sahayi Dataar Jio! Sri Nankana Sahib Te Hor Gurudwareyan Gurdhama De, Jinha Ton Panth Nu Vichhodeya Gaya Hai, Khulle Darshan Deedar Te Sewa Sambhaal Da Daan Khalsa Ji Nu Bakhsho.
He Nimaaneyan De Maan, Nitaaneya De Taan, Nioteyan Di Oat, Sache Pita, Waheguru! Aap De Hazoor '________' Di Ardaas Hai Ji. Akhar Vaadha Ghaata Bhull Chukk Maaf Karni. Sarbatt De Kaaraj Raas Karne. Seyi Pyare Mel, Jinha Mileyan Tera Naam Chitt Aave. Nanak Naam Chadhdi Kala, Tere Bhaane Sarbatt Da Bhala.
Ardas English Translation
'Formless-form. To God, the abiding Victory.
Composition of the 10th King
'To begin with, we invoke the divine Spirit of God and we remember Guru Nanak. (This Spirit) which then inspired Gurus Angad, Amar Das and Ram Das.
'We call upon the Gurus, Arjun, Har Gobind, and Har Rai.'
'Let us invoke the blessed Har Krishan whose vision heals the pains.
'Let us call upon Guru Tegh Bahadur that the Nine treasures of life come to your house.
'May, (the God and the Gurus) help us everywhere. Tenth King, Gobind Singh, may He help us everywhere. 'The Spirit of all the ten Kings enshrined in the visible Body and the Word of the Guru Granth, concentrate upon that, and say sires, Glory be to God.’
The congregation: 'Glory be to God'
'Five Beloved Ones (5 Pyaare) Four Princes (4 Sahibzaade) Forty Saved Ones (40 Mukte) those who have remained steadfast in suffering, those who have kept constant remembrance of God, those who renounced the sense pleasures, those who have constantly lived in the Divine Presence, those who have loved their neighbors by sharing their possessions with them, those who have turned a blind eye to the faults and failings of others, those who have assuaged the hunger and want of the hungry and the needy, those who have persevered in their fight in the cause of justice, concentrate your minds on the struggle and achievements of those, O, revered members of the Order of the Khalsa, and say, Glory be to God*
The congregation: 'Glory be to God'
The Singhs of both the sexes, who courted martyrdom in the cause of religion and underwent unspeakable sufferings by being dismembered alive, broken on the wheel, sawed alive and boiled alive and those who made sacrifices in the service of the centers of the Sikh religion, the gurdwaras, but never wavered in their faith and remained steadfast in the cause of Sikhism to the last hair of their body and to their last breath, O, revered members of the Khalsa Order, concentrate your minds on the glorious deeds of those, and utter, 'Glory be to God*.
The congregation: 'Glory be to God'
'Think of the Five Seats of Authority of the Religion (Five Takhats), and all the centers from where the good Religion is preached, and say, 'Glory be to God.
The congregation: 'Glory be to God.
'First, we pray on behalf of all the creatures of God: May the presence of God be progressively felt in the hearts of all the sentient creatures, and may the whole creation become happy and prosperous thereby. (Then) may God shower His blessings upon and grant protection to each and every member of the Order of the Khalsa, wherever he is. 'May the supplies of the Khalsa ever remain replenished. 'May the Sword of the Khalsa be ever victorious. 'May the royal title of the Khalsa*** be universally recognized and honored. 'May victory attend upon all just endeavors of the Panth, the Khalsa Commonwealth. 'May the arms and armaments be our constant ally. 'May the Order of the Khalsa achieve ever-expanding progress and supremacy. 'Sires, say, 'Glory be to God'
The congregation: 'Glory be to God'
'May God grant to the Sikhs, the gift of faith, the gift of the uncut hair, the gift of discipline, the gift of discrimination, the gift of mutual trust, the gift of self-confidence and the supreme gift of all gifts, the gift of communion with God, the Name, and may the Sikhs freely center around the dip in the holy tank of Amritsar. 'May the government centers, the banners, the cantonments of the Khalsa ever remain inviolate. 'May the cause of truth and justice prevail everywhere and at all times. 'Sires, utter 'Glory be to God/
The Congregation: 'Glory be to God'
'May the passions in the minds of the Sikhs remain calm and reason flow clear. And may reason always be guided by the light of God. 'God, Almighty, our Protector, and Helper ever, restore to us the right and privilege of unhindered management and free service of and access to the Nankana Sahib, and other centers of the Sikh religion, the gurdwaras, out of which we have been evicted. 'God, the Helper of the helpless, the Strength of the weak, the Support of the fallen, the true Father of all, Lord God,’ Here, the specific purpose and occasions for the prayer is stated fay the leader in suitable terms and the blessings and aid of God are besought. 'God, forgive us our remissnesses, extend Thy helping hand to all and everyone. 'Grant us the company of those who may help keep Thy name fresh in our hearts. 'May Thy name, the religion preached by Nanak, prevail and prosper, forever and forever. 'May Thy will be done wherein lies the good of all. The Khalsa is of God and to Him the victory.*
Here the whole congregation bow to God by touching the ground with their foreheads, as is the oriental fashion, and then the whole congregation stand up and chant in unison the following two couplets:
(1) The will of God hath ordained the Order of the Khalsa. This is the final commandment to all the Sikhs: Accept Granth as the Guru. Deem the revered Guru Granth as the visible body of all the Gurus. He, who hath disciplined his soul, shall behold confirmation thereof in the Revelation itself”.
(2) The Khalsa will rule and none shall successfully defy them. All shall have to petition for their alliance, after bitter frustration, for the world will eventually be redeemed through the protection that the Order of the Khalsa alone affords.
The whole congregation then shouts a full-throated cry of Sal Srt Akal, the Eternal God is the only Reality, and the prayer is over, and the whole congregation then takes their seats.
