A beautiful phrase – har dam Har ko gelo hai – in this song by Bananath (while punning on the word 'har') invites us to experience “each breath as the path to Hari”, signalling one of the focal points of nirgun bhakti – the breath. The breath, often given the image of a ‘jewel’ in the mystic oral traditions, can only be experienced or felt, it cannot be seen, it is formless. And yet its formlessness has no existence without the form that encases it – the body.
Prahlad Singh Tipanya is one of the most popular and respected folk singers of Kabir in the country. A school teacher by profession, Prahladji’s life took a deep and profound turn when he first heard the tambura – the five stringed folk instrument. That became the gateway for him into the world of Kabir, and since then he has been tirelessly sharing the power of Kabir with countless rural, urban and international audiences for over 3 decades. His village Luniyakhedi in Madhya Pradesh has become a destination for many seekers of Kabir. Contact Prahlad Singh Tipanya at +91-94250-84096 or his senior troupe member and violin player Devnarayan Saroliya at +91-98064-40481.
Song Credits:
Vocals & Tambura: Prahlad Tipanya
Second Vocals & Manjira: Ashok Tipanya
Dholak: Ajay Tipanya
Violin: Devnarayan Saroliya
Translation: Shabnam Virmani
Translation Advice: Linda Hess
Sound Credits:
Recording: P M Satheesh
Mixing: Shajit Koyeri & P M Satheesh
Mastering: Sreejesh G Nair
Music Editor: Amrit Pritam
Post Production Supervisor: Vimal Kumar TK
Location Sound Assistants: Aurelie Chauleur & Irfan Khan
Mixing & Mastering at: Fireflys Post Sound, Mumbai
Collection: Kabir Project
Place of Recording: Luniyakhedi, Madhya Pradesh
Date: August 2006
करना रे होय
करनी करे तो क्यों डरे और कर ही क्यों पछताए?
तूने बोया पेड़ बबूल का, फिर आम कहां से खाए?
करनी का रजमा नहीं, थोथे बांधे तीर
बिरह बाण जिनको लगा, विकल होत शरीर
करनी बिन कथनी कथे अज्ञानी दिन रात
कूकर सामान भूसत फिरे यह सुनी सुनाई बात
करना रे होय सो कर ले रे साधो!
थारो मनक जनम दुहेलो है
लख चौरासी में भटकत भटकत
थारे अब के मिल्यो महेलो हैं
जप तप नेम वृत और पूजा
षट दर्शन को गैलो है
पार ब्रह्म को जानत नांहीं
सब भूल्या भूल्या भरम बहेलो है
करना रे होय सो कर ले रे साधो!
कोई कहे हरि बसे वैकुंठा
कोई गौ लोक कहेलो है
कोई कहे शिव नगरी में साहिब
जुग जुग हाट बहेलो है
करना रे होय सो कर ले रे साधो!
अणसमझ्या हरि दूर बतावे
कोई समझ्या साथ कहेलो है
सदगुरु सैण अमोलक दीन्ही
हर दम हर को गैलो है
करना रे होय सो कर ले रे साधो!
जिया राम गुरु पूरा म्हाने मिल गया
कोई अजपा जाप जपेलो है
कहे बनानाथ सुनो भाई साधो
म्हारा सदगुरु जी को हेलो है
करना रे होय सो कर ले रे साधो!
रजमा = ठिकाना
थोथा = दिखावा, झूठा
विकल = व्याकुल, बेचैन, अपूर्ण
कूकर = कुत्ता
भूसत = व्यर्थ बकना, भौंकन
कथनी/कथना = बात/कहना, बकबक
मनक/मानिक = मणि, लाल रंग का एक बहुमूल्य रत्न
दुहेलो = दुर्लभ
महेलो = मौका, सु-अवसर
गैलो = मार्ग, रास्ता
पार ब्रह्म = सबके ऊपर, ईश्वर, परमात्मा
भरम = धोखा, संदेह
बहेलो = बहकावे/बहलावे में डूब जाना
साहिब = परमात्मा, ईश्वर
वैकुंठ = पुराणानुसार वह स्थान जहां भगवान विष्णु रहते हैं, स्वर्ग
सैण/सैन = संकेत, इशारा
अमोलक = अमूल्य, कीमती
अजपा = जो जपा ना जाए
हेलो = पुकार, हांक
Do What You Must
Do what you have to, what’s the fear?
Why repent once the deed is done?
You sowed a thorn tree –
why expect to eat mangoes?
No sign of real change,
he just makes a show of being struck.
When the arrow of separation strikes,
he’ll know the real thing!
No deeds to back his words,
the fool babbles night and day.
Like a dog he wanders barking,
things he heard from here and there!
Do what you must, oh seekers!
This jewel of a birth is hard to get.
You stumbled through 84 lakh lives.
This time, you got a great chance.
Recite, meditate, chant, fast or pray!
Walk the path of the six philosophies.
You still don’t know the Truth beyond all.
You’re lost, drowning in delusions.
Do what you must, oh seekers!
Some say the lord dwells in heaven.
Some say in the land of holy cows.
Some say he lives in the city of Shiva.
In every age, they set up their shops!
Do what you must, oh seekers!
The fool says Hari is far away.
The wise one says he’s close.
My true guru gave me a priceless sign:
every breath is the path to Hari!
Do what you must, oh seekers!
I found Jiya Ram, my complete guru.
He chants a chantless chant.
Says Bana Nath, listen seekers:
my true guru is calling out to me!
Do what you must, oh seekers!
Translation: Shabnam Virmani
Karna Re Hoye
Karni kare to kyon dare aur kar hi kyon pachhtaaye
Tune boya ped babool ka, phir aam kahaan se khaaye?
Karni ka rajma nahin, thothe baandhe teer
Birah baan jinko lagaa, vikal hot shareer
Karni bin kathni kathe, agyaani din raat
Kookar saamaan bhoosat phire, yah suni sunaai baat
Karna re hoye so kar le re saadho!
Thaaro manak janam duhelo hai
Lakh chauraasi mein bhatkat bhatkat
Thaare ab ke milyo mahelo hai
Jap tap nem varat aur pooja
Shat darshan ko gelo hai
Paar brahm ko jaanat naahin
Sab bhoolya bhoolya bharam bahelo hai
Karna re hoye so kar le re saadho!
Koi kahe Hari base Vaikunthha
Koi gau lok kahelo hai
Koi kahe Shiv nagri mein saahib
Jug jug haat bahelo hai
Karna re hoye so kar le re saadho!
Ansamajhya Hari door bataave
Koi samajhya saath kahelo hai
Sadguru sain amolak deenhi
Har dam Har ko gelo hai
Karna re hoye so kar le re saadho!
Jiya Raam guru poora mhaane mil gaya
Koi ajapa jaap japelo hai
Kahe Bananath suno bhai saadho
Mhaara sadguru ji ko helo hai
Karna re hoye so kar le re saadho!