Selected Shlokas
Here are the Shlokas and couplets related to the greatness and importance of the Guru:
- गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः।
गुरुः साक्षात् परब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः॥
Gurur-brahmā Gurur-vishnu Gurur-dévo maheshwarah
Guru sākshāt Para brahma tasmai shri Guruvé namah.
(The Guru is Brahma, the Guru is Vishnu, the Guru is Maheshwara (Shiva); the Guru is verily the Supreme Brahman. To that Guru, I offer my salutations.) - ध्यान मूलं गुरोर्मूर्ति: पूजामूलं गुरोः पदम्।
मन्त्र मूलं गुरोर्वाक्यं मोक्ष मूलं गुरोः कृपा॥
Dhyān moolam Gurur-murti pooja moolam Guror-padam
Mantra moolam Gurur-vākyam moksha moolam Gurur kripā.
(The root of meditation is the Guru’s form, the root of worship is the Guru’s feet, the root of mantra is the Guru’s word, and the root of liberation is the Guru’s grace.) - गुरु गोविन्द दोनो खड़े काके लागूं पाय।
बलिहारी गुरु आपने गोविन्द दियो बताय॥
Guru Govind dono khadé kāké lāgoon pāyé
Balihāri Guru āpne Govind diyo batāyé.
(Guru and God both are standing; whom should I pay my obeisance first? I first bow to my Guru who made me realize the Almighty God.) - यह तन विष की बेलरी गुरु अमृत की खान।
शीश दिये जो गुरु मिले तो भी सस्ता जान॥
Yeh tan vish ki bélari Guru amrit ki khān
Sheesh diyé jo Guru milé to bhi sastā jaan.
(This body is like a poisonous creeper, whereas the Guru is the treasure house of holy nectar. Even if you have to sacrifice your life to attain a True Guru, consider it to be a very fruitful and reasonable bargain.) - सब धरती कागज़ करूं लेखनी सब बन राय।
सात समुन्द्र की मसि करूं गुरु गुण लिखा न जाये॥
Sab dharti kāgaz karu lekhani sab ban rāye
Saat samand ki mas karu Guru guna likhyo na jāye.
(If the whole earth were turned into paper, all the trees into pens, and the oceans into ink, even then the Guru’s virtues could not be fully described.) - तीर्थ गये से एक फल, संत मिले फल चार।
सदगुरु मिले अनेक फल कहे कबीर विचार॥
Teerath gaye se ek phal, sant milé phal chār
Sad Guru milé anek phal kahé kabir vichār.
(Visiting pilgrimage places yields one benefit, meeting a saint yields four, but meeting a True Guru yields countless benefits, says Kabir.) - गुरु बिन भव निधि तरै न कोई।
जो विरंचि शंकर सम होई॥
Guru binu bhav nidhi tarai na koi
Jo viranchi Shankar sam hoi.
(No one can cross the ocean of existence without the Guru, even if they are as powerful as Brahma or Shiva.) - गुरु बिना ज्ञान ना उपजे, गुरु बिना मिटे ना भेद।
गुरु बिना संशय ना मिटे जय जय गुरुदेव॥
Guru bina gyan na upajé, Guru bina mité na bhed
Guru bina sanshaya na mité jai jai Gurudeva.
(Knowledge cannot be attained without the Guru, and doubts cannot be removed without the Guru. Without the Guru, confusion remains—victory to the Guru!) - गुरु को सिर पर रखिये चलिये आज्ञा माहिं।
कहै कबीर ता दास को तीन लोक भय नाहिं॥
Guru ko sir par rakhiye chaliye āgyā māhi
Kahé kabir tā dās ko teen lok bhay nāhi.
(Keep the Guru on your head, follow his orders, and then, says Kabir, there will be no fear in all three worlds.) - जैसी प्रीत कुटुम्ब में, तैसी गुरु में होय।
कहै कबीर ता दास को पाला ना पकड़े कोई॥
Jaisi preet kutumb mein, taisi Guru mein hoye
Kahé kabir tā dās ko palā na pakade koye.
(As love exists within the family, so should it be with the Guru. Says Kabir, such a servant cannot be held back by anyone.) - मन की जाने सब गुरु कहां ची पावे अंध।
सदगुरु सेवा कीजिए सब कट जावे फंद॥
Man ki jāné sab Guru kahān chi pāvé andh
Sad Guru sevā keejiye sab kat jāvé phand.
(Everyone thinks they know the mind, but the one who seeks without a Guru is blind. Serve the True Guru, and all your bonds will be cut.) - नानक सदगुरु भेंटिया मल जन्म जन्म दे लथे।
औखी घड़ी न देखन देई सदगुरु अपना बिरध समाले॥
Nānak Sad Guru bhentiya mal janam janam de lathé
Aoukhee gharree n dhaekhan dhaee Sad Guru apna biradh samaalae.
(Nanak says that meeting the True Guru washes away the filth of many lifetimes. In difficult times, the True Guru does not let you suffer; he always takes care of his disciple.) - गुरु बिना भजन हराम है गुरु बिन देते दान।
बिना गुरु नरक में जाई है, कहते वेद पुराण॥
Guru bina bhajan harām hai Guru bin dété dhaan
Bina Guru narak mein jayi hai, kehté ved purān.
(Without the Guru, even prayer and charity are in vain. Without the Guru, one goes to hell, say the Vedas and Puranas.) - गुरु की ओर निहारीए, औरन स्याँ क्या काम।
गुरु उपदेश विचार कर, रखिए मन को थाम॥
Guru ki aur nihāriye, auran syon kyā kaam
Guru updesh vichār kar, rakhiye mann ko thām.
(Look to the Guru, why worry about others? Contemplate the Guru’s teachings, and keep your mind steady.) - गुरु से कुछ ना दरयिए, गुरु से झूठ न बोल।
बुरी-भली खोटी-खरी गुरु आगे सब खोल॥
Guru sé kuchh na durāiye, Guru se jhooth na bol
Buri-bhali khoti-khari Guru aagé sab khol.
(Hide nothing from the Guru, never speak lies to him. Whether good or bad, tell everything openly in front of the Guru.) - निगुरा मो को ना मिले, पापी मिले हजार।
इक निगुरे के शीश पे, लाख-पापी का भार॥
Nigura mo ko na milé, paapi milé hazār
Ik niguré ké sheesh pé, lakh-paapi kā bhār.
(I haven’t found a person without a Guru, but have met thousands of sinners. On the head of one without a Guru, lies the burden of a hundred thousand sinners.) - कबीर ते नर अंध है, गुरु को कहते और।
हरी रूठे गुरु थौर है, गुरु रूठे नहीं थौर॥
Kabir te nar andh hai, Guru ko kehate aur
Hari roothé Guru thaur hai, Guru roothé nahi thaur.
(Kabir says, those who see the Guru as someone else are blind. If God is displeased, the Guru can save you; but if the Guru is displeased, there is no refuge.) - गुरु आज्ञा माने नहीं, चले अटपट चाल।
लोक वेद दोनों गये, आए सिर पर काल॥
Guru āgyā māne nahin, chale atpati chāl
Lok Veda dono gaye, aaye siir par kaal.
(One who does not follow the Guru’s command and walks a crooked path loses both worldly and spiritual wisdom, and death looms over his head.)
Om Shri Satguru Devaye Namaha
