Gems of Gurbani

Guru Granth Sahib

Sukhmani Sahib  23

Ashtapadi 9 continues: True worshipper (Devotee) of The Supreme Lord is the one who has enormous qualities of a true worshipper (one who is completely devoted). He gives up company of the evil, banishes all superstitions from his mind and engrosses only in the Universal Lord. By losing all his sins in the company of Saints he obtains higher intellect. Such a devotee performs all services to the Lord by dedicating his soul, body in the love of Lord. His mind remains seated at God’s feet, O Nanak such a devotee attains the God’s presence (pad 3).

Pundit (who is a scholar because he has obtained all the knowledge by learning from scriptures) is one who has awakened his mind, and is in search of Lord’s Name in his heart, drinks the elixir of Lord’s Name. The world lives by the instructions of a Pundit so the one who has imbued God’s gospel in his heart is freed from the cycle of rebirth because he has understood the essence (That there is only One Supreme God) of Vedas and Smirits that exists in his invisible Form and expresses His visible love when the Pundit gives his instructions equally to all four castes. Nanak bows to such a Pundit (pad 4).

The seed mantra is His Name whatever one may recite belonging to any of the four castes. All those who recite His Name get emancipated. Few have that chance to associate with the Saints but those who do, get the grace of His Name installed in their mind. His Name has that power to take across this worldly ocean - beasts, evil spirits, fools and even the stone hearted. Lord’s Name is the panacea of all ills. Singing His praises is the blissful life that needs no salvation. There is no other way or religion that can replace the blissful life but meditating on His Name. Nanak he alone comes to this bliss who has His Name written in his destiny (pad 5).