Ang 84

SHALOK, FIRST MEHL: He created the Creative Power of the Universe, within which He dwells. One who reflects upon his allotted span of life, becomes the slave of God. The value of the Creative Power of the Universe cannot be known. Even if its value were known, it could not be described. Some think about religious rituals and regulations, but without understanding, how can they cross over to the other side? Let sincere faith be your bowing in prayer, and let the conquest of your mind be your objective in life. Wherever I look, there I see God’s Presence. ||1|| THIRD MEHL: The Society of the Guru is not obtained like this, by trying to be near or far away. O Nanak, you shall meet the True Guru, if your mind remains in His Presence. ||2|| PAUREE: The seven islands, seven seas, nine continents, four Vedas and eighteen Puraanas—O Lord, You pervade and permeate all. Lord, everyone loves You. All beings and creatures meditate on You, Lord. You hold the earth in Your Hands. I am a sacrifice to those Gurmukhs who worship and adore the Lord. You Yourself are All-pervading; You stage this wondrous drama! ||4||

SHALOK, THIRD MEHL: Why ask for a pen, and why ask for ink? Write within your heart. Remain immersed forever in the Love of your Lord and Master, and your love for Him shall never break. Pen and ink shall pass away, along with what has been written. O Nanak, the Love of your Husband Lord shall never perish. The True Lord has bestowed it, as it was pre- ordained. ||1|| THIRD MEHL: That which is seen, shall not go along with you. What does it take to make you see this? The True Guru has implanted the True Name within; remain lovingly absorbed in the True One. O Nanak, the Word of His Shabad is True. By His Grace, it is obtained. ||2|| PAUREE: O Lord, You are inside and outside as well. You are the Knower of secrets. Whatever anyone does, the Lord knows. O my mind, think of the Lord. The one who commits sins lives in fear, while the one who lives righteously rejoices. O Lord, You Yourself are True, and True is Your Justice. Why should anyone be afraid? O Nanak, those who recognize the True Lord are blended with the True One. ||5||

SHALOK, THIRD MEHL: Burn the pen, and burn the ink; burn the paper as well. Burn the writer who writes in the love of duality. O Nanak, people do what is pre-ordained; they cannot do anything else. ||1|| THIRD MEHL: False is other reading, and false is other speaking, in the love of Maya. O Nanak, without the Name, nothing is permanent; those who read and read are ruined. ||2|| PAUREE: Great is the Greatness of the Lord, and the Kirtan of the Lord’s Praises. Great is the Greatness of the Lord; His Justice is totally Righteous. Great is the Greatness of the Lord; people receive the fruits of the soul. Great is the Greatness of the Lord; He does not hear the words of the back-biters. Great is the Greatness of the Lord; He gives His Gifts without being asked. ||6||

SHALOK, THIRD MEHL: Those who act in ego shall all die. Their worldly possessions shall not go along with them. Because of their love of duality, they suffer in pain. The Messenger of Death is watching all. O Nanak, the Gurmukhs are saved, by contemplating the True Name. ||1|| FIRST MEHL: We are good at talking, but our actions are bad. Mentally, we are impure and black, but outwardly, we appear white. We imitate those who stand and serve at the Lord’s Door. They are attuned to the Love of their Husband Lord, and they experience the pleasure of His Love. They remain powerless, even while they have power; they remain humble and meek. O Nanak, our lives become profitable if we associate with them. ||2|| PAUREE: You Yourself are the water, You Yourself are the fish, and You Yourself are the net. You Yourself cast the net, and You Yourself are the bait. You Yourself are the lotus, unaffected and still brightly-colored in hundreds of feet of water. You Yourself liberate those who think of You for even an instant. O Lord, nothing is beyond You. I am delighted to behold You, through the Word of the Guru’s Shabad. ||7||