A beginner's guide to Japji Sahib: Pauri 4 & 5

 

saa-chaa  saa-hib,  saach  naa-e,
bhaakh-yaa bhaa-o a-paar.
The Universal Master is True (permanent), Their Justice is True, Their language is loving, and They are beyond limits.
Vaheguru is permanent and Their justice is permanent, which is fair to all.

aa-kheh mann-geh, deh deh,
daat k-rey daa-taar.
People pray and request Vaheguru to please give them this and that; the Great Universal Giver provides for all.
Vaheguru is the Ultimate Giver of all life created.

fey'r,  ke  ag-ai  rakhee-yai,
jit  dis-ai  dar-baar.
So, what can we present as an offering to Vaheguru that can make us see Vaheguru’s Darbaar (Divine Court)?
If everything comes from Vaheguru, then what can we give back to Vaheguru as a gift?

mu-hoh,  ke  bo-laN  bo-lee-yai,
jit  suN  Dhar-ey  piyaar.
What words should we speak, by listening to which, Vaheguru will give us Their love?

amm-rit  vey-laa  sach  naa-o,
vadd-yaa-ee  vee-chaar.
(The answer is:) wake up at Amrit-Vela (the last hours of the night before sunrise) to chant the True Name and reflect upon Vaheguru’s Greatness.Ý
The true gift we can give to Vaheguru is to wake up in the last part of the night to chant Their Name, recite the Guru’s Word (Gurbani) that describes Their greatness, and reflect upon the Guru’s Wisdom.

kar-mee  aa-vai  kap-Raa,
nad-ree  moh’kh  du-aar.
By blessings, the robe of the human body is obtained, and by Graceò one gets to the Door to Salvation (i.e. fulfilling the true purpose of life).
One should always remember we cannot wake up Amrit-Vela and chant the True Name without Vaheguru’s blessing. One must always remain humble and remember that we cannot demand spiritual freedom, as it is a gift.

naa-nak,  ey-vai  jaa-Nee-yai,
sabh  aa-pey  sach-yaar.  ||4||
(Guru) Nanak (Ji) says- This way one comes to understand that the True One (i.e. the One who is Permanent) is present everywhere. ||4||
Through waking up Amrit-Vela, chanting the True Name, and dissolving oneself in Vaheguru’s greatness, Vaheguru’s Presence becomes visible in all places.

thaa-piyaa  na  jaa-e,  kee-taa  na  ho-e.
Vaheguru cannot be created, nor can They be established in a man-made idol (statue).
Vaheguru is not an empty object that can be made by a human and then sold in a shop for people to later establish (i.e. inaugurate) as a god in their home.

aa-pey  aap,  ni-ranjan  so-e.
Vaheguru’s existence lies within Themself and is beyond Maya (the temporary material existence).

jin  sey-viyaa,  tin  paa-yaa  maan.
Those who serve (i.e. worship) Vaheguru are honoured.

naa-nak,  gaa-vee-yai,  gu-Nee  ni-Dhaan.
(Guru) Nanak (Ji) says- (the true worship is to) sing the praises of the One Lord who is the Treasure of Virtues (goodness and perfection).
Singing the praises of Vaheguru is true worship, not idol worship. Vaheguru alone is the source of virtues, which can be obtained through Their worship.

gaa-vee-yai  su-Nee-yai,  man  r-khee-yai  bhaa-o.
Sing, listen, and fill your mind with love,
A piece of iron cannot be magnetised by rubbing against another piece of iron. It is only magnetised by rubbing against a magnet, and even then, it has to be done in the right way, i.e. in the correct direction. Similarly, by lovingly singing, listening, and following the Guru’s Teachings we become charged with Vaheguru’s virtues.

dukh  par-har,  sukh  ghar  lai  jaa-e.
then your pain will go away, and peace shall come to your home (i.e. your body).

gur-mukh  naa-dunn,  gur-mukh  vey-dunn,
gur-mukh  reh-yaa  s-maa-ee.
The Guru’s Word (Gurbani) is the Divine Music (Sound), the Guru’s Word (Gurbani) is the Divine-Knowledge, and through the Guru’s Word (Gurbani) one realises that Vaheguru’s presence is everywhere.

gur  ee-shar,  gur  goh-rakh  bar-maa,
gur  paar-batee  maa-ee.

The Guru acts as the Destroyer (Ishar), Protector (Gorakh), Creator (Brahma), and loving divine Mother.
The Guru is the Destroyer of ego, the Provider of godly virtues within us, the Creator of our destiny, and like a mother lovingly takes care of us.

jey  hau  jaa-Naa,  aa-khaa  naa-hee,
keh-Naa  kathan  na  jaa-ee.
(Vaheguru, my Guru, my Spiritual Guide, is so great that) even if I were to know Them, I cannot describe Them; They cannot be described in words.

gur-aa,  ikk  deh  bu-jhaa-ee.
O Guru! (I pray to You–) please instill within me this one understanding:

sabh-naa  jee-aa  kaa  ikk  daa-taa,
so  mai,  visar  na  jaa-ee.  ||5||

that I never forget that there One Great Universal-Giver that provides for all! ||5||

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Ý This is the answer to both questions posed in the previous two lines.

ò The Nadar or Grace of Vaheguru describes when Vaheguru looks at us with kindness or favour. Nadar or Grace is so powerful that it can override one’s Karma.