Second Nanak while expressing his views on the worldly affairs, guides his followers to get indulge in the Creator’s praise. All the slokas given below address almost the same ideas. They are on “SGGS 1238. First, he says that the Creator has set up this world in which people get involved seriously; however, they behave under His ordinance only:
ਸਭਨਾ ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਏਕੁ ਹੈ ਵੇਖੈ ਧੰਧੈ ਲਾਇ ॥
ਕਿਸੈ ਥੋੜਾ ਕਿਸੈ ਅਗਲਾ ਖਾਲੀ ਕੋਈ ਨਾਹਿ ॥
Sabẖnā sāhib ek hai vekẖai ḏẖanḏẖai lā-e.
Kisai thoṛā kisai aglā kẖālī ko-ī nāhi.
He is the Master of all; by assigning them to different tasks, He watches them. He has assigned tasks to all, to some a little and to some a lot.
And the worldly game goes on:
ਆਵਹਿ ਨੰਗੇ ਜਾਹਿ ਨੰਗੇ ਵਿਚੇ ਕਰਹਿ ਵਿਥਾਰ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਨ ਜਾਣੀਐ ਅਗੈ ਕਾਈ ਕਾਰ ॥1॥
Āvahi nange jāhi nange vicẖe karahi vithār.
Nānak hukam na jāṇī-ai agai kā-ī kār. ||1||
The mortals come naked (with nothing) and depart with nothing, but still, they keep expanding the worldly establishments. Oh Nanak! It is not known what kind of task one will be assigned hereafter as per His ordinance?
As people get wealth, they build big houses and businesses as if they would live here forever by being unaware what will be the next stop; eventually they depart from this world empty handed. They go from here as per His ordinance, but if one understands His ordinance, one holds on to Him:
ਸਲੋਕ ਮਹਲਾ 2 ॥
ਸਾਹ ਚਲੇ ਵਣਜਾਰਿਆ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਦੇਵੈ ਨਾਲਿ ॥
ਲਿਖੇ ਉਪਰਿ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਹੋਇ ਲਈਐ ਵਸਤੁ ਸਮ੍ਾਲਿ ॥
Salok mėhlā 2.
Sāh cẖale vaṇjāri-ā likẖi-ā ḏevai nāl.
Likẖe upar hukam ho-e la-ī-ai vasaṯ samĥāl.
Slok of Second Nanak.
The traders who came here have departed from here as per the destiny. As per the destiny, Ekankar’s Will prevails; therefore, His name should be enshrined in the heart.
So some people hold on to Him but many don’t; however, those who do profit from this life and the rest of them lose this life chance:
ਵਸਤੁ ਲਈ ਵਣਜਾਰਈ ਵਖਰੁ ਬਧਾ ਪਾਇ ॥
ਕੇਈ ਲਾਹਾ ਲੈ ਚਲੇ ਇਕਿ ਚਲੇ ਮੂਲੁ ਗਵਾਇ ॥
Vasaṯ la-ī vaṇjāra-ī vakẖar baḏẖā pā-e.
Ke-ī lāhā lai cẖale ik cẖale mūl gavā-e.
(Thus) Those persons who deal in His name hold on to it. This way, some people profit from it and some others lose even the given capital (the given life-chance is lost).
Thus, Guru stresses on keeping the Creator’s in the mind while living the given life.
Wishes
G.Singh
www.gursoch.com
