The
saloks of Sheikh Farid
Ji guide the seeker towards life’s true purpose, the devotion to the one absolute Divine, IkOankar. In these saloks, he reminds us that our time in this world is finite; therefore, one must turn to IkOankar without delay. Yet, attachment to transient possessions and relationships causes many to forget this truth, becoming entangled in vices that lead to restlessness and inner turmoil. In contrast, those who cultivate virtues such as love, humility, patience, contentment, selfless service, and righteousness experience the bliss of connection with IkOankar even while living a householder’s life. Their life becomes serene and suffused with inner joy.
sarvar paṅkhī hekaṛo phāhīvāl pacās.
ihu tanu lahrī gaḍu thiā sace terī ās.125.
-Guru Granth Sahib 1384
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
Calligraphy
In the one hundred and twenty-fifth stanza, Sheikh Farid says, The bird of the pond is one, the snarers are fifty. This body is caught in the waves; O True One! There is only Your hope. The scene is set: in the pond-like world, the bird-like being is alone. The hunters, the vices that seek to entangle and entrap us, are many. If this body is caught up in those waves, perpetually hunted by vices, how can it survive? As human beings on earth, there is so much in the world that seeks to entangle us or entrap us—to steal our attention or our time or our efforts. We are, without fail, chasing after and being chased by transient material things and relationships. In this way, the waters of life are made choppy. We become immersed in this way of being, engulfed and caught up, unable to connect with IkOankar (One Creative and Pervasive Force, 1Force, the One).
In this scenario, in this reality, IkOankar is our only hope. The only thing that can free us from this tumultuous pond-like world and these vices and attachments is the Grace. We might think that the answer is particular friends or particular methods—that we will be able to survive through these means. But as seekers, when we are caught up in wave after wave of vices and senses and attachment, we find that nothing seems to help. Sheikh Farid is urging us to feel the Grace of the One, to ask for help, to seek the support of the One. Will we?
