Var-26
One Oankar, the primal energy, realised through the grace of divine preceptor.
Pauri- 1 Invocation
The true Guru is true emperor and He is creator of the emperor of the emperors. He sits on the throne of truth and resides in holy congregation the abode of truth. Truth is His mark and Truth He utters and His command is irrefutable. He whose Word is true and whose treasure is true, is attainable in the form of the word of the Guru. His devotion is true, His warehouse is true and He likes love and praise. The way of the gurmukhs is also true, their slogan is truth and their kingdom is also the kingdom of truth. The walker on this path, crosses the world and goes to meet the Lord.
Pauri-2 Invocation – Contd.
The Guru ought to be known as the Supreme Lord because only that true being has adopted the true name of the Lord. The formless Lord has made His self known in the form of Ekainkar, the one boundless Being. From Ekanka came up Oankar, the word vibration which further came to be known as the world, full of names and forms. From the one Lord came out three gods- Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, who further got himself counted among the ten incarnations of the Supreme Being. I salute this primal Being who sees them all but is Himself invisible. The mythical snake ( Sheshnaga0 recites and remembers Him through His myriad names but even then knows nothing about His ultimate extent. The true name of same Lord is loved by Gurmukhs.
Pauri-3 Praises of the Wondrous Guru- the Lord
God has stabilised earth and sky separately and for His this power He is known as the Creator. He has settled earth in water and without any prop the sky He has placed it in a stable position. Putting fire in the fuel He has created sun and moon shining day and night. Making six seasons and twelve months He has undertaken the sport of creating four mines and four speeches. Human life is rare and whosoever has found the perfect Guru,his life is blessed. Meeting the holy congregation man is absorbed in equipoise.
Pauri-4 Benevolence of the true Guru.
The true Guru is truly benevolent as he has granted us the human life. Mouth, eyes, nose, ears He created and has given feet so that the individual could move around. Preaching loving devotion, the true Guru has bestowed on the people steadfastness in remembering the Lord, ablution and charity. In ambrosial hours the gurmukhs undertake to inspire themselves and others to bathe and recite the mantra of the Guru. In the evening, instructing the recitation of Arti and Sohila, the true Guru has inspired people to remain detached even amidst Maya. The Guru has preached people to speak mildly, to conduct themselves humbly and not to get noticed even after giving something to others. This way the true Guru has made all the four ideals of life to follow him.
Pauri-5 Praises of the Guru
The true Guru is called great and the glory of the great is great too. Oankar has assumed form of the world and millions o life-streams could not know about His grandeur. The One Lord uninterruptedly is pervading the whole universe and provides livelihood to all creatures. That Lord has subsumed crores of universes in His each trichome. How His expanse may be explained and whom should one ask as to where He resides. None can reach Him; all talk about Him is on the basis of hearsay. That Lord has become manifest in the form of the true Guru.
Pauri-6 Praises of the Guru
The glimpse of the Guru is the basis of meditation because Guru is Brahm and this fact is known to a rare one. The feet of true Guru, the root of all delights, should be worshipped and only then the delight would be attained. The instructions of the true Guru is the basic formula whose adoration with single minded devotion is undertaken by rare ones. The basis of liberation is the grace of the Guru and one attains liberation in life in the holy congregation alone. Making oneself noticed none can attain the Lord and even shedding the ego any rare one meets Him. He who annihilates his ego, in fact, is the Lord Himself; He knows everyone as His form and all accept Him as their form. This way that individual in the form of Guru becomes disciple and the disciple is turned to be Guru.
Pauri-7 Conduct of the four ages.
In Satyug, the whole country suffered due to evil deeds of even one individual. In tretayug, the evil committed by one made the whole town suffer and in dvapar the whole family had to suffer. Simple is the justice of Kaliyug as here only he reaps who sows. In other three yugas, the fruit of action was earned and accumulated but in Kaliyug, one gets the fruit of Dharma immediately. Something happens only after doing something in the Kaliyug but even the thought of dharma gives its happy fruit. The gurmukhs, contemplating on the wisdom of the Guru and the loving devotion, sow the seed in earth, the true abode of truth. They succeed in their practice and objective.
Pauri-8 Conduct in the Kaliyug
In satyug the truth, in treta and dvapar worship and ascetic discipline were in vogue. The gurmukhs in Kaliyuga go across the world ocean by repeating the name of the Lord. Dharma has four feet in Satyuga but in treta, the fourth foot of dharma was crippled. In dvapar only two feet of dharma survived and in Kaliyuga the dharma stands only on one foot to undergo the sufferings. Considering the Lord as the strength of the powerless ones, it started praying for the liberation through the grace of the Lord. The Lord manifesting in the form of perfect Guru created the true abode of fortitude and the dharma. He, Himself is the field of creation and Himself its protector.
Pauri-9 Winning by losing.
They are not scared of anybody who have cherished the love of the Lord and those who are devoid of the fear of Lord remain scared in the court of Lord. Since it keeps its head high, the fire is hot and because the water flows downwards, it is cold. The filled up pitcher drowns and makes no sound and the empty one not only goes on swimming, it rather makes noise also. Likewise is egotist and a person without any ego, the latter absorbed in loving devotion gets liberated while the former goes on tossing. Being full of fruits, the mango tree bends down in humility but the castor tree being full of bitter fruits never bows in humility. The mind-bird keeps flying and according to its nature picks up the fruits. On the scale of justice, the light and the heavy are weighed and good and bad are differentiated. He who looks to be winning here loses in the court of Lord and similarly the loser here wins there. All bow at his feet. The individual first falls at the feet of Guru and then he makes all to fall at his feet.
Pauri-10 One gets what one deserves.
The order of the Lord is true, His writ is true, and from the true cause He has created the creation as His sport. All the causes are under the control of the creator but He accepts the deeds of any rare devotee. The devotee who has loved the will of the Lord, does not beg anything from any one else Now the Lord also loves to accept the prayer of the devotee because protection of the devotee is His nature. The devotees who keep their consciousness absorbed in the Word in the holy congregation know well that the creator Lord is the perennial cause of all causes. The devotees like the innocent child remains detached from the world and keeps himself free from delusions of boons and curses. He receives the fruit in accordance with his devotion.
Pauri-11 Making of the virtue from the evil.
The tree being in equipoise does good even to the evil doer. The tree cutter sits under the shade of the same and thinks evil of that benevolent one. It gives fruits to the stone throwers and boat to the cutters to get them across. The individuals opposed to the Guru do not get fruit and the servants receive infinite reward. Any rare gurmukh is known in this world who serves the servants of the Lord’s servants. The second day moon is saluted by all and the ocean also becoming glad throws its waves towards it. O Lord ! The whole World becomes his who is Yours own.
Pauri-12 The example of Sugarcane.
Nature of sugarcane is wondrous; it takes birth head down. First its skin is peeled off and is cut into pieces. Then it is crushed in press; its juice is boiled in the cauldron and the its remains are used as fuel. It is contented in joys and sufferings alike and after getting boiled gives sweet jaggery to the world. Attaining the pleasure fruit, like Gurmukh, it becomes the base for jaggery, sugar, and crystal sugar. Death after quaffing the cup of love is similar to the life of sugarcane which after getting cut and crushed becomes live and useful. Sayings of Gurmukhs are like invaluable jewels.
Pauri-13 Guru Ocean
Guru is such an immeasurable ocean that millions of rivers are absorbed in it. Millions of pilgrimage centres are there on each river and in each stream millions of waves are raised by nature. In that Guru- ocean myriad jewels and all the four ideals of life moves around like a fish. All these things are not equal even to one wave- one sentence- of Guru-ocean. The mystery of the extent of His power is unknowable. The unbearable drop of the cup of love can be cherished by any rare gurmukh. The Guru himself sees that imperceptible Lord,who is not visible to others.
Pauri-14 God is infinite.
Many Brahmins reciting Vedas and many Inders ruling the Kingdoms got tired. Mahadev becoming recluse and Vishnu assuming ten incarnations roamed here and there. Siddhs, naths, Chiefs of Yogis, gods and goddesses could not know the mystery of that Lord. Ascetics, the people going to pilgrimages, celibates, and numerous satis in order to know Him suffer through their bodies. Seshanag also along with all musical measures remembers and praises Him. In this world only gurmukhs are fortunate who merging their consciousness in the Word gather in holy congregation. Gurmukhs only, becoming face to face with that imperceptible Lord attain the fruit of delight.
Pauri-15 Merits of Humility
The head-root- of the tree remains downwards and therefore it is laden with fruits and flowers. The water is known as pure as it flows downwards. The head is higher and the feet lower but even then the head bows on the feet of the gurmukh. The lowest is the earth which bears the burden of the whole world and of the wealth in it. That land and that place is blessed where the Guru, the Sikh and the piousmen put their feet. That the dust of the feet of the saints is the highest is told even by the Vedas. Any fortunate one attains the dust of the feet.
Pauri-16 Guru Nanak is the perfect Guru
The perfect true Guru is known in his majestic form. Perfect is the justice of the perfect Guru to which nothing can be added or subtracted. The wisdom of the perfect Guru is perfect and he makes up his mind without asking form other’s counsel. The mantra of that perfect is perfect and his command cannot be overlooked. All desires are fulfilled when joining the holy congregation, one meets the perfect Guru. Crossing all calculations the Guru has climbed the ladder of honour to reach his own loft. Becoming perfect he has merged in that perfect Lord.
Pauri-17 The true Guru is the knowing God
The siddhs and other performers of austerities by remaining awake celebrate the Shivaratri Fair. Mahadev is a recluse and Brahma is absorbed in the delight of the seat of lotus. That Gorakh, the Yogi is also awake whose teacher Machhendr had kept a beautiful concubine. The true Guru is awake and he in the holy congregation in ambrosial hours makes others also awake from the sleep of infatuation. In the holy congregation, they concentrate upon their self and remain absorbed in the loving delight of the unsaid word. I salute the primal person, the Guru whose love and affection for the imperceptible Lord is always fresh. From disciple, the devotee becomes Guru and the Guru becomes disciple.
Pauri-18 TheTruth is true and the falsehood is false.
Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh all the three are creator, sustainer and dispenser of justice respectively. The house holders of all the four varnas depend upon caste-gotra the lineage and Maya. People perform hypocritical rituals pretending to follow the six philosophies of six shastras. Likewise the Sanyasis assuming ten names and yogis creating twelve sects are moving around. They are all going astray in ten directions and twelve sects go on begging edibles and non-edibles. The gurshikhs of all for varnas jointly recite and listen to the silent melody in the holy congregation. Gurmukh going beyond all varnas follows the philosophy of nam and the path of spiritual delight made for him. The truth is always true and falsehood is altogether false.
Pauri-19 Glory of the true Guru.
The true Guru is the storehouse of virtues and who out of his benevolence blesses even the wicked ones. The true Guru is a perfect physician who cures all the five chronic ailments. Guru is ocean of pleasures who happily absorbs in him the sufferers. The perfect Guru is away form enmity and He even liberates the slanderers, envious ones and apostates. The perfect Guru is fearless who always dispels the fear of transmigration and Yama- the God of Death. The true Guru is that enlightened one who saves ignorant fools and even the unknown ones. The true Guru is known as such a leader who catching hold from the arm takes the blind also across the world ocean. I am sacrifice unto that true Guru who is the pride of the humble ones.
Puari-20 The True Guru
The true Guru is such a philosopher’s stone by whose touch dross transforms into gold. The true Guru is that sandalwood which makes everything fragrant and million times more precious. The true Guru is that wish fulfilling tree which makes the cotton silk tree full of fruit. The true Guru is that Mansarovar, the holy lake of Hindu mythology, that transforms crows into swans, who sifts milk from water. The Guru is that holy river which makes the animals and ghosts knowledgeable and skilful. The true Guru is giver of freedom from bondages and makes the detached ones liberated in life. The wavering mind of the Guru-oriented individual becomes steadfast and full of confidence.
Pauri- 21 Guru Nanak Dev
In discussions Guru Nanak Dev routed the Siddhs, maths and incarnations of Gods. Men of Babar came to Baba Nanak and the latter made them bow in humility. Guru Nanak met the emperors as well and getting detached from the enjoyments and renunciation he performed a wonderful feat. Self reliant King of the spiritual and the temporal world, he moved around in the world. The nature enacted a masquerade that he becoming creator created a new way of life- Sikhism. He makes many meet, separates others and further reunites the ones separated long back. In the holy congregation, he arranges the glimpse of the invisible Lord.
Pauri- 22 Guru Nanak Dev.
The true Guru is a perfect banker and the three worlds are his travelling salesmen. He has treasures of infinite jewels in the form of loving devotion. In his garden, he keeps millions of wish-fulfilling trees and thousands of herds of wish-fulfilling cows. He has millions of Lakshamis as servants and many mountains of philospher’s stone. Millions of Inders having million types of nectars sprinkle in his court. Millions of lamps like suns and moons are there and the heaps of miraculous powers are also with him. The true Guru has distributed all these stores among those who love the truth and are absorbed in loving devotion. The true Guru, who himself is the Lord, deeply loves his devotees.
Pauri-23 Fourteen Jewels.
Having churned the ocean the fourteen jewels were taken out and were distributed among the gods and demons. Vishnu got hold of gems, Lakshami, parijat, conch and a bow named sarang. Wish fulfilling cow, nymphs, and Airavat elephant were given to Inder. Mahadev drank the deadly poison and adorned the crescent moon on his forehead. Sun got the horse, and the wine and nectar were taken away jointly by demons and angels. Dhanvanri used to practise medicine but stung by the snake Taksak,his wisdom got inverted. In the ocean of the teachings of the Guru exist innumerable jewels. The Sikh’s true love is for the Guru alone.
Pauri-24 Queries of a Sikh
The earlier Gurus considered that to give instructions and to preach to the people, one has to sit at one place known as dharamshala, but this Guru Hargobind does not stick to a single place. Earlier emperors would visit the house of the Guru, but this Guru has been interned by the King in a fort. The sangat coming to have his glimpse cannot find him in the palace as generally he was not available. Neither he was scared of anybody, nor does he scare any one yet his is always on the move. Earlier Gurus sitting on the seat instructed people to be content but this Guru rears dogs and goes out for hunting. The Gurus used to listen to Gurbani but this Guru neither recites nor listens to hymn- singing regularly. He does not keep his follower servant with him and rather maintains nearness with the wicked and the envious ones like Painde Khan. But the truth is never concealed and that is why on the lotus feet of the Guru, the mind of Sikhs hover like a greedy black- bee. Guru Hargobind has borne the unbearable and he has not made himself manifest.
Pauri- 25 Joy of love is attained after great hardships.
Around the agricultural field the bushes are kept as fence and around the garden babul bushes are planted for safety. The sandalwood tree is entwined by snakes and for the safety of treasure the lock is used and the dog also remains alert. Thorns are known to exist near flowers and during the gatherings ,among the turbulent crowd one or two sane people also remain present. As the jewel remains in the hood of black cobra likewise the philosopher’s stone remains surrounded by other stones. In the garland of jewels on both the sides of a jewelled glass is kept to protect it and the elephant remains tied with the thread of love. Lord Krishna for his love for the devotees goes to Vidur’s home when hungry and the latter offers him vegetable of beans and a green leafy vegetable. The Sikhs of the Guru becoming black bee of the lotus feet of the Guru,ought to attain good fortune in the holy congregation. He should further know that cup of love of the Lord is got after many hardships.
Pauri- 26 The dead disciple in Guru grave.
Deeper than the seven seas of the world is the mental world ocean known as Mansarovar which has no wharf, no boatman and no end or bound. To go across it there is neither boat nor raft; neither barge pole and no one to console. None else can reach there except the swans who pick up pearls from there. The true Guru enacts his play and populates desolate places. Sometimes He hides himself like moon in amavas or fish in water. Those who have become dead to their ego, they only absorb in the eternal trance in the form of the Guru.
Pauri-27 Progeny of the Sikhs of the Guru
Gursikh is like the family of fish who whether dead or alive never forgets water. Similarly to the moth family nothing but the flame of lamp is visible. As the water and the lotus love each other and the tales of love between the love of lotus and black bee are narrated. As the rain bird with the rain drop of svati nakshtr, deer with music and the nightingale with mango fruit is attached. For swans, the Mansarovar is the mine of jewels. Female reddy sheldrake loves Sun and Indian red legged partridge’s love for moon is praised. Similarly, the Sikh of the Guru being the progeny of the swan of high order- paramhans- accepts the true Guru as the tank of equipoise. And like a waterfowl goes to face the world ocean and goes across dry.
Pauri-28 Progeny of the Sikhs of Guru
Tortoise hatches eggs outside water and keeping track of them rears them up. By virtue of the mother’s remembrance the young one of the heron bird starts flying in the sky. The kid of waterfowl is reared up by hen but ultimately it goes to meet its mother. The offspring of nightingale are nurtured by female crow but finally the blood goes to meet the blood- that is young nightingale unites with its mother. Moving around in the illusions of Shiva and Shakti the female ruddy sheldrake and Indian red legged partridge also ultimately meet their beloved ones. Among the stars, the Sun, and the moon are perceptible throughout the six seasons and twelve months. As the black bee is happy among lilies and lotuses. The gurmukhs get delighted to perceive the truth and attain the fruit of pleasures.
Pauri-29 The claim of Koka- the male nurse.
Being of a noble family, the philosopher’s stone meets all metals and turns them into gold. The nature of the sandal is fragrant and it makes all fruitless as well as fruitful trees fragrant. The Ganges is formed of many tributaries but meeting the Ganges they all become sacred Ganga. Koka’s claim of having served as the milk giver to the King is liked by the King. And Koka also having eaten the salt of the royal household hovers around the King to serve him. The true Guru is of the lineage of the swans of the highest order and the Sikhs of the Guru also abide by tradition of the swan family. Both follow the path shown by their forefathers.
Pauri-30 Guru Nanak Dev- The Sikhs pass the test given by the true Guru.
Despite the shining of millions of stars in the sky yet things are not visible in the darkness of the night even if they are near by. On the other hand even if the Sun comes under the shadow of the clouds, their shadows cannot change day into night. Even if the Guru enacts any sham, the doubts are not created in the mind of the sikhs. In all the six seasons, the same sun remains in the sky but the owl cannot see it. But lotus blossoms in the sunlight as well as in the moonlit night and black bee starts hovering around it as they love the lotus and not the moon or the sun. Despite the illusive phenomena created by Shiva and Shakti the Sikhs of the Guru come to join holy congregation in the ambrosial hours. Reaching there they touch the feet of one and all good and the better ones.
Pauri-31 Difference between the spiritual and temporal kings.
The temporal King dies after handing over the kingdom to his son. He establishes his sway over the world and all his soldiers obey him. In the mosque he orders prayers to be said in his name and kazis and mullahs testify for him. From the mint comes out the coin in his name and every right and wrong is committed at his order. He controls the property and wealth of the country and sits on the throne caring for none. However, the tradition of the House of the Guru is that the highway shown by earlier Gurus is followed. In this tradition only the one primal Lord is applauded the mint holy congregation is here. The sermon of mint is one and the true throne- the spiritual seat is also one there. Justice of the Lord is such that this fruit of pleasure is given to the gurmukhs by the Supreme Lord.
Pauri-32 Miserable plight of the apostate.
If someone in his pride stands opposed to the king, he is killed. And considering him a bastard pyre, coffin or grave are not available for him. Outside the mint one who is coining fake coins is losing his life in vain as he will be punished when caught. Giver of the false commands also weeps tearfully when caught. A jackal pretending to be a lion may pose to be a commander but cannot hide his true howl and is caught. Similarly, the fake person when caught is sit on donkey and dust is thrown on his head and his face is blackened. This way, the man absorbed in the duality reaches the wrong place.
Pauri-33 The ego of Guru’s progeny.
Sirichand – the elder son of Guru Nanak Dev- is celibate since childhood who had constructed the monument in memory of his great father. Dharam Chand, son of Lakshmi Chand- the younger son of Guru Nanak Dev- too displayed his ego. Guru Angad’s one son Dasu sat on the throne of Guruship and the second son Data learnt to sit in the siddh posture. That is both of them were pretender Guru and during the reign of Guru Amar Das they tried their best to establish themselves as guru. Similarly Mohan- the son of Guru Amar Das- got afflicted and other son Mohart lived in a lofty house and started getting served by the people. Pitihichand- son of Guru Ram Das- proved to be a dissembling scoundrel and using his oblique nature spread his mental sickness all around. Mahadev- another son of Guru Ram Das- was egotist and was led astray. They all were like bamboos who could not become fragrant even if they lived near Sandalwood like Guru.
Pauri-34 Lineage of the Guruship.
The line of Baba Nanak increased and the love between Guru and disciples further flourished. Guru Angad came out of the limb of Guru Nanak and the disciple became fond of Guru and the Guru of the disciple. From Guru Angad came out Amar Das who was accepted Guru after him. From Guru Amar Das came Guru Ram Das who through his service to the Guru got absorbed in the Guru himself. From Guru Ram Das emerged Guru Arjan Dev as if from the ambrosial tree was produced ambrosia. Then from Guru Arjan Dev was born Guru Hargobind who preached the spread the message of primal Lord. The Sun is ever perceptible; it cannot be concealed by any one.
Pauri-35 Description of the power of the Lord- Nature.
From one sound, the Oankar created the entire creation. His sport of creation is immeasurable. None is there who can take its measure. The writ has been inscribed on the forehead of each creature; light, grandeur, and action are all due to His grace. His writ is imperceptible;the writer and His influences are also invisible. Various musics, tones and rhythms are ever on but even then the Oankar cannot be properly serenaded. Mines, speeches, creatures, names and places are infinite and uncountable. His one sound is beyond all limits, how expansive that creator is cannot be explained. That true Guru, formless Lord is there and available in the holy congregation alone.
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