Rāma Gaïo Rāvana Gaïo
by Gauri Verma
From: Guru Granth Sahib Ji under the heading Saloka Mahla 9, vv. 49–52 (Ang 1429)
Singer: Bhai Jogindar Singh Nimane Yamuna Nagar Wale (SikhNet June 5, 2022)
Lyrics: Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji
Performance Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNX4fc0IH_c
Introduction
The verse “Rām Gaïo, Rāvan Gaïo” is a Shabad (composition) attributed to the ninth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji (1621–1675). It is recorded in the sacred book Guru Granth Sahib Ji under the heading Saloka Mahla 9, vv. 49–52 (Ang 1429).
The Guru Granth Sahib Ji is the eternal Guru of the Sikhs—more than just a book, it is a living spiritual guide and authority. It contains divine wisdom and teachings from Sikh Gurus and enlightened saints, offering guidance on truth, devotion, equality, and selfless service. Sikhs bow before the Guru Granth Sahib Ji not as an object, but as their Guru—their teacher and source of spiritual enlightenment.
Housed in every Gurdwara, it is treated with the highest respect, recited, and sung daily as a source of wisdom and comfort. Its teachings emphasize the oneness of humanity, the importance of humility, and the pursuit of inner peace through connection with the Divine. More than just words, its message is timeless—a call to live with love, courage, and unwavering faith in an ever-changing world.
Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji ‘s compositions in the Guru Granth Sahib Ji highlight the transient nature of life and the importance of unwavering faith in the Almighty. He advocated for spiritual resilience, selfless service, ultimately sacrificing his life to uphold the right to faith and justice. His martyrdom cemented his legacy as a defender of truth and righteousness, inspiring generations to live with integrity and courage. The sung renditions of "Rām Gayo, Rāvan Gayo" reflect the enduring relevance of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’s message, as oral traditions continue to shape the interpretation of Gurbani. The verses are sung in a slightly different sequence than in the Guru Granth Sahib Ji and one of them is repeated as a refrain.
Lyrics, Transliteration, and Translation
रामु गइओ रावनु गइओ जा कउ बहु परवारु । कहु नानक थिरु कछु नही सुपने जिउ संसारु ॥ | Rāmu gaïo, Rāvanu gaïo, jā kaü bahu paravāru, supne jiü sansāru. | Ram passed away, as did Ravan, even though they had lots of relatives. Nānak says, nothing remains stable, This world is like a dream |
जग रचना सब झूठ है, जानि लेहु रे मीत । कहि नानक थिरु ना रहै जिउ बालू की भीति ॥ | Jaga racanā saba jhūṭha hai, jāni lehu re mīta, jiü bālū ke bhīti.
| The entire creation of this world is false, know this, my friend. Guru Nanak says: Nothing stays stable, as a wall made of sand.
|
चिंता ता की कीजिए जो अनहोनी होइ । इहु मारगु संसार को नानक थिरु नही कोइ ॥ | Cintā tā kī kījīe jo anhonī hoi, Nānak thiru nahī koi.
| Don’t worry about what is possible. This is the path of the world, and nothing remains permanent, says Nanak.
|
जो उपजिओ सो बिनसि है, परो आजु कै कालि । नानक हरि गुण गाइ ले, छाडि सगल जंजाल। | Jo upjiyo so binasi hai, paro āju kai kāli, chāḍa sagala janjāla. | Everything that is born will eventually perish—whether it happens today or tomorrow. O Nanak! Sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord, and give up all other entanglements. |
रामु गइओ रावनु गइओ जा कउ बहु परवारु । कहु नानक थिरु कछु नही सुपने जिउ संसारु ॥ | Rāmu gaïyo, Rāvanu gaïyo, jā kaü bahu parivāru, supne jiü sansāru. | Ram passed away, as did Ravan, even though they had lots of relatives. Nānak says, nothing remains stable, This world is like a dream. |
Text from the Guru Granth Sahib Ji based on the website https://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani
Wordlist
राम rām [S.], m. mythol. 1. name of Rāmcandra (the seventh avatār of Viṣṇu).
1. गया gayā [gata-], perf. part. 1. gone, past.
बहु- bahu- [S.], adj. (rarely बहु). 1. much, many; multi-; poly-. 2. large, great. 3. excessive;
परिवार pari-vār [S.], m. 1. family, dependants; relatives.
थिर thir [sthira-], adj. 1. fixed, firm. 2. permanent, durable; settled.
कुछ kuch [conn. kiṁcid], pron. & adj. & adv. 1. pron. something; anything.
सपना sapnā [? ad. svapna-], m. 1. a dream.
संसार saṃ-sār [saṁsāra-], m. 1. cycle of births or states, transmigration. 2. transf. the world; the universe.
1जग jag [ad. jaga-, also jagat-], m. the world; the universe.
4 रचना racănā [S.], f. 1. creating, forming.
सब saba 2. entire (amount: = सारा).
झूठ jhūṭh [*jhūṭṭha-: Pk. jhuṭṭha-], m. & adj. 1. m. a lie; falsehood.
2 जान jān [jñāna-: w. jānāti], f. (m.) 1. knowledge; acquaintance. 2. understanding; opinion.
मीत mīt [mitra-], m. Brbh. Av. 1. friend. 2. lover.
1 बालू bālū [vālukā-], f. sand, gravel. — की, adj. sandy (soil).
1 भीत bhīt [bhitti-], f. 1. a wall; partition.
चिंता cintā [S.], f. 1. thought, consideration, reflection. 2. care, concern; attention; anxiety; apprehension.
अनहोनी an-honī [cf. H. honā], f. sthg. improbable, or impossible.
1इह ih [S.], adv. & m. 1. adv. in this place; in this world. 2. m. this world.
मार्ग mārg [S.], m. 1. road, way; passage, channel; course, path; trajectory. 2. way, method; means.
उपज upaj [cf. H. upajnā], f. 1. produce. 2. production (of goods, assets).
बिनसना binasnā [vinaśyati], v.i. 1. to be destroyed.
2पर par [para-], conj. but; still.
1काल kāl [kāla-2], m. 1. time. 2. a time; season; age.
गुण guṇ [S.], m. var. /gũṛ/. 1. a quality, a property. 2. ling.
छाड़ना chāṛnā [chardati], v.t. = छाँड़ना chāṁṛnā [*chr̥ndati: Pk. chaṁdaï], v.t. 1. = छोड़ना.
सगल = सकल sakal [S.], adj. 1. all. 2. entire, the whole; gross (amount).
1जंजाल jañjāl [H. jan + H. jāl], m. snare(s) of the world: 1. entanglement(s), trouble(s), care(s). 2. colloq. trouble, bother.
Song Analysis
The language of the text is sometimes called Sant Bhasha or the “language of the Saints,” characterized by spelling and grammatical features slightly different from modern conventions. Words may end in -u (e.g., Rāmu, Rāvanu), perfective verbal forms take -io (e.g., gaïo, upajio), and futures end in -ihai (e.g., vinasihai). The irregular imperative form of the verb le- (“to take”) appears as lehu. These linguistic features create an archaic effect, giving the text a sense of timelessness and elevating its devotional and poetic resonance.
This Shabad by Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji reinforces the transient nature of life and the futility of material attachments. By referencing Rama and Ravana—both powerful figures who ultimately left this earth—Guru Ji highlights the impermanence of wealth, status, and worldly relationships. No matter how great one’s achievements, all are bound by the inescapable truth of mortality.
Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji drives this message home through repetition, a technique that reinforces the inescapable nature of these truths. In particular one key idea—the impermanence of material existence—is restated in each stanza (thira kachu nahī, thiru nā rahai, thiru nahi koī). The need for spiritual awakening is emphasized through lively images that worldly concerns are fleeting illusions: a wall of sand, a dream. The repetition of core themes urges listeners to turn toward divine wisdom, faith, and detachment rather than becoming ensnared by temporary possessions or power. His teachings stress that true liberation lies not in external achievements but in humility, devotion, and righteousness, reminding humanity of the unity beyond all worldly divisions.
Sources/Further Reading:
Singh, Trilochan. 1975. Hymns of Guru Tegh Bahadur: Songs of Nirvana. Delhi: Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee.