In the following Guru Shabada, Fifth Nanak inspires his followers to understand what is more important for a Sikh than any other thing in the world; and in it, Akalpurakh is accepted as the only source of support of the soul declaring the rest visible world as temporary like the shadows which fade as the time lapses. The beauty of Shabada lies in its dense and huge application in context of the journey of a soul. Whatever Maya color fascinates, it is so temporary that it has no usefulness for the journey of the soul even though the world plays otherwise. How soul is made aware of this fact, let’s go through it, this Shabada is on 398 SGGS
ਆਸਾ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥
ਕੋਇ ਨ ਕਿਸ ਹੀ ਸੰਗਿ ਕਾਹੇ ਗਰਬੀਐ ॥
ਏਕੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਆਧਾਰੁ ਭਉਜਲੁ ਤਰਬੀਐ ॥੧॥
Āsā mėhlā 5.
Ko▫e na kis hī sang kāhe garbī▫ai.
Ėk nām āḏẖār bẖa▫ojal ṯarbī▫ai. ||1||
In Essence: One shouldn’t be proud of any relation since none could be a companion forever; it is only His Name –support that helps to swim across the dreadful worldly ocean.
It is a fact we witness every day, all beings we feel proud of, are unable to walk with the soul when it departs, mind in illusion still reacts in pride for having them, Guru suggests that the relations that are not even capable of going along with the soul as the life ends, shouldn’t we think about them before taking take pride in them? why to indulge in conceited behavior- because of them?. Only support of the soul is His Name. Trusting in Him and hoping on Him can make the life easy to pass, contrary to it, the mental load of pride, barricades our progress on Guru Path. This idea is further elaborated in the next Guru Vaakas by cementing our trust in Akalpurakh
ਕਿਸ ਹੀ ਸੰਗਿ = ਕਿਸੇ ਦੇ ਭੀ ਨਾਲ। ਗਰਬੀਐ = ਮਾਣ ਕਰੀਏ। ਆਧਾਰੁ = ਆਸਰਾ। ਭਉਜਲੁ = ਸੰਸਾਰ-ਸਮੁੰਦਰ। ਤਰਬੀਐ = ਤਰ ਸਕੀਦਾ ਹੈ।੧।
(ਹੇ ਮੇਰੀ ਜਿੰਦੇ!) ਕੋਈ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਸਦਾ ਕਿਸੇ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਨਹੀਂ ਨਿਭਦਾ (ਇਸ ਵਾਸਤੇ ਸੰਬੰਧੀ ਆਦਿਕਾਂ ਦਾ) ਕੋਈ ਮਾਣ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ। ਸਿਰਫ਼ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦਾ ਨਾਮ ਹੀ (ਅਸਲ) ਆਸਰਾ ਹੈ (ਨਾਮ ਦੇ ਆਸਰੇ ਹੀ) ਸੰਸਾਰ-ਸਮੁੰਦਰ ਤੋਂ ਪਾਰ ਲੰਘ ਸਕੀਦਾ ਹੈ।੧।
ਮੈ ਗਰੀਬ ਸਚੁ ਟੇਕ ਤੂੰ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪੂਰੇ ॥
ਦੇਖਿ ਤੁਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਾਰਾ ਦਰਸਨੋ ਮੇਰਾ ਮਨੁ ਧੀਰੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Mai garīb sacẖ tek ṯūʼn mere saṯgur pūre.
Ḏekẖ ṯumĥārā ḏarsano merā man ḏẖīre. ||1|| rahā▫o.
In Essence: I am a poor but you are the Eternal Perfect True Guru and you are my support, beholding you encourages my heart to be stabilized (Pause)
When one realizes that only support that lasts forever is His Name (As Per Gurbani, the soul doesn’t die-Ram Kli Mehla 5 on 885 SGGS), and the relations are themselves limited by time, his/her mind is convinced to put full faith in the Creator and His Ordinance that rules the universe. As a result of complete faith in Him, the mind goes in utter humility; Akalpurakh who is actually True Guru, becomes final support of the soul. Infact, True Guidance comes from Him; His grace brings Guru in life who guides the soul to take support only from Akalpurakh and to keep unshakable faith in Him. Guru enables his followers to see Him all over, this envisioning of Him stills the mind. Literally we are poor [we have nothing that can save us at our own] and our courage comes from Him and we meet Guru because of His grace. His devotees obviously do not acknowledge the worldly stuff that sows the seeds of pride. This way, Akalpurakh becomes their world in reality. This idea is clarified further.
ਸਚੁ = ਸਦਾ ਕਾਇਮ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲਾ। ਟੇਕ = ਆਸਰਾ। ਸਤਿਗੁਰ = ਹੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ! ਦੇਖਿ = ਵੇਖ ਕੇ। ਧੀਰੇ = ਧੀਰਜ ਫੜਦਾ ਹੈ।੧।ਰਹਾਉ।
ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪੂਰੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ (ਪ੍ਰਭੂ)! ਤੂੰ ਸਦਾ ਕਾਇਮ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਹੈਂ ਮੈਂ ਗਰੀਬ ਦਾ ਤੂੰ ਹੀ ਸਹਾਰਾ ਹੈਂ। ਤੇਰਾ ਦਰਸਨ ਕਰ ਕੇ ਮੇਰਾ ਮਨ (ਇਸ ਸੰਸਾਰ-ਸਮੁੰਦਰ ਤੋਂ ਪਾਰ ਲੰਘ ਸਕਣ ਲਈ) ਧੀਰਜ ਫੜਦਾ ਹੈ।੧।ਰਹਾਉ।
ਰਾਜੁ ਮਾਲੁ ਜੰਜਾਲੁ ਕਾਜਿ ਨ ਕਿਤੈ ਗਨੋ॥
ਹਰਿ ਕੀਰਤਨੁ ਆਧਾਰੁ ਨਿਹਚਲੁ ਏਹੁ ਧਨੋ॥੨॥
Rāj māl janjāl kāj na kiṯai gano.
Har kīrṯan āḏẖār nihcẖal ehu ḏẖano. ||2||
In Essence: Kingdom and wealth are mere entanglements and are of no use (for the soul), real support of life is the praise of Akalpurakh, and this wealth is eternal.
Disease of conceit inflicted on mortals by kingdom or worldly wealth, is very harmful, it causes the mind to go astray from His Path that is designed to have union with the Creator, obviously these kingdoms and wealth become hindrances in spiritual progress, and more over, they cause miseries. That is why Guru stresses that these things are of no use. Then what is useful? Guru answers in the next Vaaka. It is His praise that becomes the support of life for His devotees. Other worldly wealth is left behind but wealth of His Name -Simran goes along with the soul hereafter, so His Name is the eternal wealth.
Why Bani is called “Nirankar”?
The answer is clearer here because it is eternal and it is all about the Eternal Almighty. His created Maya is not eternal but of limited time, read on the next Guru Vaaka
ਵਾਲਾ+ਜੰਜਾਲੁ = ਮੋਹ ਵਿਚ ਫਸਾਣ = {ਅਸਲ ਲਫ਼ਜ਼ ਹੈ ‘ਗਨੁ’, ਇਥੇ ਪੜ੍ਹਨਾ ਹੈ। ਕਾਜਿ ਕਿਤੈ = ਕਿਸੇ ਭੀ ਕੰਮ। ‘ਗਨੋ’} ਗਿਣ, ਮਿਥ+ਗਨ = {ਅਸਲ ਲਫ਼ਜ਼ ਹੈ ‘ਧਨੁ’, ਇਥੇ ‘ਧਨੋ’। ਆਧਾਰੁ = ਆਸਰਾ। ਧਨ ਪੜ੍ਹਨਾ ਹੈ}।੨।
(ਹੇ ਜਿੰਦੇ!) ਦੁਨੀਆ ਦੀ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹੀ ਤੇ ਧਨ-ਪਦਾਰਥ ਮਨ ਨੂੰ ਮੋਹੀ ਰੱਖਦੇ ਹਨ, (ਇਸ ਰਾਜ-ਮਾਲ ਨੂੰ ਆਖ਼ਰ) ਕਿਸੇ ਕੰਮ ਆਉਂਦਾ ਨਾਹ ਸਮਝ। ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦੀ ਸਿਫ਼ਤਿ-ਸਾਲਾਹ ਹੀ ਜਿੰਦ ਦਾ ਅਸਲੀ ਆਸਰਾ ਹੈ, ਇਹੀ ਸਦਾ ਕਾਇਮ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਧਨ ਹੈ।੨।
ਜੇਤੇ ਮਾਇਆ ਰੰਗ ਤੇਤ ਪਛਾਵਿਆ ॥
ਸੁਖ ਕਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਨਿਧਾਨੁ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਗਾਵਿਆ ॥੩॥
Jeṯe mā▫i▫ā rang ṯeṯ pacẖẖāvi▫ā.
Sukẖ kā nām niḏẖān gurmukẖ gāvi▫ā. ||3||
In Essence: All colors (of various kinds) of Maya are like fading shadows; His Name is treasure of comforts, through Guru His Name is sung.
Metaphoric expression here is very beautiful, soothing attractions of Maya are very temporary, as the shade goes away when the Sun-light disappears, same way the colorful Maya attractions too are temporary. People go through happiness and sorrows but His devotees remain stable and joyful in His love. When time lapses, their joy remains intact but other people endure tides of miseries that follow after temporary joy ends. His devotees sing His praises as per Guru Guidance. For His devotee, there is no reason to repent because the source of his/her joy is itself eternal ( His Praise).
ਰੰਗ = ਤਮਾਸ਼ੇ। ਤੇਤੇ = ਉਹ ਸਾਰੇ। ਪਛਾਵਿਆ = ਪਰਛਾਵੇਂ (ਵਾਂਗ ਢਲ ਜਾਣ ਵਾਲੇ)। ਸੁਖ ਕਾ ਨਿਧਾਨੁ = ਸੁਖਾਂ ਦਾ ਖ਼ਜ਼ਾਨਾ।੩।
(ਹੇ ਜਿੰਦੇ!) ਮਾਇਆ ਦੇ ਜਿਤਨੇ ਭੀ ਰੰਗ-ਤਮਾਸ਼ੇ ਹਨ ਉਹ ਸਾਰੇ ਪਰਛਾਵੇਂ ਵਾਂਗ ਢਲ ਜਾਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਹਨ, ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦਾ ਨਾਮ ਹੀ ਸਾਰੇ ਸੁਖਾਂ ਦਾ ਖ਼ਜ਼ਾਨਾ ਹੈ, ਇਹ ਨਾਮ ਗੁਰੂ ਦੀ ਸਰਨ ਪੈ ਕੇ ਹੀ ਸਲਾਹਿਆ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ।੩।
ਸਚਾ ਗੁਣੀ ਨਿਧਾਨੁ ਤੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਗਹਿਰ ਗੰਭੀਰੇ ॥
ਆਸ ਭਰੋਸਾ ਖਸਮ ਕਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੇ ਜੀਅਰੇ ॥੪॥੯॥੧੧੧॥
Sacẖā guṇī niḏẖān ṯūʼn parabẖ gahir gambẖīre.
Ās bẖarosā kẖasam kā Nānak ke jī▫are. ||4||9||111||
In Essence: Akalpurakh! You are treasure of virtues, you are very profound, Nanak says, “ Oh my soul keep hope on the Master and trust in the Master”.
Whole Shabada is filled with advocacy of His praise which is actual the support of the soul. In the end Guru addresses the Creator who is Infinite and a Treasure of peace and comforts. Why to depend upon temporary sources then? The Master is Eternal source of peace; mind should keep hopes only on Him and should seek only His support by trusting none but Him. Here Guru warns us from falling into duality. Keeping faith only in Akalpurakh, is the only way out to stabilize the mind; so no other door should be knocked at ever. He is the source of all other doors as well. If Gurbani is carefully studied, it clearly states that we should just live in His love and honor His ordinance regardless whatever way it comes by. It is also called “Trusting Him in full faith” there should be no complain what so ever. It should not only be a mere talk but a part and parcel of our lives. That is what Guru builds in his followers’ hearts. So ponder over, how we can claim to love HIM if our hearts are torn apart between Him and other fascinating Maya-colors
ਗਹਿਰ = ਡੂੰਘਾ। ਗੰਭੀਰ = ਵੱਡੇ ਜਿਗਰੇ ਵਾਲਾ। ਜੀਅ ਰੇ = ਹੇ ਜਿੰਦੇ!।੪।
ਹੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ! ਤੂੰ ਡੂੰਘਾ ਹੈਂ, ਤੂੰ ਵੱਡੇ ਜਿਗਰੇ ਵਾਲਾ ਹੈਂ, ਤੂੰ ਸਦਾ ਕਾਇਮ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਹੈਂ, ਤੂੰ ਸਾਰੇ ਗੁਣਾਂ ਦਾ ਖ਼ਜ਼ਾਨਾ ਹੈਂ। ਹੇ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੀ ਜਿੰਦੇ! ਇਸ ਖਸਮ-ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਦੀ ਹੀ (ਤੋੜ ਨਿਭਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਸਾਥ ਦੀ) ਆਸ ਰੱਖ, ਖਸਮ-ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਦਾ ਹੀ ਭਰੋਸਾ ਰੱਖ।੪।੯।੧੧੧।
It is very important to remember that though with His grace one walks on His path but it is our duty to take advantage of Guru Guidance which somehow Akalpurakh provides us. He has loaded us with tool to change our behavior as Gurbani demands from us to seek the goal directed by it (Gurbani). It is not healthy to think that if He doesn’t wish us to improve; we cannot improve. He is a step ahead of us in gifting an opportunity of pondering over Guru-advice, so why to look for any excuse? Trust in Him, hope on Him and walk on His path fearlessly. A Sikh who has still any kind of fear needs to go back to Guru.
Interpretation in Punjabi is by Dr. Sahib Singh Ji
