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The 'Lavaan' being recited from Guru Granth Sahib during the wedding ceremony.

"lwvW"
Anuvwd pMjwbI Aqy AMgryzI

"Lavaan"
Translation in Punjabi and English

Translated by Harjinder Kanwal, Coventry U.K.

gurU rwmdws swihb cOQI pwqSwhI jI dIAW aucwrn kIqIAW lwvW, ienswn dy dunIAwvI kwrjW ivcoN iek bhuq hI Aihm Aqy rUhwnI kwrj hY ijsnUM gurU jI ny cwr Av`sQwvW ivc pRIpUrn hox dw izkr kIqw hY, ijMvy gurbwxI ivc AwauNdw hY, "BeI prwpiq mwnuK dyhurIAw goibMd imlx kI ieh qyrI brIAw, Avir kwj qyrY ikqY n kwm imlu swD sMgiq Bju kyvl nwm"[ ieh lwvW ivvwh SwdI nwl sMbMiDq nhIN sn, ienHW dI Awqimk mh``qqw hY, jo iek jigAwsU nUM Awpxy pRymI Akwl purK nUM imlwaux leI cwr BUimkwvW (lwvW) ivcoN lMgxw pYNdw hY [ienHW nUM cwr pauVIAW vI AwK skdy hW [ ikauNik ies ivc gurU jI ny jigAwsU nUM 'Dn', AQvw iesqrI kihky sMboDn kIqw hY Aqy Akwl purK nUM suAwmI kihky, iesy krky Swied ieh lwvW AnMd kwrjW leI vI iesqymwl hox l`g geIAW, ikauNik iek iesqRI leI vI ausdw pqI suAwmI ausdw pRmySvr hY [ ies qrWH prmwrQ nwl gurU jy AwrQk izMdgI dw myl kr idqw [
Guru Ramdas, the fourth Guru expressed these 'Lavaans' in Soohi raga, which depict the four stages of the pilgrim towards his goal of reaching the Almighty Lord. According to Gurbani the only main aim of a person is to seek the realm of God during his mortal stay on this earth. Guru Ji describes the journey of the devotee pilgrim in four stages. These stanza were not meant for marriage but because of the way Guru Ji has described the devotee as the bride and God as the groom, these stanzas have been used for consummation of marriage. In this way Guru Ji has linked the spiritual and the materialistic world

sUhI mhlw 4 ] (773-16)
hir pihlVI lwv privrqI krm idRVwieAw bil rwm jIau ] (773-16, sUhI, mÚ 4)
hrI (Akwl purK) dI pRwpqI dI pihlI lwv (lgn=lgwE jW BUimkw) nUM vwihgurU AwpxI ikrpw nwl sMswrk (pRivrqI mwrg) pRwxI nUM idRV (p`kw) krvwauNdw hY - ijsqoN (pRwxI) Awpxy gurU qoN bilhwr jWdw hY [(ienswn dy duinAwvI jIvn ivc ivcrn leI, "Avr kwj qyry ikqy nw kwm iml swD sMgq Bj kyvl nwm" hI gurbwxI duAwrw gurU jI dw aupdyS hY, Aqy ies sMswrk jIvn ivc pRBU imlwp dI pihlI pOVI ies lwv XW lgn duAwrw gurU jI jigAwsU nUM idRV krvwauNdy hn) [

To comprehend the awareness of God in a devotee's mundane (worldly) existence, God initially counsels him resolutely for which (the devotee) affectionately thanks the Lord.
bwxI bRhmw vydu Drmu idRVhu pwp qjwieAw bil rwm jIau ] (773-17, sUhI, mÚ 4)
bRhmw jI ny vI AwpxI bwxI vydW ivc Drm nUM idRV (Drm qy inScw r`Kky) krky pwpW dw nws krnw ikhw hY Aqy gurU pRmySvr qoN ies krky bilhwr jwxw hY [
(Lord) Brahma in his Vedas has (also) mentioned that to destroy evil, (the devotee) must adhere resolutely to Dharma - and devotionaly thank the Lord.
Drmu idRVhu hir nwmu iDAwvhu isimRiq nwmu idRVwieAw ] (773-17, sUhI, mÚ 4)

Drm nUM p`kw (idRV inscy nwl) krky mMno Aqy nwm (gurU dw) iDAwvo, ieho hI (sqweI) ismRqIAW idRV (p`kw) krwauNdIAW hn [
Conform solidly to the doctrines of Dharma and contemplate on the name of the Guru. This is also confirmed by the 'Simritis' (27 in all - ancient 'dharama granths')
siqguru guru

pUrw AwrwDhu siB iklivK pwp gvwieAw ] (773-18, sUhI, mÚ 4)
siqgurU nUM pUrw gurU (Akwl purK) jwxky ausdI ArwDnw kro ijs nwl swry pwp dUr ho jwxgy [

Consider the Satguru as the Almighty and contemplate on Him and all your sins will be eradicated.
shj Anµdu hoAw vfBwgI min hir hir mITw lwieAw ] (773-18, sUhI, mÚ 4)
auh BwgW vwly hn ijnHW ny Awpxy mn nUM hrI dy nwm nwl im`Tw kIqw hY, aunhW nUM suqy hI Awqm AnMd pRwpq ho jWdw hY [

They are fortunate who have sweetened their hearts with the Lords Name, fortuitously they encounter total bliss.
jnu khY nwnku lwv pihlI AwrMBu kwju rcwieAw ]1] (774-1, sUhI, mÚ 4)
gurU nwnk (4) kihMdy hn, ik iesqrWH pihlI lgn (lwv) nwl (Awqmw-pRmwqmw dy imlwp dy) kwrj dI ArMBqw hoeI [

Guru Nanak (the Fourth) says that in this manner the first step has been taken towards the objective of the union between God and the devotee.

hir dUjVI lwv siqguru purKu imlwieAw bil rwm jIau ] (774-2, sUhI, mÚ 4)
Akwl purK dI ikrpw nwl dUjI lwv (lgn XW BUimkw) nwl siqgurU nwl myl hoieAw - vwihgurU qoN bilhwr jWdw hW [

With the grace of God, at the second stage, a tryst with the Satguru has been formed, graciously thanks to the Almighty.
inrBau BY mnu hoie haumY mYlu gvwieAw bil rwm jIau ] (774-2, sUhI, mÚ 4)
mn fr qoN rih`q ho igAw Aqy haumY dI mYl nUM gvw igAw- vihgurU qoN bilhwr jWdw hY[

The mind is completely void of fear and rids the dirt of egoism - gracious thanks to the Lord.
inrmlu Bau pwieAw hir gux gwieAw hir vyKY rwmu hdUry ] (774-3, sUhI, mÚ 4)
inrml (sv`C) Bwvnw hox nwl, hrI dy gux gwien krn nwl Akwl purK nUM Awpxy snmuK vyKdw hY [

With pure belief, (the devotee) sings praise of the Lord and ultimately sees Him in his presence.
hir Awqm rwmu pswirAw suAwmI srb rihAw BrpUry ] (774-3, sUhI, mÚ 4)
hr pRwxI dI Awqmw ivc Aqy swry bRihmMf ivc auho hI PYilAw hoieAw hY [

The Lord is present in all beings and is pervading the entire cosmos.
AMqir bwhir hir pRBu eyko imil hir jn mMgl gwey ] (774-4, sUhI, mÚ 4)
AMdr bwhr (pRwxI nUM) bRMhm hI bRMhm idsdw hY Aqy sMqW BgqW nwl iml ky KuSI dy gIq gwauNdw hY [

(The devotee) sees the Lord everywhere and joining with the saints and holy people, sings the songs of joy.
jn nwnk dUjI lwv clweI Anhd sbd vjwey ]2] (774-5, sUhI, mÚ 4)
gurU jI kihMdy hn ik jIv ny dUjI lgn (Av`sQw) ivc Anh`d Sbd (ijnHW dI h`d nhIN) (jigAwsU nUM ) suxwey[

In the second round (step), Nanak says that the devotee hears the mystic melody of the word.

hir qIjVI lwv min cwau BieAw bYrwgIAw bil rwm jIau ] (774-5, sUhI, mÚ 4)
qIsrI lwv ivc (gurU dw) cwE auqpn hoieAw Aqy mn vYrwgI ho ky Awpxy pRBU qoN bilhwr jWdw hY [

In the third instance, the devotee experiences the joy of longing and graciously thanks the Lord.
sMq jnw hir mylu hir pwieAw vfBwgIAw bil rwm jIau ] (774-6, sUhI, mÚ 4)
Akwl purK dI ikrpw nwl mhWpurKW dw imlwp hoieAw ijnHW ny vfBwgy (jigAwsU ) nUM vwihgurU nwl imlwieAw, ies leI bilhwr jWdw hY [

With the blessing of the Lord, the fortunate devotee meets the saints who make it possible for him to meet the Lord; thanks graciously the Almighty.
inrmlu hir pwieAw hir gux gwieAw muiK bolI hir bwxI ] (774-7, sUhI, mÚ 4)
inrml (mYl qoN rihq) piv`qR Awqmw pRmwqmw nUM pRwpq krky, im`TI bwxI duAwrw ausdy guxW nUM gwieAw [

The devotee attains the Immaculate Lord and sweetly sings His praises.
sMq jnw vfBwgI pwieAw hir kQIAY AkQ khwxI ] (774-7, sUhI, mÚ 4)
sMq jnw nwl imlwp krky vfy BwgW vwilAW ny hrI nUM pwieAw hY Aqy aus Ak`Q hrI dIAW khwxIAW kIqIAW[

The fortunate ones, along after meeting the saints, have found the Lord and then utter His unutterable praise.
ihrdY hir hir hir Duin aupjI hir jpIAY msqik Bwgu jIau ] (774-8, sUhI, mÚ 4)
ijnHW ny pRmySvr dw nwm jipAw hY, auhnW dy ihrdy ivc hir hir nwm dI DMun pYdw ho jWdI hY, pr aus nUM auho hI jp skdw hY ijsdy Bwg cMgyy hox [

Those who have contemplated on the Lords name, their being is saturated with the holy name (but) only the fortunate ones are capable of this devotion.
jnu nwnku boly qIjI lwvY hir aupjY min bYrwgu jIau ]3] (774-8, sUhI, mÚ 4)
gurU jI kQn krdy hn ik qIsrI lwv ivc jigAwsU hrI dI pRwpqI dy nwl (ausdw) mn vYrwgI ho jWdw hY [

In the third step, Guru Ji says, the devotee realises God, and his mind is filled with yearning for His love.
hir cauQVI lwv min shju BieAw hir pwieAw bil rwm jIau ] (774-9, sUhI, mÚ 4)
gurU jI cauQI Av`sQw (lwv) dw izkr krdy dsdy hn ik hrI nUM imlx nwl pRwxI sihj Av`sQw (qurIAw pd) ivc Aw jWdw hY Aqy (Awpxy gurU qoN) bilhwr jWdw hY [

In the forth instance (round, step), Guru Ji says that the devotee, after meeting with the Lord, attains the ultimate divine stage for which he graciously thanks the Almighty.
gurmuiK imilAw suBwie hir min qin mITw lwieAw bil rwm jIau ] (774-10, sUhI, mÚ 4)
suBwvk gurmuK nUM hrI nwl myl hoieAw Aqy qn mn nUM im`Tw l`gx l`g igAw, bilhwr jWdw hW [

All too spontaneously the Lord met (the devotee) and sweetened his mind and body -who graciously thanks the Lord.
hir mITw lwieAw myry pRB BwieAw Anidnu hir ilv lweI ] (774-10, sUhI, mÚ 4)
ijs nUM hrI im`Tw lgx l`g jWdw hY ausnUM pRBU cwhux l`g jWdw hY Aqy auh hr GVI (pRmySvr) ivc ilv (ibrqI) lweI rKdw hY [

Who so ever tastes the sweetness of the Lord, the Lord (also) starts loving him and he is ever attuned to Him.
mn icMidAw Plu pwieAw suAwmI hir nwim vjI vwDweI ] (774-11, sUhI, mÚ 4)
mn ie`Cq Pl dI pRwpqI hoeI Aqy vwihgurU suAwmI dy nwm dI KuSI prgt (vDweI v`jI) hoeI [

He attains his heart's desires and thanks the Lord God with graceful acknowledgment.
hir pRiB Twkuir kwju rcwieAw Dn ihrdY nwim ivgwsI ] (774-12, sUhI, mÚ 4)
ijs vyly siqgurU ny, hrI pRBU jo swirAW dw Twkur (mwlk) hY, ausdI pRwpqI dw kwrj rcwieAw qW ausdw nwm ihrdy ivc vsx nwl jigAwsU rUp iesqRI (Dn) AnMd sihq ho geI [

When the Satguru, brought about this union of God with the bride like devotee, he (she) attains utter bliss.
jnu nwnku boly cauQI lwvY hir pwieAw pRBu AivnwsI ]4]2] (774-12, sUhI, mÚ 4)
sRI gurU jI kihMdy hn ik cauQI lwv (BUimkw) ivc pRBU AibnwSI hrI rUp dI prwpqI ho jWdI hY Bwv inj srUp ivc ABydqw ho jWdI hY[

Guru Nanak says in the forth round, the devotee (seeker) attains the Eternal Lord and becomes One.