The second Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Angad shares his experience how a Sikh can become one with the universal Creator and suggests what to do. Let us ponder over his sloka on 146 SGGS:
ਸਲੋਕ ਮਃ 2 ॥
ਅਠੀ ਪਹਰੀ ਅਠ ਖੰਡ ਨਾਵਾ ਖੰਡੁ ਸਰੀਰੁ ॥ ਤਿਸੁ ਵਿਚਿ ਨਉ ਨਿਧਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਏਕੁ ਭਾਲਹਿ ਗੁਣੀ ਗਹੀਰੁ ॥
ਕਰਮਵੰਤੀ ਸਾਲਾਹਿਆ ਨਾਨਕ ਕਰਿ ਗੁਰੁ ਪੀਰੁ ॥ ਚਉਥੈ ਪਹਰਿ ਸਬਾਹ ਕੈ ਸੁਰਤਿਆ ਉਪਜੈ ਚਾਉ ॥
ਤਿਨਾ ਦਰੀਆਵਾ ਸਿਉ ਦੋਸਤੀ ਮਨਿ ਮੁਖਿ ਸਚਾ ਨਾਉ ॥ ਓਥੈ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਵੰਡੀਐ ਕਰਮੀ ਹੋਇ ਪਸਾਉ ॥
ਕੰਚਨ ਕਾਇਆ ਕਸੀਐ ਵੰਨੀ ਚੜੈ ਚੜਾਉ ॥ ਜੇ ਹੋਵੈ ਨਦਰਿ ਸਰਾਫ ਕੀ ਬਹੁੜਿ ਨ ਪਾਈ ਤਾਉ ॥
ਸਤੀ ਪਹਰੀ ਸਤੁ ਭਲਾ ਬਹੀਐ ਪੜਿਆ ਪਾਸਿ ॥ ਓਥੈ ਪਾਪੁ ਪੁੰਨੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੀਐ ਕੂੜੈ ਘਟੈ ਰਾਸਿ ॥
ਓਥੈ ਖੋਟੇ ਸਟੀਅਹਿ ਖਰੇ ਕੀਚਹਿ ਸਾਬਾਸਿ ॥ ਬੋਲਣੁ ਫਾਦਲੁ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਦੁਖੁ ਸੁਖੁ ਖਸਮੈ ਪਾਸਿ ॥1॥
Salok mėhlā 2.
Aṯẖī pahrī aṯẖ kẖand nāvā kẖand sarīr. Ŧis vicẖ na-o niḏẖ nām ek bẖālėh guṇī gahīr.
Karamvanṯī salāhi-ā Nānak kar gur pīr. Cẖa-uthai pahar sabāh kai surṯi-ā upjai cẖā-o.
Ŧinā ḏarī-āvā si-o ḏosṯī man mukẖ sacẖā nā-o. Othai amriṯ vandī-ai karmī ho-e pasā-o.
Kancẖan kā-i-ā kasī-ai vannī cẖaṛai cẖaṛā-o. Je hovai naḏar sarāf kī bahuṛ na pā-ī ṯā-o.
Saṯī pahrī saṯ bẖalā bahī-ai paṛi-ā pās. Othai pāp punn bīcẖārī-ai kūrhai gẖatai rās.
Othai kẖote satī-ah kẖare kīcẖėh sābās. Bolaṇ fāḏal nānkā ḏukẖ sukẖ kẖasmai pās. ||1||
Slok of Second Nanak.
In essence: There are eight continents; consider the body the ninth continent. As the people keep searching all the time other things on the earth, a virtuous and profound person searches only Akalpurakh’s name (presence of Him) in the body. Oh Nanak! By following the Guru or a Peer, the fortunate one praises Akalpurakh. In the fourth watch of the morning, the minds of exalted ones become excited to praise Akalpurakh. They hold friendship with those great ones, whose minds are filled with Akalpurakh’s name and who keep praising Him with their tongues. In their company, the nectar of His name is distributed and the fortunate ones receive it. As the gold is purified for a good color, early in the morning, the mind is assayed to have spiritual color. If Akalpurakh shows mercy, no other effort is needed to shine the mind with His love. During the remaining seven watches, it is good to be in their company (His devotees’). In their company, good or bad ones are assessed. This way, the influence of falsehood decreases. The counterfeit (qualities) are thrown out; the good ones are kept and applauded. Oh Nanak! In there, it is comprehended well that complaining about any pain and sorrow is useless, because all is with Akalpurakh (all come from Him).
The above sloka inspires the devotees to do a self analysis through they can abandon their habits or thoughts that are not good for getting one with the Creator and holding on to those virtues that take them close to Him; instead of complaining, they should praise Him and try to be a virtuous so that slowly they can be one with Him.
Wishes!
G. Singh
www.gursoch.com
