Gems of Gurbani

Guru Granth Sahib

Sukhmani Sahib – 18

When God’s Grace is bestowed then one joins the company of Sadh Sangat (people who have achieved the harmonious union with Lord and have become blessed to become part of the soul of His Lordship), you may call these people Gurmukh, Brahmgyani      or Sadhu (Ashtapadi; 7, 8 , 9).

Shlok: That Supreme Lord is Inaccessible and Unfathomable, all those who recite on His Name are emancipated. Listen O friends says Nanak, the wonderful story of the saintly persons.

Ashtapadi 7 begins; in the congregation of Saints, the face becomes bright because the filth gets washed, pride or ego gets effaced, divine knowledge is revealed, the God starts appearing nearer, the strife gets settled, the jewel of his name is obtained, man learns that there is only One Lord. Which mortal can narrate the story of Saints? Nanak, the glory of the Saints is merged into that of Lord (pad 1).

In the company of Saints man can meet that Lord who is beyond human senses (five sense organs of human body that God has no need of) and blossom like flowers. In the company of Saints the five enemies (lust, anger or wrath, greed, illusions and ego) are restrained. In the company of Saints man can enjoy the essence of His Name. In the company of Saints man becomes dust of all. In the company of Saints the speech becomes fascinating. In the company of saints the mind wanders not. In the company of Saints the mind becomes stable. In the company of Saints the mind gets rid of worldly riches. In the society of Saints O Nanak the Lord is mightily pleased (pad 2).

By associating with Saints all the enemies become friends, man becomes pure, man bears no enmity, man’s feet do not walk astray, no one seems evil, man learns to understand the supreme joy, man loses the fever of ego and he loses all self - conceit. The Lord himself knows the greatness of the man of faith (man who has made efforts to transform himself). Nanak, the man of faith is akin (similar) to the Lord (pad 3).

In the company of the pious the mind never wanders, man attains peace; man receives the Incomprehensible Name as commodity. In the company of the pious man endures the endurable. Man gets chance to seat at higher place. In the company of pious man reaches Lord’s Mansion. In the company of the Saints the faith in the Lord gets consolidated. In the company of the Saints man meditates only on the Supreme Lord. In the company of the Saints man gets the treasure of His Name. Nanak offers his sacrifice to the Saints ( pad 4).