Ang 1411

ONE UNIVERSAL CREATOR GOD. TRUTH IS THE NAME. CREATIVE BEING PERSONIFIED. NO FEAR. NO HATRED. IMAGE OF THE UNDYING. BEYOND BIRTH. SELF-EXISTENT. BY GURU’S GRACE: SHALOKS IN ADDITION TO THE VAARS. FIRST MEHL: O you with swollen breasts, let your consciousness become deep and profound. O mother-in-law, how can I bow? Because of my stiff nipples, I cannot bow. O sister, those mansions built as high as mountains — I have seen them come crumbling down. O bride, do not be so proud of your nipples. ||1|| O bride with deer-like eyes, listen to the words of deep and infinite wisdom. First, examine the merchandise, and then, make the deal. Proclaim that you will not associate with evil people; celebrate victory with your friends. This proclamation, to meet with your friends, O bride — give it some thought. Surrender mind and body to the Lord your Friend; this is the most excellent pleasure. Do not fall in love with one who is destined to leave. O Nanak, I am a sacrifice to those who understand this. ||2|| If you wish to swim across the water, then consult those who know how to swim. Those who have survived these treacherous waves are very wise. ||3|| The storm rages and the rain floods the land; thousands of waves rise and surge. If you cry out for help from the True Guru, you have nothing to fear — your boat will not sink. ||4|| O Nanak, what has happened to the world? There is no guide or friend. There is no love, even among brothers and relatives. For the sake of the world, people have lost their faith. ||5|| They cry and weep and wail. They slap their faces and pull their hair out. But if they chant the Naam, the Name of the Lord, they shall be absorbed into it. O Nanak, I am a sacrifice to them. ||6|| O my mind, do not waver or walk on the crooked path; take the straight and true path. The terrible tiger is behind you, and the pool of fire is ahead. My soul is skeptical and doubtful, but I cannot see any other way to go. O Nanak, as Gurmukh, dwell with your Beloved Lord, and you shall be saved. ||7|| The tiger is killed, and the mind is killed, through the Teachings of the True Guru. One who understands himself, meets with the Lord, and never dies again. One who sees the One and Only Lord with his eyes — his hands shall not get muddy and dirty. O Nanak, the Gurmukhs are saved; the Guru has surrounded the ocean with the embankment of Truth. ||8||

If you wish to put out the fire, then look for water; without the Guru, the ocean of water is not found. You shall continue to wander lost in reincarnation through birth and death, even if you do thousands of other deeds. But you shall not be taxed by the Messenger of Death, if you walk in harmony with the Will of the True Guru. O Nanak, the immaculate, immortal status is obtained, and the Guru will unite you in the Lord’s Union. ||9|| The crow rubs and washes itself in the mud puddle. Its mind and body are polluted with its own mistakes and demerits, and its beak is filled with dirt. The swan in the pool associated with the crow, not knowing that it was evil. Such is the love of the faithless cynic; understand this, O spiritually wise ones, through love and devotion. So proclaim the victory of the Society of the Saints, and act as Gurmukh. Immaculate and pure is that cleansing bath, O Nanak, at the sacred shrine of the Guru’s river. ||10|| What should I account as the rewards of this human life, if one does not feel love and devotion to the Lord? Wearing clothes and eating food is useless, if the mind is filled with the love of duality. Seeing and hearing is false, if one speaks lies. O Nanak, praise the Naam, the Name of the Lord; everything else is coming and going in egotism. ||11|| The Saints are few and far between; everything else in the world is just a pompous show. ||12|| O Nanak, one who is struck by the Lord dies instantaneously; the power to live is lost. If someone dies by such a stroke, then he is accepted. He alone is struck, who is struck by the Lord; after such a stroke, he is approved. The arrow of love, shot by the All-knowing Lord, cannot be pulled out. ||13|| Who can wash the unbaked clay pot? Joining the five elements together, the Lord made a false cover. When it pleases Him, He makes it right. The supreme light shines forth, and the celestial song vibrates and resounds. ||14|| Those who are totally blind in their minds, do not have the integrity to keep their word. With their blind minds, and their upside-down heart- lotus, they look totally ugly. Some know how to speak and understand what they are told. Those people are wise and good-looking. Some do not know the Sound-current of the Naad, spiritual wisdom or the joy of song. They do not even understand good and bad. Some have no idea of perfection, wisdom or understanding; they know nothing about the mystery of the Word. O Nanak, those people are really donkeys; they have no virtue or merit, but still, they are very proud. ||15||

He alone is a Brahmin, who knows God. He chants and meditates, and practices austerity and good deeds. He keeps to the Dharma, with faith, humility and contentment. Breaking his bonds, he is liberated. Such a Brahmin is worthy of being worshipped. ||16|| He alone is a Kh’shaatriyaa, who is a hero in good deeds. He uses his body to give in charity; he understands his farm, and plants the seeds of generosity. Such a Kh’shaatriyaa is accepted in the Court of the Lord. Whoever practices greed, possessiveness and falsehood, shall receive the fruits of his own labors. ||17|| Do not heat your body like a furnace, or burn your bones like firewood. What have your head and feet done wrong? See your Husband Lord within yourself. ||18|| God the Cosmic Husband dwells within all hearts; without Him, there is no heart at all. O Nanak, the Gurmukhs are the happy, virtuous soul-brides; the Lord is revealed to them. ||19|| If you desire to play this game of love with Me, then step onto My Path with your head in hand. When you place your feet on this Path, give Me your head, and do not pay any attention to public opinion. ||20|| False is friendship with the false and gredy. False is its foundation. O Mullah, no one knows where death shall strike. ||21|| Without spiritual wisdom, the people worship ignorance. They grope in the darkness, in the love of duality. ||22|| Without the Guru, there is no spiritual wisdom; without Dharma, there is no meditation. Without Truth, there is no credit; without capital, there is no balance. ||23|| The mortals are sent into the world; then, they arise and depart. There is no joy in this. ||24|| Raam Chand, sad at heart, assembled his army and forces. The army of monkeys was at his service; his mind and body became eager for war. Raawan captured his wife Sita, and Lachhman was cursed to die. O Nanak, the Creator Lord is the Doer of all; He watches over all, and destroys what He has created. ||25|| In his mind, Raam Chand mourned for Sita and Lachhman. Then, he remembered Hanuman the monkey-god, who came to him. The misguided demon did not understand that God is the Doer of deeds. O Nanak, the actions of the Self-existent Lord cannot be erased. ||26|| The city of Lahore suffered terrible destruction for four hours. ||27||