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.
hansu uḍari kodhrai païā loku viḍāraṇi jāi.
gahilā loku na jāṇadā hansu na kodhrā khāi.65.
-Guru Granth Sahib 1381
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
Calligraphy
In the sixty-fifth stanza, Sheikh Farid says, The swan, having flown, has descended on the millet; the world goes to chase it off. The unaware world does not know; the swan does not eat millet. In the previous stanza, Sheikh Farid compared the discerning and virtuous seekers to swans. These swans do not stay in saltwater ponds. These seekers do not remain in vice-filled environments or surround themselves with those who do not help them on their journeys toward IkOankar (One Creative and Pervasive Force, 1Force, the One). In this same extended metaphor, Sheikh Farid says that after flying away from the saltwater pond, the swans descend onto millet, and the world chases them off, thinking they will eat the millet. But the world does not know what the swans do. They do not know that the swans don’t eat millet. The world does not know what the swans drink, eat, or do.
Sheikh Farid is telling us as seekers that when we are in the world, we might encounter those who do not understand our journeys on the path to IkOankar. They might not understand! They might think they have to protect something from the swan-like seeker. They might cast judgments or interpret us a particular way, or they might think the seeker is pretentious or egotistical. It does not make a difference what the world says or how they interpret the seeker. The swan-like seeker is virtuous and compassionate and full of grace. This world is a pond! There are so many different ‘birds’ that come and go, so many that come for different reasons and leave for different reasons. This is the play of existence. Will we cultivate discernment and virtuousness that help us navigate this play? Will we become swan-like seekers?
