This
pauri (stanza), revealed by Guru Nanak Sahib, is accompanied by two
saloks. The first salok comprising six lines, proposes and establishes the perspective of Guru Granth Sahib against the backdrop of the popular understanding of ages in the Sanatan tradition. In the second salok, which comprises fourteen lines, each age correlates to each Veda, symbolically describing the prevalence of all four ages. The end of the salok imparts a lesson in adoration of IkOankar (the Divine). This pauri conveys that an individual can only cross the world-ocean with wisdom from the Guru.
paüṛī.
satigur viṭahu vāriā jitu miliai khasamu samāliā.
jinni kari updesu giān añjanu dīā in̖ī netrī jagatu nihāliā.
khasamu choḍi dūjai lage ḍube se vaṇjāriā.
satigurū hai bohithā virlai kinai vīcāriā.
kari kirpā pāri utāriā.13.
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
Calligraphy
Guru Nanak now brings focus to the Wisdom. In this context, when the Vedas and the establishment do not teach us how to live in humility and exist in loving devotion, the Wisdom will. Guru Nanak does not focus on religious discipline or the eras or some sort of sense of Armageddon, but instead reminds us that what really matters is the Wisdom, the things we are choosing as our driving forces, and the goals we set regardless of popular discourses (cultural, religious, or otherwise). Guru Nanak says, I adore the Wisdom, who showed me how to take care of my Owner (1Force) — I will give up anything for the Wisdom. I listen to the Wisdom, who gave me the Instruction, who put this eyeliner of deep knowledge on my eyes, through which I am now able to look at the world and see it as a manifestation of the 1Force. Those of us who forget the Owner are drowning, because we do not even know how to look at the world, how to perceive all of this existing. The eternal Wisdom (true Guru, the one who brings enlightenment-light by dispelling ignorance-darkness) gives us a much-needed change in perspective, and the grace helps ferry us across the world ocean.
