Kartarpur Vich | Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji l Shiv Kumar Batalvi l Poemix

Musical Rendition of Shiv Kumar Batalvi's poem Kartarpur Vich about Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji by Poemix

Ghumm chaare chakk jahaan de
Jad ghar aaya Kartar
Kartarpure di nagri
Jidhe gal Raavi da haar
Jidhe jham jham paani lishkde
Jidhi chaandi-vanni dhaar
Laah baana jog faqeer da
Murr malliya aa sansaar
Kade manji beh avtaariya
Kare das nahuaan di kaar
Ohdi jeebh Japuji baithiya
Te akkheen naam-khumaar
Sunn sohbha Rabb de jeev di
Aa judeya kull sansaar
Tad kull jagg chaanan ho gaya
Te mite koorh andhiyaar
Chaunh kooteen shabad eh goonjeya
Oh Rabb hai Ik Onkar.

This poem is a profound meditation on the core principles of Sikh philosophy as embodied by Guru Nanak Dev Ji's life in Kartarpur.

ਘੁੰਮ ਚਾਰੇ ਚੱਕ ਜਹਾਨ ਦੇ
ਜਦ ਘਰ ਆਇਆ ਕਰਤਾਰ
Having wandered the four corners of the world, when the Creator (Guru Nanak) returned home.
This isn't just a physical return from travel. It represents the culmination of the Guru's extensive spiritual journeys, the Udasis. For over two decades, he engaged with different faiths, philosophies, and cultures, challenging falsehoods and sharing the message of One God. His "return home" to Kartarpur signifies the beginning of a new phase: nurturing that seed and creating a living community based on his teachings.

ਕਰਤਾਰਪੁਰੇ ਦੀ ਨਗਰੀ
ਜਿਦ੍ਹੇ ਗਲ ਰਾਵੀ ਦਾ ਹਾਰ
ਜਿਦ੍ਹੇ ਝਮ ਝਮ ਪਾਣੀ ਲਿਸ਼ਕਦੇ
ਜਿਦ੍ਹੀ ਚਾਂਦੀ-ਵੰਨੀ ਧਾਰ
To the city of Kartarpur, around whose neck lies the garland of the river Ravi. Whose waters sparkle and shimmer, whose currents are the color of silver.
The poet uses beautiful, pure imagery to describe Kartarpur. The "garland of the river Ravi" and its "silver currents" are not just geographical details. They symbolize the purity, life, and spiritual grace that now define this land. The Guru's presence has sanctified the very environment. Nature itself is reflecting the divine truth being practiced there. Kartarpur is transformed from a simple village into a spiritual center, a place of pilgrimage made holy not by ancient rituals, but by the presence of a living Master and his divine message.

ਲਾਹ ਬਾਣਾ ਜੋਗ ਫ਼ਕੀਰ ਦਾ
ਮੁੜ ਮੱਲਿਆ ਆ ਸੰਸਾਰ
Shedding the robes of a yogi and a faqir, he once again took his place in the world.
This is one of the most powerful and revolutionary statements in the poem. By "shedding the robes," Guru Nanak actively rejected the prevalent idea that spiritual realization requires renouncing the world and retreating to forests or mountains. He taught that the householder's path is superior. True spirituality is not about escaping worldly responsibilities but about engaging with them truthfully and righteously. He "took his place in the world" to prove that one can be a parent, a worker, and a community member while being deeply connected to God.

ਕਦੇ ਮੰਜੀ ਬਹਿ ਅਵਤਾਰੀਆ
ਕਰੇ ਦਸ ਨਹੁੰਆਂ ਦੀ ਕਾਰ
Sometimes, the divine one would sit on a cot, and perform the work of his ten fingers.
This couplet brings the principle of Kirat Karo to life. The divine one, who holds cosmic wisdom, engages in humble farming and manual labor. This act demolishes social hierarchies and the distinction between spiritual and mundane work. It teaches that all honest work is noble and a form of worship. By working the fields, the Guru demonstrates that spirituality is grounded, practical, and accessible to everyone.

ਉਹਦੀ ਜੀਭ ਜਪੁਜੀ ਬੈਠਿਆ
ਤੇ ਅੱਖੀਂ ਨਾਮ-ਖ਼ੁਮਾਰ
The Japuji was settled on his tongue, and his eyes were intoxicated with the Divine Name.
This illustrates the principle of Naam Japo. While his hands were busy with worldly work, his mind and soul were completely absorbed in the Divine. This is the ideal of a Sikh's life: to maintain an inner state of meditative awareness while performing outer duties.

ਸੁਣ ਸੋਹਬਾ ਰੱਬ ਦੇ ਜੀਵ ਦੀ
ਆ ਜੁੜਿਆ ਕੁੱਲ ਸੰਸਾਰ
Hearing the glory of this being of God, the whole world gathered around him.
The Guru's "glory" was not in miracles or power, but in his righteous way of life. People from all backgrounds were drawn to this practical demonstration of truth. This gathering formed the first Sangat, a community built on equality, service, and shared spiritual values.

ਤਦ ਕੁੱਲ ਜੱਗ ਚਾਨਣ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ
ਤੇ ਮਿਟੇ ਕੂੜ ਅੰਧਿਆਰ
Then, the entire world was illuminated, and the darkness of falsehood was dispelled.
The light is spiritual wisdom and enlightenment. The darkness of falsehood refers to ignorance, empty rituals, social injustices like the caste system, and the religious hypocrisy the Guru had challenged throughout his travels. His teachings and the community at Kartarpur provided a clear, simple, and direct path to truth, illuminating the minds of the people and freeing them from superstition.

ਚੌਂਹ ਕੂਟੀਂ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਇਹ ਗੂੰਜਿਆ
ਉਹ ਰੱਬ ਹੈ ਇਕ ਓਂਕਾਰ ।
In all four directions, this sacred word resounded: That God is One.
The poem concludes with the foundational creed of Sikhism: Ik Onkar. This is the source of the light. The entire philosophy lived and taught by Guru Nanak at Kartarpur—equality, honest labor, remembrance, sharing—is rooted in this fundamental belief in One Universal God for all of humanity.