The Merits of Kirtan

 

Kirtan is highly efficacious both here and hereafter.

O dear self, engage in such a Kirtan,

That may be of use to thee here and hereafter.  *23

                                                                       GURU NANAK

Kirtan purifies one of all fellings of envy, hatred and enmity.

The devotees of the Master who listen to the divine Song (Kirtan),

Their minds get purified of ill-will and envy.  *24

                                                                       GURU ARJAN

The Merciful God has in His mercy removed all doubts and distrust,

O Nanak! through the holy Song I am in bliss, freed from all sorrow.  *25

One who sings the celestial strains,

He is never in pain, sorrow and affliction.  *26

                                                                       GURU ARJAN

Kirtan frees one from all the deadly sins and lusts of the flesh.

Sing the perfect Melody, the bestower of all bliss and destroyer of ills,

The Melody is sharper than the two-edged sword,

And kills the deadly sins of lust, passion, greed, attachment and egotism.  *27

                                                                                          GURU ARJAN

Kirtan awakens one from a ong-drawn sleep of ages upon ages.

Engaged in devotion one takes to the Divine Song,

And is awakened from the long-drawn slumber of ages.  *28

One discards the lust for other's wealth, flesh and blood,

When through the grace of the Master, he awakens by the holy Sound.  *29

Do such actions as would not contaminate thee,

The mind will awaken to Reality by listening to the divine Melody (Harkirtan).  *30

                                                                                          GURU ARJAN

Kirtan gives immunity from the grip of death.

"Approach not," says Yama (the Lord of Death) to his messengers,

"The place where a Sadhu dwells or the Holy Word reverberates, or else we shall all be doomed. "  *31

He in whom the Lord's Song abides,

He is freed from all sorrows, ills and afflictions,

And the fear of death.  *32

He who sings the Song Divine,

The angel of death affects him not.  *33

The minions of death cannot come near him,

Who sings the Songs Divine in company of the Master.  *34

                                                                                 GURU ARJAN

Kirtan grants perfect peace, satiety and bliss.

The devotee is ever in a state of intoxication,

The Lord had mercy and I got dyed in the color of His Song.  *35

O Nanak! God has made a slave of me,

I now live and enjoy the divine glory.  *36

                                                                                 GURU ARJAN

Kirtanis acceptable to God, and man has his wishes fullilled.

Absorption in the sweet melodies of Music Divine (Kirtan, Rag, Nag and Dhun) is the goal of my life.

O Nanak, It is acceptable to God and one gets his desires fulfilled.  *37

Communion with God ends the cycle of transmigration,

One becomes acceptable even while living,

And engages in the Divine Music of the Lord.  *38

                                                                       GURU ARJAN

Kirtan holds priority over all religious practices.

O Nanak! engage in Hari Kirtan, for that verily is the true religion.  *39

                                                                       GURU ARJAN

In infinite compassion, the saints gave out,

One gets the merit of all religions by listening to the divine Melody.  *40

                                                              GURU TEG BAHADUR

Kirtan is the True Yoga.

Thy Word is the cause of all this creation,

Listening to the Kiratn is a veritable yoga.  *41

                                                                                 GURU ARJAN

Kirtan is the Saving Lifeline for all.

The mind gets disciplined through Hari Kirtan (the Song of the Lord);

Whoever sings of the Lord, hears or repeats His praises, is surely saved.  42

As the Master taught me so do I declare,

Listen ye to what Nanak saith:

It is by Kirtan alone that one is saved.  *43

                                                                       GURU ARJAN

Kirtan steadies and stills the mind.

What the Word that keeps one spellbound?

What the Way that takes one above pleasure and pain?

What the Path leads into the Beyond (Par Brahm)?

What the Discipline that contacts the holy Harmony?

The devotee of the Master leads a life that may help him to reach the Beyond (Par Brahm),

And he constantly recites the Divine Song.  *44

                                                              GURU RAM DAS

The seeker asks for but one gift,

If it so pleases the Lord, He may have mercy,

Grant me Thy glance of grace that may quell the mind and fill it with Song Divine.  *45

                                                                       GURU ARJAN