Sri Guru Granth Sahib Translation
Page 1352
Meditate in remembrance on the Lord -
meditate on the Lord; this alone shall be of use to you. Abandon
your association with Maya, and take shelter in the Sanctuary
of God. Remember that the pleasures of the world are false; this
whole show is just an illusion. || 1 || Pause || You must
understand that this wealth is just a dream. Why are you so proud?
The empires of the earth are like walls of sand. || 1 || Servant
Nanak speaks the Truth: your body shall perish and pass away.
Moment by moment, yesterday passed. Today is passing as well.
|| 2 || 1 || JAIJAAVANTEE, NINTH MEHL: Meditate on the Lord
- vibrate on the Lord; your life is slipping away. Why
am I telling you this again and again? You fool - why don't
you understand? Your body is like a hail-stone; it melts away
in no time at all. || 1 || Pause || So give up all your doubts,
and utter the Naam, the Name of the Lord. At the very last moment,
this alone shall go along with you. || 1 || Forget the poisonous
sins of corruption, and enshrine the Praises of God in your heart.
Servant Nanak proclaims that this opportunity is slipping away.
|| 2 || 2 || JAIJAAVANTEE, NINTH MEHL: O mortal, what will
your condition be? In this world, you have not listened to the
Lord's Name. You are totally engrossed in corruption and
sin; you have not turned your mind away from them at all. ||
1 || Pause || You obtained this human life, but you have not
remembered the Lord in meditation, even for an instant. For the
sake of pleasure, you have become subservient to your woman, and
now your feet are bound. || 1 || Servant Nanak proclaims that
the vast expanse of this world is just a dream. Why not meditate
on the Lord? Even Maya is His slave. || 2 || 3 || JAIJAAVANTEE,
NINTH MEHL: Slipping away - your life is uselessly slipping
away. Night and day, you listen to the Puraanas, but you do not
understand them, you ignorant fool!
Page 1353 Death has arrived; now where will you run? || 1 || Pause ||
You believed that this body was permanent, but it shall turn
to dust. Why don't you chant the Name of the Lord, you
shameless fool? || 1 || Let devotional worship of the Lord
enter into your heart, and abandon the intellectualism of your
mind. O Servant Nanak, this is the way to live in the world.
|| 2 || 4 ||
You study the scriptures, say your prayers
and argue; you worship stones and sit like a crane, pretending
to meditate. You speak lies and well-ornamented falsehood, and
recite your daily prayers three times a day. The mala is around
your neck, and the sacred tilak mark is on your forehead. You
wear two loin cloths, and keep your head covered. If you know
God and the nature of karma, you know that all these rituals and
beliefs are useless. Says Nanak, meditate on the Lord with faith.
Without the True Guru, no one finds the Way. || 1 || The mortal's
life is fruitless, as long as he does not know God. Only a few,
by Guru's Grace, cross over the world-ocean. The Creator,
the Cause of causes, is All-powerful. Thus speaks Nanak, after
deep deliberation. The Creation is under the control of the Creator.
By His Power, He sustains and supports it. || 2 || The Shabad
is Yoga, the Shabad is spiritual wisdom; the Shabad is the Vedas
for the Brahmin. The Shabad is heroic bravery for the Khshaatriya;
the Shabad is service to others for the Soodra. The Shabad for
all is the Shabad, the Word of the One God, for one who knows
this secret. Nanak is the slave of the Divine, Immaculate Lord.
|| 3 || The One Lord is the Divinity of all divinities. He
is the Divinity of the soul. Nanak is the slave of that one who
knows the Secrets of the soul and the Supreme Lord God. He is
the Divine Immaculate Lord Himself. || 4 ||
Who is the mother, and who is the father?
Who is the son, and what is the pleasure of marriage? Who is the
brother, friend, companion and relative? Who is emotionally attached
to the family? Who is restlessly attached to beauty? It leaves,
as soon as we see it. Only the meditative remembrance of God remains
with us.
Page 1354 O Nanak, it brings the blessings of the Saints, the sons of the
Imperishable Lord. || 1 || Cursed is loving attachment to one's
mother and father; cursed is loving attachment to one's
siblings and relatives. Cursed is attachment to the joys of family
life with one's spouse and children. Cursed is attachment
to household affairs. Only loving attachment to the Saadh Sangat,
the Company of the Holy, is True. Nanak dwells there in peace.
|| 2 || The body is false; its power is temporary. It grows
old; its love for Maya increases greatly. The human is only a
temporary guest in the home of the body, but he has high hopes.
The Righteous Judge of Dharma is relentless; he counts each and
every breath. The human body, so difficult to obtain, has fallen
into the deep dark pit of emotional attachment. O Nanak, its only
support is God, the Essence of Reality. O God, Lord of the World,
Lord of the Universe, Master of the Universe, please be kind to
me. || 3 || This fragile body-fortress is made up of water,
plastered with blood and wrapped in skin. It has nine gates, but
no doors; it is supported by pillars of wind, the channels of
the breath. The ignorant person does not meditate in remembrance
on the Lord of the Universe; he thinks that this body is permanent.
This precious body is saved and redeemed in the Sanctuary of the
Holy, O Nanak, chanting the Name of the Lord, Har, Har, Har, Har,
Har, Haray. || 4 || O Glorious, Eternal and Imperishable, Perfect
and Abundantly Compassionate, Profound and Unfathomable, Lofty
and Exalted, All-knowing and Infinite Lord God. O Lover of Your
devoted servants, Your Feet are a Sanctuary of Peace. O Master
of the masterless, Helper of the helpless, Nanak seeks Your Sanctuary.
|| 5 || Seeing the deer, the hunter aims his weapons. But if
one is protected by the Lord of the World, O Nanak, not a hair
on his head will be touched. || 6 || He may be surrounded on
all four sides by servants and powerful warriors; he may dwell
in a lofty place, difficult to approach, and never even think
of death. But when the Order comes from the Primal Lord God, O
Nanak, even an ant can take away his breath of life. || 7 ||
To be imbued and attuned to the Word of the Shabad; to be kind
and compassionate; to sing the Kirtan of the Lord's Praises
- these are the most worthwhile actions in this Dark Age
of Kali Yuga. In this way, one's inner doubts and emotional
attachments are dispelled. God is pervading and permeating all
places. So obtain the Blessed Vision of His Darshan; He dwells
upon the tongues of the Holy. O Nanak, meditate and chant the
Name of the Beloved Lord, Har, Har, Har, Haray. || 8 || Beauty
fades away, islands fade away, the sun, moon, stars and sky fade
away. The earth, mountains, forests and lands fade away. One's
spouse, children, siblings and loved friends fade away. Gold and
jewels and the incomparable beauty of Maya fade away. Only the
Eternal, Unchanging Lord does not fade away. O Nanak, only the
humble Saints are steady and stable forever. || 9 || Do not
delay in practicing righteousness; delay in committing sins. Implant
the Naam, the Name of the Lord, within yourself, and abandon greed.
In the Sanctuary of the Saints, the sinful residues of past mistakes
are erased. The character of righteousness is received by that
person, O Nanak, with whom the Lord is pleased and satisfied.
|| 10 || The person of shallow understanding is dying in emotional
attachment; he is engrossed in pursuits of pleasure with his wife.
With youthful beauty and golden earrings, wondrous mansions, decorations
and clothes - this is how Maya clings to him. O Eternal,
Unchanging, Benevolent Lord God, O Sanctuary of the Saints, Nanak
humbly bows to You. || 11 || If there is birth, then there
is death. If there is pleasure, then there is pain. If there is
enjoyment, then there is disease. If there is high, then there
is low.
Page 1355 If there is small, then there is great. If there is power, then
there is pride. If there is egotistical pride, then there will
be a fall. Engrossed in worldly ways, one is ruined. Meditating
and vibrating on the Lord of the Universe in the Company of the
Holy, you shall become steady and stable. Nanak vibrates and meditates
on the Lord God. || 12 || By the Grace of God, genuine understanding
comes to the mind. The intellect blossoms forth, and one finds
a place in the realm of celestial bliss. The senses are brought
under control, and pride is abandoned. The heart is cooled and
soothed, and the wisdom of the Saints is implanted within. Reincarnation
is ended, and the Blessed Vision of the Lord's Darshan
is obtained. O Nanak, the musical instrument of the Word of the
Shabad vibrates and resounds within. || 13 || The Vedas preach
and recount God's Glories; people hear them by various
ways and means. The Merciful Lord, Har, Har, implants spiritual
wisdom within. Nanak begs for the Gift of the Naam, the Name of
the Lord. The Guru is the Great Giver, the Lord of the World.
|| 14 || Do not worry so much about your mother, father and
siblings. Do not worry so much about other people. Do not worry
about your spouse, children and friends. You are obsessed with
your involvements in Maya. The One Lord God is Kind and Compassionate,
O Nanak. He is the Cherisher and Nurturer of all living beings.
|| 15 || Wealth is temporary; conscious existence is temporary;
hopes of all sorts are temporary. The bonds of love, attachment,
egotism, doubt, Maya and the pollution of corruption are temporary.
The mortal passes through the fire of the womb of reincarnation
countless times. He does not remember the Lord in meditation;
his understanding is polluted. O Lord of the Universe, when You
grant Your Grace, even sinners are saved. Nanak dwells in the
Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. || 16 || You may drop
down from the mountains, and fall into the nether regions of the
underworld, or be burnt in the blazing fire, or swept away by
the unfathomable waves of water; but the worst pain of all is
household anxiety, which is the source of the cycle of death and
rebirth. No matter what you do, you cannot break its bonds, O
Nanak. Man's only Support, Anchor and Mainstay is the Word
of the Shabad, and the Holy, Friendly Saints. || 17 || Excruciating
pain, countless killings, reincarnation, poverty and terrible
misery are all destroyed by meditating in remembrance on the Lord's
Name, O Nanak, just as fire reduces piles of wood to ashes. ||
18 || Meditating in remembrance on the Lord, the darkness is
illuminated. Dwelling on His Glorious Praises, the ugly residues
of sins are destroyed. Enshrining the Lord deep within the heart,
and with the immaculate karma of doing good deeds, one strikes
fear into the demons. The cycle of coming and going in reincarnation
is ended, absolute peace is obtained, and the Fruitful Vision
of the Lord's Darshan. He is Potent to give Protection,
He is the Lover of His Saints. O Nanak, the Lord God blesses all
with bliss. || 19 || Those who were left behind - the
Lord brings them to the front. He fulfills the hopes of the hopeless.
He makes the poor rich, and cures the illnesses of the ill. He
blesses His devotees with devotion. They sing the Kirtan of the
Praises of the Lord's Name. O Nanak, those who serve the
Guru find the Supreme Lord God, the Great Giver || 20 || He
gives Support to the unsupported. The Name of the Lord is the
Wealth of the poor. The Lord of the Universe is the Master of
the masterless; the Beautiful-haired Lord is the Power of the
weak. The Lord is Merciful to all beings, Eternal and Unchanging,
the Family of the meek and humble. The All-knowing, Perfect, Primal
Lord God is the Lover of His devotees, the Embodiment of Mercy.
Page 1356 The Supreme Lord God, the Transcendent, Luminous Lord, dwells
in each and every heart. Nanak begs for this blessing from the
Merciful Lord, that he may never forget Him, never forget Him.
|| 21 || I have no power; I do not serve You, and I do not
love You, O Supreme Sublime Lord God. By Your Grace, Nanak meditates
on the Naam, the Name of the Merciful Lord, Har, Har. || 22 ||
The Lord feeds and sustains all living beings; He blesses them
gifts of restful peace and fine clothes. He created the jewel
of human life, with all its cleverness and intelligence. By His
Grace, mortals abide in peace and bliss. O Nanak, meditating in
remembrance on the Lord, Har, Har, Haray, the mortal is released
from attachment to the world. || 23 || The kings of the earth
are eating up the blessings of the good karma of their past lives.
Those cruel-minded rulers who oppress the people, O Nanak, shall
suffer in pain for a very long time. || 24 || Those who meditate
in remembrance on the Lord in their hearts, look upon even pain
as God's Grace. The healthy person is very sick, if he
does not remember the Lord, the Embodiment of Mercy. || 25 ||
To sing the Kirtan of God's Praises is the righteous
duty incurred by taking birth in this human body. The Naam, the
Name of the Lord, is Ambrosial Nectar, O Nanak. The Saints drink
it in, and never have enough of it. || 26 || The Saints are
tolerant and good-natured; friends and enemies are the same to
them. O Nanak, it is all the same to them, whether someone offers
them all sorts of foods, or slanders them, or draws weapons to
kill them. || 27 || They pay no attention to dishonor or disrespect.
They are not bothered by gossip; the miseries of the world do
not touch them. Those who join the Saadh Sangat, the Company of
the Holy, and chant the Name of the Lord of the Universe -
O Nanak, those mortals abide in peace. || 28 || The Holy people
are an invincible army of spiritual warriors; their bodies are
protected by the armor of humility. Their weapons are the Glorious
Praises of the Lord which they chant; their Shelter and Shield
is the Word of the Guru's Shabad. The horses, chariots
and elephants they ride are their way to realize God's
Path. They walk fearlessly through the armies of their enemies;
they attack them with the Kirtan of God's Praises. They
conquer the entire world, O Nanak, and overpower the five thieves.
|| 29 || Misled by evil-mindedness, mortals are engrossed in
the mirage of the illusory world, like the passing shade of a
tree. Emotional attachment to family is false, so Nanak meditates
in remembrance on the Name of the Lord, Raam, Raam. || 30 ||
I do not possess the treasure of the wisdom of the Vedas, nor
do I possess the merits of the Praises of the Naam. I do not have
a beautiful voice to sing jewelled melodies; I am not clever,
wise or shrewd. By destiny and hard work, the wealth of Maya is
obtained. O Nanak, in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy,
even fools become religious scholars. || 31 || The mala around
my neck is the chanting of the Lord's Name. The Love of
the Lord is my silent chanting. Chanting this most Sublime Word
brings salvation and joy to the eyes. || 32 || That mortal
who lacks the Guru's Mantra - cursed and contaminated
is his life. That blockhead is just a dog, a pig, a jackass, a
crow, a snake. || 33 ||
Page 1357 Whoever contemplates the Lord's Lotus Feet, and enshrines
His Name within the heart, and sings the Kirtan of His Praises
in the Saadh Sangat, O Nanak, shall never see the Messenger of
Death. || 34 || Wealth and beauty are not so difficult to obtain.
Paradise and royal power are not so difficult to obtain. Foods
and delicacies are not so difficult to obtain. Elegant clothes
are not so difficuilt to obtain. Children, friends, siblings and
relatives are not so difficult to obtain. The pleasures of woman
are not so difficult to obtain. Knowledge and wisdom are not so
difficult to obtain. Cleverness and trickery are not so difficult
to obtain. Only the Naam, the Name of the Lord, is difficult to
obtain. O Nanak, it is only obtained by God's Grace, in
the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. || 35 || Wherever
I look, I see the Lord, whether in this world, in paradise, or
the nether regions of the underworld. The Lord of the Universe
is All-pervading everywhere. O Nanak, no blame or stain sticks
to Him. || 36 || Poison is transformed into nectar, and enemies
into friends and companions. Pain is changed into pleasure, and
the fearful become fearless. Those who have no home or place find
their place of rest in the Naam, O Nanak, when the Guru, the Lord,
becomes Merciful. || 37 || He blesses all with humility; He
has blessed me with humility as well. He purifies all, and He
has purified me as well. The Creator of all is the Creator of
me as well. O Nanak, no blame or stain sticks to Him. || 38 ||
The moon-god is not cool and calm, nor is the white sandalwood
tree. The winter season is not cool; O Nanak, only the Holy friends,
the Saints, are cool and calm. || 39 || Through the Mantra
of the Name of the Lord, Raam, Raam, one meditates on the All-pervading
Lord. Those who have the wisdom to look alike upon pleasure and
pain, live the immaculate lifestyle, free of vengeance. They are
kind to all beings; they have overpowered the five thieves. They
take the Kirtan of the Lord's Praise as their food; they
remain untouched by Maya, like the lotus in the water. They share
the Teachings with friend and enemy alike; they love the devotional
worship of God. They do not listen to slander; renouncing self-conceit,
they become the dust of all. Whoever has these six qualities,
O Nanak, is called a Holy friend. || 40 || The goat enjoys
eating fruits and roots, but if it lives near a tiger, it is always
anxious. This is the condition of the world, O Nanak; it is afflicted
by pleasure and pain. || 41 || Fraud, false accusations, millions
of diseases, sins and the filthy residues of evil mistakes; doubt,
emotional attachment, pride, dishonor and intoxication with Maya
- these lead mortals to death and rebirth, wandering lost
in hell. In spite of all sorts of efforts, salvation is not found.
Chanting and meditating on the Name of the Lord in the Saadh Sangat,
the Company of the Holy, O Nanak, mortals become immaculate and
pure. They continually dwell upon the Glorious Praises of God.
|| 42 || In the Sanctuary of the Kind-hearted Lord, our Transcendent
Lord and Master, we are carried across. God is the Perfect, All-powerful
Cause of causes; He is the Giver of gifts. He gives hope to the
hopeless. He is the Source of all riches. Nanak meditates in remembrance
on the Treasure of Virtue; we are all beggars, begging at His
Door. || 43 || The most difficult place becomes easy, and the
worst pain turns into pleasure. Evil words, differences and doubts
are obliterated, and even faithless cynics and malicious gossips
become good people. They become steady and stable, whether happy
or sad; their fears are taken away, and they are fearless.
Page 1358 The dreadful woods become a well-populated city; such are the
merits of the righteous life of Dharma, given by God's
Grace. Chanting the Lord's Name in the Saadh Sangat, the
Company of the Holy, O Nanak, the Lotus Feet of the Merciful Lord
are found. || 44 || O emotional attachment, you are the invincible
warrior of the battlefield of life; you totally crush and destroy
even the most powerful. You entice and fascinate even the heavenly
heralds, celestial singers, gods, mortals, beasts and birds. Nanak
bows in humble surrender to the Lord; he seeks the Sanctuary of
the Lord of the Universe. || 45 || O sexual desire, you lead
the mortals to hell; you make them wander in reincarnation through
countless species. You cheat the consciousness, and pervade the
three worlds. You destroy meditation, penance and virtue. But
you give only shallow pleasure, while you make the mortals weak
and unsteady; you pervade the high and the low. Your fear is dispelled
in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, O Nanak, through
the Protection and Support of the Lord. || 46 || O anger, you
are the root of conflict; compassion never rises up in you. You
take the corrupt, sinful beings in your power, and make them dance
like monkeys. Associating with you, mortals are debased and punished
by the Messenger of Death in so many ways. O Destroyer of the
pains of the poor, O Merciful God, Nanak prays for You to protect
all begins from such anger. || 47 || O greed, you cling to
even the great, assaulting them with countless waves. You cause
them to run around wildly in all directions, wobbling and wavering
unsteadily. You have no respect for friends, ideals, relations,
mother or father. You make them do what they should not do. You
make them eat what they should not eat. You make them accomplish
what they should not accomplish. Save me, save me - I have
come to Your Sanctuary, O my Lord and Master; Nanak prays to the
Lord. || 48 || O egotism, you are the root of birth and death
and the cycle of reincarnation; you are the very soul of sin.
You forsake friends, and hold tight to enemies. You spread out
countless illusions of Maya. You cause the living beings to come
and go until they are exhausted. You lead them to experience pain
and pleasure. You lead them to wander lost in the terrible wilderness
of doubt; you lead them to contract the most horrible, incurable
diseases. The only Physician is the Supreme Lord, the Transcendent
Lord God. Nanak worships and adores the Lord, Har, Har, Haray.
|| 49 || O Lord of the Universe, Master of the Breath of life,
Treasure of Mercy, Guru of the World. O Destroyer of the fever
of the world, Embodiment of Compassion, please take away all my
pain. O Merciful Lord, Potent to give Sanctuary, Master of the
meek and humble, please be kind to me. Whether his body is healthy
or sick, let Nanak meditate in remembrance on You, Lord. || 50
|| I have come to the Sanctuary of the Lord's Lotus Feet,
where I sing the Kirtan of His Praises. In the Saadh Sangat, the
Company of the Holy, Nanak is carried across the utterly terrifying,
difficult world-ocean. || 51 || The Supreme Lord God has procted
my head and forehead; the Transcendent Lord has protected my hands
and body. God, my Lord and Master, has saved my soul; the Lord
of the Universe has saved my wealth and feet. The Merciful Guru
has protected everything, and destroyed my fear and suffering.
God is the Lover of His devotees, the Master of the masterless.
Nanak has entered the Sanctuary of the Imperishable Primal Lord
God. || 52 || His Power supports the sky, and locks fire within
wood.
Page 1359 His Power supports the moon, the sun and the stars, and infuses
light and breath into the body. His Power provides nourishment
in the womb of the mother, and does not let disease strike. His
Power holds back the ocean, O Nanak, and does not allow the waves
of water to destroy the land. || 53 || The Lord of the World
is Supremely Beautiful; His Meditation is the Life of all. In
the Society of the Saints, O Nanak, He is found on the path of
devotional worship of the Lord. || 54 || The mosquito pierces
the stone, the ant crosses the swamp, the cripple crosses the
ocean, and the blind sees in the darkness, meditating on the Lord
of the Universe in the Saadh Sangat. Nanak seeks the Sanctuary
of the Lord, Har, Har, Haray. || 55 || Like a Brahmin without
a sacred mark on his forehead, or a king without the power of
command, or a warrior without weapons, so is the devotee of God
without Dharmic Faith. || 56 || God has no conch-shell, no
religious mark, no paraphernalia; he does not have blue skin.
His Form is Wondrous and Amazing. He is beyond incarnation. The
Vedas say that He is not this, and not that. The Lord of the Universe
is Lofty and High, Great and Infinite. The Imperishable Lord abides
in the hearts of the Holy. He is understood, O Nanak, by those
who are very fortunate. || 57 || Living in the world, it is
like a wild jungle. One's relatives are like dogs, jackals
and donkeys. In this difficult place, the mind is intoxicated
with the wine of emotional attachment; the five unconquered thieves
lurk there. The mortals wander lost in love and emotional attachment,
fear and doubt; they are caught in the sharp, strong noose of
egotism. The ocean of fire is terrifying and impassable. The distant
shore is so far away; it cannot be reached. Vibrate and meditate
on the Lord of the World, in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of
the Holy; O Nanak, by His Grace, we are saved at the Lotus Feet
of the Lord. || 58 || When the Lord of the Universe grants
His Grace, all illnesses are cured. Nanak chants His Glorious
Praises in the Saadh Sangat, in the Sanctuary of the Perfect Transcendent
Lord God. || 59 || The mortal is beautiful and speaks sweet
words, but in the farm of his heart, he harbors cruel vengeance.
He pretends to bow in worship, but he is false. Beware of him,
O friendly Saints. || 60 || The thoughtless fool does not know
that each day, his breaths are being used up. His most beautiful
body is wearing away; old age, the daughter of death, has seized
it. He is engrossed in family play; placing his hopes in transitory
things, he indulges in corrupt pleasures. Wandering lost in countless
incarnations, he is exhausted. Nanak seeks the Sanctuary of the
Embodiment of Mercy. || 61 || O tongue, you love to enjoy the
sweet delicacies. You are dead to the Truth, and involved in great
disputes, whether to call God Gobind, or Daamodar, or Maadhav.
|| 62 || Those who are proud, and intoxicated with the pleasures
of sex, and asserting their power over others, never contemplate
the Lord's Lotus Feet. Their lives are cursed, and as worthless
as straw. You are as tiny and insignificant as an ant, but you
shall become great, by the Wealth of the Lord's Meditation.
Nanak bows in humble worship, countless times, over and over again.
|| 63 || The blade of grass becomes a mountain, and the barren
land becomes green. The drowning one swims across, and the empty
is filled to overflowing. Millions of suns illuminate the darkness,
prays Nanak, when the Guru, the Lord, becomes Merciful. || 64
||
Page 1360 Associating with the Brahmin, one is saved, if his actions are
perfect and God-like. Those whose souls are imbued with the world
- O Nanak, their lives are fruitless. || 65 || The mortal
steals the wealth of others, and makes all sorts of problems;
his preaching is only for his own livelihood. His desire for this
and that is not satisfied; his mind is caught in Maya, and he
is acting like a pig. || 66 || Those who are intoxicated and
absorbed in the Lord's Lotus Feet are saved from the terrifying
world-ocean. Countless sins are destroyed, O Nanak, in the Saadh
Sangat, the Company of the Holy; there is no doubt about this.
|| 67 || 4 ||
Camphor, flowers and perfume become contaminated,
by coming into contact with the human body. O Nanak, the ignorant
one is proud of his foul-smelling marrow, blood and bones. ||
1 || Even if the mortal could reduce himself to the size of
an atom, and shoot through the ethers, worlds and realms in the
blink of an eye, O Nanak, without the Holy Saint, he shall not
be saved. || 2 || Know for sure that death will come; whatever
is seen is false. So chant the Kirtan of the Lord's Praises
in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy; this alone shall
go along with you in the end. || 3 || The consciousness wanders
lost in Maya, attached to friends and relatives. Vibrating and
meditating on the Lord of the Universe in the Saadh Sangat, O
Nanak, the eternal place of rest is found. || 4 || The lowly
nim tree, growing near the sandalwood tree, becomes just like
the sandalwood tree. But the bamboo tree, also growing near it,
does not pick up its fragrance; it is too tall and proud. ||
5 || In this Gaat'haa, the Lord's Sermon is woven;
listening to it, pride is crushed. The five enemies are killed,
O Nanak, by shooting the Arrow of the Lord. || 6 || The Words
of the Holy are the path of peace. They are obtained by good karma.
The cycle of birth and death is ended, O Nanak, singing the Kirtan
of the Lord's Praises. || 7 || When the leaves wither
and fall, they cannot be attached to the branch again. Without
the Naam, the Name of the Lord, O Nanak, there is misery and suffering.
The mortal wanders in reincarnation day and night. || 8 ||
One is blessed with love for the Saadh Sangat, the Company of
the Holy, by great good fortune. Whoever sings the Glorious Praises
of the Lord's Name, O Nanak, is not affected by the world-ocean.
|| 9 || This Gaat'haa is profound and infinite; how
rare are those who understand it. They forsake sexual desire and
worldly love, O Nanak, and praise the Lord in the Saadh Sangat.
|| 10 || The Words of the Holy are the most sublime Mantra.
They eradicate millions of sinful mistakes. Meditating on the
Lotus Feet of the Lord, O Nanak, all one's generations
are saved. || 11 || That palace is beautiful, in which the
Kirtan of the Lord's Praises are sung. Those who dwell
on the Lord of the Universe are liberated. O Nanak, only the most
fortunate are so blessed. || 12 || I have found the Lord, my
Friend, my very Best Friend. He shall never break my heart. His
dwelling is eternal; His weight cannot be weighed. Nanak has made
Him the Friend of his soul. || 13 || One's bad reputation
is erased by a true son, who meditates in his heart on the Guru's
Mantra.
Page 1361 The Beloved Eternal Lord God, O Nanak, carries us across the world-ocean.
|| 14 || It is death to forget the Lord of the Universe. It
is life to meditate on the Name of the Lord. The Lord is found
in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, O Nanak, by pre-ordained
destiny. || 15 || The snake-charmer, by his spell, neutralizes
the poison and leaves the snake without fangs. Just so, the Saints
remove suffering; O Nanak, they are found by good karma. || 16
|| The Lord is All-pervading everywhere; He gives Sanctuary
to all living beings. The mind is touched by His Love, O Nanak,
by Guru's Grace, and the Blessed Vision of His Darshan.
|| 17 || My mind is pierced through by the Lord's Lotus
Feet. I am blessed with total happiness. Holy people have been
singing this Gaat'haa, O Nanak, since the very beginning
of time. || 18 || Chanting and singing the Sublime Word of
God in the Saadh Sangat, mortals are saved from the world-ocean.
O Nanak, they shall never again be consigned to reincarnation.
|| 19 || People contemplate the Vedas, Puraanas and Shaastras.
But by enshrining in their hearts the Naam, the Name of the One
and Only Creator of the Universe, everyone can be saved. By great
good fortune, O Nanak, a few cross over like this. || 20 ||
Meditating in remembrance on the Naam, the Name of Lord of the
Universe, all one's generations are saved. It is obtained
in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. O Nanak, by great
good fortune, the Blessed Vision of His Darshan is seen. || 21
|| Abandon all your evil habits, and implant all Dharmic faith
within. The Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, is obtained,
O Nanak, by those who have such destiny written upon their foreheads.
|| 22 || God was, is, and shall always be. He sustains and
destroys all. Know that these Holy people are true, O Nanak; they
are in love with the Lord. || 23 || The mortal is engrossed
in sweet words and transitory pleasures which shall soon fade
away. Disease, sorrow and separation afflict him; O Nanak, he
never finds peace, even in dreams. || 24 ||
With Pen in Hand, the Unfathomable Lord writes
the mortal's destiny upon his forehead. The Incomparably
Beautiful Lord is involved with all. I cannot utter Your Praises
with my mouth. Nanak is fascinated, gazing upon the Blessed Vision
of Your Darshan. I am a sacrifice to You. || 1 || Seated in
the Society of the Saints, I chant the Lord's Praises.
I dedicate all my adornments to Him, and give all this soul to
Him. With hopeful yearning for Him, I have made the bed for my
Husband. O Lord! If such good destiny is inscribed upon my forehead,
then I shall find my Friend. || 2 || O my companion, I have
prepared everything: make-up, garlands and betel-leaves. I have
embellished myself with the sixteen decorations, and applied the
mascara to my eyes. If my Husband Lord comes to my home, then
I obtain everything.
Page 1362 O Lord! Without my Husband, all these adornments are useless. || 3 || Very fortunate is she, within whose home the Husband Lord abides. She is totally adorned and decorated; she is a happy soul-bride. I sleep in peace, without anxiety; the hopes of my mind have been fulfilled. O Lord! When my Husband came into the home of my heart, I obtained everything. || 4 || My hope is so intense, that this hope alone should fulfill my hopes. When the True Guru becomes merciful, then I attain the Perfect Lord. My body is filled with so many demerits; I am covered with faults and demerits. O Lord! When the True Guru becomes Merciful, then the mind is held in place. || 5 || Says Nanak, I have meditated on the Lord, Infinite and Endless. This world-ocean is so difficult to cross; the True Guru has carried me across. My comings and goings in reincarnation ended, when I met the Perfect Lord. O Lord! I have obtained the Ambrosial Nectar of the Name of the Lord from the True Guru. || 6 || The lotus is in my hand; in the courtyard of my heart I abide in peace. O my companion, the Jewel is around my neck; beholding it, sorrow is taken away. I abide with the Lord of the World, the Treasury of Total Peace. O Lord! All wealth, spiritual perfection and the nine treasures are in His Hand. || 7 || Those men who go out to enjoy other men's women shall suffer in shame. Those who steal the wealth of others - how can their guilt be concealed? Those who chant the Sacred Praises of the Lord save and redeem all their generations. O Lord! Those who listen and contemplate the Supreme Lord God become pure and holy. || 8 || The sky above looks lovely, and the earth below is beautiful. Lightning flashes in the ten directions; I behold the Face of my Beloved. If I go searching in foreign lands, how can I find my Beloved? O Lord! If such destiny is inscribed upon my forehead, I am absorbed in the Blessed Vision of His Darshan. || 9 || I have seen all places, but none can compare to You. The Primal Lord, the Architect of Destiny, has established You; thus You are adorned and embellished. Ramdaspur is prosperous and thickly populated, and incomparably beautiful. O Lord! Bathing in the Sacred Pool of Raam Daas, the residues of sins are washed away, O Nanak. || 10 || The sparrow-hawk is very smart; in its consciousness, it longs for the friendly rain. It longs for that, to which its breath of life is attached. It wanders depressed, from forest to forest, for the sake of a drop of water. O Lord! In just the same way, the humble servant of the Lord begs for the Naam, the Name of the Lord. Nanak is a sacrifice to him. || 11 || The Consciousness of my Friend is incomparably beautiful. Its mystery cannot be known. One who purchases the priceless virtues realizes the essence of reality. When the consciousness is absorbed in the supreme consciousness, great joy and bliss are found. O Lord! When the fickle thieves are overcome, the true wealth is obtained. || 12 || In a dream, I was lifted up; why didn't I grasp the hem of His Robe? Gazing upon the Beautiful Lord relaxing there, my mind was charmed and fascinated. I am searching for His Feet - tell me, where can I find Him? O Lord! Tell me how I can find my Beloved, O my companion. || 13 || The eyes which do not see the Holy - those eyes are miserable. The ears which do not hear the Sound-current of the Naad - those ears might just as well be plugged. The tongue which does not chant the Naam ought to be cut out, bit by bit. O Lord! When the mortal forgets the Lord of the Universe, the Sovereign Lord King, he grows weaker day by day. || 14 || The wings of the bumble bee are caught in the intoxicating fragrant petals of the lotus. With its limbs entangled in the petals, it loses its senses. |
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