- May 9, 2006
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Greetings
Was reading this shalok:
I get caught by the word 'karma'. If we interpret 'karma' as it is commonly, i.e. what you do now will have effects later, or your actions now affect your rebirth, it seems like a bit of an impossible feat. Who can know their karma, who can do anything except leave it up to the scoreboard in the sky?
When you check the dictionary for the word, in this case, ਕਰੰਮ (karamm), it says 'from karama'. The definition of 'Karama' is either actions, or destiny or fortune.
Is the reader then free to apply whichever definition they see fit?
Can the last sentence be translated as
Sorry if this has already been discussed.
Thank for persevering with my dodgy brain. teehee
Edit:
OMG! Then Bhai Manmohan Singh translates it to the even more vague and irritating:
Was reading this shalok:
ਸਲੋਕ ॥
Salok.
Shalok:
ਗੁਰ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਗੋਪਾਲ ਗੁਰ ਗੁਰ ਪੂਰਨ ਨਾਰਾਇਣਹ ॥
Gur gobinḏ gopāl gur gur pūran nārā▫iṇėh.
The Guru is the Lord of the Universe; the Guru is the Lord of the world; the Guru is the Perfect Pervading Lord God.
ਗੁਰ ਦਇਆਲ ਸਮਰਥ ਗੁਰ ਗੁਰ ਨਾਨਕ ਪਤਿਤ ਉਧਾਰਣਹ ॥੧॥
Gur ḏa▫i▫āl samrath gur gur Nānak paṯiṯ uḏẖārṇėh. ||1||
The Guru is compassionate; the Guru is all-powerful; the Guru, O Nanak, is the Saving Grace of sinners. ||1||
ਭਉਜਲੁ ਬਿਖਮੁ ਅਸਗਾਹੁ ਗੁਰਿ ਬੋਹਿਥੈ ਤਾਰਿਅਮੁ ॥
Bẖa▫ojal bikẖam asgāhu gur bohithai ṯāri▫am.
The Guru is the boat, to cross over the dangerous, treacherous, unfathomable world-ocean.
ਨਾਨਕ ਪੂਰ ਕਰੰਮ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਚਰਣੀ ਲਗਿਆ ॥੨॥
Nānak pūr karamm saṯgur cẖarṇī lagi▫ā. ||2||
O Nanak, by perfect good karma, one is attached to the feet of the True Guru. ||2||
and the last sentence caught my eye. Its an idea expressed by Granth Sahib many, many times.Salok.
Shalok:
ਗੁਰ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਗੋਪਾਲ ਗੁਰ ਗੁਰ ਪੂਰਨ ਨਾਰਾਇਣਹ ॥
Gur gobinḏ gopāl gur gur pūran nārā▫iṇėh.
The Guru is the Lord of the Universe; the Guru is the Lord of the world; the Guru is the Perfect Pervading Lord God.
ਗੁਰ ਦਇਆਲ ਸਮਰਥ ਗੁਰ ਗੁਰ ਨਾਨਕ ਪਤਿਤ ਉਧਾਰਣਹ ॥੧॥
Gur ḏa▫i▫āl samrath gur gur Nānak paṯiṯ uḏẖārṇėh. ||1||
The Guru is compassionate; the Guru is all-powerful; the Guru, O Nanak, is the Saving Grace of sinners. ||1||
ਭਉਜਲੁ ਬਿਖਮੁ ਅਸਗਾਹੁ ਗੁਰਿ ਬੋਹਿਥੈ ਤਾਰਿਅਮੁ ॥
Bẖa▫ojal bikẖam asgāhu gur bohithai ṯāri▫am.
The Guru is the boat, to cross over the dangerous, treacherous, unfathomable world-ocean.
ਨਾਨਕ ਪੂਰ ਕਰੰਮ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਚਰਣੀ ਲਗਿਆ ॥੨॥
Nānak pūr karamm saṯgur cẖarṇī lagi▫ā. ||2||
O Nanak, by perfect good karma, one is attached to the feet of the True Guru. ||2||
I get caught by the word 'karma'. If we interpret 'karma' as it is commonly, i.e. what you do now will have effects later, or your actions now affect your rebirth, it seems like a bit of an impossible feat. Who can know their karma, who can do anything except leave it up to the scoreboard in the sky?
When you check the dictionary for the word, in this case, ਕਰੰਮ (karamm), it says 'from karama'. The definition of 'Karama' is either actions, or destiny or fortune.
Is the reader then free to apply whichever definition they see fit?
Can the last sentence be translated as
O Nanak, by perfect good actions, one is attached to the feet of the True Guru. ||2|| [Ishna's interpretation only]
Or am I over-analysing. Can it be that the word karamm is employing two concepts - i.e. 'O Nanak, it is the result of perfect good actions whereby one is attached to the feet of the True Guru'? Which sort of employs a version of 'karma' (your actions affect what is to come) but also puts the emphasis on your actions now rather than waiting for the scoreboard in the sky to do it's thang?
Sorry if this has already been discussed.
Thank for persevering with my dodgy brain. teehee
Edit:
OMG! Then Bhai Manmohan Singh translates it to the even more vague and irritating:
