Gems of Gurbani

Guru Granth Sahib

Sukhmani Sahib  52

Ashtapadi 22 continues: Become happy in the congregation of the Saints. By singing His praises a feeling of Supreme bliss can be obtained. God’s Name is the truth this can be felt by meditating on His Name. Doing this the human body that is difficult to obtain can be saved. Sing the ambrosial hymns of the God’s praises. This is the only way to save your soul. For all eight hours of the day hold yourself near to Lord the ignorance shall depart and darkness shall be dispelled. Hear the instructions of the Guru and treasure them in your heart. That way O Nanak you shall obtain the fruit of your heart’s desire (pad 5).

 By enshrining Lord’s Name in the mind one can adorn and better both this world and the world hereafter. The instructions of the Perfect Guru are perfect and He Himself examines and ascertains the truth of His abode in your mind. With your mind and body lovingly repeat His Name. And, thus shall sorrow, pain and fear depart from your mind You deal in the true trade o dealer the merchandize shall reach safely in God’s court. Put only One God in your mind and you shall be saved O Nanak from the many journeys of coming and going (pad 6).

Where can anyone go far from Him? The man is saved by remembering the Preserver. By meditating on the Fearless Lord all the fear departs. By god’s grace the mortal is released. He, whom the Lord preserves do not fall in trouble, by remembering the Name, the mind attains peace. Anxiety departs and ego is annulled. No one can reach him on whose side the strong brave Guru stands. His affairs O Nanak are taken care of (pad 7).

The world is delivered the perfect understanding of the Perfect Guru whose glance is ambrosial and whose lotus feet are beautiful beyond description. Sighting His Godlike form was the ultimate success. The service of the devotee has become acceptable because he is the knower of hearts and He is most exalted One. He in whose heart he has taken abode gets exalted. Death does not come near the exalted O Nanak the congregation of Saints has made me immortal (pad 8).  

The ashtapadi 21 has a clear message that the creation of world is not dependent on the good and bad deeds of human beings. It clearly suggests that God Himself is the creator of all such human nature because for Him the world is play that He plays and enjoys. Still we have a task to find the difference between good and bad and in Sikhism the way is shown by ‘simran’ a constant recitation of His Name. Emphasis on simran is suggested in Ashtapadi 22.