A beginner's guide to Japji Sahib: Pauri 6 & 7

tee-rath  naa-vaa⁽ⁿ⁾,  jey  tis  bhaa-vaa⁽ⁿ⁾,
viN  bhaa-Ney  ke  naa-e  k-ree.
I would bathe at a blessed place if it were to please Vaheguru. Without pleasing Them, what use would such a bath have?
What use is there to going to a sacred or blessed place if when going there we do not have the mindset or behaviour that we wish to please Vaheguru, and instead follow our ego or man-made rules?

jey-tee  se-raTh  u-paa-ee  vey-khaa,
viN  kar-maa  ke  mil-ai  le-ee.
Without Vaheguru’s blessings, how can any living being that I see in this world receive or get anything?

mat  vich,  ratan  j-vaa-har  maa-Nik,
jey  ikk  gur  kee  sikh  su-Nee.
However, if you listen and follow the Guru’s one message, you will find gems, jewels, and rubies (i.e. Godly virtues) within your mind.
The Guru’s teachings are priceless, and therefore, we should be careful to receive them with care and attention.

gur-aa,  ikk  deh  bu-jhaa-ee.
O Guru, O Lord-Enlightener! (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.  ||6||
that I never forget that there is One Great Universal-Giver that provides for all! ||6||

jey  jug  chaa-rey  aar-jaa,
hor  d-soo-Nee  ho-e.
If someone could live as long as the four Agesð (i.e. history) or even ten times more;

nav-aa⁽ⁿ⁾  khann-daa  vich  jaa-Nee-yai,
naal  chal-ai  sabh  ko-e.
if they were known throughout all the regions¨ of the world and followed by all;

 chann-gaa  naa-o  r-khaa-e  kai,
jass  kee-rat  jagg  ley-e.
and achieved a good reputation, fame, and praise in the world through people’s say so; (then so what?)

jey  tis  nadar  na  aa-vayee,
ta  vaat  na  pushh-ai  key.
(The true reality is that) without Vaheguru’s Grace and blessings, no one would care about such a person.

kee-taa  ann-dar  keett  kar,
doh-shee  dosh  Dhar-ey.
(Despite someone considering themselves to be big because of their ego,) those accused of being ungrateful are considered by the Universe to be like insects within insects, i.e. insignificant amongst insignificant people.

naa-nak,  nir-guN  guN  k-rey,
guN-vann-tiyaa  guN  dey.
(Guru) Nanak (Ji) says- Vaheguru blesses those considered lowly or unworthy with the virtue (quality) of remembering Them, as well as blessing those considered highly or worthy with more virtue.

teh-aa  ko-e  na  sujh-yee,
je  tis  guN  ko-e  k-rey.  ||7||
There is no one else in the world like Vaheguru, who can make someone virtuous (full of goodness). ||7||

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ð Early traditions divided timeline of creation into four Yugs, ages or periods.

¨ The literal translation of ‘nav-aa⁽ⁿ⁾ khann-daa’ is nine regions. In ancient times South Asia was divided into nine regions.