On SGGS 1243, Shri Guru Angad Sahib explains how the philosophy of Shri Guru Nanak Sahib is better than those scriptures which take the believer into fruitless rituals while the mind remains engrossed in the Maya pursuits. Let us ponder over it:
ਸਲੋਕ ਮਃ 2 ॥ ਕਥਾ ਕਹਾਣੀ ਬੇਦਂੀ ਆਣੀ ਪਾਪੁ ਪੁੰਨੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ ਦੇ ਦੇ ਲੈਣਾ ਲੈ ਲੈ ਦੇਣਾ ਨਰਕਿ ਸੁਰਗਿ ਅਵਤਾਰ ॥
ਉਤਮ ਮਧਿਮ ਜਾਤੀਂ ਜਿਨਸੀ ਭਰਮਿ ਭਵੈ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਬਾਣੀ ਤਤੁ ਵਖਾਣੀ ਗਿਆਨ ਧਿਆਨ ਵਿਚਿ ਆਈ ॥
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਆਖੀ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜਾਤੀ ਸੁਰਤਂੀ ਕਰਮਿ ਧਿਆਈ ॥ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਸਾਜਿ ਹੁਕਮੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਰਖੈ ਹੁਕਮੈ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਵੇਖੈ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਅਗਹੁ ਹਉਮੈ ਤੁਟੈ ਤਾਂ ਕੋ ਲਿਖੀਐ ਲੇਖੈ ॥1॥
Salok mėhlā 2. Kathā kahāṇī beḏīʼn āṇī pāp punn bīcẖār. Ḏe ḏe laiṇā lai lai ḏeṇā narak surag avṯār.
Uṯam maḏẖim jāṯīʼn jinsī bẖaram bẖavai sansār. Amriṯ baṇī ṯaṯ vakẖāṇī gi-ān ḏẖi-ān vicẖ ā-ī.
Gurmukẖ ākẖī gurmukẖ jāṯī surṯīʼn karam ḏẖi-ā-ī. Hukam sāj hukmai vicẖ rakẖai hukmai anḏar vekẖai.
Nānak agahu ha-umai ṯutai ṯāʼn ko likī-ai lekẖai. ||1|| {SGGS –1243}
Slok of Second Nanak.
In essence: The teachings of the Vedas reflect on what a sin is and what a virtue is. It is told in there that what one gives here takes in the next life; thus, they take birth to be in hell and heaven (This is the detailed Karma expressed in those scriptures.). The world wanders in the doubt of high and low caste. The Guru’s nectarous bani expresses all about the origin, Akalpurakh; it has come through the divine knowledge obtained through Akalpurakh’s meditation. The Guru has uttered it and realized it and the followers contemplate it with Akalpurakh’s grace. (This is what Sikhi is all about). As per His Will, Akalpurakh fashions the creation, keeps it under His Ordinance and takes care of it. Oh Nanak! First the conceit of the follower is eradicated and then he becomes acceptable to Akalpurakh.
Thus, in a nut shell, the Guru advises the followers to remain focus on improving themselves to be nice and worthy for the Creator. They need no ritual to please anyone but His meditation and praise.
Wishes
G Singh
