This
pauri (stanza), revealed by Guru Nanak Sahib, is accompanied by two
saloks. The first salok consists of fourteen lines and discusses the ritual practices of Muslims, Hindus, Yogis, philanthropists, and corrupt individuals. In the last two lines, the first salok reaffirms the principle of the Guru Granth Sahib. The second salok, comprising ten lines, satirizes the belief amongst Muslims that internment is superior to cremation. This pauri focuses on the importance of Wisdom (Guru) for realizing IkOankar (the Divine).
m: 1.
miṭī musalmān kī peṛai paī kum̖iār.
ghaṛi bhānḍe iṭā kīā jaldī kare pukār.
jali jali rovai bapuṛī jhaṛi jhaṛi pavahi aṅgiār.
nānak jini kartai kāraṇu kīā so jāṇai kartāru.2.
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
Calligraphy
Guru Nanak draws a contrast between practices of the two major religious groups: Hindus and Muslims. At the time, Muslims were making fun of Hindus for their practice of cremation, wondering how they would ever get salvation if their bodies were burned away. Guru Nanak sarcastically points out that when the body disintegrates overtime after being buried, that body goes back into the soil, and becomes a part of the clay that is eventually used by potters to make different vessels and bricks. Those vessels and bricks are then baked in the kiln, another form of burning. So, Guru Nanak says, those bodies that are buried and not burned are eventually burned as well.
The statement being made is that we can fight about all of these things — which is better or worse, which will get us mental, physical, and emotional freedom, and which won’t. We can separate ourselves, see everything in terms of separation, and fixate on particular rituals in an attempt to assess their value in relation to one another. But if we are in sync with 1Force, if we feel the 1Force, we become one with the Creator. If we change our behaviors, we become like the Creator, and we see that the question of heaven and hell, the attempt to assign a value to various rituals in competition with one another, is futile. And instead, we focus on becoming one with 1Force and feeling 1Force in our day to day lives.
Every community does this — not just religious communities. We often think that because we do something one way we must make it a requirement for everyone. But, Guru Nanak says, these things are not universal in nature, and they cannot be used as a basis for judgment of other people.
