The
saloks of Sheikh Farid
Ji guide the seeker toward the devotion of the one absolute IkOankar (the Divine), which is the true purpose of life. In these saloks, Farid Ji shares that our time in this world is finite, and thus, one should immediately turn to the devotion of IkOankar without delay. However, due to attachment to transient things and relationships, many forget this truth and become entangled in vices, leading to a perpetually restless and uneasy life. However, the being who embraces virtues such as remembrance of IkOankar, love, humility, tolerance, patience, contentment, selfless service, and righteous living, experiences the bliss of connection with IkOankar even while leading a householder’s life. Their life becomes comfortable and peaceful.
je jāṇā laṛu chijṇā pīḍī pāīṁ ganḍhi.
tai jevaḍu mai nāhi ko sabhu jagu ḍiṭhā hanḍhi.5.
-Guru Granth Sahib 1378
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
In the thirty-second stanza, Guru Nanak builds on the previous two stanzas of Sheikh Farid and says, At the in-laws’ and parents’ house, she is of her Divine-Husband. Her Divine-Husband is unreachable and unfathomable. This salok was revealed by Guru Nanak. Here, it is as if Guru Nanak is answering the question of what makes one a suhagan—a happily married woman, a fortunate bride, a connected seeker that Sheikh Farid posed in the previous salok. The answer: it is when we become of the Divine-Husband, IkOankar (One Creative and Pervasive Force, 1Force, the One) in this world and in the hereafter. This happens when there is deep intimacy in the relationship—when we belong to IkOankar and IkOankar belongs to us. The lovers of the Divine-Husband have this connection while they are alive in the world! They make this effort while they are here, rather than hoping for a connection in the hereafter. They experience the presence of the Divine-Husband within. The suhagans are the ones in whose heart the Divine-Husband dwells, who feel that Presence and also feel that Vastness—the unreachability and unfathomability of the beloved Divine-Husband.
These are the fortunate and connected seekers, who are endearing to the carefree One, IkOankar. They are honored in every space, always with and of the carefree One. They are able to be engaged in the world and also in remembrance of the carefree One. They experience the presence of the carefree One within, and thus experience the carefree One’s vastness. They say, it does not matter where I am, I am of the carefree One in every place. This is what devotion looks like—when we are of the carefree One, we too become carefree. The only thing that matters to us is love, that intimacy, that connection. Will we become fortunate here and now? Will we make an effort to feel the Presence while we are alive? Will we become carefree seekers of the beloved and carefree Divine-Husband?
