VII
Bavan Akhri by Guru Arjan Dev Ji
It is a name given to two compositions of Gurbani in Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji from pages no.250 to 262 by The Fifth Guru- Guru Arjan Dev ji. It is a poem constructed on 52 alphabets of Gurmukhi language in the form of poetry. Each verse begins serially with the letter of Gurmukhi alphabet. The origin of this genre can be traced back to ancient Sanskrit Literature. Since the devanagri alphabet employed in Sanskrit comprises of 52 letters ( 33 consonants, 16 vowels and 3 compounds) so such composition got the name 52 Akhri. Not withstanding nomenclature no such composition consists of exactly 52 stanzas as few will open with vowels and the compounds are generally left out in this scheme of poetry. Sometimes a letter is used to begin more than one stanza also. This composition is in Raga Gauri. This Bavan Akhri is perhaps the earliest one in Punjabi Literature as Gurmukhi script was formalised and adapted first of all by Guru Arjan Dev Ji.
This composition consists of 52 stanzas or pauris of eight lines each preceded by a sloka all of which are couplets except the one preceding the last stanza which is four lines each. Besides there is an additional couplet following the first pauri and a nine line long stanza at the very beginning of the work that is repeated at the end too. Since all letters, specially vowels and consonants of Devnagri script cannot be used in Gurmukhi script this Bavan Akhri does not follow either the order or pronunciation of Devnagri and also the number of stanzas are more than 52. Only 29 consonants in Gurmukhi ( K to U) conform to those in Devnagri script and stanzas 17 and 46 begin with these consonants with (m) figuring twice. The following stanza begins with (r) sound that is redundant in Devnagri script. The opening and and the last eight stanzas do not follow the order of pronunciation of Devnagri or even of Gurmukhi script. A few syllables have more than one stanza and a few which are redundant in Gurmukhi are missing. The opening sloka which is repeated at the end also stresses the significance of Guru who is likened to mother, friend, brother and even God. He washes off one’s sins and helps one swim across the worldly ocean.
Text
There is but one God. By the True Grace he is obtained. Gauri having Fifty two letters
5th Guru Sloka
Invocation
The Divine Guru is my father, and the Divine Guru is my Lord and Supreme God.
The Divine Guru is my companion, the dispeller of spiritual ignorance and the Divine Guru is my brother and relative.
The Divine Guru is the giver and teacher of God’s Name and the Divine Guru is my Infallible spell.
The Divine Guru is the image of peace truth and wisdom. The Divine Guru is philosopher’s stone by touching which a mortal is saved.
The Divine Guru is a pilgrimage place and a pond of Nectar. By taking bath in Guru’s Divine Knowledge man meets the Illimitable Lord.
He, the Lord Master- is the Creator and Destroyer of all sins and Divine Guru is the purifier of the impure.
The Divine Guru is from the beginning, from the beginning of ages and in every age.The Divine Guru is the spell of God’s Name, by whose repetition a mortal is rescued.
My Master take pity and unite me- a fool and a sinner whose society . In the society of the Guru and by clinging to His name one may swim across the terrible sea of life easily.
The Divine Guru, the True Guru is Himself the Exalted Lord and the Great God. Unto the Godly Divine Guru, Nanak makes an obeisance.
Sloka
God Himself acts and makes a man to act. He is potent to do everything.
Nanak, the One Lord is pervading everywhere. There was neither any one else nor shall be in future.
Pauri-1
I pay homage to One God and the Saintly True Guru. The Formless One was in the beginning, is in the middle and will be in the end.
The Lord Himself is in primordial trance and Himself is the seat of peace. He Himself hears His praises. His Ownself, He has Himself created. He is His own Mother and Father.
He Himself is abstract(minute) and Himself concrete( Great). Nanak His play cannot be understood.
O’ Lord compassionate to the poor, show mercy unto me, so that my heart may get the dust of Thine Saint’s feet.
Sloka
The one Lord is without form and yet with form too. He is without traits and yet with traits. Nanak describes the Lord as One. The One Lord is one and Manifold.
Pauri-2
The one Lord, the Great Guru created all the forms. He has strung them all unto one thread. The three qualities, He has differently diffused. From Absolute He appears to be Related.
The Creator has created the creation of all sorts of worldly love- the root of birth and death.
The Master has increased in Man’s mind. From both the varieties He Himself is free.
Nanak, the Lord has no limit- this or that end, He is boundless.
Sloka
They are rich and they are fortunate, who have the wealth of Truth and the capital of God’s Name.
Nanak says Truthfulness and piety are obtained from those saints.
The comers, coming into the world but sans knowing Almighty they are like beasts.
Nanak, he alone knows the Lord, through the Guru who has good destiny scribed on his forehead.
Pauri-3
In this world a mortal has come to meditate on Lord alone. Since his very birth he is allured by fascinating mammon. Inverted in out of womb the mortal performed penance.
There with every breath he continues to remember Lord, never forgets Him even for an instant.
He is entangled with what he must abandon- The Giver of Life he forgets from his mind.
He to whom You show favour,O’ Lord of the Earth forgets You not- here and thereafter O’Nanak.
Sloka
Man is born by Lord’s decree and he dies by His order. None is exempted from His commands.
The coming and going is at an end for him, O’ Nanak, in whose heart that Lord abides.
Pauri-4
This soul has dwelt in many wombs. Enraptured by the sweet worldly attachment this soul remained entangled in those existences. This mammon has subjugated the mortals in three qualities. Its own love, it has infused in every heart O’ friend, tell me of some device by which I may swim across this arduous ocean of mammon. Nanak, mammon draws not near him, whom the Lord showering His mercy and benediction unites him with society of Saints.
Sloka
That Lord Himself causes man to perform good and evil acts. The beast indulges in self conceit.
Nanak, what can he do without God /
Pauri-5
The Lord alone causes the mortal to act. He Himself diffuses sins and noble deeds
In this age man is attached to what the Lord Himself attached him with.
He receives only what God Himself grants- the limit is known by none.
Whatever the Lord does that ultimately takes place. From One alone is the entire expanse.
Nanak, the Lord Himself is the Reformer.
Sloka
Man remains engrossed in women and playful merriments and the tumult of passions is like the dye of Saf flower. Nanak, take His protection and thy self conceit and selfhood shall depart.
Pauri-6
O’ my soul without God in what soever you engage, you are burdened with chains.
The mammon worshipper does the very deeds by means of which he cannot in any way secure release. The lovers of rituals, who practice pride, they bear an unbearable burden.
When there is no love with God’s Name, these rituals are sinful.
They who are in love with the sweet worldly valuables are bound with death’s rope.
Deluded by doubt they do not comprehend that Lord is even in them. They shall not be acquitted when their accounts are gone into. The mad will can never be neat and tidy. He whom God imparts understanding through the Guru acquires immaculate understanding.
Sloka
He whose fetters are cut off meets the society of saints. They who are imbued with the Love of One Lord have a fast deep colour.
Pauri-7
R: Dye this heart of thine with Lord’s love. Repeat the God’s Name again and again with tongue.
None shall address you rudely in God’s Court. All shall regard you saying Hail, sit down.
In that mansion of Lord you shall get a dwelling. There is no birth or death or ruin there.
God’s wealth is in the house of him O’ Nanak on whose brow good destiny is scribed.
Sloka
Avarice, falsehood, sin and worldly love overcome a blindfolded fool. Bound down by Mammon they are clung to offensive smell.
Pauri-8
L: The men are entangled and tinctured with sinful pleasures. They are intoxicated with wine of haughty intellect and wealth.
In this mammon mortal continues coming and going. As is the Lord’s command, so do men do.
No one is imperfect, and no one is perfect. By himself none is wise and none foolish.
Whereso ever You engage man there he gets engaged. Nanak, God ever remains detached.
Sloka
My Beloved Master, the world Cherisher and the Preserver of Universe is deep, fortuitous and unfathomable. There is none other like Him, Nanak the altogether unconcerned.
Pauri-9
L: There is none equal to Him. He is but one, there shall not be another.
He is now, He shall be and He ever has been. His limits cannot be found by anyone.
In an ant and an elephant He is fully contained. The renowned Lord is known everywhere.
He to whom God has given His love repeats Lord Master’s Name O’ Nanak through the Guru.
Sloka
He who knows the taste of God’s elixir naturally relished His love.
Blessed, blessed, blessed are the Lord’s slaves and acceptable is their advent in the world O’ Nanak.
Pauri-10
Count as profitable the advent of him, whose tongue celebrates Lord God’s praise.
He comes and associates with Saints and day and night he repeats God’s Name with love.
Fruitful is the birth of that man, who is imbued with God’s Name and on whom is the mercy
and Grace of Almighty- the Destiny Maker. He is born but once and enters not home again,
Nanak he merges into the sight the Lord.
Sloka
Nanak be absorbed in the Name by repeating which the soul gets joy, love for another is effaced and the pain, distress and eathly desires end.
Pauri-11
Y: Burn you, your evil intellect and duality. Relinquish them and sleep in peace and equipoise.
Y: Go and seek saints refuge by whose help you shall cross the terrible ocean of the world.
Y: He who takes the One Name and strings to his heart is not born again.
Y: Through the support of the Perfect Guru, you shall not lose your human birth.
Nanak, he within whose heart there is but One Lord attains peace.
Sloka
He who is man’s friend in this world and the next one resides within his soul and body.
The Perfect Guru has taught me. O’ Ever meditate on the Lord.
Pauri-12
Night and day mediate on Him,who will be your Rescuer in the end.
This poison is only for four to six days. All must depart leaving it behind.
Whose are mother, father, son and daughter. He does not take house,wife or else along with him.
Amass such wealth that does not perish so that you may depart to your Home with dignity.
They, who in this dark age sing God’s praises in the society of saints O’ Nanak do not come in this world again.
Sloka
Though one be very handsome of high birth, wise, a leading theologian and wealthy, he will be termed as dead O’ Nanak, if he has not love for the Auspicious Master.
Pauri-13
Ng: One may be knower of six schools of philosophy. He may do the work of inhaling and exhaling and holding the breath like a yogi. He may practice Divine Knowledge, meditations , pilgrimages and ablutions. He may cook his own food, do not touch others and abide in wilderness.
If in his heart he doesn’t love the Lord’s Name then all that he does is perishable.
Consider a Pariah to him O’ Nanak in whose heart God- the Nurser of Universe abides.
Sloka
The mortal wanders about in four quarters and the ten directions of the world bearing the marks of deeds done. Weal and woe, emancipation and transmigration O’ Nanak are in accordance with written record.
Pauri-14
K: He the Lord is the Creator and cause of universe. The written scribe cannot be erased by anybody. Nothing can be done a second time, The Creator errs not. To some He, Himself shows the way. To some He causes to wander sorrowfully in wilderness.
His play, He has Himself started, whatsoever Lord grants and bestows is received by a man.
Sloka
The man keeps on eating, spending and enjoining but God’s storehouse does not exhaust.
His name is repeated by good many people. Their number O’ Nanak can not be ascertained.
Pauri-15
Kh: There is paucity of nothing with Omnipotent God. Whatever the Lord is to give He continues to give. Let man go anywhere he likes. The wealth of the Name is the treasure with the saints to spend. It is their capital. With forbearance, humility, joy and equipoise they continue meditating on Lord-the treasure of excellences. They unto whom God casts His merciful Glance suffer neither torture nor pain, nor punishment. Nanak, they who are pleasing to the Lord becomes perfectly successful.
Sloka
See by calculating and weighing in your mind that people most assuredly depart.
The desire for perishable things is removed and through the Guru in the Name alone is their health.
Pauri-16
Master of the world, with your every breath meditate on Him for ever.
What reliance can be placed on the body ? Don’t make any delay O’ my friend there is no hitch in the way of death either in childhood, youth or old age. That time is not known when then noose of death will come and fall on you. See that the divine, meditative and clever people not stay in this place. The fools cling to that, whatever one has left behind and departed.
He, on whose forehead good destiny is recorded continues to remember God through Gutu’s Grace.
Nanak profitable is the advent in this world of those who attain the Beloved Lord as their Spouse.
Sloka
I have searched all the Shastras and Vedas. They speak of nothing else but this that One Lord was in the beginning of the age, is now and ever shall be O’ Nanak.
Pauri-17
Gh: Put this into your mind that there is none other than God. There was none, and none there shall be. Everywhere, He is contained only then you shall be absorbed in Him O’ man if you seek His sanctuary. In the dark age God’s Name is the real atonement.
Many regret after toiling and labouring in superstition. You cannot obtain stability without God’s Name. O’ Nanak he, to whom the Divine Guru gives, the supreme nectarine essence quaffs it.
Sloka
The Lord has counted and put in the man, all the days and breathings. They neither decrease nor increase even to the extent of sesame seed.
They, who wish to live in superstition and worldly love O’ Nanak are fools.
Pauri-18
Ng: Death seizes him, when the Lord has met the Worshipper of Mammon. He,who does not realised the all pervading Lord born and dies in existences repeatedly.
He alone obtains Divine Knowledge and meditation when Lord Himself bestows mercifully.
None can be emancipated by making calculations. The earthen body pitcher shall assuredly burst. He alone lives, who while living meditates on God. He gets distinguished O’ Nanak and does not remain obscure.
Sloka
By meditating within my mind on the Lord’s Lotus Feet, my inverted heart lotus has blossomed.
By Saint’s instruction,O’ Nanak the Lord of the World Him self gets manifest.
Pauri-19
Ch: Blessed, blessed is the day and auspicious the conjecture when I got attached to Guru’s lotus feet. I have come wandering in four quarters and ten directions. I obtained Guru’s sight only when He showed mercy. Through meritorious deeds all duality is removed. In the society of saints my mind is rendered pure. Nanak he to whose eyes collyrium of Divine Knowledge is applied forgets the anxieties and beholds One Lord.
Sloka
The chest gets cool and the soul happy by singing the eulogies of the world Lord. Show such compassion O’ my Lord that Nanak becomes slave of your slaves.
Pauri-20
Chh: I am your slave boy. I am the water carrier of Your serfs.
Chh: Show Thine mercy on me, O’ my auspicious Master that I may become the dust of Your saints. I have abandoned my excessive wisdom and cleverness and have propped up my mind with saint’s prop. The puppet of ashes, whom the saints assist obtain the supreme status,O’ Nanak.
Sloka
Practising oppression and tyranny, the mortal is greatly inflated and commits sin with his frail body. Through haughty intellect he is fettered. Nanak, the deliverance is through Lord’s Name.
Pauri-21
J: when man thinks, he has become something through error he is then caught like a parrot in a trap. When he considers himself a saint and a theologian in the world to come, the Lord shall not have even an iota of regard for him. When he considers himself to be a preacher, he merely wanders over the Earth like a pedlar. He, who effaces his self conceit in the society of saints O’ Nanak meets the Lord killer of Mur demon.
Sloka
Rise early in the morning and repeat the Name and meditate on Lord day and night.
No anxiety shall befall you and your calamities shall vanish.
Pauri-22
Jh : By having dealings with the Lord’s Name thy repentance shall come to an end.
An apostate, who has another’s love in his heart dies in excessive grief. By hearing the nectarine Divine discourse in the Saint’s congregation your evil deeds and sins shall vanish O’ my soul.
Nanak lust, wrath, and wickedness falls off from him who is graced by the World Lord.
Sloka
Though you make efforts of various kinds, you will not stay O’ my friend.
You shall love eternally O’ Nanak if you remember Lord God and love the Name.
Pauri-23
Ng: Know it as perfectly correct that the world’s love shall break. Though I may make calculations but I can’t count as to how much got up and departed, whomsoever I behold will perish. With whom should I therefore associate. In this way know it as correct in your mind that love of worldly valuables is false. He alone knows and he alone is a saint whom the Lord has liberated from superstition. With whom You, O’ God are mightily pleased You take him even from a blind well.
He, whose Lord is Omnipotent is powerful enough to create the world. Nanak you praise Him who is the effector of your union with Himself.
Sloka
By serving the saints the bonds of birth and death are severed and man attains rest. Nanak within my mind I may never forget the Sovereign World Lord- the Treasure of Goodness.
Pauri-24
Serve You the One Lord from whom none returns empty handed. If God lives in your soul, body, mouth and mind then what you desire shall come to pass. He alone obtains Lord’s service and mansion to whom the Saint is merciful. Then alone the mortal dwells in the Saints congregation, when the Lord Himself becomes merciful. I have explored and searched many worlds but without Lord’s Name there is no peace. The couriers of death recede away from who lives in the society of saints. Again and again I am devoted unto the saints through whom, O’ Nanak my sins of old times are effaced.
Sloka
They with whom that Lord is pleased does not face any obstacle at His door.
Blessed, blessed are those persons, whom the Lord has made His own (adopted).
Pauri-25
Th: They who have abandoned all else cling to the unique One do not afflict any heart. They who are greatly involved with worldly wealth are dead and they do not obtain happiness anywhere. He who lives with the Saints is pacified and the Nectar Name seems sweet to his soul. Person, who is blessing his Lord, his mind is cooled down O’ Nanak.
Sloka
Prostrate salvation and obeisance I make many a time before the Omnipotent Lord- the possessor of all powers. Give me Your hand O’ God and save me from wavering ways says Nanak.
Pauri-26
D: This is not your abode, know that place where your real abode is.
You know through Guru’s instruction the way to reach that abode.
This dwelling over there one builds with toil. Even a particle of it will not go with him.
He on whom the Perfect Auspicious Master bestows His gracious glance, know the worth of that dwelling. This abode is permanent and true and is obtained through the society of saints. Nanak those saints who get it do not waver from their path.
Sloka
When the Righteous Judge begins to demolish no one can put any hurdle in His way.
Nanak they who meditate on Lord by establishing a tie with the guild of saints is rescued.
Pauri-27
Dh: Where do you go searching about. The search is to be made within this very mind. The Lord resides with you, why are you wandering from forest to forest. In the society of saints, pull down the terrible heap of your intellectual ego. So you shall find rest, dwell in peace, and be happy by beholding the Lord. He, within whom this heap is born dies and suffers the anguish of womb’s life. He, who is intoxicated with worldly love and is entangled in ego and self conceit continues coming and going. I have now slowly and steadily fallen under the protection of pious persons. The Master has cut the meshes of my distress and blended me with Himself, O’ Nanak.
Sloka
O’ Nanak where the saints always repeat the world Lord’s name and praise.
The Righteous Judge “ Don’t draw near that place O’ couriers lest neither you nor I shall escape.
Pauri-28
N: Any one who conquers his mind wins the battle of life. He, who dies fighting against his self conceit and duality gets supremely sublime. He, who effaces his ego shall under Guru’s instruction remain dead while alive. He, who conquers his mind meets Lord and obtain the rope of honour for his chivalry. Who deems nothing as his own , The One God is his prop and support. Night and day he continues to contemplate over that Mighty and Infinite Lord. This mind of his, he makes the dust of all such deeds he does. Comprehending God’s decree he attains ever lasting peace O’ Nanak and obtains what is destined for him.
Sloka
I dedicate on my body, soul and wealth unto him who may unite me with my Master. Nanak, my doubt and dread are dispelled and the Death’s myrmidon does not terrify me any more.
Pauri-29
T: Enshrine affection for that King God who is the treasury of excellences and worldly love. You shall obtain heart desired result and your burning will cease. He in whose heart the Name dwells shall have no fear on the path to death. He shall obtain salvation his understanding shall get enlightened and he will secure a seat in Lord’s Palace. With you shall go neither wealth, nor youth, nor home nor empire. In the society of saints continue to remember Lord that alone shall be of use to you. There shall be absolutely no burning, when God Himself shall remove your fear and God Himself nurtures us like parents- mother and father.
Sloka
The perverse have got tired by toiling in various ways. They are not appeased nor their thirst is quenched. Hoarding and amassing the, mammon worshippers die and wealth does not go with them.
Pauri-30
Th: None in the world is stable, why are you stretching your feet. In your efforts after wealth alone you practice a number of frauds and deceits. You toil to fill your bag,O’ fool and then falls down after getting worn out. That shall not be of any avail to your soul at the last moment and time. You shall obtain stability by remembering the World Lord and by accepting saint’s teachings. Always embrace affection for One Lord, it is True Love. God is the doer and prompter of actions. All the devices are in His hand alone. To whatsoever You attach him, he gets attached o’ Lord the creature O’ Nanak is utterly helpless before Him.
Sloka
His slaves have seen the One Master who is giver of everything. At every breath they continue to remember God. Nanak, a sight of Him is their chief prop.
Pauri-31
D: The Unique God is the Granter. In His giving there is no paucity. Infinite is His great treasures. The Giver is for ever alive. O’ foolish man why you have forgotten Him ? None is at fault O’ my friend. It is God who had made the fetters of mammon’s attachment. The Guruward whose pain He Himself removes is satiated and contented O’ Nanak.
Sloka
O’ my soul you grasp the support of One God and leave hope of another of second God. Nanak by pondering over the Name, the affairs are adjusted.
Pauri-32
Dh: Then alone the wandering ceases when man attains a dwelling in saint’s society. If the Lord Himself bestows mercy from the beginning then does the mind gets enlightened. They who have the true wealth are the true bankers. The Lord Master is their capital and they deal in His name. Patience, Glory, Honour adorn him who hears the name of Lord God with his ears.
The person within whose heart the Exalted Master is contained O’ Nanak he obtains greatness.
Sloka
Nanak, he who within and without repeats Lord’s name with devotion and love, receives instructions from the Perfect Guru and joins the congregation of saints does not fall into hell.
Pauri-33
N: They, within whose heart and body the Name abides do not fall into hell. Thus, who through the Guru ponder over the Name Treasure are not ruined by the Mammon’s poison. Refusal awaits them not whom the Guru has given the magic of Name. O’ Nanak, the unbeaten musical instrument play for them, who are brimful with Nectar of God’s Name- the treasury of wealth.
Sloka
When I abandoned hypocrisy, worldly love and sin the Great Supreme Lord preserved my honour.
Nanak, contemplate on Him who is Infinite and Boundless.
Pauri-34
P: God is beyond estimation and His limit cannot be found. God the King is inaccessible and the Purifier of sinners. Millions of offenders, who meet the Saints and the Nectar name get pure. He whom You Yourself preserve, O’ the World God, loses deception, fraud and worldly love. He is the monarch with a regal umbrella over His head. Nanak sans Him there is no other Sovereign.
Sloka
By conquering the mind, death’s noose is cut, wanderings cease, and victory is obtained. Nanak, from the Guru, permanence is attained and transmigration of day to day stops.
Pauri-35
F: You have come after long wanderings. In this dark age you have obtained the rare human birth,
you will not get another opportunity. Repeat God’s Name then shall the death’s noose be cut away. By meditating on that One, and One alone you shall not come and go repeatedly. Have mercy,O’ Lord the Creator, and blend poor Nanak with You.
Sloka
You hear my supplication O’ Supreme God, Merciful to the poor, and the Nurser of the world. The dust of saint’s feet is as comfort, wealth, great enjoyment and pleasure for Nanak.
Pauri-36
B: He, who comprehends the God is a Brahmin, Vaishnav is he, who through the Guru, accepts the religion of piety. Hero is he, who overcomes his evil, harm does not come near him. Man is bound by chains of his ego and self conceit but the blind man imputes blame to others. Discussions and cleverness are of no use. He whom the Lord caused to know O’ Nanak, knows Him.
Sloka
Heartily remember God, who is the Destroyer of dread and Remover of sin and sorrow. He, in whose heart the Lord lives through the society of saints do not wander.
Pauri-37
Bh: Cast off your doubt. This world is all a dream. In errors are lying even angelic persons- gods and deities. Lured by doubt are men of miracle, strivers and the god of creation. Wandering in misgivings ruined men. It is very difficult to ferry across the sea of mammon. He, who through the Guru has removed the fear, superstition and worldly attachment gets the supreme comfort O’Nanak.
Sloka
Through wealth, mind wavers in many ways and clings there with. Nanak, he whom You O’ Lord prevent from asking for wealth imbibes love for the Name.
Pauri-38
M: The Beggar is ignorant but the Omnipotent Giver continues to give. Whatever the Lord is to give, He gives that once for all. O’ foolish mind why are you complaining aloud. Whenever you ask for, then you ask for worldly objects from whom no one has derived real happiness. If you pray for the gift, then ask for One Lord by whom you will be rescued.
Sloka
Perfect is their intellect and the most distinguished are they within whose mind is the perfect Guru’s instructions. Nanak they, who realise their Lord are fortunate.
Pauri-39
M: He, who knows God’s secret is satisfied on meeting the guild of saints. He deems woe and weal alike. He is exempted from entering hell and paradise. He abides with the world yet he is apart from it. He beholds the sublime Lord filling every heart. In the love of the Lord he has attained peace. Nanak he does not cling to worldly valuables.
Sloka
O’ my friends, adherents, and intimates hear me without God there is no deliverance. Nanak his fetters are cut who fall at Guru’s feet.
Pauri-40
Y: Man makes efforts of so many sorts,but without the One Name how far can he succeed ? The efforts by which emancipation can be obtained are those efforts made in Saints Congregation. Though every one entertains the idea of this salvation, yet sans remembering Lord there can be no liberation.
Sloka
Be not angry with any one and think of your own self. Stay humble in the world O’ Nanak and through God’s grace you shall be delivered.
Pauri-41
R: Be you the dust of all mortals. Shed the ego and the balance due from you shall be written off. O’ brother then alone you win the battle in God’s Court. It you, under Guru’s instructions fix your attention on God’s Name. Your sins shall slowly and steadily blotted out by the Perfect Guru’s unparalleled Gurbani. Nanak, they, whom the Godly Guru gives the gift are imbued with Lord’s Love and remain intoxicated with the Name Nectar.
Sloka
The afflictions of avarice, falsehood and sin dwell in this body. By quaffing it through Guru- Nectar of God’s Home- dwells in peace O’ Nanak.
Pauri-42
L: He to whom You apply the medicine of Your Name, O’ God is cured of all his pain and sorrows in an instant. He, who within his mind loves the remedy of Lord’s Name is not infested by any disease even in his dream. The medicine of God’s Name is in every heart. Brother sans Perfect Guru no one knows the way to prepare this medicine. When the Perfect Guru administers this medicine, after giving directions them man does not fall ill O’ Nanak.
Sloka
The Pervading Lord is in all the places. In no place He is deficient. Within and without He is with you. Nothing can be concealed from Him O’ Nanak.
Pauri-43
W: Bear not enmity to any one. In every heart the Lord is contained in sea and land. Some rare person, by Guru’s Grace sings His praise. Enmity and variance departs from the mind of him who through the Guru hears God’s praises. He rises above all caste and caste marks O’ Nanak who utters God’s Name under Guru’s instructions.
Sloka
The stupid and ignorant mammon worshipper passes his life in protecting pride. In agony he dies like a thirsty man and obtains the fruits of his deed done.
Pauri-44
R: By associating with the saints strife ends,and he meditates on the Name- which is the essence of all religious rites and creeds. In whose heart the Beautiful Lord resides, his strife is erased.
The ignorant infidel in whose heart the sin of intellectual pride lives, picks up quarrels.
R: Nanak, when the Exalted Guru instructs, the strife ceases in an instant.
Sloka
O’ my soul, grasp the protection of the Saint and lay aside your argumentation and cleverness. He,within whose heart, Guru’s instructions abides, has good fortune scribed on his brow O’ Nanak.
Pauri-45
S: Weary of repeating Sastras, Smritis, and Vedas I have now O’ Lord entered Your sanctuary.
By searching and scrutinising I have inferred that without God’s meditation man is not emancipated. With every breath I make follies. You are Omnipotent, Incomputable, and Infinite O’ God. Merciful Master rescue me I have sought Your protection. O’ Cherisher of the World, Nanak is your child.
Sloka
When self conceit is erased then the peace ensues and the mind and body is healed. Nanak it is then that He, who is worthy of praise is beheld.
Pauri-46
Kh: Greatly Eulogise Him, who in an instant fills up to the brim the empty and hollow ones. When the mortal becomes thoroughly humble night and day he remembers the Stainless God. If it pleases the Lord then does He grants peace.
S: Infinite is the supreme God. He forgives numberless sins in an instant. Nanak the Master is ever Merciful.
Sloka
Verily, I say unto you, hear me O’ my soul. Fall under the protection of God, the King. Cast aside all thy devices and cleverness and Lord shall merge you in Himself, O’ Nanak.
Pauri-47
S: Lay aside your cleverness O’ ignorant man. With contrivance and order the Lord is not pleased even though you may practice a thousand forms of cleverness, not even one avail you. That, that Lord remembers you day and night O’ Man He shall go with you. He whom the God Himself applies to the service of saints does not face any calamity.
Sloka
Peace ensues by uttering God’s Name with the mouth and keeping it in mind.
Nanak, the Lord is pervading everywhere. In places and interspaces He is contained.
Pauri-48
Lo, the Auspicious God is fully contained among the hearts of all. The understanding imparted by Guru for ever has been destroyer of distress.
By stilling his ego, man attains bliss. God Himself is there where there is no self conceit.
The pains of birth and death is removed by the power of the society of the Saints.
The Merciful Master becomes compassionate unto those who in the society of saints lovingly fix His name within their hearts.
Here, none has accomplished any thing by himself. Nanak everything has been done by the Lord.
Sloka
In view of his accounts the mortal man can never be released since he errs every moment.
O’ Thou Pardoner, pardon me and ferry Nanak across the world ocean.
Pauri-49
The man is untrue to His salt and a sinner, he is ignorant and of petty understanding. He does not recognise that God who had given him soul, body and comfort and who is Essence of all.
For the sake of wealthy gain, he goes searching in vain in ten directions.
He does not enshrine even for an instant Lord- the Beauteous Giver. He collects within his mind avarice, falsehood, sin and worldly love. The great libertines, thieves, and slanderers with theme he spends his life. If it pleases o’ Lord then You forgive the fake with the genuine. If it pleases the Supreme God the stone floats on water O’ Nanak.
Sloka
I have squandered many births in eating, playing and laughing. Take me out of the terrible world ocean my Master. Nanak relies on Your support alone.
Pauri-50
Sporting, playing, and suffering pain in many existences, I have appeared as a human being. Troubles are effaced by meeting the Saints and by getting absorbed in True Guru’s teachings. Adopting forbearance and amassing truth man partakes of the Name Nectar. When the Lord showed His great mercy, I have fond haven in joy and happiness. My merchandise has safely arrived, I have made good profit and have returned home with honour.
Great is the consolation, the Guru has given me and the Illustrious Lord has come and met me. God Himself acted and Himself acts. He was in the past and shall be in future.
Nanak praise Him alone, who is contained in every heart.
Sloka
I have sought Your sanctuary- my Merciful Master- the ocean of compassion.
Nanak, he is whose mind the Unique- Imperishable God lives, becomes greatly blessed.
Pauri-51
In the God’s word is the installation of three worlds. By joining together the words vedas are studies .The words tell us what is written in Sastras, Smritis and Puranas. In letters are written the hymns, discourses, and lectures. By means of letters is described the way to escape from dread and doubt.
The words narrate the religious rites, worldly acts, piety and religion.
In the entire visible world is contained the Indestructible God. Nevertheless,O’ Nanak the Supreme Lord remains unattached.
Sloka
The Inaccessible Lord with pen in His hand writes man’s destiny on his forehead.
The god’s peerless beauty is contained among all Your praises, O’ God cannot be described with any mouth or tongue. Nanak is fascinated on beholding Your sight and is devoted unto Thee.
Pauri-52
O’ my Immovable and Imperishable Lord, O’ my Transcendent God- the destroyer of sin, O’ You all Pervading Perfect One, O’ You- the Destroyer of grief and Treasure of Virtue. O’ man’s Comrade, O’ Formless One, O’ Absolute Lord- the support of all.
O’ supporter of Earth, the Ocean of Excellences, who are ever possessed of sharp intellect.
O’ Remotest of the Remote, Lord God, You were always, are always and shall be O’ constant companion of Saints You are the support of the baseless. O’ God I am Your serf. I am without any merit. No merit do I possess. Grant me, Nanak the gift of Your Name that I may string and keep it in my mind.
Sloka
The Divine Guru is my mother, the Divine Guru is my father and Divine Guru is my Lord and Supreme God. The Divine Guru is my companion- the dispeller of spiritual ignorance and the Divine Guru is my relative and brother.
The Divine Guru is the giver and teacher of God’s Name and the Divine Guru is my infallible spell. The Divine Guru is the image of peace, truth and wisdom. The Divine Guru is the philosopher’s stone by whose touch a mortal is saved.
The Divine Guru is a place of pilgrimage and a tank of Nectar. By having a dip in tank of Guru’s Divine Knowledge man meets Illimitable Master.
The Divine Guru is the Creator and Destroyer of all the sins, and the Divine Guru is a purifier of the impure. The Divine Guru is from the beginning of ages and in every age. The Divine Guru is the spell of God’s Name by whose repetition a mortal is rescued.
My Master take pity and unite me , a fool and a sinner with the society of the Guru by clinging to which I may swim across the sea of life. The Divine Guru, the True Guru is the Exalted Lord and the Great God. Unto the Godly Divine Guru, Nanak makes an obeisance.
Read this sloka in the beginning and at the end.
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