Kirtan Sohila
Kirtan Sohila in English · English
✦ Meaning
Kirtan Sohila is the Sikh night prayer, recited before sleep, and is also read at the time of cremation. It is composed of five shabads — three by Guru Nanak Dev Ji, one by Guru Ram Das Ji and one by Guru Arjan Dev Ji — from the Guru Granth Sahib. Its verses still the mind, surrender the day to God and bring fearless, peaceful rest.
Origin & Story
Sri Guru Granth Sahib. English translation: Sant Singh Khalsa (public domain). · Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Guru Ram Das Ji, Guru Arjan Dev Ji · 15th–17th century CE
Kirtan Sohila — “the song of praise” — is the last bani of the Sikh day. Read in the stillness before sleep, its five shabads dissolve fear of death and the cares of the day, placing the devotee wholly in the peace of God.
Complete Text with Meaning
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ikOankaar satigur prasaadh ||
Meaning:One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:
sohilaa raag gauRee dheepakee mahalaa pehilaa
Meaning:Sohilaa ~ The Song Of Praise. Raag Gauree Deepakee, First Mehl:
ikOankaar satigur prasaadh ||
Meaning:One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:
jai ghar keerat aakheeaai karate kaa hoi beechaaro || tit ghar gaavahu sohilaa sivarih sirajanahaaro ||1||
Meaning:In that house where the Praises of the Creator are chanted and contemplated -in that house, sing Songs of Praise; meditate and remember the Creator Lord. ||1||
tum gaavahu mere nirabhau kaa sohilaa || hau vaaree jit sohilai sadhaa sukh hoi ||1|| rahaau ||
Meaning:Sing the Songs of Praise of my Fearless Lord. I am a sacrifice to that Song of Praise which brings eternal peace. ||1||Pause||
nit nit jeeaRe samaaleean dhekhaigaa dhevanahaar || tere dhaanai keemat naa pavai tis dhaate kavan sumaar ||2||
Meaning:Day after day, He cares for His beings; the Great Giver watches over all. Your Gifts cannot be appraised; how can anyone compare to the Giver? ||2||
sa(n)bat saahaa likhiaa mil kar paavahu tel || dheh sajan aseesaReeaa jiau hovai saahib siau mel ||3||
Meaning:The day of my wedding is pre-ordained. Come, gather together and pour the oil over the threshold. My friends, give me your blessings, that I may merge with my Lord and Master. ||3||
ghar ghar eho paahuchaa sadhaRe nit pava(n)n || sadhanahaaraa simareeaai naanak se dheh aava(n)n ||4||1||
Meaning:Unto each and every home, into each and every heart, this summons is sent out; the call comes each and every day. Remember in meditation the One who summons us; O Nanak, that day is drawing near! ||4||1||
raag aasaa mahalaa pehilaa ||
Meaning:Raag Aasaa, First Mehl:
chhia ghar chhia gur chhia upadhes || gur gur eko ves anek ||1||
Meaning:There are six schools of philosophy, six teachers, and six sets of teachings. But the Teacher of teachers is the One, who appears in so many forms. ||1||
baabaa jai ghar karate keerat hoi || so ghar raakh vaddaiee toi ||1|| rahaau ||
Meaning:O Baba: that system in which the Praises of the Creator are sung -follow that system; in it rests true greatness. ||1||Pause||
visue chasiaa ghaReeaa paharaa thitee vaaree maahu hoaa || sooraj eko rut anek || naanak karate ke kete ves ||2||2||
Meaning:The seconds, minutes and hours, days, weeks and months, And the various seasons originate from the one sun; O Nanak, in just the same way, the many forms originate from the Creator. ||2||2||
raag dhanaasaree mahalaa pehilaa ||
Meaning:Raag Dhanaasaree, First Mehl:
gagan mai thaal rav cha(n)dh dheepak bane taarikaa ma(n)ddal janak motee || dhoop malaanalo pavan chavaro kare sagal banarai foola(n)t jotee ||1||
Meaning:Upon that cosmic plate of the sky, the sun and the moon are the lamps. The stars and their orbs are the studded pearls. The fragrance of sandalwood in the air is the temple incense, and the wind is the fan. All the plants of the world are the altar flowers in offering to You, O Luminous Lord. ||1||
kaisee aaratee hoi || bhav kha(n)ddanaa teree aaratee || anahataa sabadh vaaja(n)t bheree ||1|| rahaau ||
Meaning:What a beautiful Aartee, lamp-lit worship service this is! O Destroyer of Fear, this is Your Ceremony of Light. The Unstruck Sound-current of the Shabad is the vibration of the temple drums. ||1||Pause||
sahas tav nain nan nain heh toh kau sahas moorat nanaa ek tuohee || sahas padh bimal nan ek padh ga(n)dh bin sahas tav ga(n)dh iv chalat mohee ||2||
Meaning:You have thousands of eyes, and yet You have no eyes. You have thousands of forms, and yet You do not have even one. You have thousands of Lotus Feet, and yet You do not have even one foot. You have no nose, but you have thousands of noses. This Play of Yours entrances me. ||2||
sabh meh jot jot hai soi || tis dhai chaanan sabh meh chaanan hoi || gur saakhee jot paragaT hoi || jo tis bhaavai su aaratee hoi ||3||
Meaning:Amongst all is the Light-You are that Light. By this Illumination, that Light is radiant within all. Through the Guru's Teachings, the Light shines forth. That which is pleasing to Him is the lamp-lit worship service. ||3||
har charan kaval makara(n)dh lobhit mano anadhinuo moh aahee piaasaa || kirapaa jal dheh naanak saari(n)g kau hoi jaa te terai nai vaasaa ||4||3||
Meaning:My mind is enticed by the honey-sweet Lotus Feet of the Lord. Day and night, I thirst for them. Bestow the Water of Your Mercy upon Nanak, the thirsty song-bird, so that he may come to dwell in Your Name. ||4||3||
raag gauRee poorabee mahalaa chauthhaa ||
Meaning:Raag Gauree Poorbee, Fourth Mehl:
kaam karodh nagar bahu bhariaa mil saadhoo kha(n)ddal kha(n)ddaa he || poorab likhat likhe gur paiaa man har liv ma(n)ddal ma(n)ddaa he ||1||
Meaning:The body-village is filled to overflowing with anger and sexual desire; these were broken into bits when I met with the Holy Saint. By pre-ordained destiny, I have met with the Guru. I have entered into the realm of the Lord's Love. ||1||
kar saadhoo a(n)julee pun vaddaa he || kar dda(n)ddaut pun vaddaa he ||1|| rahaau ||
Meaning:Greet the Holy Saint with your palms pressed together; this is an act of great merit. Bow down before Him; this is a virtuous action indeed. ||1||Pause||
saakat har ras saadh na jaaniaa tin a(n)tar haumai ka(n)ddaa he || jiau jiau chaleh chubhai dhukh paaveh jamakaal saheh sir dda(n)ddaa he ||2||
Meaning:The wicked shaaktas, the faithless cynics, do not know the Taste of the Lord's Sublime Essence. The thorn of egotism is embedded deep within them. The more they walk away, the deeper it pierces them, and the more they suffer in pain, until finally, the Messenger of Death smashes his club against their heads. ||2||
har jan har har naam samaane dhukh janam maran bhav kha(n)ddaa he || abinaasee purakh paiaa paramesar bahu sobh kha(n)dd brahama(n)ddaa he ||3||
Meaning:The humble servants of the Lord are absorbed in the Name of the Lord, Har, Har. The pain of birth and the fear of death are eradicated. They have found the Imperishable Supreme Being, the Transcendent Lord God, and they receive great honor throughout all the worlds and realms. ||3||
ham gareeb masakeen prabh tere har raakh raakh vadd vaddaa he || jan naanak naam adhaar Tek hai har naame hee sukh ma(n)ddaa he ||4||4||
Meaning:I am poor and meek, God, but I belong to You! Save me-please save me, O Greatest of the Great! Servant Nanak takes the Sustenance and Support of the Naam. In the Name of the Lord, he enjoys celestial peace. ||4||4||
raag gauRee poorabee mahalaa panjavaa ||
Meaning:Raag Gauree Poorbee, Fifth Mehl:
karau bena(n)tee sunahu mere meetaa sa(n)t Tahal kee belaa || e'eehaa khaaT chalahu har laahaa aagai basan suhelaa ||1||
Meaning:Listen, my friends, I beg of you: now is the time to serve the Saints! In this world, earn the profit of the Lord's Name, and hereafter, you shall dwell in peace. ||1||
aaudh ghaTai dhinas rainaare || man gur mil kaaj savaare ||1|| rahaau ||
Meaning:This life is diminishing, day and night.
eih sa(n)saar bikaar sa(n)se meh tario braham giaanee || jiseh jagai peeaavai ih ras akath kathaa tin jaanee ||2||
Meaning:This world is engrossed in corruption and cynicism. Only those who know God are saved. Only those who are awakened by the Lord to drink in this Sublime Essence, come to know the Unspoken Speech of the Lord. ||2||
jaa kau aae soiee bihaajhahu har gur te maneh baseraa || nij ghar mahal paavahu sukh sahaje bahur na hoigo feraa ||3||
Meaning:Purchase only that for which you have come into the world, and through the Guru, the Lord shall dwell within your mind. Within the home of your own inner being, you shall obtain the Mansion of the Lord's Presence with intuitive ease. You shall not be consigned again to the wheel of reincarnation. ||3||
a(n)tarajaamee purakh bidhaate saradhaa man kee poore || naanak dhaas ihai sukh maagai mo kau kar sa(n)tan kee dhoore ||4||5||
Meaning:O Inner-knower, Searcher of Hearts, O Primal Being, Architect of Destiny: please fulfill this yearning of my mind. Nanak, Your slave, begs for this happiness: let me be the dust of the feet of the Saints. ||4||5||
Benefits of Chanting Kirtan Sohila
The Sikh bedtime prayer — recited before sleep for peace and protection
Calms the mind and removes fear, bringing restful sleep
Also recited at the time of cremation, affirming the soul’s union with God
Five shabads of the Gurus that surrender the day into divine hands
How to Chant Kirtan Sohila
Recite the five shabads of Kirtan Sohila in bed or before lying down, settling the mind on Waheguru. Read in Gurmukhi with the transliteration and meaning to follow along.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Read the full Kirtan Sohila with verse-by-verse meaning, or explore more sacred texts