Gems of Gurbani

Guru Granth Sahib

Sukhmani Sahib 14

Shlok: He, who abandons God, who is a Great Giver and attaches himself to other pleasures, may not succeed anywhere because without the Name O Nanak all the honour is lost.

Ashtapadi 5; Man takes ten things and keeps them aside; for the sake of one thing he loses his credibility. If the Lord doesn’t give that one thing and takes away the other ten then say what shall this fool do? The Lord, with whom coercing is of no avail one should only pay obeisance. The one in whose heart Master abides sweetly has all the comforts within his heart. The person whom God has chosen to obey His orders, O Nanak has obtained all the comforts (pad 1).

The Banker (Sahu here Almighty) gives His countless capital to the mortals. With all the joys and pleasure he spends, eats, drinks and make merry. If the banker takes back some of His capital back the ignorant man gets angry. By his own acts he loses his credibility and his trust in God’s presence. Therefore place all that belongs to the Lord before Him and willingly obey His orders. The ever merciful Lord will make it fourfold to make you happy. O Nanak the Lord is ever merciful (pad 2).

There are varieties of riches to get attached with but they are temporary and shall definitely perish. It is like falling in love with the shade of a tree but when the shade is no more there one mourns in mind. All that we view are transitory things but the man who is most blind of all blindness is clinging to all that. All the transitory things are like passing traveler and the one who falls in love with such shall have nothing in hand. O my soul, fall in love with the Name of God that alone will bring comfort to you. O Nanak God attaches Himself to those to whom he shows His mercy (3).

False are the body, wealth and all the relations, false are self conceit, self love and worldly valuables. False are Kingdoms, youth and other assets. False are lust, anger and dreadful wrath. False are chariots, elephants and horses. False is the love for accumulating wealth holding which man is pleased. False are the deceit, worldly love and pride. False is the pride of self love. Even the devotional service of God and protection of saints is false because they are perishable. O Nanak live continuously by meditating on His Name and in His (God’s) feet (pad 4).