Tavparsad Savaiya

The Savaiya, is a ten verse section from a much larger composition called Akal Ustat (Eulogy to God) found in the Dasam Granth (the collection of compositions by the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji). The Savaiya forms part of a Sikhs daily nitname routine and is part of the five prayers that he/she must recite at the early hours of the morning.

Translated in english ->

Scrupulous Jains and hosts of Siddhs, ascetic yogis - I have seen them all.

Warriors and demons, gods who drink Amrit, devout believers in a multitude of doctrines.

All these have I witnessed as I travelled the world, yet never a true follower of the One God.

Without the love and grace of God their devotion is trivial, worthless, lost. (1)

Mighty elephants in gorgeous array, magnificently decked with gold;

Thousands of horses nimbler than deer, their speed even swifter than the wind;

Though their masters be powerful emperors, potentates before whom countless bow.

In the end such greatness crumbles to nothing as barefoot they go on their way. (2)

They march victorious across the world, beating their drums in triumph.

Their splendid elephants vibrantly trumpeting, their legion of thoroughbreds proudly neighing.

Kings of the past, of the present, the future, their numbers beyond comprehending,

Neglectful of worship, unmindful of God, they go to their ultimate home. (3)

Pious bathing and acts of charity, disciplined lives and endless rites;

Searching the scriptures, Hindu and Muslim; scanning the earth and the heavens above;

Men who abstain from all food or from sex - ascetics unnumbered I have seen and I know.

That though they be kings all their deeds are in vain if their lives have no place for the praises of God. (4)

Seasoned troops in coats of mail, fearsome warriors with the strength to kill;

Fiercely proud they stand their ground, steadfast in courage though mountains take flight;

Assailing their enemies, crushing their foes, humbling the pride of their elephant hosts;

They too must finally rise and depart, deprived of the grace of the Creator. (5)

Boundless in courage and matchless in strength, men who unflinching will parry a sword;

Despoiling a country, slaying its people, its elephant armies brought down to the dust;

Forts destroyed by the might of their arms, the world subdued by the fear of their threats;

Yet all are humbled by the Creator's power, beggars all in the presence of the Creator. (6)

Deities and demons, the divine, the uncouth, repeating God's Name in the future as the past.

All the creatures of the earth and sea resigned to his will in instant obedience;

Praise for their virtue resounds afar, their evil deeds erased.

The devout go forth with joy in the world as their enemies cry in helpless rage. (7)

Masters of men, commanders of elephants, powerful rulers who bestride the world;

Endlessly bathing, prodigious in charity, sitting bedecked as their marriages are made.

All is futile, for even the gods, however exalted, must end in death.

Only the humble who touch God's feet shall finally sunder the cycle of rebirth. (8)

What benefit comes from endless meditation, from sitting like cranes with both eyes closed?

One may piously bathe in all seven seas and yet lose everything here and hereafter.

Some spend their lives deep in the jungle, wasting their years in useless endeavour.

Let all pay heed for I speak the truth: only they who love God can find him. (9)

Some worship stones, borne on their heads; some hang lingams from their necks.

Some claim that God dwells in the south, whilst other bow to the West.

Some worship idols, foolishly ignorant; others put trust in the tombs of the dead.

All are astray, seduced by false ritual; none knows the secret of God. (10)