ehu sohilā sabadu suhāvā.
sabdo suhāvā sadā sohilā satigurū suṇāiā.
ehu tin kai manni vasiā jin dhurahu likhiā āiā.
iki phirahi ghanere karahi galā galī kinai na pāiā.
kahai nānaku sabadu sohilā satigurū suṇāiā.16.
-Guru Granth Sahib 919
In this pauri, it is explained that the real source of bliss is the ever pleasant and joyful song of Wisdom (Guru). It is received and comes to dwell in the heart through Grace and not through mere talks.
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
Calligraphy
In the fifteenth pauri, the fifteenth step of the ladder, Guru Amardas revealed that IkOankar (One Universal Integrative Force, 1Force, the One), guides each being along the path and places every being on their path. Moving on to the sixteenth pauri, the sixteenth step of the ladder, Guru Amardas says this Sabad, the joyful song of praise, is pleasant. Sabad (the hymn-like stanza that exemplifies the word-sound of the Infinite Wisdom) is the ultimate sohila. Traditionally, sohila is a celebratory song with messages of happiness, joy, and bliss. This beautiful and pleasing sohila resides within the Sabad. And this sohila remains eternally joyful and blissful that the eternal Wisdom imparts. It finds its way into the minds of those who are graced from the Origin. This celebratory song originates from the very Origin. How do we understand the term Origin? The Origin signifies Genesis, the Beginning. We question: Why is it that we cannot audibly hear this sohila? The answer: While we wander and engage in conversations, some trivial and some profound, this sohila cannot be found or experienced through mere words. This sohila is enshrined within the Sabad and can only be imparted by the eternal Wisdom. Sabad is the ultimate song of joy that resonates not only in our ears but also deeply in our hearts, for joyous songs, even in a worldly plane, aren’t just heard physically; they are heard emotionally. Guru Amardas concludes this ladder step by emphasizing that this Sabad is the joyful song of praise; the eternal Wisdom has recited it.
We reflect. Amidst the vast array of analytical, logical, and scientific knowledge, methods, and systems employed worldwide to attain bliss, none of these approaches find a place within this verse. The state of bliss, the joy flowing in this composition, leads to perpetual and unwavering bliss. It doesn’t diminish or fade over time. Let’s pause and consider the kind of bliss we are seeking. Are we after fleeting, transient joy rooted in bewitching material attachments, or are we searching for something lasting? If our desire is for enduring bliss, then we are being directed toward the Sabad, wherein an eternal, beautiful, and delightful celebratory song of joy originates from the Beginning. We will not find this song at prestigious award ceremonies like the Grammys or being delivered by charismatic pulpit preachers. So where must we turn? We are being told we can listen to this song from the eternal Wisdom. Through the grace of eternal Wisdom, this song finds its way into the minds of those who have embraced Nam, Identification with the One. The Sabad houses the quintessential song of joy; only the eternal Wisdom can impart it to us. Think of it like this: Just as there are many songs we enjoy listening to repeatedly, the question to ask ourselves is whether these songs can lead us to experience the profound bliss flowing from the One. This verse serves as a reminder that, apart from the Sabad, all other discussions, debates, and hypotheses can not guide us toward experiencing the bliss emanating from the One. They may lead us to encounter eminent individuals or achieve a certain status. They may offer us fleeting joys aligned with worldly circumstances, yet these joys are temporary, unable to provide lasting happiness. The pursuits rooted in falsehood, driven by transactions and deception, may yield various joys in life, but they cannot deliver the ultimate, lasting joy we seek.
We may ask ourselves: What sort of happiness are we truly seeking—the fleeting contentment in worldly relationships and achievements or the profound and lasting joy that transcends time? Is our aim the ultimate joy, the kind that remains untouched by transience? If so, what actions are we willing to take to attain it? Do we just want to hear the joyous songs or become part of the Song of the Joy?
We reflect. Amidst the vast array of analytical, logical, and scientific knowledge, methods, and systems employed worldwide to attain bliss, none of these approaches find a place within this verse. The state of bliss, the joy flowing in this composition, leads to perpetual and unwavering bliss. It doesn’t diminish or fade over time. Let’s pause and consider the kind of bliss we are seeking. Are we after fleeting, transient joy rooted in bewitching material attachments, or are we searching for something lasting? If our desire is for enduring bliss, then we are being directed toward the Sabad, wherein an eternal, beautiful, and delightful celebratory song of joy originates from the Beginning. We will not find this song at prestigious award ceremonies like the Grammys or being delivered by charismatic pulpit preachers. So where must we turn? We are being told we can listen to this song from the eternal Wisdom. Through the grace of eternal Wisdom, this song finds its way into the minds of those who have embraced Nam, Identification with the One. The Sabad houses the quintessential song of joy; only the eternal Wisdom can impart it to us. Think of it like this: Just as there are many songs we enjoy listening to repeatedly, the question to ask ourselves is whether these songs can lead us to experience the profound bliss flowing from the One. This verse serves as a reminder that, apart from the Sabad, all other discussions, debates, and hypotheses can not guide us toward experiencing the bliss emanating from the One. They may lead us to encounter eminent individuals or achieve a certain status. They may offer us fleeting joys aligned with worldly circumstances, yet these joys are temporary, unable to provide lasting happiness. The pursuits rooted in falsehood, driven by transactions and deception, may yield various joys in life, but they cannot deliver the ultimate, lasting joy we seek.
We may ask ourselves: What sort of happiness are we truly seeking—the fleeting contentment in worldly relationships and achievements or the profound and lasting joy that transcends time? Is our aim the ultimate joy, the kind that remains untouched by transience? If so, what actions are we willing to take to attain it? Do we just want to hear the joyous songs or become part of the Song of the Joy?
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