A beginner's guide to Japji Sahib: Pauri 32 to 33

 

ik  doo  jee-bho⁽ⁿ⁾ lakh  ho-eh,
lakh  ho-veh, lakh  vees.
If one tongue became 100,000 tongues, and then got multiplied with twenty times more,

lakh  lakh  gey-Raa  aa-khee-eh,
ey’k  naam  jag-dees.
and then only the Name of the Master of the Universe is chanted hundreds and thousands of times.

ey't  raa-eh  pat  pav-Ree-aa,
chaRee-yai  ho-e  e-kees.
This is the way to the steps that give ultimate honour, climbing which you become one with Vaheguru.

suN  gal-aa⁽ⁿ⁾ aa-kaash  kee,
kee-ttaa  aa-ee  rees.
Hearing heavenly (high-level spiritual) talk, even lowly people stuck in worldliness long to follow.

naa-nak, nad-ree  paa-ee-yai,
koo-Ree, koo-Rai  Thees.  ||32||
(Guru) Nanak (Ji) says- with Vaheguru’s Grace alone can divine oneness be achieved. The spiritual boastings of those stuck in falsehood are false. ||32||

aa-khaN  jo’r,  chu-pai  neh  jo’r.
(The blessed people realise that) the power one has to speak or be quiet is not their own power.â
There is a Power beyond us that is within us, without which we cannot do anything. Vaheguru’s Power is the battery that powers life. Without that Power, we cannot do even the simplest of tasks.

jo'r  na  mann-gaN,  dey’N  na  jo’r.
The power one has to beg or give is not their own power.
The power to put our hand out to beg or ask before Vaheguru or whether to put our hand out to give to others is only possible if Vaheguru’s Power is within us. One could have a stroke or become paralysed and unable to beg or ask or give. Therefore, one should always remain humble.

jo'r  na  jee-vaN,  maraN  neh  jo’r.
(They realise) the power to live or to die is not their own power.

jo'r na raaj  maal,  man  sho’r.
The power to overcome the distractions of power and riches is not their own power.
If we stopped breathing, suffered brain damage, or became paralysed, then how could we possibly acquire power or riches? Our mind and body are gifts, if someone has power and riches, one should be humble and thankful, and not get stuck in pride and arrogance.

jo'r  na  sur-tee,  gi-yaan  vee-chaar.
The power to have awareness, possess knowledge and reflect is not their own power.

jo'r  na  jug-tee,  shhu-ttai  sann-saar.
The power to find the way of becoming free from the world-play is not their own power.

jis  hath  jo’r,  kar  vey-khai  so-e.
The One who has the Power in Their Hands, creates everything and takes care of all, i.e. Vaheguru,

naa-nak,  u-tam  neech  na  ko-e.  ||33||
(Guru) Nanak (Ji) says- they consider everyone as high, and no one as low.||33||
When one realises the Power of Vaheguru is present in all then one comes to see everyone as special, and no one insignificant or without value.

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â When someone claims that they can do anything using their own power, they are mistaken. When Vaheguru takes life out of their body, which power are they left with?

 

A beginner's guide to Japji Sahib: Pauri 28 to 31

 

munn-daa sann-tokh, saram pat jho-lee,
Dhi-yaan kee kar-eh bi-bhoot.
(The follower of the Guru’s Wisdom) replace wearing the earrings of discipleshipÝ with contentment, carrying the begging bowl and (storage) bag with effort (to work), and smearing ashes over the body (to renounce the world) with meditation upon the Lord.
Yogis considered themselves to be the most spiritually advanced and accomplished people. This verse and the following three other verses address the practices and beliefs of the Yogis and explain what the true practice and true belief are of someone who truly walks on the Path of enlightenment and realises the Truth.

khinn-thaa, kaal  ku-aa-ree  kaa-yaa, 
ju-gat  dann-daa  par-teet.
(The followers of the Guru’s Wisdom) replace the wearing of a patched cloak with the awareness of one’s mortality (i.e. how life is temporary) which keeps the body remain pure and untainted (ready to devote to God); and replace the Yogic technique of spiritual union with God with making the faith in the Lord one’s staff stick (i.e. support) in life.
Similar to the patched cloak worn by Yogis in South Asia, Guru Ji reminds us that our body is like a piece of clothing. Just as the patched quilt is made of different parts sewn together, the body is made up of different parts – blood, flesh and bones. Until death has not consumed our body, we should dedicate this body to the service and devotion of the Lord of the Universe.

aa-yee⁽ⁿ⁾  pann-thee  sagal  j-maa-tee,
man  jee-tai  jag  jeet.
(For them) the best spiritual group seeking union with God× is the one who is friendly and sees all humanity as fellow class students (in the quest for spiritual knowledge); this (ability to be friendly and welcoming to all) comes by conquering the mind (from ego); and one who does that can conquer the world (i.e. wins the hearts and minds of humanity).

aa-dey’s  tis-ai  aa-dey’s.
(Guru Nanak Ji says) bow only to the Ultimate One, who is worthy of bowing before ―

aad  a-neel  a-naad  a-naa-hat,
jug  jug  ey-ko  vey’s.  ||28||
the One who exists from the beginning, who is free of stain, without start, without end, and remains unchanging and the same throughout all the ages (i.e. time). ||28||

bhu-gat gi-yaan, day-aa bhann-daa-raN,
ghatt ghatt vaa-jeh naad.
(The followers of the Guru’s Wisdom) treat holy wisdom as food, compassion as its distributor, and recognises the Divine-Music flowing through every heart as the call to share and eat (i.e. the call to gain as well as share with others holy wisdom).
The Guru stresses the importance of not only gaining spiritual wisdom but also sharing it with others with a compassionate heart. When we recognise that God vibrates (i.e. is present) in the hearts of all people, we will be drawn to help them and help the world become a beautiful place by living and sharing God’s beautiful wisdom.

aap  naath,  naa-thee  sabh  jaa  kee,
riDh  siDh  av-raa  saad.
They accept that the Divine Creator is the Master in whose control all are (i.e. subject to the Universal Law) and accept occult powers as a false pleasure (that are not the objective of seeking or sharing holy wisdom).
The Guru stresses that although we should take and share God’s wisdom, we must always humbly remember that we are insignificant before God, and that God is the Ultimate Master is God. The Guru stresses that gaining and sharing spiritual wisdom with seeking self-gain of occult powers is not something a true disciple of the Guru would do.

sann-jog  vi-jog   du-e  kaar  chalaa-veh,
ley-khey  aa-veh  bhaag.
(Although they seek and share holy wisdom,) they accept that union and separation with Vaheguru comes only by Their Will and that we come to receive what is written in our destiny (i.e. past karma).

aa-dey’s  tis-ai  aa-dey’s.
(Guru Nanak Ji says) bow only to the Ultimate One, who is worthy of bowing before ―

aad  a-neel  a-naad  a-naa-hat,
jug  jug  ey-ko  vey’s.  ||29||
the One who exists from the beginning, who is free of stain, without start, without end, and remains unchanging and the same throughout all the ages (i.e. time). ||29||

ey-kaa  maa-ee, ju-gat vi-yaa-ee,
tin  chey-ley  par-vaaN.
The Ultimate One manifested Maya (the world-play) through which three servants of Nature were produced.

ikk  sann-saa-ree, ikk bhann-daa-ree, 
ikk  laa-e  dee-baaN.
One is the creative force; one is the preserving force; and one is the destructive force of divine justice.

jiv  tis bhaa-vai, tiv-ai chalaa-vai,
jiv  ho-vai  fur-maaN.
However, it is Vaheguru’s Power that works these forces as it pleases Them. Everything happens in Vaheguru’s command alone.

oh-hu  vey-khai, oh-naa  nadar  na  aa-vai,
b-hu-taa  ey-hu  vi-daaN.
Vaheguru watches over everyone, but no one can see Them. How wonderful this is!

aa-dey’s  tis-ai  aa-dey’s.
(Guru Nanak Ji says) bow only to the Ultimate One, who is worthy of bowing before ―

aad  a-neel  a-naad  a-naa-hat,
jug  jug  ey-ko  vey’s.  ||30||
the One who exists from the beginning, who is free of stain, without start, without end, and remains unchanging and the same throughout all the ages (i.e. time). ||30||

aa-saN  lo-e  lo-e, bhann-daar.
In every world, the Creator Lord is seated (present) and Their (overflowing) storehouses of provisions run.

jo  kishh  paa-yaa, so  ey-kaa  vaar.
Whatever was put in the storehouses, was put there by Vaheguru once and for all, enough forever.

kar  kar  vey-khai, sir-jaN-haar.
Having created the creation, the Creator Lord watches over it.

naa-nak, sach-ey  kee, saa-chee  kaar.
(Guru) Nanak (Ji) says- True is the Creation of the True Lord.

aa-dey’s  tis-ai  aa-deys.
(Guru Nanak Ji says) bow only to the Ultimate One, who is worthy of bowing before ―

aad  a-neel  a-naad  a-naa-hat,
jug  jug  ey-ko  vey’s.  ||31||
the One who exists from the beginning, who is free of stain, without start, without end, and remains unchanging and the same throughout all the ages (i.e. time). ||31||

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Ý It is a part of the Yogic tradition that when a Yogi becomes a disciple of a spiritual-master that he make holes in his ears and wears earrings. These earrings are worn as part of displaying discipleship and to show that he has overcome desires. Guru Nanak Dev Ji states that the true sign of discipleship and the true way to overcome desires is displaying contentment in one’s life and attitude.

× The original text refers to Yogis. ‘Yog’ or ‘Jog’ are the Punjabi words for ‘yoga.’ Yoga means ‘union.’ In particular, it is the act of seeking union with God. A ‘Yogi’ there means one who seeks union with God. In ancient times in South Asia, people would do certain extreme exercises, controlling their breathing and other different acts in seeking union with God, which is also referred to as Yoga or Yog. Traditionally, there are twelve tribes of Yogis and most of them are in conflict with one another. One of them called ‘Aaee Panth’ has no conflict and is considered the supreme or best tribes of the Yogis.