Ang 581

The nine doors are closed by the True Lord’s Command, and the swan-soul takes flight into the skies. The body-bride is separated, and defrauded by falsehood; she is now a widow — the dead body lies in the courtyard. The widow cries out at the door, “The light of my mind has gone out, O my mother, with his death.” So cry out, O soul-brides of the Husband Lord, and dwell on the Glorious Praises of the True Lord. ||5|| Her loved one is cleansed, bathed in water, and dressed in silken robes. The musicians play, and the Bani of the True Word is sung; the five relatives feel as if they too are dead, so deadened are their minds. “Separation from my beloved is like death to me!” cries the widow. “My life in this world is cursed and worthless!” But she alone is approved, who dies, while yet still alive; she lives for the sake of the Love of her Beloved. ||6|| So cry out in mourning — you who have come to mourn; this world is false and fraudulent. I too have been defrauded, chasing after worldly entanglements; my Husband Lord has forsaken me — I act like a wife without a spouse. In each and every home, are the brides of the Husband Lord; they gaze upon their handsome Lord with love and affection. I sing the Praises of my True Husband Lord; through the Naam, the Name of my Husband Lord, I blossom forth. ||7|| Meeting with the Guru, the soul-bride’s dress is transformed, and she is adorned with Truth. Come and meet with me, O brides of the Lord; let’s meditate in remembrance on the Creator Lord. Through the Naam, the soul-bride becomes the Lord’s favorite; she is adorned with Truth. Don’t sing the songs of separation, O Nanak — reflect upon God. ||8||3||

WADAHANS, FIRST MEHL: The One who creates and dissolves the world — that Lord and Master alone knows His creative power. Do not search for the True Lord far away; recognize the Word of His Shabad in each and every heart. Recognize the True Word of the Shabad, and do not think that the Lord is far away; He created this creation. Meditating on the Naam, the Name of the Lord, peace is obtained; without the Naam, it is a losing game. The One who established the Universe — He alone knows the Way; what can anyone say? The One who established the world cast the net over it; accept Him as your Lord and Master. ||1|| O Baba, they have come, and now they must get up and depart; this world is only a way-station. Upon each and every head, the True Lord writes their destiny of pain and pleasure, according to their past actions. He bestows pain and pleasure, according to the deeds done; the record of these actions stays with the soul. They do those deeds which the Creator Lord causes them to do; they attempt no other actions. The Lord Himself is detached, while the world is entangled in conflict; by His Command, He emancipates it. They may put this off today, but tomorrow they are seized by death; in love with duality, they practice corruption. ||2|| The path of death is dark and dismal; the way cannot be seen. There is no water, no quilt or mattress, and no food there. There is no food there, no honor or water, no clothes or decorations. The chain is put around one’s neck, and the Messenger of Death standing over his head strikes him; he cannot see the door of his home. The seeds planted on this path do not sprout; bearing the load of sin on his head, he regrets and repents. Without the True Lord, no one is his friend; reflect upon this as true. ||3|| O Baba, they alone are known to weep and wail, who meet together and weep, chanting the Praises of the Lord. Defrauded by Maya and worldly affairs, the weepers weep. They weep for the sake of worldly affairs, and they do not wash off their own filth; the world is a dream. Like the juggler, deceiving by his tricks, one is deluded by egotism, falsehood and illusion. The Lord Himself reveals the Path; He Himself is the Doer of deeds. Those who are imbued with the Naam are protected by the Perfect Guru. O Nanak, they merge in celestial bliss. ||4||4||

WADAHANS, FIRST MEHL: O Baba, whoever has come, will rise up and leave; this world is a false show. One’s true home is obtained by serving the True One; real Truth comes by being truthful. By falsehood and greed, no place of rest is found, and no place in the world hereafter is obtained. No one invites him to come in and sit down — he is like a crow in a deserted house. Caught in birth and death, separated from God for such a long time, the whole world is wasting away. Greed, worldly entanglements and Maya deceive the world. Death hovers over its head, and makes it cry. ||1|| Come, O Baba, and Siblings of Destiny — let’s join together; take me in your arms, and bless me with your prayers. O Baba, union with the True One cannot be broken; bless me with your prayers for union with my Beloved. Bless me with your prayers, that I may worship God with devotion; for those already united with Him, what more is there to unite? Some have wandered away from the Name of God — they have lost the Path. The Word of the Guru’s Shabad is the true game. Do not go on the path of Death; remain absorbed in the Shabad, the true form throughout the ages. Through good fortune, we meet such friends and relatives, who meet with the Guru, and escape the noose of Death. ||2|| O Baba, we come into the world naked, into pain and pleasure, according to the record of our account. The call of our pre-ordained destiny cannot be altered; it follows from our past actions. The True Lord sits and writes of ambrosial nectar and bitter poison; as the Lord attaches us, so are we attached. The charmer, Maya, has worked her charms, and the multi-colored thread is around everyone’s neck. Through shallow intellect, the mind becomes shallow, and one eats the fly, along with the sweets. Contrary to custom, he comes into the Dark Age of Kali Yuga naked, and naked he is bound down and sent away again. ||3|| O Baba, weep and mourn if you must; the beloved soul is bound and driven off. The pre-ordained record of destiny cannot be erased; the summons has come from the Lord’s Court. The messenger comes, when it pleases God, and the mourners begin to mourn. Sons, brothers, nephews and very dear friends weep and wail. Let him weep, who weeps in the Fear of God, cherishing the virtues of God — no one dies with the dead. O Nanak, throughout the ages, they are known as wise, who weep, remembering the True One. ||4||5||