bhabhai bhālahi se phalu pāvahi gur parsādī jin̖ kaü bhaü païā.
manmukh phirahi na cetahi mūṛe lakh caürāsīh pheru païā.27.
-Guru Granth Sahib 434
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-seventh couplet, Guru Nanak delivers a message through the letter ਭ (‘bhabbhā,’ #29) and says, those beings who, through the Wisdom, live in reverence of IkOankar (One Creative and Pervasive Force, 1Force, the One), find the fruit they are seeking — they experience the presence of the One. They contemplate the One in every moment. They experience the connection with the One. If the previous couplet is something we have understood to be true, we know that we are not the players in this game of life. So then, what are we to do? The Guru says those searching for this kind of fruit will find success if they have cultivated reverence through the grace of the Wisdom. The literal word used is ‘bhaü,’ meaning fear. But this is not fear in the sense of being ‘god-fearing’; it is a kind of reverence rooted in devotion. We ought to make an effort to cultivate that feeling. If we do not engage in this effort, we will remain self-centered and continue to wander. We will remain foolish because we have not practiced remembrance of IkOankar. If we do not consciously practice remembrance, we will get caught up in innumerable lives. The Guru shows us how to develop reverence — it happens when we become seekers and make an effort toward a relationship with the Wisdom when we are in reverence of the Grace and of the One. Will we pull ourselves out of our forgetfulness and practice remembrance? Will we become seekers rather than fools? Will we live in reverence of the One?
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