Deh Siva Var Mohe
Deh Shiva Bar Mohe (ਦੇਹ ਸ਼ਿਵਾ ਬਰ ਮੋਹੇ) is one of the most celebrated and widely quoted hymns or shabad by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru. Commonly seen as the anthem of the Sikh faith, it is a verse taken from the larger composition called Chandi Charitar Ukati Bilas found in the Sikh religious text the Dasam Granth. The composition is a rousing, inspirational call to steadfastly act with courage and righteously despite seemingly insurmountable odds. The language used is a variation of Punjabi known as Gurmukhi or the Language of the Guru and is common to most of the compositions written by the Sikh Guru's.
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Guru Gobind Singh Ji details in the shabad the qualities that makes one fit to become part of his world mission called the Khalsa Panth – To live with courage and bravery to the highest levels of righteousness. One must never shirk from conducting oneself in the most upright and considerate possible manner. The Khalsa has to be prepared at all times to willingly and consistently behave in the most impartial and just manner and to always undertake to carry out righteous and Gurmat related acts; to never have any fear or show even the slightest hesitation when taking such actions; to never flinch from stepping in front of the enemy to protect the poor, weak and needy of the world – to never have any apprehension or anxiety from the righteous fight ahead.
To give no consideration or thought as to the size, strength or magnitude of the enemy in front of you – It may be 1 opponent or 125,000 opponents – the Khalsa's faith and trust is only with only one lord and no other. And to always know and be certain that waheguru will always be their support and that victory in the end will without doubt be theirs. (Here "siva" can be mistaken for Lord shiva but consider the sayings of Guru Gobind Singh ji in Chaupai Sahib for explanation)
ਦੇਹਿ ਸਿਵਾ ਬਰੁ ਮੋਹਿ ਇਹੈ ਸੁਭ ਕਰਮਨ ਤੇ ਕਬਹੂ ਨ ਟਰੋਂ ॥ ਨ ਡਰੋਂ ਅਰਿ ਸੋ ਜਬ ਜਾਇ ਲਰੋਂ ਨਿਸਚੈ ਕਰਿ ਆਪਨੀ ਜੀਤ ਕਰੋਂ ॥ ਅਰੁ ਸਿਖ ਹੌਂ ਆਪਨੇ ਹੀ ਮਨ ਕੌ ਇਹ ਲਾਲਚ ਹਉ ਗੁਨ ਤਉ ਉਚਰੋਂ ॥ ਜਬ ਆਵ ਕੀ ਅਉਧ ਨਿਦਾਨ ਬਨੈ ਅਤਿ ਹੀ ਰਨ ਮੈ ਤਬ ਜੂਝ ਮਰੋਂ ॥੨੩੧॥
Deh siva bar mohe eh-hey subh karman te kabhu na taro. Na daro arr seo jab jaye laro nischey kar apni jit karo. Arr Sikh ho apne he mann ko, eh laalach hou gun tau ucharo. Jab aav ki audh nidan bane att he rann me tabh joojh maro.
देह सिवा बर मोहे ईहे, शुभ कर्मन ते कभुं न टरूं न डरौं अरि सौं जब जाय लड़ौं, निश्चय कर अपनी जीत करौं, अरु सिख हों आपने ही मन कौ इह लालच हउ गुन तउ उचरों, जब आव की अउध निदान बनै अति ही रन मै तब जूझ मरों
Context
The entire 'Chandi di Vaar' is a graphic violent battlefield scene written by tenth Guru Shri Guru Gobind Singh ji, with the primary intent of encouraging Sikhs to confront horrific scenes they would experience in forthcoming battles to defend human rights and within their own mind, the path of righteousness.
In the same tradition as other Hindu Kshatriya groups, such as the Rajputs, it is customary to invoke one of the many forms of the Goddess Shakti (power) prior to battle for victory and protection. However, Khalsa Sikhs do not subscribe to worshipping Shakti as a feminine goddess idol but rather as the divine aspect of Ik Onkar and instead treat weapons as the physical form of Shakti, which they carried into battle.
Shiva
Like many spiritual words used in Gurbani like Damodar, Rama, Krishna, Jagannath, which are attributed to Hindu gods by Hindu people and sanctified in Guru Granth Sahib, Shiva is another word used in Hinduism as a supreme god.
Meaning of Shabad
Translation (Starting verse):
देह सिवा बर मोहे ईहे, शुभ कर्मन ते कभुं न टरूं => O Power of Akaal, grant me this boon that I may not hesitate from performing good actions.
न डरौं अरि सौं जब जाय लड़ौं, निश्चय कर अपनी जीत करौं => I may not fear the enemy, when I go to fight and assuredly I may become victorious.
अरु सिख हों आपने ही मन कौ इह लालच हउ गुन तउ उचरों => And I may give this instruction to my mind and have this temptation that I may ever utter Thy Praises.
जब आव की अउध निदान बनै अति ही रन मै तब जूझ मरों => When this mortal life comes to end, may I die fighting courageously in the battlefield.
Gurmukhi with translation:
ਦੇਹ ਸਿਵਾ ਬਰੁ ਮੋਹਿ ਇਹੈ ਸੁਭ ਕਰਮਨ ਤੇ ਕਬਹੂੰ ਨ ਟਰੋ ॥ => O Power of Akaal, grant me this boon that I may not hesitate from performing good actions.
ਨ ਡਰੋ ਅਰਿ ਸੋ ਜਬ ਜਾਇ ਲਰੋ ਨਿਸਚੈ ਕਰਿ ਅਪੁਨੀ ਜੀਤ ਕਰੋ ॥ => I may not fear the enemy, when I go to fight and assuredly I may become victorious.
ਅਰੁ ਸਿਖ ਹੌ ਆਪਨੇ ਹੀ ਮਨ ਕੋ ਇਹ ਲਾਲਚ ਹਉ ਗੁਨ ਤਉ ਉਚਰੋ ॥ => And I may give this instruction to my mind and have this temptation that I may ever utter Thy Praises.
ਜਬ ਆਵ ਕੀ ਅਉਧ ਨਿਦਾਨ ਬਨੈ ਅਤਿ ਹੀ ਰਨ ਮੈ ਤਬ ਜੂਝ ਮਰੋ ॥੨੩੧॥ => When this mortal life comes to end, may I die fighting courageously in the battlefield.231.
ਚੰਡਿ ਚਰਿਤ੍ਰ ਕਵਿਤਨ ਮੈ ਬਰਨਿਓ ਸਭ ਹੀ ਰਸ ਰੁਦ੍ਰਮਈ ਹੈ ॥ => I have narrated this Chandi Charitra in poetry, which is all full of Rudra Rasa (sentiment of ragge).
ਏਕ ਤੇ ਏਕ ਰਸਾਲ ਭਇਓ ਨਖ ਤੇ ਸਿਖ ਲਉ ਉਪਮਾ ਸੁ ਨਈ ਹੈ ॥ => The stanzas one and all, are beautifully composed, which contain new certainties from beginning to end.
ਕਉਤਕ ਹੇਤੁ ਕਰੀ ਕਵਿ ਨੇ ਸਤਿਸਯ ਕੀ ਕਥਾ ਇਹ ਪੂਰੀ ਭਈ ਹੈ ॥ => The poet hath composed it for the pleasure of his mind, and the discourse of seven hundred sholokas is completed here.
ਜਾਹਿ ਨਮਿਤ ਪੜੈ ਸੁਨਿ ਹੈ ਨਰ ਸੋ ਨਿਸਚੈ ਕਰਿ ਤਾਹਿ ਦਈ ਹੈ ॥੨੩੨॥ => For whatever purpose a person reading or listening to it, the goddess will assuredly grant him that.232.
Translation
O Timeless God give me this boon that I never refrain from doing the righteous act. Therefore, I shall have no fear of the enemy when I go into battle and with determination I will be victorious. That, I may teach my mind to only sing your praises. And when the time comes, I should die fighting heroically on the field of battle.