Translations of the SGGS?

What is considered the most authoritative translation of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib into English?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/gurmat-vichaar/4210-translations-of-the-sggs.html
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=4210

Also, is it possible or desirable to have the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji in your house?

I know I should/will learn Punjabi to fully understand, but in the meantime I would still love to read and get as much out of it as I can.
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Jogindar ji,

I don't know if there is a translation that is recognized as the authoritative English version of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. "Authoritative" may be a matter of perception.

The Akhal Takht has said that our Living Guru is only Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji in Gurmukhi (someone, please correct me if I am mistaken here).

So, while Guru Sahib's message can be translated, the result is a translation...and not Guru Sahib. I see it as like a study guide of sorts. One does not have to do formal prakash to the translation, but one should treat it as respectfully as possible.

I don't know if there is an authoritative English translation. What I have noticed is that some translations are written in different forms of English.

This line from St. Kabeer:
"As thou deemest thyself, so deem others"

Could also be written as:
"Regard others the way you regard yourself"

Personally, I find a line like "Regard others the way you regard yourself" to be the easiest to understand.

Yet, I also find "As thou deemest thyself, so deem others" to be something that sounds so much more majestical.

And, I suppose the value of the translation may depend on what dialect of English that one speaks (North American, Brittish, Indo-Brittish) as well as the overall command of English that one has, as an English word may be used when the word has two different meanings...and the meaning used in the translation may not be the word is applied in casual conversation.

Personally, I've found the web resources to be very helpful. There are a few different translations on the web, including a few different ways of romanizing the Gurmukhi script. Some are easier to understand than others.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=4210

Something I'd like to do (but haven't done yet...) is to print out and bind a web translation that has Gurmukhi, the romanized Gurmukhi, and then the English translation.

I must confess that I haven't read through Sri Guru Granth Sahib from start to end (in any language) so unfortunately I don't have one to recommend...yet.

I have always understood that...

Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji is NOT...
The language
The script
The book
The words
The sounds

But that it IS..
THE UNDERLYING TEACHINGS/MEANINGS

Therefore, if an English person visits a Gurudwara and they do not know ANY punjabi... they will not connect with GURU SAHIB at all... I am all for Gurudwaras translating Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji on a screen so non-punjabi speakers can understand... ESPECIALLY in western countries where there majority of the country speaks ENGLISH.... GURU SAHIB IS NOT FOR SIKHS, it is for all... Let's make it accessible to all... So a translation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji may not be accurate but the Guru is still there since the meaning is there fully and one can learn from that... and that is the main thing. If you buy an English copy of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji then I suggest you treat it like you would a Gurumukhi copy of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=4210
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=4210

Anyway, I'm not sure but the best translation I've found online is at www.srigranth.org ... you can search English, Gurumukhi and even Gurumukhi transliteration... or jump to any limb you like...

To get your own free SHABAD-GURU CD...the complete Guru Granth Ji in Original Gurmukhi with English Translation as per Akal Takaht Sikh Rehat Maryada, complete with SEARCH features...

This CD also contains the Mahan Kosh by Kahn Singh nabha and other valuable "goodies" like MP3 of Compete Paath etc. CD set is 3 CDs.

Free CD Set available from:
Kartars@streamyx.com

One Condition attached to Free Cd: Please Copy and distribute one more copy.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=4210
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=4210


Posted by: Jarnail Singh gyani Arshi malaysia. jsarshi@Gmail.com

Sat Sri Akal - I joined this web site only today and saw this discussion. Please note that Guru Granth Sahib was compiled in 17th century. Though the script used is Gurmukhi, the writings were written as earlier as 12th century (Baba Sheikh Farid) and as late as late 17th century (Guru Tegh Bahadur). Further, the writings are from as many as 23 Gurus/Saints/Bhagats each having his own style as prevalent at their times. For example, writings of Guru Tegh Bahadur as simpler to read and understand than those written by 5th Guru and earlier Gurus.

Then there are shabads written in Farsi (Persian) and Sanskrit. Some shabads are in Khari Boli (A dialect mostly used by saints during Bhakti movement in 15th century India).

The point I was trying to make is there is no single language/dialect used through out Guru Granth Sahib. To really get to the deep meaning of shabad, one has to be conversant with the languages/dialects used (which is very difficult, if not impossible, for a common Sikh). So, we take help from Katha Vachaks who translate the Guru's words into common man language using examples.

Again, my point is it is ok to use help from "study guides", translations, etc. to help understand the meanings....It is like taking help from a Katha Vachak....
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=4210
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=4210

Regards

Dear Baljeet
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=4210

Accept my warm welcome to this forum I hope we all will learn more from you


Jatinder Singh

Where can I purchase an English translation?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=4210

I wish to read the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji now in its entirety (enough procrastination).

I was just checking out the SPN store, so what's the best translation to buy?

Thanks in advance.

Depends on the tpye of translation you want I guess
Some are in modern English i.e. "One God, True Name"
Some are in archaic English i.e. "One Lord, True is his name"
Kinda hard to explain...
I don't know about USA but here we have a shop/place thing called Sikh missionary society. You might want to see if you have something similar there.

SPN is shortly launching its own Book Store affliated to Amazon Online Stores. Except for some cosmatic changes, its all ready! You can check out and even place orders for some of the interesting collection by visiting the Book Store here -->

http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikhismbooks/
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=4210

It is very easy to explore. Some of the books include...

• The Goindval Pothis: The Earliest Extant Source of the Sikh Canon (Harvard Oriental Series)
• The Golden Temple: And Other Sikh Holy Places (Holy Places)
• The Guru Granth Sahib: Its Physics and Metaphysics
• The Guru's Gift: An Ethnography Exploring Gender Equality with North American Sikh Women
• The Guru Granth Sahib: Canon, Meaning and Authority

The store will be public with some cosmatic changes in coming days.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=4210

Enjoy !!