Selections from the Guru Granth Sahib · 127 of 228
Raag Aasaa: Aasaavaree, Fourth Mehl
One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:
Night and day, I sing the Kirtan, the Praises of the Name of the Lord.
The True Guru has revealed to me the Name of the Lord; without the Lord, I cannot live, for a moment, even an instant. ||1||Pause||
My ears hear the Lord’s Kirtan, and I contemplate Him; without the Lord, I cannot live, even for an instant.
As the swan cannot live without the lake, how can the Lord’s slave live without serving Him? ||1||
Some enshrine love for duality in their hearts, and some pledge love for worldly attachments and ego.
The Lord’s servant embraces love for the Lord and the state of Nirvaanaa; Nanak contemplates the Lord, the Lord God. ||2||14||66||
Aasaavaree, Fourth Mehl:
O mother, my mother, tell me about my Beloved Lord.
Without the Lord, I cannot live for a moment, even an instant; I love Him, like the camel loves the vine. ||1||Pause||
My mind has become sad and distant, longing for the Blessed Vision of the Lord’s Darshan, my Friend.
As the bumblebee cannot live without the lotus, I cannot live without the Lord. ||1||
Section 08 - Raag Aasaa - Part 024 Keep me under Your Protection, O Beloved Master of the Universe; fulfill my faith, O Lord of the World.
Servant Nanak’s mind is filled with bliss, when he beholds the Blessed Vision of the Lord’s Darshan, even for an instant. ||2||39||13||15||67||
Raag Aasaa, Second House, Fifth Mehl:
One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:
One who loves her, is ultimately devoured.
One who seats her in comfort, is totally terrified by her.
Siblings, friends and family, beholding her, argue.
But she has come under my control, by Guru’s Grace. ||1||
Beholding her, all are bewitched:
the strivers, the Siddhas, the demi-gods, angels and mortals. All, except the Saadhus, are deceived by her deception. ||1||Pause||
Some wander around as renunciates, but they are engrossed in sexual desire.
Some grow rich as householders, but she does not belong to them.
Some call themselves men of charity, and she torments them terribly.
The Lord has saved me, by attaching me to the Feet of the True Guru. ||2||
She leads astray the penitents who practice penance.
The scholarly Pandits are all seduced by greed.
The world of the three qualities is enticed, and the heavens are enticed.
The True Guru has saved me, by giving me His Hand. ||3||
She is the slave of those who are spiritually wise.
With her palms pressed together, she serves them and offers her prayer:
“Whatever you wish, that is what I shall do.”
O servant Nanak, she does not draw near to the Gurmukh. ||4||1||
Aasaa, Fifth Mehl:
I have been separated from my Beloved by Maya (my mother-in-law).
Hope and desire (my younger brother-in-law and sister-in-law) are dying of grief.
I am no longer swayed by the fear of Death (my elder brother-in-law).
I am protected by my All-knowing, Wise Husband Lord. ||1||
Listen, O people: I have tasted the elixir of love.
The evil ones are dead, and my enemies are destroyed. The True Guru has given me the Name of the Lord. ||1||Pause||
First, I renounced my egotistical love of myself.
Second, I renounced the ways of the world.
Renouncing the three qualities, I look alike upon friend and enemy.
And then, the fourth state of bliss was revealed to me by the Holy One. ||2||
In the cave of celestial bliss, I have obtained a seat.
The Lord of Light plays the unstruck melody of bliss.
I am in ecstasy, contemplating the Word of the Guru’s Shabad.
Imbued with my Beloved Husband Lord, I am the blessed, happy soul-bride. ||3||
Servant Nanak chants the wisdom of God;
one who listens and practices it, is carried across and saved.
He is not born, and he does not die; he does not come or go.
He remains blended with the Lord. ||4||2||
Aasaa, Fifth Mehl:
The bride shows such special devotion, and has such an agreeable disposition.
Her beauty is incomparable, and her character is perfect.
The house in which she dwells is such a praiseworthy house.
But rare are those who, as Gurmukh, attain that state||1||
As the soul-bride of pure actions, I have met with the Guru.
Section 08 - Raag Aasaa - Part 025 In worship, marriage and in the next world, such a soul-bride looks beautiful. ||1||Pause||
As long as she lived with her father, her Husband wandered around in sadness.
I served and surrendered to the Lord, the True Being;
the Guru brought my bride to my home, and I obtained total happiness. ||2||
She is blessed with all sublime attributes, and her generations are unblemished.
Her Husband, her Lord and Master, fulfills her heart’s desires.
Hope and desire (my younger brother-in-law and sister-in-law) are now totally content. ||3||
She is the most noble of all the family.
She counsels and advises her hope and desire.
How blessed is that household, in which she has appeared.
O servant Nanak, she passes her time in perfect peace and comfort. ||4||3||
Aasaa, Fifth Mehl:
Whatever I resolve, she does not allow it to come to pass.
She stands blocking the way of goodness and self-discipline.
She wears many disguises, and assumes many forms, and she does not allow me to dwell in my own home. She forces me to wander around in different directions. ||1||
She has become the mistress of my home, and she does not allow me to live in it.
If I try, she fights with me. ||1||Pause||
In the beginning, she was sent as a helper, but she has overwhelmed the nine continents, all places and interspaces.
She has not spared even the river banks, the sacred shrines of pilgrimage, the Yogis and Sannyaasees, or those who tirelessly read the Simritees and study the Vedas. ||2||
Wherever I sit, she sits there with me.
She has imposed her power upon the whole world.
Seeking meager protection, I am not protected from her.
Tell me, O my friend: unto whom should I turn for protection? ||3||
I heard of His Teachings, and so I have come to the True Guru.
The Guru has implanted the Mantra of the Lord’s Name, Har, Har, within me.
And now, I dwell in the home of my own inner self; I sing the Glorious Praises of the Infinite Lord.
I have met God, O Nanak, and I have become care-free. ||4||
My home is now my own, and she is now my mistress.
She is now my servant, and the Guru has made me intimate with the Lord. ||1||Second Pause||4||4||
Aasaa, Fifth Mehl:
First, they advised me to send a letter.
Second, they advised me to send two men.
Third, they advised me to make the effort and do something.
But I have renounced everything, and I meditate only on You, God. ||1||
Now, I am totally blissful, carefree and at ease.
The enemies and evil-doers have perished, and I have obtained peace. ||1||Pause||
The True Guru has imparted the Teachings to me.
My soul, body and everything belong to the Lord.
Whatever I do, is by Your Almighty Power.
You are my only Support, You are my only Court. ||2||
If I were to renounce You, God, unto whom could I turn?
There is no other, comparable to You.
Who else is Your servant to serve?
The faithless cynics are deluded; they wander around in the wilderness. ||3||
Your Glorious Greatness cannot be described.
Wherever I am, you save me, hugging me close in Your embrace.
Nanak, Your slave, has entered Your Sanctuary.
God has preserved his honor, and congratulations are pouring in. ||4||5||
Section 08 - Raag Aasaa - Part 026 Aasaa, Fifth Mehl:
Having wandered through foreign lands, I have come here to do business.
I heard of the incomparable and profitable merchandise.
I have gathered in my pockets my capital of virtue, and I have brought it here with me.
Beholding the jewel, this mind is fascinated. ||1||
I have come to the door of the Trader.
Please display the merchandise, so that the business may be transacted. ||1||Pause||
The Trader has sent me to the Banker.
The jewel is priceless, and the capital is priceless.
O my gentle brother, mediator and friend
- I have obtained the merchandise, and my consciousness is now steady and stable. ||2||
I have no fear of thieves, of wind or water.
I have easily made my purchase, and I easily take it away.
I have earned Truth, and I shall have no pain.
I have brought this merchandise home, safe and sound. ||3||
I have earned the profit, and I am happy.
Blessed is the Banker, the Perfect Bestower.
How rare is the Gurmukh who obtains this merchandise;
Nanak has brought this profitable merchandise home. ||4||6||
Aasaa, Fifth Mehl:
He does not consider my merits or demerits.
He does not look at my beauty, color or decorations.
I do not know the ways of wisdom and good conduct.
But taking me by the arm, my Husband Lord has led me to His Bed. ||1||
Hear, O my companions, my Husband, my Lord Master, possesses me.
Placing His Hand upon my forehead, He protects me as His Own. What do these ignorant people know? ||1||Pause||
My married life now appears so beauteous;
my Husband Lord has met me, and He sees all my pains.
Within the courtyard of my heart, the glory of the moon shines.
Night and day, I have fun with my Beloved. ||2||
My clothes are dyed the deep crimson color of the poppy.
All the ornaments and garlands around my neck adorn me.
Gazing upon my Beloved with my eyes, I have obtained all treasures;
I have shaken off the power of the evil demons. ||3||
I have obtained eternal bliss, and I constantly celebrate.
With the nine treasures of the Naam, the Name of the Lord, I am satisfied in my own home.
Says Nanak, when the happy soul-bride is adorned by her Beloved, she is forever happy with her Husband Lord. ||4||7||
Aasaa, Fifth Mehl:
They give you donations and worship you.
You take from them, and then deny that they have given anything to you.
That door, through which you must ultimately go, O Brahmin
- at that door, you will come to regret and repent. ||1||
Such Brahmins shall drown, O Siblings of Destiny;
they think of doing evil to the innocent. ||1||Pause||
Within them is greed, and they wander around like mad dogs.
They slander others and carry loads of sin upon their heads.
Intoxicated by Maya, they do not think of the Lord.
Deluded by doubt, they wander off on many paths. ||2||
Outwardly, they wear various religious robes, but within, they are enveloped by poison.
They instruct others, but do not understand themselves.
Such Brahmins will never be emancipated. ||3||
O foolish Brahmin, reflect upon God.
He watches and hears, and is always with you.
Says Nanak, if this is your destiny, renounce your pride, and grasp the Guru’s Feet. ||4||8||
Aasaa, Fifth Mehl:
Section 08 - Raag Aasaa - Part 027 Pain and disease have left my body, and my mind has become pure; I sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord, Har, Har.
I am in bliss, meeting with the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, and now, my mind does not go wandering. ||1||
My burning desires are quenched, through the Word of the Guru’s Shabad, O mother.
The fever of doubt has been totally eliminated; meeting the Guru, I am cooled and soothed, with intuitive ease. ||1||Pause||
My wandering has ended, since I have realized the One and Only Lord; now, I have come to dwell in the eternal place.
Your Saints are the Saving Grace of the world; beholding the Blessed Vision of their Darshan, I remain satisfied. ||2||
I have left behind the sins of countless incarnations, now that I have grasped the feet of the eternal Holy Guru.
My mind sings the celestial melody of bliss, and death shall no longer consume it. ||3||
My Lord, the Cause of all causes, is All-powerful, the Giver of peace; He is my Lord, my Lord King.
Nanak lives by chanting Your Name, O Lord; You are my helper, with me, through and through. ||4||9||
Aasaa, Fifth Mehl:
The slanderer cries out and bewails.
He has forgotten the Supreme Lord, the Transcendent Lord; the slanderer reaps the rewards of his own actions. ||1||Pause||
If someone is his companion, then he shall be taken along with him.
Like the dragon, the slanderer carries his huge, useless loads, and burns in his own fire. ||1||
Nanak proclaims and announces what happens at the Door of the Transcendent Lord.
The humble devotees of the Lord are forever in bliss; singing the Kirtan of the Lord’s Praises, they blossom forth. ||2||10||
Aasaa, Fifth Mehl:
Even though I totally decorated myself, still, my mind was not satisfied.
I applied various scented oils to my body, and yet, I did not obtain even a tiny bit of pleasure from this.
Within my mind, I hold such a desire, that I may live only to behold my Beloved, O my mother. ||1||
O mother, what should I do? This mind cannot rest.
It is bewitched by the tender love of my Beloved. ||1||Pause||
Garments, ornaments, and such exquisite pleasures
- I look upon these as of no account.
Likewise, honor, fame, dignity and greatness, obedience by the whole world, and a household as beautiful as a jewel.
If I am pleasing to God’s Will, then I shall be blessed, and forever in bliss. ||2||
With foods and delicacies of so many different kinds, and such abundant pleasures and entertainments, power and property and absolute command
- with these, the mind is not satisfied, and its thirst is not quenched.
Without meeting Him, this day does not pass.
Meeting God, I find peace. ||3||
By searching and seeking, I have heard this news, that without the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, no one swims across.
One who has this good destiny written upon his forehead, finds the True Guru.
His hopes are fulfilled, and his mind is satisfied.
When one meets God, then his thirst is quenched.
Nanak has found the Lord, within his mind and body. ||4||11||
Aasaa, Fifth Mehl, Panch-Padas:
Section 08 - Raag Aasaa - Part 028 First, your social status is high.
Second, you are honored in society.
Third, your home is beautiful.
But you are so ugly, with self-conceit in your mind. ||1||
O beautiful, attractive, wise and clever woman:
you have been trapped by your pride and attachment. ||1||Pause||
Your kitchen is so clean.
You take your bath, and worship, and apply the crimson mark upon your forehead;
with your mouth you speak wisdom, but you are destroyed by pride.
The dog of greed has ruined you in every way. ||2||
You wear your robes and enjoy pleasures;
you practice good conduct to impress people;
you apply scented oils of sandalwood and musk, but your constant companion is the demon of anger. ||3||
Other people may be your water-carriers;
in this world, you may be a ruler.
Gold, silver and wealth may be yours, but the goodness of your conduct has been destroyed by sexual promiscuity. ||4||
That soul, upon whom the Lord has bestowed His Glance of Grace, is delivered from bondage.
Joining the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, the Lord’s sublime essence is obtained.
Says Nanak, how fruitful is that body. ||5||
All graces and all comforts shall come to you, as the happy soul-bride;
you shall be supremely beautiful and wise. ||1||Second Pause||12||