On SGGS 146, there is a sloka by Guru Angad ji in which he guides his followers to remain in good environments that can keep them inclined toward the Universal Creator. Let us ponder over that sloka:
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 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 fades away. 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 come from Akalpurakh.
Thus, if our pursuits end up in a bad company, getting connected with our Creator is not possible. The company of Hs devotees sets up our routine to praise and love Him while living in the Maya attached world. To be with Him, one must praise Him by abandoning one’s wrong inclinations.
Wishes,
G. Singh
www.gursoch.com
