rārai ravi rahiā sabh antari jete kīe jantā.
jant upāi dhandhai sabh lāe karamu hoā tin nāmu laïā.30.
-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 thirtieth couplet, Guru Nanak delivers a message through the letter ਰ (‘rārā,’ #32) and says, as many beings as have been created, IkOankar (One Creative and Pervasive Force, 1Force the One) is ‘ravi rahiā,’ popularly ‘rav rahiaa,’ or specifically, is pervading each and every one of them. Having created these beings, IkOankar has engaged all of them in worldly affairs. Those graced by IkOankar contemplate and reflect on the Nam (Identification with IkOankar). This is about the One’s all-pervasiveness! We know logically that regardless of the number of lifeforms in their various manifestations, they are all created by the One and the One is dwelling within them. But this is the very thing that we keep forgetting! This is part of our problem — we look at things and do not see their inherent unity or the inherent presence of the One. We might ask ourselves, if everything is born because of the Command of the One, and everything is engaged in worldly activities because of that Command, then how come not everyone is able to figure out that One? The Guru builds on the previous one about Wisdom-orientedness and says, that the beings who feel the grace are those who are Identifying with IkOankar. They understand IkOankar’s pervasiveness and IkOankar’s command experientially. There is no longer concern about which species or which creatures or how many or in what forms – there is no attempt to define and count and categorize creation and no attempt to define how the Command operates. Instead, there is a transcending of these questions in pursuit of experiencing the presence of IkOankar within creation, and accepting the Command of IkOankar as operating within creation. Will we become learned in this way? Will we Identify with IkOankar? Will we feel the Grace?
Tags
