Dear Readers,
Today, I share with you what I understand from the 4th Pauri of 1st Ashtapadee of Sukhmani Sahib.
1. pRB kw ismrnu sB qy aUcw ] parabh kaa simran sabh tay oochaa.
Remembrance of ‘The Sat’ is highest of all.
My understanding:
Guru Sahib here tells me that remembering ‘The Sat’ is the most exalted way of worship. It is highest. In other words Guru Sahib tells me that I should not adopt any other mode of worship, which may be followed by other religious systems.
2. pRB kY ismrin auDry mUcw ] parabh kai simran uDhray moochaa.
Through remembrance of ‘The Sat’ one comes out of fussiness.
My understanding:
Guru Sahib says that through remembrance the clarity come in life. I know that as dualities get dissolved and mind becomes pure, one is able to see the reality as it presents itself in an unbiased way. All this happens when one is imbued with the remembrance of ‘The Sat’.
3. pRB kY ismrin iqRsnw buJY ] parabh kai simran tarisnaa bujhai.
Through remembrance of ‘The Sat’ the thirst gets quenched.
My understanding:
Guru Sahib says that if one is imbued with the remembrance of ‘The Sat’ her or his mental make-up will become such that she or he will not crave for things and will not run after desires or for gratification of senses. The cause of the thirst itself will disappear and so in this way the thirst will stand quenched.
4. pRB kY ismrin sBu ikCu suJY ] parabh kai simran sabh kichh sujhai.
Through remembrance of ‘The Sat’ solution to every thing comes to mind.
My understanding:
Guru Sahib says that to a person who always remember ‘The Sat’ the solution to the problems in empirical life come automatically to her or him. I understand that this is bound to happen as Gurmukh always strives for evolution - both in empirical life and in spiritual life. With purity of mind, with guidance from Gurbani and rational approach towards problem solving the God-centered person (Gurmukh) taking a holistic (Sarbat Ka Bhala i.e. good of every one) view will be able to find solution on her or his own.
5. pRB kY ismrin nwhI jm qRwsw ] parabh kai simran naahee jam taraasaa.
By remembrance of ‘The Sat’ the fear of death does not torture the individual.
My understanding:
Guru Sahib in these words tell that the Gurmukh imbued with remembrance of ‘The Sat’ considers herself or himself as and instrument of ‘The Sat’, there is no selfish motive in her or his living. She or he is living for all-round evolution in line with the will of ‘The Sat’. She or he knows that life span is decided by almighty and as there is no selfishness in her or his life, she or he is ready to depart whenever ‘The Sat’ wishes. Such a person cannot be tortured by the fear of death.
6. pRB kY ismrin pUrn Awsw ] parabh kai simran pooran aasaa.
By remembrance of ‘The Sat’ one’s aspirations get realized.
My understanding:
Guru Sahib tells that one does not have to go the individuals to seek their blessing to achieve some goal. The remembrance of ‘The Sat’ will give the necessary strength, vision and the opportunity to realize the goal.
7. pRB kY ismrin mn kI mlu jwie ] parabh kai simran man kee mal jaa-ay.
Remembrance of ‘The Sat’ removes the dirt from the mind.
My understanding:
Guru Sahib says that the remembrance of ‘The Sat’ removes dirt from the mind. The mind gets purified and become clear. It will see the events as they are. The hatred, falsehood, Ahamkara, deceit, cheating, greed, lust, anger, prejudices, envy etc all that is dirt gets removed from the mind. It is natural; the God centered person i.e. Gurmukh in full of values. She or he has only virtues and no vices.
8. AMimRq nwmu ird mwih smwie ] amrit naam rid maahi samaa-ay.
The Ambrosial ‘Naam’ (an appellation for ‘The Sat’) enters the deeper layers of the brain.
My understanding:
Guru Sahib says that the Naam’ enters the deeper layers of the brain. This I know is bound to happen as one remains imbued with the remembrance of ‘The Sat’. Each time one remembers ‘The Sat’ brain gets more and more committed towards what the ‘Nam’ implies. At some stage the entire domains in the brain get this message and start working the way they should to meet the intent of the message. In this process, the Manmukh (world-centered individual) gets transformed into Gurmukh (God-centered individual). All actions of the Gurmukh are directed to work in line with the will if ‘The Sat’. The will of ‘The Sat’ is all-round evolution – both in spiritual and empirical world i.e. ‘Chardi Kala’.
9. pRB jI bsih swD kI rsnw ] parabh jee baseh saaDh kee rasnaa.
‘The Sat’ resides in the essence of the person who has achieved this perfection.
My understanding:
Guru Sahib says ‘The Sat’ shines and resides in the individual who through remembrance of ‘The Sat’ has transformed herself or himself, removed all the dirt from her or his mind become pure and Gurmukh.
10. nwnk jn kw dwsin dsnw ]4] naanak jan kaa daasan dasnaa. ||4||
Nanak is servant of slaves of ‘His’ slaves.
My understanding:
Guru Sahib gives very exalted positions to those individuals who have transformed themselves into Gurmukhs. In all his humility, he calls himself as servant of slaves of ‘His’ slaves.
Intent of this Pauri:
Guru Sahib in this Pauri has explained to us the importance of remembrance of ‘The Sat’ Spiritual evolution and fulfillments of aspirations in empirical world can be realized through remembrance of ‘The Sat.
Guru Sahib wants every Sikh to become God-centered. He wants each one of us to become a Gurmukh.
Now, I close my post today.
With love and respect for all.
Amarpal Singh
Today, I share with you what I understand from the 4th Pauri of 1st Ashtapadee of Sukhmani Sahib.
1. pRB kw ismrnu sB qy aUcw ] parabh kaa simran sabh tay oochaa.
Remembrance of ‘The Sat’ is highest of all.
My understanding:
Guru Sahib here tells me that remembering ‘The Sat’ is the most exalted way of worship. It is highest. In other words Guru Sahib tells me that I should not adopt any other mode of worship, which may be followed by other religious systems.
2. pRB kY ismrin auDry mUcw ] parabh kai simran uDhray moochaa.
Through remembrance of ‘The Sat’ one comes out of fussiness.
My understanding:
Guru Sahib says that through remembrance the clarity come in life. I know that as dualities get dissolved and mind becomes pure, one is able to see the reality as it presents itself in an unbiased way. All this happens when one is imbued with the remembrance of ‘The Sat’.
3. pRB kY ismrin iqRsnw buJY ] parabh kai simran tarisnaa bujhai.
Through remembrance of ‘The Sat’ the thirst gets quenched.
My understanding:
Guru Sahib says that if one is imbued with the remembrance of ‘The Sat’ her or his mental make-up will become such that she or he will not crave for things and will not run after desires or for gratification of senses. The cause of the thirst itself will disappear and so in this way the thirst will stand quenched.
4. pRB kY ismrin sBu ikCu suJY ] parabh kai simran sabh kichh sujhai.
Through remembrance of ‘The Sat’ solution to every thing comes to mind.
My understanding:
Guru Sahib says that to a person who always remember ‘The Sat’ the solution to the problems in empirical life come automatically to her or him. I understand that this is bound to happen as Gurmukh always strives for evolution - both in empirical life and in spiritual life. With purity of mind, with guidance from Gurbani and rational approach towards problem solving the God-centered person (Gurmukh) taking a holistic (Sarbat Ka Bhala i.e. good of every one) view will be able to find solution on her or his own.
5. pRB kY ismrin nwhI jm qRwsw ] parabh kai simran naahee jam taraasaa.
By remembrance of ‘The Sat’ the fear of death does not torture the individual.
My understanding:
Guru Sahib in these words tell that the Gurmukh imbued with remembrance of ‘The Sat’ considers herself or himself as and instrument of ‘The Sat’, there is no selfish motive in her or his living. She or he is living for all-round evolution in line with the will of ‘The Sat’. She or he knows that life span is decided by almighty and as there is no selfishness in her or his life, she or he is ready to depart whenever ‘The Sat’ wishes. Such a person cannot be tortured by the fear of death.
6. pRB kY ismrin pUrn Awsw ] parabh kai simran pooran aasaa.
By remembrance of ‘The Sat’ one’s aspirations get realized.
My understanding:
Guru Sahib tells that one does not have to go the individuals to seek their blessing to achieve some goal. The remembrance of ‘The Sat’ will give the necessary strength, vision and the opportunity to realize the goal.
7. pRB kY ismrin mn kI mlu jwie ] parabh kai simran man kee mal jaa-ay.
Remembrance of ‘The Sat’ removes the dirt from the mind.
My understanding:
Guru Sahib says that the remembrance of ‘The Sat’ removes dirt from the mind. The mind gets purified and become clear. It will see the events as they are. The hatred, falsehood, Ahamkara, deceit, cheating, greed, lust, anger, prejudices, envy etc all that is dirt gets removed from the mind. It is natural; the God centered person i.e. Gurmukh in full of values. She or he has only virtues and no vices.
8. AMimRq nwmu ird mwih smwie ] amrit naam rid maahi samaa-ay.
The Ambrosial ‘Naam’ (an appellation for ‘The Sat’) enters the deeper layers of the brain.
My understanding:
Guru Sahib says that the Naam’ enters the deeper layers of the brain. This I know is bound to happen as one remains imbued with the remembrance of ‘The Sat’. Each time one remembers ‘The Sat’ brain gets more and more committed towards what the ‘Nam’ implies. At some stage the entire domains in the brain get this message and start working the way they should to meet the intent of the message. In this process, the Manmukh (world-centered individual) gets transformed into Gurmukh (God-centered individual). All actions of the Gurmukh are directed to work in line with the will if ‘The Sat’. The will of ‘The Sat’ is all-round evolution – both in spiritual and empirical world i.e. ‘Chardi Kala’.
9. pRB jI bsih swD kI rsnw ] parabh jee baseh saaDh kee rasnaa.
‘The Sat’ resides in the essence of the person who has achieved this perfection.
My understanding:
Guru Sahib says ‘The Sat’ shines and resides in the individual who through remembrance of ‘The Sat’ has transformed herself or himself, removed all the dirt from her or his mind become pure and Gurmukh.
10. nwnk jn kw dwsin dsnw ]4] naanak jan kaa daasan dasnaa. ||4||
Nanak is servant of slaves of ‘His’ slaves.
My understanding:
Guru Sahib gives very exalted positions to those individuals who have transformed themselves into Gurmukhs. In all his humility, he calls himself as servant of slaves of ‘His’ slaves.
Intent of this Pauri:
Guru Sahib in this Pauri has explained to us the importance of remembrance of ‘The Sat’ Spiritual evolution and fulfillments of aspirations in empirical world can be realized through remembrance of ‘The Sat.
Guru Sahib wants every Sikh to become God-centered. He wants each one of us to become a Gurmukh.
Now, I close my post today.
With love and respect for all.
Amarpal Singh
