Var- 40 Bhai Gur Das Ji

 

Var-40

It is believed that Bhai Gurdas ji Bhalla composed only 39 vars, but so as to make the number auspicious as per Indian mythology, 40^th Var has been composed by some unknown Sikh scholar and 41^st Var has been composed by one of the52 poets of Guru Gobind Singh ji’s court whose name was also Gurdas ji. As these two Vars are also considered to be integral part of this work so these two have also been taken up.

One Oankar, the primal energy, realised through the grace of divine preceptor.

Pauri-1 Invocation- Sadguru

Merchandise of truth is available only at that centre wherein sits the pit of the pits and the perfect Guru of the Gurus. He is savour of the fallen, dispeller of sufferings, and shelter of the shelterless. He takes away our demerits and bestows virtues. Instead, ocean of delights, the Lord makes us forget grief and disappointment. He, the decimater of lacs of evils, is benevolent and ever present. He whose name is Truth, creator Lord, the truth form, never remains incomplete. Residing in the holy congregation, the abode of truth,he blows the trumpet of silent melody and shatters the sense of duality.

Pauri-2 Holy congregation.

The philosopher’s stone when showering benevolence of making gold. It does not discriminate the kind and caste of the eight metals. Inder gives rain to all without any distinction between tree and land- the water that is basis of vegetation and life. The Sun rises and spreads its rays equally at all the places. Tolerance is the virtue of earth which accepts the refuse of others and never beholds their demerits. Likewise Philosopher;s stone turns everything into gold whether it is rubies, pearls or iron without any discrimination. No limits are thereof benevolence of the holy congregation.

Pauri-3 Service to the true Guru provides all fruits.

Philosopher’s stone transforms metals into gold but the dross of iron does not become gold and is hence disappointed. Sandalwood makes the whole vegetation fragrant but the nearby bamboo remains devoid of fragrance. On sowing seeds, the earth produces thousand times more but in the alkaline soil the seed does not germinate. The owl cannot see the Sun but the true Guru bestowing the understanding about that Lord makes one see Him really and clearly. Only that which is sown in the earth is reaped but by serving the true Guru all sorts of fruits are attained. As whoever boards the ship gets across, likewise the true Guru makes no distinction between the virtuous. And the wicked and makes even beasts follow a godly life.

Pauri-4 Greatness of true Guru.

Gold is made by the touch of philosopher’s stone but gold cannot produce gold. Sandal tree makes other tree fragrant but the latter cannot further make other trees fragrant. Sown seeds sprout only after it rains but adopting the teachings of the Guru, one attains fruit instantly. The Sun sets at the fall of night but the perfect Guru is there all the time. As a ship cannot mount the mountain forcibly similarly forced control over the senses is not liked by the true Guru. The earth may be scared of a quake and it becomes restive in its place but the Gurmat, Guru’s tenets are steadfast and unconcealed. The true Guru, in fact, is a bag of jewels.

Pauri-5 Sacrifice unto holy congregation.

On sun-rise, the owls blind like wall hide themselves in the world. When the lion roars in the forest, the jackals, deer and the like are not found around. Moon in the sky cannot be concealed behind a small plate. Seeing a hawk all the birds in the forest leave their places and become restive and flutter for their safety. Thieves,adulterers, and corrupt ones are not seen around after day break. Those, who have knowledge in their heart improve the intellect of lacs of ignorants. The glimpse of holy congregation decimates all the tensions suffered in the dark age- kaliyuga. I am sacrifice unto the holy congregation.

Pauri-6 Blest is the holy congregation.

The lacs of stars shine in the dark night but with the moon rise they become dim. Some of them go into hiding while some continue to twinkle. With the sun rise, the stars, the moon, and the dark night,all vanish. Before the servants, accomplished through the word of true Guru, four varnas and four ashrams , the Vedas and Katebas are negligible. And the idea about gods, goddesses, their servants, tantra, mantra and the like does not even occur in the mind. The way of Gurmukhs is delightful. Blessed is the Guru and also blessed are his beloved ones. The glory of holy congregation is manifest in the whole world.

Pauri-7 Seekers of the true Guru.

All the four varnas, four sects, six philosophies, and their conducts. Ten incarnations, thousands of names of the Lord and all holy seats are His travelling traders. Having taken commodities from the store of that supreme reality, they spread them far and wide in the country and beyond. That carefree true Guru is their perfect banker and His warehouses are unfathomable and never ending. All take from Him and forget but He,the true Guru, never gets tired of giving gifts. That Oankar Lord, extending His one vibrational sound,creates one and all. I am sacrifice unto this transcendental Brahm in the form of true Guru.

Pauri-8 No liberation without Guru.

Many are the pirs,prophets, auliyas, gauris, qutubs, and ulemas. Many sheikhs, sadiks, and martyrs are there. Many are Qazis, mullahs, maulavis, Likewise among Hindus rishis, munis, Jain Digambars, and many miracle makers knowing black magic are also known in this world. Innumerable are the practising siddhs, yogis, who publicise themselves as great persons. None gets liberated without the true Guru without whom their ego goes on increasing further. Without holy congregation, the sense of ego stares at Jiv menacingly I am sacrifice unto this transcendental Brahm in the form of true Guru.

Pauri-9 All gifts are with the grace of Oankar, the Lord.

Upon some He bestows miraculous powers, and to some He gives wealth and to some others miracles. To some He gives life-elixir, to some fabulous gem, to some philosopher’s stone and due to His grace in the inner self of some trickles the nectar. Some in His will practise tantra mantra, hypocrisies and worship of Vas and some others He causes to wander in far off places. Upon some He bestows the wish-fulfilling cow, upon some the wish fulfilling tree and on whom soever He likes He bestows Laksami. To delude many,He gives asans, neoli Karmas, and miracles and dramatic activities to many people. He gives asceticism to yogis, and luxuries to bhogis. Meeting and parting always co -jointly exist. These all are various forms of Oankar.

Pauri-10 Excellence of human birth.

Four ages, four mines of life, four speeches, and creatures living in lacs of species. He has created human species known to be a rare one and is the best of all the species. Making all the species subordinate to human species the Lord has given it superiority. Most of the human beings in the world remain subordinated to each other and are unable to understand anything. Among them, those are real slaves who have lost their lives, in evil deeds. The transmigration in the eighty four lacs of species of life is ended only if the holy congregation is pleased. Real excellence is achieved by cultivating the Guru’s word.

Pauri-11 The highway- daily conduct of Gurmukh.

The gurmukh getting up in ambrosial hours of the early morning take bath in the sacred tank. Reciting the holy hymns of the Guru, he moves towards Gurdwara. There, joining the holy congregation, he lovingly listens to Gurbani,the holy hymns of the Guru. Effacing all doubts from his mind he serves the Sikhs of the Guru. Then by righteous means he earns his livelihood and he distributes the hard earned meal among the needy ones Offering first, to the Sikhs of the Guru, he himself eats. In this dark age, illumined by such feelings, the disciple becomes Guru and the Guru disciple. The gurmukh tread on such a highway of religious life.

Pauri 12 Absorbed in the will of the Guru.

The Oankar whose form is the true Guru, is the true creator of universe. From His one word the whole creation spreads, and in the holy congregation, the consciousness is merged in His word. Even Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh and the ten incarnations jointly cannot ponder upon His mystery. Vedas, Katebas, Hindus, Muslims- none knows His secrets. Rare is the person who comes to the shelter to the feet of the true Guru and makes his life fruitful. Rare is a person who listening to the teachings of Guru becomes disciple, remains dead to passions, and prepares himself to be a true servant. Any rare one absorbs himself in permanent haven of true Guru.

Pauri-13 All except the Sikhs of the Guru are wandering in delusions.

Recitations, austerities, persistences, many renunciations, explanations on vedas and all the fourteen skills are known in the world. Even Sheshnag, Sanaks, and rishi Lomas do not know the mystery of that infinite. Celibates, follower of truth, contented ones, siddhs, naths, all becoming masterless are wandering in delusions. Searching Him all the pirs, prophets, auliyas, and thousands of old men are wonder-struck as they could not know Him. Yogas, bhogs, lacs of ailments, sufferings and separations, all are illusions. Ten sects of sanyasins are wandering in delusions. Disciple yogis of the Guru always remain alert whereas others have hidden themselves in the jungles that is they are unconcerned with the problems of the world. Joining the holy congregation, the Sikhs of the Guru eulogize the glory of the name of the Lord.

Pauri-14 Teachings of the true Guru.

The light of lacs of moons and suns cannot become equal to an iota of the wisdom of the true Guru. Millions of nether worlds and millions of skies exist but there is not the slightest maladjustment in their alignment. Lacs of airs and waters join to create moving waves of different hues. Millions of creations, and millions of dissolutions continuously alternate without the beginning, middle and end of the process. Lacs of forbearing earths and mountains cannot equate the teachings of the true Guru in perseverance and righteousness. Millions types of knowledges and meditations are not equal to even a particle of the knowledge of the wisdom of Guru. I have sacrificed lacs of rays of lights for one ray of meditation upon the Lord.

Pauri-15 Rare servants.

In the one word of the God lacs of rivers of life flow and lacs of waves come up in them. In His one wave again, lacs of rivers flow. In each river, in the form of incarnations, lacs of jivs assuming many forms are roaming about. Incarnations in the form of fish, and tortoise dive into it but they cannot fathom its depth, that is they cannot know the limits of that supreme reality. That sustainer Lord is beyond all limits, none can know the bounds of his waves. That true Guru is the excellent purus and the disciples of the Guru bear the unbearable through the wisdom of Gurmat. Rare are the people who undertake such devotional worship.

Pauri-16 Primeval Lord.

What could be said about the greatness of that great Lord whose one word is beyond all measures. None can know His mystery whose base is only Oankar, How could His long life counted whose half breath is unfathomable. His creation cannot be evaluated; how can then that imperceptible one be beholden. His gifts such as days and nights are also invaluable and His other boons are also infinite. Indescribable is the position of the Lord, the master of the masterless. And His untold tale can only be concluded by saying neti, neti. Worthy of salutation is only that primeval Lord.

Pauri-17 Condemnation of worthless actions. If a saw is held in one’s head and the body is cut piece by piece to be put as burnt offerings. If lacs of times one gets decayed in snow and adopting proper techniques one undertakes penances with body upside down. If one become bodiless through water penances, fire penances, and internal fire penances; if one practices fasts, rules, disciplines, and wanders about the places of deities. If one makes throne of virtuous charities, goodness and lotus postures and sits on it. If one practises nioli karma, serpent posture, exhalation, inhalation and suspension of vital air or prananyam. All these together are not equal to the fruit of delight attained by the gurmukh.

Pauri-18 Fruit delight of pleasures of Gurmukhs is indescribable.

Millions of wise men through their skills cannot attain the supreme fruit of delight. Millions of skilful persons with their skill and thousands of clever persons with their cleverness cannot attain Him. Lacs of physicians, lacs of ingenious persons and other wisely people. Lacs of Kings, lacs of emperors and of their minister in lacs are there but no suggestion of anybody is of any use. Celibates, truthful, and contented ones, siddhs, naths,none could lay his hand upon Him. None, including the four varnas, four sects, and six philosophies could behold that imperceptible Lord’s fruit of delight. Great is the glory of the fruit of delight of the gurmukhs.

Pauri-19 Master and Discipleship.

Discipleship of the Guru is a difficult task, any pir or Guru of the Gurus know ir. Accepting the teachings of the true Guru and going beyond th e worldly illusions He identifies that Lord. Only that Sikh of the Guru absorbs his self into Baba Nanak, who has become dead to his carnal desires. Falling at the Guru’s feet he becomes the dust of his feet; people consider such dust of the feet of a humble Sikh as sacred. Unapproachable is the way of Gurumukhs; while being dead they remain alive and ultimately they identify the Lord. Inspired by the teachings of the Guru and adopting the conduct of bhringi insect he attains the grandeur and greatness of the Guru. Who can describe this ineffable story.

Pauri-20 Fruit of Delight.

After coming to holy congregation all the four varnas become four time more powerful that is they become perfect sixteen type of skills in them. Absorbing consciousness in five qualities of word the jiv tames all the five times five proclivities of human nature. Subsuming six philosophies in the one philosophy of the Lord, jiv comes to know about the significance of six times six thatis thirty six postures of yoga. Beholding the light of one lamp in all the seven continents,forty nine (7X7) airs are controlled by it. The delight of sixty four skills is enjoyed when the ashta dhatu in the four of four varnas and four ashrams associated with philosopher’s stone in the form of one Guru is transformed into gold. By bowing before one master of nine naths, the knowledge about the eighty one divisions of cosmos is attained. Getting freedom from the ten doors of body the perfect yogi gets cent percent accepted in the court of Lord. Gurmukhs fruit of delight possesses a subtle mystique.

Pauri-21 Praises of the true Guru.

If the Sikh is hundred times,the eternal true Guru is hundred and one times. His court is ever steadfast and he never undergoes the cycle of transmigration. He who meditates upon Him with single minded devotion, gets his noose of Yama, cut asunder. That one Lord alone pervades everywhere, and only by merging consciousness in the word that true Guru can be known. Without the glimpse of the manifest Guru thefts, wonders in eighty four lacs of species of life. Without the teachings of the Guru the jiv goes on taking birth and dying and is ultimately thrown in hell. The true Guru Lord is without attributes and yet possesses all the qualities. A rare one absorbs himself in the word of the Guru. There is no shelter without Guru’s shelter and this true refuge never gets destroyed. The true Guru Lord is the immutable Guru from beginning to end. Any rare gurmukh gets merged in equipoise.

Pauri-22 Basic description.

Basis of meditation is the form of Guru and basic worship is worship of the feet of the Guru. Basis of the mantras is the word of the Guru and the true Guru recites the true word. The wash of the feet of Guru is sacred and the Sikhs wash the lotus feet of the Guru. Nectar of the feet of Guru cuts asunder all sins and the dust of Guru’s feet erases all evil writs. By its grace the true named Creator Lord, Vahiguru comes to reside in the heart. Effacing the twelve marks of the yogis, the gurmukh put on his forehead the mark of the grace of God. Out of all religious conducts, only one code of conduct is true that repudiating all, one should go on remembering the one Lord alone. Following any one other than the Guru, man goes on wandering without any refuge. Devoid of the perfect Guru, jiv goes on suffering transmigration.