Ardas
ਅਰਦਾਸ in English · English
✦ Meaning
The Ardas is the formal Sikh supplication offered standing, with folded hands, at the close of prayers and ceremonies and before any significant undertaking. It opens with “Pritham Bhagauti” by Guru Gobind Singh Ji, remembers the ten Gurus and the sacrifices of the Sikhs, and then humbly places the congregation’s wishes before Waheguru, ending with a prayer for the welfare of all — “Nanak naam chardi kala, tere bhane sarbat da bhala.”
Origin & Story
Sikh tradition; opening by Guru Gobind Singh Ji (Var Sri Bhagauti Ji) · Guru Gobind Singh Ji and Sikh tradition · 18th century onward
The Ardas grew into the Sikh community’s shared prayer of remembrance and request. Its opening invocation is from Guru Gobind Singh Ji; the body recalls the Gurus and the Sikhs’ sacrifices, and the close commits the whole of humanity to God’s blessing.
Complete Text with Meaning
Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited
aradhaas
ikOankaar vaahiguroo jee kee fateh ||
sree bhagautee jee sahai ||
vaar sree bhagautee jee kee || paatisaahee 10 ||
piratham bhagauatee simar kai gur naanak liee(n) dhiaai || fir a(n)gadh gur te amaradhaas raamadhaasai hoiee(n) sahai || arajan harigobi(n)dh no simarau sree harirai || sree harikirashan dhiaaieeaai jis ddiThe sabh dhukh jai || teg bahaadhar simariaai ghar nau nidh aavai dhai || sabh thaiee(n) hoi sahai ||1||
dhasave(n) paatashaeh sree guroo gobi(n)dh si(n)gh saahib jee mahaaraaj pa(n)th dhe vaalee sabh thaiee(n) hoi sahai || dhasaa(n) paatashaaheeaa(n) jee dhee jot sree guroo gra(n)th saahib jee dhe paaTh dheedhaar dhaa dhiaan dhar ke bolo jee vaahiguroo vaahiguroo vaahiguroo ||
pa(n)jaa piaariaa(n) chauahaa(n) saahibazaadhiaa(n) chaalheeaa(n) mukatiaa(n) haTheeaa(n) japeeaa(n) tapeeaa(n) jinhaa(n) naam ja'piaa va(n)dd chhakiaa dheg chalaiee teg vaahee dhekh ke anaddi'Th keetaa tinhaa(n) piaariaa(n) sachiaariaa(n) dhee kamaiee dhaa dhiaan dhar ke khaalasaa jee bolo jee vaahiguroo ||
jinhaa(n) si(n)ghaa(n) si(n)ghaneeaa(n) ne dharam het sees dhite ba(n)dh ba(n)dh kaTaae khopareeaa(n) luhaieeaa(n) charakheeaa(n) te chaRhe aariaa(n) naal chiraae ge gurdhuaariaa(n) dhee sevaa liee kurabaaneeaa(n) keeteeaa(n) dharam nahee(n) haariaa si'khee kesaa(n) suaasaa(n) naal nibhaahee tinhaa(n) dhee kamaiee dhaa dhiaan dhar ke khhaalasaa jee bolo jee vaahiguroo ||
pa(n)jaa(n) takhhataa(n) saraba't gurdhuaariaa(n) dhaa dhiaan dhar ke bolo jee vaahiguroo ||
pirathame saraba't khaalasaa jee kee aradhaas hai jee saraba't khaalasaa jee ko vaahiguroo vaahiguroo vaahiguroo chit aave chit aavan kaa sadhakaa sarab sukh hove || jahaa(n) jahaa(n) khaalasaa jee saahib tahaa(n) tahaa(n) rachhiaa riaait dheg teg fateh biradh kee paij pa(n)th kee jeet sree saahib jee sahai khaalase jee ke bol baale bolo jee vaahiguroo ||
si'khaa(n) noo(n) si'khee dhaan kes dhaan rahit dhaan bibek dhaan visaeh dhaan bharosaa dhaan dhaanaa(n) sir dhaan naam dhaan sree a(n)mritasar jee dhe ishanaan chaua(n)keeaa(n) jha(n)dde bu(n)ge jugo jug aTa'l dharam kaa jaikaar bolo jee vaahiguroooo ||
si'khaa(n) dhaa man neevaa(n) ma't u'chee ma't dhaa raakhaa akaal purakh vaahiguroo ||
he akaal purakh aapane pa(n)th dhe sadhaa sahaiee dhaataar jeeo || sree nanakaanaa saahib te hor gurdhuaariaa(n) gurdhaamaa(n) dhe jinhaa(n) to(n) pa(n)th noo(n) vichhoRiaa giaa hai khulhe dharashan dheedhaar te sevaa sa(n)bhaal dhaa dhaan khhaalasaa jee noo(n) bakhhasho ||
he nimaaniaa dhe maan nitaaniaa dhe taan nioTiaa(n) dhee oT sache pitaa vaahiguroo aap jee dhe ...... aradhaas hai jee || akhar dhaa vaadhaa ghaaTaa bhul chuk maaph karanee jee || saraba't dhe kaaraj raas karane || seiee piaare mel jinhaa(n) miliaa(n) teraa naam chi't aave || naanak naam chaRhadhee kalaa || tere bhaane saraba't dhaa bhalaa ||
vaahiguroo jee kaa khaalasaa ||
vaahiguroo jee kee phateh ||
Benefits of Chanting ਅਰਦਾਸ
The Sikh prayer offered at the close of every service and before new beginnings
Remembers the Gurus and martyrs and seeks Waheguru’s grace and blessing
Cultivates humility, gratitude and chardi kala (ever-rising spirit)
Ends by praying for the welfare of all humanity — sarbat da bhala
How to Chant ਅਰਦਾਸ
Ardas is recited standing with hands folded and head bowed, the whole sangat joining the closing lines. The wording adapts to the occasion; the traditional text is given here in Gurmukhi with transliteration.
Frequently Asked Questions
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