Gems of Gurbani

Guru Granth Sahib

Sukhmani Sahib  38

How is that Timeless Being (Akal Purakh)? He exists in every being still He is free of illusions or maya (Ashtapadi 16).

Shlok: The God has no form, no outline and no colour and He is devoid of these three worldly qualities but still He knows whom He shall attract to understand Him and please him. O Nanak, He causes him to understand Him (God) with whom He is pleased.

Ashtapadi 16 begins: Keep the Imperishable Lord in your mind and renounce your love of man O soul because He is there and beyond Him there is nothing. That one Lord is continuously within us and He is far-seeing and all knowing. He is Unfathomable, Profound, Deep and All -wise. He is the Transcendent, The Supreme Being and the Master of the Universe. God is the treasure of mercy, compassion and pardons. Nanak has a longing in his heart to fall at the feet of such a Lord (pad 1).

He (God) fulfils all desires and has the capacity to give protection. What the God has inscribed with His hands will happen. In the wink of an eye he can fill and empty (world’s making and destruction, care and protection) and no one can fathom His deeper resolve. He is the embodiment of happiness and His mansion is eternal bliss with all the things of the world present there. Among Kings He is the Supreme King and amongst yogis He is the supreme yogi. Amongst ascetic He is a great ascetic and amongst householders he is a great enjoy -er. Nanak no one has ever found an end of Him (the Creator Person) so remain in constant meditation like His devotees (Saints) to have the peace (pad 2).

The God’s play and His various wonders have no limits and the entire demigod’s are tired of their search (in searching limits to His wonders). How can a son know of His father’s birth? The various things (in the world) are strung only on His string. He grants the knowledge and meditation of His Name to His slaves who have that sense O Nanak to remember His Name. All whom Lord bestows with three qualities (form, outline and colour) is just to cause confusion and such people come in the cycle of rebirth and coming and going (in this world). All the places (the higher and lower ranked distinction according to the virtues bestowed on His slave for meditating on His name and three  created in qualities that cause confusion are His doing. As God causes Nanak to know Him so does he understands Him (pad 3).

He (God) can take up so many forms and various colours. He can come into various disguises. He can expand Himself in myriads of ways because He is Unique and Imperishable. In the wink of an eye He can display many plays. The perfect Lord fills all the places and has created His Creation in so many ways. He has Himself appraised His worth. All are His hearts and all are His places. Nanak lives on repeating the Name of the Lord (pad 4).