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Nitnem & Gutke · Morning Nitnem

Tav-Prasad Savaiye

The Tav-Prasad Savaiye are ten verses from Akal Ustat that look at the powerful, the wealthy and the outwardly religious — and conclude that without love for the Divine, all of it is empty. Their closing line is simple and direct: only those who love have found the Divine.

ਤ੍ਵ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ਸਵੱਯੇ

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Composed by
Guru Gobind Singh Ji
Source
Sri Dasam Granth Sahib, Akal Ustat
Structure
Ten savaiye (quatrains) from Akal Ustat
Recited
Morning Nitnem

Read Tav-Prasad Savaiye

Meaning Transliteration

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Context and purpose

The Savaiye come from Akal Ustat, 'praise of the Timeless One', a composition in the Dasam Granth. Each savaiya paints a picture — ascetics, adepts, mighty kings with armies and elephants, pilgrims and ritualists — and then asks what any of it is worth without the Divine.

The message is not contempt for effort or achievement, but a reordering of priorities: power, display and ritual do not by themselves bring a person closer to the One. Love (prem) does.

They are often called 'Ten Savaiye' or 'Swaiye'. As with other Dasam Granth Banis, scholarly discussion about the wider collection continues, while the Savaiye hold a firm place in daily Nitnem and Amrit Sanchar.

When it is recited

The Sikh Rehat Maryada lists the Ten Savaiye (Tav-Prasad Savaiye) as the third morning Nitnem Bani, after Japji Sahib and Jaap Sahib. They are also recited during Amrit Sanchar.

How it is structured

  • First savaiya — The seeker has seen the homes of ascetics, adepts, yogis and celibates — yet without love, none of it is enough.
  • Middle savaiye — Mighty rulers, armies, wealth and ritual practices are described and found empty without the Divine.
  • Closing savaiya — The conclusion: only those who love have found the Divine.

Key themes

Love over display

Wealth, armies and fame pass away; love for the Divine is what endures.

Beyond ritual

Pilgrimages, austerities and outward practices are described as incomplete without inner devotion.

Honest self-examination

By describing others' pride, the verses invite the reader to look at their own.

Lines to reflect on

ਸਾਚੁ ਕਹੋਂ ਸੁਨ ਲੇਹੁ ਸਭੈ ਜਿਨ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਕੀਓ ਤਿਨ ਹੀ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਪਾਇਓ ॥

Saach kahon sun leho sabhai jin prem keeo tin hee prabh paaio.

Meaning (GurVichaar explanation)

I speak the truth — all of you, listen: only those who love have found the Divine.

ਮੈਂ ਸੱਚ ਆਖਦਾ ਹਾਂ — ਤੁਸੀਂ ਸਾਰੇ ਸੁਣੋ: ਸਿਰਫ਼ ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਕੀਤਾ, ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਹੀ ਰੱਬ ਨੂੰ ਪਾਇਆ।

Dasam Granth · Tav-Prasad Savaiye · Guru Gobind Singh Ji · Verse study

Difficult words explained

ਸਵੱਯਾ
Savaiya
A four-line poetic metre.
ਤ੍ਵ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ
Tav Prasad
'By Your grace' — the heading of these verses.
ਅਕਾਲ ਉਸਤਤਿ
Akal Ustat
'Praise of the Timeless One', the composition these verses come from.
ਪ੍ਰੇਮ
Prem
Love — here, love for the Divine.
ਭੇਖ
Bhekh
Outward religious garb or display.

Practical reflections

  1. What am I quietly proud of that I would be lost without? What would love ask of me instead?
  2. Is any of my practice for show? What would it look like done only for love?
  3. Who could I show love to today without being noticed?

Audio recitation

A verified recitation will be added once a recording with clear rights is available. Audio & video library.

References & sources

  1. Sri Dasam Granth Sahib
  2. Sikh Rehat Maryada, SGPC
  3. BaniDB Gurbani database