dadai dosu na deū kisai dosu karammā āpaṇiā.
jo mai kīā so mai pāiā dosu na dījai avar janā.21.
-Guru Granth Sahib 433
The Patti composition revealed by Guru Nanak Sahib consists of thirty-five stanzas, each containing two lines. This composition is based on the thirty-five letters of the alphabet prevalent at that time. In this composition the Guru has established a foundational system based on letters. In the rahau line, by addressing his own mind, the Guru provides insights, saying, “O fool! Why do you remain forgetful? You will be considered truly educated only when you are able to settle the account of your deeds in IkOankar’s (the Divine) court.” The Guru goes on to explain the mystery of the letters, enlightening that the limits of IkOankar, the Creator, cannot be known. All beings are under IkOankar’s command, and no one else can exercise authority over them. All-pervading IkOankar is the cause of everything in the creation. An arrogant being who forgets IkOankar and is engrossed in worldly matters continues to suffer. However, if a being recognizes the eternal IkOankar through the Wisdom (Guru), they are freed from suffering. The being who understands the mystery explained through these thirty-five letters becomes one with IkOankar.
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
Calligraphy
O mind! Why do you forget, O foolish mind? You will be considered learned only when you give the account of your deeds, O sibling! In the twenty-first couplet, Guru Nanak delivers a message through the letter ਦ (‘daddā,’ #23) and says, I do not place ‘dosu,’ blame, on anyone else. The fault lies in my own deeds. Whatever I have done, I have received the consequences of that. Blame ought not to be put on other people. Our tendency as humans is to intellectualize and blame others, especially when ‘bad’ or ‘negative’ things happen. The Guru urges us towards a change in understanding and behavior: we ought not to blame others for our shortcomings and transgressions. We are responsible for our deeds and whatever consequences they may have. The urgency of this couplet is simple, and we are being asked to really reflect on whether we have learned the wisdom of these letters – whether we have gone further than just understanding the wisdom logically and moved into reflecting on our behaviors so that we may change them. Will we resist the urge to lay blame on others? Will we take responsibility for all that we may have done?
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