In the sixth stanza (
savaiya), Guru Arjan spoke to the ultimate truth of
IkOankar (One Creative and Pervasive Force, 1Force, the One) and illuminated the importance of Grace and the
Nam, IkOankar’s pervading essence through which we come to identify with IkOankar. In this next stanza, expanding on the ultimate truth of the One, Guru Arjan describes IkOankar’s creation and all that governs IkOankar’s creation as true as well. Only the true, eternal One can establish things that also remain true and eternal. Again, Guru Arjan invokes IkOankar through the name
Hari, the all-pervasive One. In this Court, where all creation is assembled, IkOankar alone is the Judge. In this Court, the Nam, the essence of IkOankar through which we come to Identify with IkOankar, is enshrined in the eternal Wisdom-
Guru.
Further detailing this court of IkOankar, Guru Arjan speaks to the eternal, true throne of IkOankar. This is where IkOankar dwells as the ultimate Justice. What makes IkOankar’s throne the ultimately true throne? It is the only throne that has retained and will continue to retain its authority for all eternity. From IkOankar’s throne, ultimate judgment and justice are served. The justice served from IkOankar’s throne is also rooted in eternality and truth. It does not operate with partiality, inconsistency, impunity, or any other faults of earthly courts—it defines and executes ultimate fairness.
Zooming out, Guru Arjan declares that the whole Court, all of existence, is manifest from this same truth of the One. This means all is manifested from IkOankar’s Nam, the essence of IkOankar that pervades all existence. This declaration serves a greater purpose: while various traditions and philosophies teach the world to be false, Guru Arjan rejects this
. Unlike the things humans make, IkOankar’s creation is made without mistakes—nothing is overlooked, and nothing is forgotten. The Nam, the essence of IkOankar manifest and evident in all creation, is jewel-like and limitless. It abounds, and thus the opportunity for Identification experienced through Nam abounds as well. The Nam is
jewel-like, yet its value can never be appraised.
At the end of the stanza, Guru Arjan returns to the Grace of the One. He invokes
Gobind as another name of IkOankar, highlighting the creative force that drives all creation. Gobind can be understood as the creation-shaping One. When the creation-shaping One is gracious to a seeker, all comforts are bestowed upon that seeker. And when a being connects with Guru Nanak, the embodiment of IkOankar, through the teachings of Guru Nanak, that being no longer remains trapped in the cycle of birth and death.
This stanza invites us to recognize the world as the
court of IkOankar. The laws and governing systems under the domain of the One reign here, all rooted in the eternal justice and authority of IkOankar. In contrast, worldly courts operate under the many shortcomings of worldly rulers. Worldly rulers operate with their own agendas, lacking the ultimate fairness, justice, and authority that belong to IkOankar alone. No earthly ruler can reign as IkOankar does; earthly rulers are subject to term limits and jurisdictions. While those who reign with no term limits are often seen as holding a bolder, greater rule, even their terms are limited by the time they have on Earth. IkOankar is the only Sovereign whose term
truly has no end and who reigns fully in all jurisdictions.
While we can easily see both the reasonings and faults of earthly rulers, it’s likely we cannot fully understand the ways and reasons behind IkOankar’s justice. It is rooted in eternality, extending far beyond the confines of our individual intellects and lives. However, in recognizing IkOankar’s justice as supreme, we develop greater conviction and humility regarding how justice plays out in this life. Though understanding is beyond our grasp, we know that the One who reigns with eternal authority knows all. While earthly courts often fail to serve justice, being rooted in temporary, artificial systems of domination and partiality, all plays out fairly in the court of IkOankar, whether we see it or not.
We can come to understand all of this more intimately through Nam, the medium through which we develop personal Identification and connection with IkOankar. It is through the Wisdom-Guru that we experience this Identification and see that we live in the eternal court of the One. It is only through connecting with the ever-present Grace of IkOankar, the creation-shaping One, that we experience this Identification and truly come to live in the court of IkOankar within this lifetime. Furthermore, it is only through the embodied light of Guru Nanak, which we connect with through the Wisdom-Guru, that we are freed from the attachments that chain us to the cycle of birth and death.
Seeing beyond the reign of earthly authorities, do we acknowledge that IkOankar is the True authority in the world? Do we recognize that no matter where we go, we are in the jurisdiction of the One? In IkOankar’s jurisdiction, are we Identifying with our true Sovereign, or are we identifying with temporary sovereigns?
