This
pauri (stanza), revealed by Guru Nanak Sahib, is accompanied by two
saloks. The first salok comprises four lines, and the second salok comprises twenty-two. Both saloks highlight the hypocrisy of the purity culture practiced by Hindu priests (Brahmin) and officials (Kshatriya). This
pauri (stanza) describes how individuals can only be liberated from this hypocrisy by remembering IkOankar. This pauri conveys that all are equal, according to IkOankar (the Divine), regardless of their caste.
paüṛī.
citai andari sabhu ko vekhi nadarī heṭhi calāidā.
āpe de vaḍiāīā āpe hī karam karāidā.
vaḍahu vaḍā vaḍ medanī sire siri dhandhai lāidā.
nadari upaṭhī je kare sultāna ghāhu karāidā. dari maṅgani bhikh na pāidā.16.
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
Calligraphy
Guru Nanak focuses on the larger picture in the ballad by saying that everyone exists in the consciousness of the 1Force. The Self gives the greatness and the grace to all of us, and everyone is given jobs to do as IkOankar sees fit. This greatness is what moves our actions, and IkOankar is putting things into motion. This is a discussion about consequence, that is taken outside of the classically religious context. The Guru says, if the greatness and the grace are reversed, if 1Force does not give us that glance of grace, IkOankar can take the crown of a king and turn him into a pauper. All of our successes, all of our status and power, all of the ways we think we are great by worldly standards, mean nothing if we have not felt the Grace. We may be kings in the world, but a king without Grace is reduced to a pauper. So, there is a warning, to not be too proud of who we are in our status, or invoke it for the purpose of power and sway, because we do not know what we might be doing tomorrow.
