Saturday, April 08, 2023

A beginner's guide to Japji Sahib: Pauri 20 to 23

 

bharee-yai,  hath  pair  tan  deh.
When one’s hands, feet, and body are dirty,

paa-Nee  Dhoh-tai,  ut-rass  kheh.
then water is used to wash away the dirt.

mooth  palee-tee,  kapaR  ho-e.
When one’s clothes become dirty and stained by urine,

dey  saa-booN,  leyee-yai  oh  Dhoh-e.
then soap is used to wash them clean.

bharee-yai  math  paa-paa  kai  sang.
When the mind becomes filled with sins,

oh  Dhoh-pai,  naa-vai  kai  rang.
then the love for the Name of Vaheguru Ji is used to clean it.

punn-ee  paa-pee,  aa-khaN  naa-eh.

Virtue (goodness) and sins are not only words.

kar  kar  kar-Naa,  likh  lai  jaa-hu.

At the end (when we die) the soul will take with it the record of one’s acted actions (good or bad).

aa-pey  beej,  aa-pey  hee  khaa-hu.

One reaps what they sow.

naa-nak,  huk-mee  aa-vahu  jaa-hu.  ||20||

(Guru) Nanak (Ji) says- in accordance with Vaheguru's Hukam (Divine-Law), one comes and goes in reincarnation. ||20||

t
ee-rath,  tap,  day-aa,  dat  daan.
Visiting blessed places, enduring devotion, compassion, and charity,

jey  ko  paa-vai,  til  kaa  maan.

by themselves, only bring short-lived reward.

suN-yaa,  mann-niyaa,  man  kee-taa  bhaa-o.

But by listening and following Vaheguru with love


ann'tar-gat  tee-rath,  mal  naa-o.

one purifies themselves in the sacred space deep within them.

sabh  guN  tey-rey,  mai  naa-hee  ko-e.

O Vaheguru! All virtues belong to You, non belong to me.

viN  guN  kee-tey,  bhagat  na  ho-e.

Without Your virtues, Your devotional worship cannot be performed.

su-ast  aath,  baa-Nee  bar-maa-o.

Glory to You! You are the world manifest, the Divine-Word, and the Creator.

sat,  su-haaN,  sad-aa  man  chaa-o.
You are True, Your creation is beautiful, and You fill the mind with forever joy!

kavaN  su vey-laa,  vakhat  kavaN, 
kavaN  thit,  kavaN  vaar.
What was that time, and what was that moment? What was that day, and what was that date?

kavaN  se  ru-tee,  maah  kavaN, 
jit  ho-aa  aa-kaar.

What was that season, and what was that month, when the creation came into existence?

vey'l  na  paa-ee-yaa  pann-dit-ee;
je, ho-vai ley’kh pu-raaN.

That time was not found by Hindu scholars, otherwise, they would have written a religious book (Puraan) about it.

vakhat  na  paa-yoh  kaa-dee-yaa, 
je,  likhan  ley’kh  ku-raaN.

That time is not known to the Muslim scholars, otherwise, they would have written something about it like they scribed copies of the Quran.

thit  vaar  naa  jo-gee  jaa-Nai, 
rut  maah  naa  ko-ee.
The day and the date are not known to any Yogi, nor does anyone else know the month or the season (that the creation came into existence).

jaa  kar-taa  sir-T
hee  kau  saa-jey,
aa-pey  jaa-Nai  so-ee.
The Creator who created this creation – only They alone know (the time when the creation was created).

kiv  kar  aa-khaa,  kiv  saa-laahee,
ki-o  var-nee,  kiv  jaa-Naa.
How can we speak of Them? How can we praise Them? How can we describe Them? How can we know Them?

naa-nak,  aa-khaN  sabh  ko  aa-khai,
ik  doo  ikk  si-yaa-Naa.

(Guru) Nanak (Ji) says- everyone thinking they are wiser than the rest, speaks of Them.

v-daa  saahib,  v-dee  naa-ee,
kee-taa  jaa  kaa  ho-vai.
Great is the Master and Great is Their Name. Whatever They will, comes to happen.

naa-nak,  je  ko  aa-poh
 jaa-Nai,
ag-gai  gayaa,  na  so-hai.  ||21||
(Guru) Nanak (Ji) says- One who claims to know everything will not be honoured in the next world. ||21||

paa-taalaa  paa-taal,  lakh,  aa-gaasaa  aa-gaas.
There are planets upon planets below this world, and hundreds of thousands of skies over skies.

oh-Rak  oh-Rak  bhaal thak-ey,
veyd  ke-han  ikk  vaat.

The Vedas say that you can search and search for them all until you grow weary.

s-hass  a-T
haa-reh,  ke-han  k-tey-baa,
a-su-loo  ikk  Dhaat.

The Abrahamic religious texts talk of 18,000 worlds whose source is the One Creator.

ley-khaa  ho-e,  ta  likhee-yai,
ley-khai  ho-e  vi-Naas.

If you try to write an account of this, you will surely finish yourself before you finish writing it.

naa-nak
,  v-daa  aa-khee-yai,
aa-pey  jaa-Nai  aap.  ||22||
(Guru) Nanak (Ji) says- call Vaheguru Great! They Themselves knows Themself. ||22||

saa-laa-hee  saa-laa-eh, 
ey-tee  surat  na  paa-ee-yaa.

The praisers praise Vaheguru, but they have been unable to understand (how great They are);
×

nadee-aa  at-ai  vaah,
pav-eh  samund  na  jaa-Nee-eh.

just as streams and rivers flowing into the ocean do not know how vast and great the ocean is.

samund  shaah  sul-taan, 
gir-haa  sey-tee  maal  Dhan.

Kings and emperors, with mountains of property and oceans of wealth

kee-Ree  tul  na  ho-vanee,
jey  tis  man-hu  na  vee-sar-eh.  ||23||

are not even equal to an ant who (praises Vaheguru and) never forgets Them. ||23||



× The praisers of Vaheguru instead become absorbed into Them.

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