Ang 1422

SHALOK, FOURTH MEHL: ONE UNIVERSAL CREATOR GOD. BY THE GRACE OF THE TRUE GURU: Blessed and very fortunate are those happy soul-brides who, as Gurmukh, meet their Sovereign Lord King. The Light of God shines within them; O Nanak, they are absorbed in the Naam, the Name of the Lord. ||1|| Waaho! Waaho! Blessed and Great is the True Guru, the Primal Being, who has realized the True Lord. Meeting Him, thirst is quenched, and the body and mind are cooled and soothed. Waaho! Waaho! Blessed and Great is the True Guru, the True Primal Being, who looks upon all alike. Waaho! Waaho! Blessed and Great is the True Guru, who has no hatred; slander and praise are all the same to Him. Waaho! Waaho! Blessed and Great is the All-knowing True Guru, who has realized God within. Waaho! Waaho! Blessed and Great is the Formless True Guru, who has no end or limitation. Waaho! Waaho! Blessed and Great is the True Guru, who implants the Truth within. O Nanak, Blessed and Great is the True Guru, through whom the Naam, the Name of the Lord, is received. ||2|| For the Gurmukh, the true Song of Praise is to chant the Name of the Lord God. Chanting the Praises of the Lord, their minds are in ecstasy. By great good fortune, they find the Lord, the Embodiment of perfect, supreme bliss. Servant Nanak praises the Naam, the Name of the Lord; no obstacle will block his mind or body. ||3|| I am in love with my Beloved; how can I meet my Dear Friend? I seek that friend, who is embellished with Truth. The True Guru is my Friend; if I meet Him, I will offer this mind as a sacrifice to Him. He has shown me my Beloved Lord, my Friend, the Creator. O Nanak, I was searching for my Beloved; the True Guru has shown me that He has been with me all the time. ||4|| I stand by the side of the road, waiting for You; O my Friend, I hope that You will come. If only someone would come today and unite me in Union with my Beloved. I would cut my living body into four pieces for anyone who shows me my Beloved. O Nanak, when the Lord becomes merciful, then He leads us to meet the Perfect Guru. ||5||

The power of egotism prevails within, and the body is controlled by Maya; the false ones come and go in reincarnation. If someone does not obey the Command of the True Guru, he cannot cross over the treacherous world-ocean. Whoever is blessed with the Lord’s Glance of Grace, walks in harmony with the Will of the True Guru. The Blessed Vision of the True Guru’s Darshan is fruitful; through it, one obtains the fruits of his desires. I touch the feet of those who believe in and obey the True Guru. Nanak is the slave of those who, night and day, remain lovingly attuned to the Lord. ||6|| Those who are in love with their Beloved — how can they find satisfaction without His Darshan? O Nanak, the Gurmukhs meet Him with ease, and this mind blossoms forth in joy. ||7|| Those who are in love with their Beloved — how can they live without Him? When they see their Husband Lord, O Nanak, they are rejuvenated. ||8|| Those Gurmukhs who are filled with love for You, my True Beloved, O Nanak, remain immersed in the Lord’s Love, night and day. ||9|| The love of the Gurmukh is true; through it, the True Beloved is attained. Night and day, remain in bliss, O Nanak, immersed in intuitive peace and poise. ||10|| True love and affection are obtained from the Perfect Guru. They never break, O Nanak, if one sings the Glorious Praises of the Lord. ||11|| How can those who have true love within them live without their Husband Lord? The Lord unites the Gurmukhs with Himself, O Nanak; they were separated from Him for such a long time. ||12|| You grant Your Grace to those whom You Yourself bless with love and affection. O Lord, please let Nanak meet with You; please bless this beggar with Your Name. ||13|| The Gurmukh laughs, and the Gurmukh cries. Whatever the Gurmukh does, is devotional worship. Whoever becomes Gurmukh contemplates the Lord. The Gurmukh, O Nanak, crosses over to the other shore. ||14|| Those who have the Naam within, contemplate the Word of the Guru’s Bani. Their faces are always radiant in the Court of the True Lord. Sitting down and standing up, they never forget the Creator, who forgives them. O Nanak, the Gurmukhs are united with the Lord. Those united by the Creator Lord, shall never be separated again. ||15||

To work for the Guru, or a spiritual teacher, is terribly difficult, but it brings the most excellent peace. The Lord casts His Glance of Grace, and inspires love and affection. Joined to the service of the True Guru, the mortal being crosses over the terrifying world-ocean. The fruits of the mind’s desires are obtained, with clear contemplation and discriminating understanding within. O Nanak, meeting the True Guru, God is found; He is the Eradicator of all sorrow. ||16|| The self-willed manmukh may perform service, but his consciousness is attached to the love of duality. Through Maya, his emotional attachment to children, spouse and relatives increases. He shall be called to account in the Court of the Lord, and in the end, no one will be able to save him. Without the Lord’s Name, all is pain. Attachment to Maya is agonizingly painful. O Nanak, the Gurmukh comes to see, that attachment to Maya separates all from the Lord. ||17|| The Gurmukh obeys the Order of her Husband Lord God; through the Hukam of His Command, she finds peace. In His Will, she serves; in His Will, she worship and adores Him. In His Will, she merges in absorption. His Will is her fast, vow, purity and self-discipline; through it, she obtains the fruits of her mind’s desires. She is always and forever the happy, pure soul-bride, who realizes His Will; she serves the True Guru, inspired by loving absorption. O Nanak, those upon whom the Lord showers His Mercy, are merged and immersed in His Will. ||18|| The wretched, self-willed manmukhs do not realize His Will; they continually act in ego. By ritualistic fasts, vows, purities, self-disciplines and worship ceremonies, they still cannot get rid of their hypocrisy and doubt. Inwardly, they are impure, pierced through by attachment to Maya; they are like elephants, who throw dirt all over themselves right after their bath. They do not even think of the One who created them. Without thinking of Him, they cannot find peace. O Nanak, the Primal Creator has made the drama of the Universe; all act as they are pre-ordained. ||19|| The Gurmukh has faith; his mind is contented and satisfied. Night and day, he serves the Lord, absorbed in Him. The Guru, the True Guru, is within; all worship and adore Him. Everyone comes to see the Blessed Vision of His Darshan. So believe in the True Guru, the supreme sublime Contemplator. Meeting with Him, hunger and thirst are completely relieved. I am forever a sacrifice to my Guru, who leads me to meet the True Lord God. O Nanak, those who come and fall at the Feet of the Guru are blessed with the karma of Truth. ||20||