A Story Of Betrayal And Faithfulness (Bara Maha by Fifth Nanak)

 (Continues from the last month)      

ਕਤਿਕਿ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਵਣੇ ਦੋਸੁ ਨ ਕਾਹੂ ਜੋਗੁ ॥

ਪਰਮੇਸਰ ਤੇ ਭੁਲਿਆਂ ਵਿਆਪਨਿ ਸਭੇ ਰੋਗ ॥

ਵੇਮੁਖ ਹੋਏ ਰਾਮ ਤੇ ਲਗਨਿ ਜਨਮ ਵਿਜੋਗ ॥

ਖਿਨ ਮਹਿ ਕਉੜੇ ਹੋਇ ਗਏ ਜਿਤੜੇ ਮਾਇਆ ਭੋਗ ॥

ਵਿਚੁ ਨ ਕੋਈ ਕਰਿ ਸਕੈ ਕਿਸ ਥੈ ਰੋਵਹਿ ਰੋਜ ॥

ਕੀਤਾ ਕਿਛੂ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਧੁਰਿ ਸੰਜੋਗ ॥

ਵਡਭਾਗੀ ਮੇਰਾ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਤਾਂ ਉਤਰਹਿ ਸਭਿ ਬਿਓਗ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਕਉ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਰਾਖਿ ਲੇਹਿ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਬੰਦੀ ਮੋਚ ॥

ਕਤਿਕ ਹੋਵੈ ਸਾਧਸੰਗੁ ਬਿਨਸਹਿ ਸਭੇ ਸੋਚ ॥੯॥

Kaṯik karam kamāvṇe ḏos na kāhū jog.

Parmesar ṯe bẖuli-āʼn vi-āpan sabẖe rog.

Vaimukẖ ho-e rām ṯe lagan janam vijog.

Kẖin mėh ka-uṛe ho-e ga-e jiṯ-ṛe mā-i-ā bẖog.

Vicẖ na ko-ī kar sakai kis thai rovėh roj.

Kīṯā kicẖẖū na hova-ī likẖi-ā ḏẖur sanjog.

Vadbẖāgī merā parabẖ milai ṯāʼn uṯrėh sabẖ bi-og.

Nānak ka-o parabẖ rākẖ lehi mere sāhib banḏī mocẖ.

Kaṯik hovai sāḏẖsang binsahi sabẖe socẖ. ||9||

In essence: It is the month of Kattak; other people cannot be blamed for the deeds one does. As Prabh is forgotten, all ailments come to the mortals. Those ones who are turned away from Prabh get separated from Him for a long time. All the Maya pleasures turn bitter instantly. No one can negotiate for them and their crying everyday goes in vain. No one can do anything about the preordained destiny. If with great luck, my Prabh is met, my separation from Him will end. Oh Prabh, my fetter cutter! Save your Nanak. If in the month of Kattak, the mortals attend Prabh’s devotees’ company, all anxieties depart.

           What we sow so we reap; therefore, blaming others for what we reap is absurd; Akalpurakh is with us; nonetheless, we never pay attention to check Him within by falling in love with Him. It is our Maya love that takes us away from Him, and because of it, we remain separated from Him for a long time to come. Thus we build our destiny that is devoid of His love. We must change it by turning toward Him in love. Praying to Him and falling in love with Him can change our destiny.

ਮੰਘਿਰਿ ਮਾਹਿ ਸੋਹੰਦੀਆ ਹਰਿ ਪਿਰ ਸੰਗਿ ਬੈਠੜੀਆਹ ॥

ਤਿਨ ਕੀ ਸੋਭਾ ਕਿਆ ਗਣੀ ਜਿ ਸਾਹਿਬਿ ਮੇਲੜੀਆਹ ॥

ਤਨੁ ਮਨੁ ਮਉਲਿਆ ਰਾਮ ਸਿਉ ਸੰਗਿ ਸਾਧ ਸਹੇਲੜੀਆਹ ॥

ਸਾਧ ਜਨਾ ਤੇ ਬਾਹਰੀ ਸੇ ਰਹਨਿ ਇਕੇਲੜੀਆਹ ॥

ਤਿਨ ਦੁਖੁ ਨ ਕਬਹੂ ਉਤਰੈ ਸੇ ਜਮ ਕੈ ਵਸਿ ਪੜੀਆਹ ॥

ਜਿਨੀ ਰਾਵਿਆ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਆਪਣਾ ਸੇ ਦਿਸਨਿ ਨਿਤ ਖੜੀਆਹ ॥

ਰਤਨ ਜਵੇਹਰ ਲਾਲ ਹਰਿ ਕੰਠਿ ਤਿਨਾ ਜੜੀਆਹ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਬਾਂਛੈ ਧੂੜਿ ਤਿਨ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਸਰਣੀ ਦਰਿ ਪੜੀਆਹ ॥

ਮੰਘਿਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਆਰਾਧਣਾ ਬਹੁੜਿ ਨ ਜਨਮੜੀਆਹ ॥੧੦॥

Mangẖir māhi sohanḏī-ā har pir sang baiṯẖ-ṛī-āh.

Ŧin kī sobẖā ki-ā gaṇī jė sāhib melṛī-āh.

Ŧan man ma-oli-ā rām si-o sang sāḏẖ sahelṛī-āh.

Sāḏẖ janā ṯe bāhrī se rahan ikelaṛī-āh.

Ŧin ḏukẖ na kabhū uṯrai se jam kai vas paṛī-āh.

Jinī rāvi-ā parabẖ āpṇā se ḏisan niṯ kẖaṛī-āh.

Raṯan javehar lāl har kanṯẖ ṯinā jaṛī-āh.

Nānak bāʼncẖẖai ḏẖūṛ ṯin parabẖ sarṇī ḏar paṛī-āh.

Mangẖir parabẖ ārāḏẖaṇā bahuṛ na janamṛī-āh. ||10||

In essence: In the month of Maghar, the brides look beautiful sitting along with their Spouse, Akalpurakh. How the glory of those brides who are united with the Master can be expressed (cannot be)? With His devotees, they get drenched in His love. Those ones who are away from His devotees live lonely. Their pain never goes away and they remain in the fear of death. Those ones who contemplate their Akalpurakh remain aware (of Maya). They look extremely decorated with His precious virtues. Nanak seeks the dust of those brides, who have sought His refuge. In the month of Maghar, they contemplate Akalpurakh and do not get born again.

           The Guru addresses the plight of those soul-brides who have not betrayed Him; Contrary to the lost ones in Maya, good are His devotees who look beauteous in His love; the state of bliss they are in is difficult to express. Since we get drenched in our Maya pursuits, our life remains in abyss. The beautiful looking His devotees enjoy His company; therefore, it is better for us to seek the company of His devotees, who have never betrayed Akalpurakh unlike we often do; however, in our search for His devotees, we must remain aware of those who claim to be His devotees but still doomed in Maya quagmire. It will be better off if we stay away from such shops or crowd.

ਪੋਖਿ ਤੁਖਾਰੁ ਨ ਵਿਆਪਈ ਕੰਠਿ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਹੁ ॥

ਮਨੁ ਬੇਧਿਆ ਚਰਨਾਰਬਿੰਦ ਦਰਸਨਿ ਲਗੜਾ ਸਾਹੁ ॥

ਓਟ ਗੋਵਿੰਦ ਗੋਪਾਲ ਰਾਇ ਸੇਵਾ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਲਾਹੁ ॥

ਬਿਖਿਆ ਪੋਹਿ ਨ ਸਕਈ ਮਿਲਿ ਸਾਧੂ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਹੁ ॥

ਜਹ ਤੇ ਉਪਜੀ ਤਹ ਮਿਲੀ ਸਚੀ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਸਮਾਹੁ ॥

ਕਰੁ ਗਹਿ ਲੀਨੀ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮਿ ਬਹੁੜਿ ਨ ਵਿਛੁੜੀਆਹੁ ॥

ਬਾਰਿ ਜਾਉ ਲਖ ਬੇਰੀਆ ਹਰਿ ਸਜਣੁ ਅਗਮ ਅਗਾਹੁ ॥

ਸਰਮ ਪਈ ਨਾਰਾਇਣੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਦਰਿ ਪਈਆਹੁ ॥

ਪੋਖੁ ਸ਼ਹੰਦਾ ਸਰਬ ਸੁਖ ਜਿਸੁ ਬਖਸੇ ਵੇਪਰਵਾਹੁ ॥੧੧॥

Pokẖ ṯukẖār na vi-āpa-ī kanṯẖ mili-ā har nāhu.

Man beḏẖi-ā cẖarnārbinḏ ḏarsan lagṛā sāhu.

Ot govinḏ gopāl rā-e sevā su-āmī lāhu.

Bikẖi-ā pohi na sak-ī mil sāḏẖū guṇ gāhu.

Jah ṯe upjī ṯah milī sacẖī parīṯ samāhu.

Kar gėh līnī pārbarahm bahuṛ na vicẖẖuṛi-āhu.

Bār jā-o lakẖ berī-ā har sajaṇ agam agāhu.

Saram pa-ī nārā-iṇai Nānak ḏar pa-ī-āhu.

Pokẖ sohanḏā sarab sukẖ jis bakẖse veparvāhu. ||11||

In essence: The cold month of Poh doesn’t bother those ones, who are attached to their Spouse, Ekankar. Their minds are fixed on Him humbly to see His sight. They have sought His refuge, and their devotional profit materializes. The poison of Maya doesn’t bother the bride who sings His praises in His Sants’ company. Because of her true love, she merges with Ekankar from whom she is emanated. The ones whose hands Ekankar holds do not get separated from Him ever again. I sacrifice to the unapproachable and unfathomable Creator hundred thousand times. Oh Nanak! Ekankar preserves the honor of those, who fall at His door. The month of Poh becomes beautiful and comforting for those toward whom Ekankar shows kindness.

           Every new month, His true lovers enjoy living in His love; the Maya pursuits do not bother them, because praising Him is their goal; they love to praise Him along with other devotees. This way, never ever they separate from Akalpurakh who is unapproachable, unfathomable, and praise worthy; certainly He preserves the honor of His true devotees.

ਮਾਘਿ ਮਜਨੁ ਸੰਗਿ ਸਾਧੂਆ ਧੂੜੀ ਕਰਿ ਇਸਨਾਨੁ ॥

ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਇ ਸੁਣਿ ਸਭਨਾ ਨੋ ਕਰਿ ਦਾਨੁ ॥

ਜਨਮ ਕਰਮ ਮਲੁ ਉਤਰੈ ਮਨ ਤੇ ਜਾਇ ਗੁਮਾਨੁ ॥

ਕਾਮਿ ਕਰੋਧਿ ਨ ਮੋਹੀਐ ਬਿਨਸੈ ਲੋਭੁ ਸੁਆਨੁ ॥

ਸਚੈ ਮਾਰਗਿ ਚਲਦਿਆ ਉਸਤਤਿ ਕਰੇ ਜਹਾਨੁ ॥

ਅਠਸਠਿ ਤੀਰਥ ਸਗਲ ਪੁੰਨ ਜੀਅ ਦਇਆ ਪਰਵਾਨੁ ॥

ਜਿਸ ਨੋ ਦੇਵੈ ਦਇਆ ਕਰਿ ਸੋਈ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਸੁਜਾਨੁ ॥

ਜਿਨਾ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਆਪਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਤਿਨ ਕੁਰਬਾਨੁ ॥

ਮਾਘਿ ਸੁਚੇ ਸੇ ਕਾਂਢੀਅਹਿ ਜਿਨ ਪੂਰਾ ਗੁਰੁ ਮਿਹਰਵਾਨੁ ॥੧੨॥

Māgẖ majan sang sāḏẖū-ā ḏẖūṛī kar isnān.

Har kā nām ḏẖi-ā-e suṇ sabẖnā no kar ḏān.

Janam karam mal uṯrai man ṯe jā-e gumān.

Kām karoḏẖ na mohī-ai binsai lobẖ su-ān.

Sacẖai mārag cẖalḏi-ā usṯaṯ kare jahān.

Aṯẖsaṯẖ ṯirath sagal punn jī-a ḏa-i-ā parvān.

Jis no ḏevai ḏa-i-ā kar so-ī purakẖ sujān.

Jinā mili-ā parabẖ āpṇā Nānak ṯin kurbān.

Māgẖ sucẖe se kāʼndẖī-ah jin pūrā gur miharvān. ||12||

{SGGS-135-136}

In essence: (Oh seeker) In the month of Magh, bathe spiritually in Har’s devotees’ congregation (eradicate internal corrupt thoughts by praising Him). Contemplate Har’s name and give away it to others. This way, your filth of deeds of long times will be removed and your self-conceit will be gone. Thus lust and anger do not bother you and your greed vanishes. The world applauds that person who treads on this path. Contemplating Har’s name is equal to doing eighty-six pilgrimages, giving away all kinds of charity, and showing kindness. And, it is what Har approves. One to whom Har gives it becomes wise. Nanak sacrifices to those ones, who have met their Har. Only those persons upon whom the perfect Guru showers kindness (gives his blessings to contemplate Him in love) are deemed as pious ones.

           In the Above stanza, the Guru advises the seekers to contemplate Akalpurakh’s name, because by doing so, filth of done deeds gets eradicated. By living in His love, anger, lust and greed vanish.  Walking on His path secures respect from the world. Remembering Him is equal to all other religious rituals.  This is what Akalpurakh likes and blesses those who are into it. Only those people whom the Guru blesses get inspired to tread on His love path.

ਫਲਗੁਣਿ ਅਨੰਦ ਉਪਾਰਜਨਾ ਹਰਿ ਸਜਣ ਪ੍ਰਗਟੇ ਆਇ ॥

ਸੰਤ ਸਹਾਈ ਰਾਮ ਕੇ ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਦੀਆ ਮਿਲਾਇ ॥

ਸੇਜ ਸੁਹਾਵੀ ਸਰਬ ਸੁਖ ਹੁਣਿ ਦੁਖਾ ਨਾਹੀ ਜਾਇ ॥

ਇਛ ਪੁਨੀ ਵਡਭਾਗਣੀ ਵਰੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਇ ॥

ਮਿਲਿ ਸਹੀਆ ਮੰਗਲੁ ਗਾਵਹੀ ਗੀਤ ਗੋਵਿੰਦ ਅਲਾਇ ॥

ਹਰਿ ਜੇਹਾ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਦਿਸਈ ਕੋਈ ਦੂਜਾ ਲਵੈ ਨ ਲਾਇ ॥

ਹਲਤੁ ਪਲਤੁ ਸਵਾਰਿਓਨੁ ਨਿਹਚਲ ਦਿਤੀਅਨੁ ਜਾਇ ॥

ਸੰਸਾਰ ਸਾਗਰ ਤੇ ਰਖਿਅਨੁ ਬਹੁੜਿ ਨ ਜਨਮੈ ਧਾਇ ॥

ਜਿਹਵਾ ਏਕ ਅਨੇਕ ਗੁਣ ਤਰੇ ਨਾਨਕ ਚਰਣੀ ਪਾਇ ॥

ਫਲਗੁਣਿ ਨਿਤ ਸਲਾਹੀਐ ਜਿਸ ਨੋ ਤਿਲੁ ਨ ਤਮਾਇ ॥੧੩॥

Fulguṇ anand upārjanā har sajaṇ pargate ā-e.

Sanṯ sahā-ī rām ke kar kirpā ḏī-ā milā-e.

Sej suhāvī sarab sukẖ huṇ ḏukẖā nāhī jā-e.

Icẖẖ punī vadbẖāgṇī var pā-i-ā har rā-e.

Mil sahī-ā mangal gāvhī gīṯ govinḏ alā-e.

Har jehā avar na ḏis-ī ko-ī ḏūjā lavai na lā-e.

Halaṯ palaṯ savāri-on nihcẖal ḏiṯī-an jā-e.

Sansār sāgar ṯe rakẖi-an bahuṛ na janmai ḏẖā-e.

Jihvā ek anek guṇ ṯare Nānak cẖarṇī pā-e.

Fulguṇ niṯ salāhī-ai jis no ṯil na ṯamā-e. ||13||

In essence: The month of Fagun gives joy to those, in whose hearts Ekankar, the beloved manifests. The Sants become helpful in uniting the seekers with the all-pervading Ekankar. (Because of His blessings) My life is totally comfortable and there is no pain. (This way) The lucky bride’s (mine) wishes are fulfilled and she (I have) has obtained her (my) Spouse, the King. All (such) friends together sing the praises of the protector, Ekankar. They don’t see and acknowledge any other one equal to Him. Their worlds here and hereafter are embellished, and they receive a permanent place (close to Ekankar). They are saved from this worldly Maya ocean and they never go into birth again. Oh Nanak! I have one tongue, but numerous are His virtues (to sing). I am saved in Ekankar’s refuge. In the month of Fagun, praise the Creator, who has no avarice at all.

           The Guru says that when a devotee realizes Akalpurakh, his or her mind settles in ever lasting bliss; such a fortunate devotee, being with Him, doesn’t suffer; instead with his or her other friends, who are also His devotees, sing His praises. And, they swim across the worldly ocean.

ਜਿਨਿ ਜਿਨਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਇਆ ਤਿਨ ਕੇ ਕਾਜ ਸਰੇ ॥

ਹਰਿ ਗੁਰੁ ਪੂਰਾ ਆਰਾਧਿਆ ਦਰਗਹ ਸਚਿ ਖਰੇ ॥

ਸਰਬ ਸੁਖਾ ਨਿਧਿ ਚਰਣ ਹਰਿ ਭਉਜਲੁ ਬਿਖਮੁ ਤਰੇ ॥

ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਭਗਤਿ ਤਿਨ ਪਾਈਆ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਹਿ ਜਰੇ ॥

ਕੂੜ ਗਏ ਦੁਬਿਧਾ ਨਸੀ ਪੂਰਨ ਸਚਿ ਭਰੇ ॥

ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਸੇਵਦੇ ਮਨ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਏਕੁ ਧਰੇ ॥

ਮਾਹ ਦਿਵਸ ਮੂਰਤ ਭਲੇ ਜਿਸ ਕਉ ਨਦਰਿ ਕਰੇ ॥

ਨਾਨਕੁ ਮੰਗੈ ਦਰਸ ਦਾਨੁ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰਹੁ ਹਰੇ ॥੧੪॥੧॥

Jin jin nām ḏẖi-ā-i-ā ṯin ke kāj sare.

Har gur pūrā ārāḏẖi-ā ḏargėh sacẖ kẖare.

Sarab sukẖā niḏẖ cẖaraṇ har bẖa-ojal bikẖam ṯare.

Parem bẖagaṯ ṯin pā-ī-ā bikẖi-ā nāhi jare.

Kūṛ ga-e ḏubiḏẖā nasī pūran sacẖ bẖare.

Pārbarahm parabẖ sevḏe man anḏar ek ḏẖare.

Māh ḏivas mūraṯ bẖale jis ka-o naḏar kare.

Nānak mangai ḏaras ḏān kirpā karahu hare. ||14||1||

In essence: Those persons who have meditated on Har’s name have resolved their affairs. Those ones who contemplate the perfect Guru and Har are deemed as genuine ones in His court. Seeking humbly Har’s refuge is like having treasures of peace. His refuge helps the mortals in swimming across the poisonous Maya ocean. His devotees obtain His devotion. They are not burned with the Maya poison. Their interest in the duality and falsehood goes away and they get filled with Har’s love, because they serve Him with concentration. (All) Months and days become auspicious for those ones to whom Har graces. Oh Har! Nanak begs for the boon of your vision! Bestow mercy on him!

           The Guru concludes that only those devotees who live in His love and remember Him all the time have enjoyed real bliss and succeeded in their mission of being accepted by Him. And, the Maya love becomes insignificant to them. For them the concept of selected or special days has no meaning, because every day or every night becomes good and suitable to them to praise Him, but such understanding comes only if Akalpurakh blesses. Advice is to pray to Him for consideration to become His true lover. Only His true devotees are His real faithful lovers. The Guru suggests us to learn from them to put an end to our living in constant betrayal; otherwise, such living will end up in a disaster, and the cycle of going through up and down will never end.

Interpreted by Gurdeep Singh