paüṛī.
khasṭami khaṭ sāstra kahahi simmriti kathahi anek.
ūtamu ūcau pārbrahamu guṇ antu na jāṇahi sekh.
nārad muni jan suk biās jasu gāvat gobind.
ras gīdhe hari siu bīdhe bhagat race bhagvant.
moh mān bhramu binsio pāī sarani daïāl.
caran kamal mani tani base darsanu dekhi nihāl.
lābhu milai toṭā hirai sādhsaṅgi liv lāi.
khāṭi khajānā guṇ nidhi hare nānak nāmu dhiāi.6.
-Guru Granth Sahib 298
Guru Arjan Sahib describes that although there is no limit to the virtues of IkOankar (the Divine), the devotees still sing praises by realizing IkOankar as ever-present and thus find honor here and hereafter. Corresponding to the fifteen-day lunar calendar and each pauri (stanza) correlates to each day formed by the waxing and waning of the moon. The sixth pauri depicts those who take the shelter of IkOankar; their ego and attachment to the transient objects and relationships vanish, and their wandering stops; their minds and bodies bloom forever.
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
Calligraphy
In the sixth pauri (stanza), the Guru refers to the paradigms of the Indic and Semitic systems, which say many things. They say that the Transcended Being is supreme, but even those who composed these foundational texts, those who are constantly remembering the One, do not know the extent of the One’s virtues. The Guru invokes famous sages and saints and renunciates, stating that they all sing praises of the Earth-Knower. Thus, those associated with existing paradigms and religious establishments who cannot figure out the end or limit of the One eventually come to sing praises of the One instead. In contrast, the devotees are already devoted, already imbued in the essence, already pierced with the love of the 1-Light, absorbed in the Adorable One. They are already enjoying the flavors of the All-Pervasive, their attachment, pride, and illusion have perished, and they have found the shelter of the Compassionate. They have seen a glimpse of the One through their devotion and are exalted by it. They have become blissful.
The Guru reminds us that through the company of the virtuous beings, we find a connection to the One. Through this company and this connection, we only gain. We do not experience loss. We are urged to earn the treasure of IkOankar, the Treasure of virtues, of the 1-Light, by meditating on the Nam (Identification) — by Identifying with the One. This is not something that comes easily. We have to earn it through great effort, the company we keep, and the devotion we engage in.
Our work continues on the sixth lunar day. We are shown that it is not the expert understanding of scripture and philosophy that we ought to be consumed by, but instead the singing of the Beautiful, the praise of the Beautiful, which ought to occupy us. We can become devoted ones who remain in bliss and only experience intangible profit and gain because Identification exists at all times. We can put the particularities of our intellectual debates to rest because we know that Identification matters, and becoming devoted matters. Will we earn this treasure of the Treasure of Virtues? Will we refrain from debates rooted in ego and instead sing praises in devotion? Will we witness the door of the One? Will we glimpse the Compassionate through our devotion? Will we live in exaltation?
The Guru reminds us that through the company of the virtuous beings, we find a connection to the One. Through this company and this connection, we only gain. We do not experience loss. We are urged to earn the treasure of IkOankar, the Treasure of virtues, of the 1-Light, by meditating on the Nam (Identification) — by Identifying with the One. This is not something that comes easily. We have to earn it through great effort, the company we keep, and the devotion we engage in.
Our work continues on the sixth lunar day. We are shown that it is not the expert understanding of scripture and philosophy that we ought to be consumed by, but instead the singing of the Beautiful, the praise of the Beautiful, which ought to occupy us. We can become devoted ones who remain in bliss and only experience intangible profit and gain because Identification exists at all times. We can put the particularities of our intellectual debates to rest because we know that Identification matters, and becoming devoted matters. Will we earn this treasure of the Treasure of Virtues? Will we refrain from debates rooted in ego and instead sing praises in devotion? Will we witness the door of the One? Will we glimpse the Compassionate through our devotion? Will we live in exaltation?
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