Gems of Gurbani

Guru Granth Sahib

Sukhmani Sahib -24

Ashtapadi 9 continues:

One, in whose heart Supreme Lord resides is the true servant of Lord and can be named so - Ramdas. He gets the vision of The All Pervading Lord because of his nature of serving the Lord. Because of this nature he keeps coming closer and closer to the Lord and thus has the honour of being accepted in His Court. The Lord has mercy on him and bestows all the knowledge to him. Once he has this knowledge about Lord he becomes detached from the world even while remaining mixed in the company of men (pad 6).

The Supreme Lord has certain orders and one who has executed them according to His Will (hukam) becomes free of cycle of rebirth in his own lifetime. Joys and sorrows of life are now equal to him and in this state he enjoys everlasting bliss and suffers no separation from the Lord. Gold and dust look alike to him, and he cannot distinguish between nectar and poison. Honour and pride are same for him, so are King and pauper. The Lord has played His talent to win such a servant who deems fit to be called Ramdas – his servant. Nanak such man is emancipated while still alive (pad 7).

All the places (here human forms) belong to the Lord and in whatever forms He lives within them so He names them (on a deeper contemplation this verse matches the racial differences that Lord has created on this earth). He (The Lord) has the capacity to get all things done from humans as per His Will and that comes in its form. He has manifested Himself in the endless waves. This play of the Supreme Being is beyond understanding. Whatever he bestows as understanding that becomes enlightenment. The Exalted Lord, The Creator is Imperishable. Nanak, by remembering such a Lord is gratified (pad 8).