Selections from the Guru Granth Sahib · 14 of 228
Raag Maajh: Shalok, First Mehl
One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:
I serve my True Guru, and meditate on Him all day and night.
Renouncing selfishness and conceit, I seek His Sanctuary, and speak sweet words to Him.
Through countless lifetimes and incarnations, I was separated from Him. O Lord, you are my Friend and Companion-please unite me with Yourself.
Those who are separated from the Lord do not dwell in peace, O sister.
Without their Husband Lord, they find no comfort. I have searched and seen all realms.
My own evil actions have kept me separate from Him; why should I accuse anyone else?
Bestow Your Mercy, God, and save me! No one else can bestow Your Mercy.
Without You, Lord, we roll around in the dust. Unto whom should we utter our cries of distress?
This is Nanak’s prayer: “May my eyes behold the Lord, the Angelic Being.”||1||
The Lord hears the anguish of the soul; He is the All-powerful and Infinite Primal Being.
In death and in life, worship and adore the Lord, the Support of all.
Section 06 - Raag Maajh - Part 044 In this world and in the next, the soul-bride belongs to her Husband Lord, who has such a vast family.
He is Lofty and Inaccessible. His Wisdom is Unfathomable.
He has no end or limitation. That service is pleasing to Him, which makes one humble, like the dust of the feet of the Saints.
He is the Patron of the poor, the Merciful, Luminous Lord, the Redeemer of sinners.
From the very beginning, and throughout the ages, the True Name of the Creator has been our Saving Grace.
No one can know His Value; no one can weigh it.
He dwells deep within the mind and body. O Nanak, He cannot be measured.
I am forever a sacrifice to those who serve God, day and night. ||2||
The Saints worship and adore Him forever and ever; He is the Forgiver of all.
He fashioned the soul and the body, and by His Kindness, He bestowed the soul.
Through the Word of the Guru’s Shabad, worship and adore Him, and chant His Pure Mantra.
His Value cannot be evaluated. The Transcendent Lord is endless.
That one, within whose mind the Lord abides, is said to be most fortunate.
The soul’s desires are fulfilled, upon meeting the Master, our Husband Lord.
Nanak lives by chanting the Lord’s Name; all sorrows have been erased.
One who does not forget Him, day and night, is continually rejuvenated. ||3||
God is overflowing with all powers. I have no honor-He is my resting place.
I have grasped the Support of the Lord within my mind; I live by chanting and meditating on His Name.
Grant Your Grace, God, and bless me, that I may merge into the dust of the feet of the humble.
As You keep me, so do I live. I wear and eat whatever You give me.
May I make the effort, O God, to sing Your Glorious Praises in the Company of the Holy.
I can conceive of no other place; where could I go to lodge a complaint?
You are the Dispeller of ignorance, the Destroyer of darkness, O Lofty, Unfathomable and Unapproachable Lord.
Please unite this separated one with Yourself; this is Nanak’s yearning.
That day shall bring every joy, O Lord, when I take to the Feet of the Guru. ||4||1||
Vaar In Maajh, And Shaloks Of The First Mehl: To Be Sung To The Tune Of “Malik Mureed And Chandrahraa Sohee-Aa”
One Universal Creator God. Truth Is The Name. Creative Being Personified. By Guru’s Grace:
Shalok, First Mehl:
The Guru is the Giver; the Guru is the House of ice. The Guru is the Light of the three worlds.
O Nanak, He is everlasting wealth. Place your mind’s faith in Him, and you shall find peace. ||1||
First Mehl:
First, the baby loves mother’s milk;
second, he learns of his mother and father;
third, his brothers, sisters-in-law and sisters;
fourth, the love of play awakens.
Fifth, he runs after food and drink;
sixth, in his sexual desire, he does not respect social customs.
Seventh, he gathers wealth and dwells in his house;
eighth, he becomes angry, and his body is consumed.
Ninth, he turns grey, and his breathing becomes labored;
tenth, he is cremated, and turns to ashes.
His companions send him off, crying out and lamenting.
The swan of the soul takes flight, and asks which way to go.
Section 06 - Raag Maajh - Part 045 He came and he went, and now, even his name has died.
After he left, food was offered on leaves, and the birds were called to come and eat.
O Nanak, the self-willed manmukhs love the darkness.
Without the Guru, the world is drowning. ||2||
First Mehl:
At the age of ten, he is a child; at twenty, a youth, and at thirty, he is called handsome.
At forty, he is full of life; at fifty, his foot slips, and at sixty, old age is upon him.
At seventy, he loses his intellect, and at eighty, he cannot perform his duties.
At ninety, he lies in his bed, and he cannot understand his weakness.
After seeking and searching for such a long time, O Nanak, I have seen that the world is just a mansion of smoke. ||3||
Pauree:
You, O Creator Lord, are Unfathomable. You Yourself created the Universe, its colors, qualities and varieties, in so many ways and forms.
You created it, and You alone understand it. It is all Your Play.
Some come, and some arise and depart; but without the Name, all are bound to die.
The Gurmukhs are imbued with the deep crimson color of the poppy; they are dyed in the color of the Lord’s Love.
So serve the True and Pure Lord, the Supremely Powerful Architect of Destiny.
You Yourself are All-knowing. O Lord, You are the Greatest of the Great!
O my True Lord, I am a sacrifice, a humble sacrifice, to those who meditate on You within their conscious mind. ||1||