sācā nāmu merā ādhāro.
sācu nāmu adhāru merā jini bhukhā sabhi gavāīā.
kari sāṁti sukh mani āi vasiā jini ichā sabhi pujāīā.
sadā kurbāṇu kītā gurū viṭahu jis dīā ehi vaḍiāīā.
kahai nānaku suṇahu santahu sabadi dharahu piāro.
sācā nāmu merā ādhāro.4.
-Guru Granth Sahib 917
In the fourth pauri (stanza), Guru Amardas Sahib, in the first-person voice, describes how Nam became the support of life. Nam fulfills all desires and eradicates all cravings, allowing peace and comfort to prevail and giving rise to eternal bliss.
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
Calligraphy
In the third pauri, the third step on the ladder, Guru Amardas invoked the eternal Sovereign from whose House the gift of Nam, or Identification with the One, was bestowed. Moving on to the fourth pauri, the fourth step on this ladder, Guru Amardas, channeling the voice of self, proclaims that the eternal Nam has become my support. This eternal Nam emerged as the mooring, the sustenance, satisfying all the cravings and desires for Guru Amardas. The mind now basked in tranquility and solace is enveloped in bliss. With deep reverence and unwavering devotion, Guru Amardas pledged dedication to the eternal Wisdom. The outpouring of gratitude and appreciation was monumental. The grandeur and expansiveness of the eternal Wisdom caused Nam to become his unshakable foundation. The eternal Wisdom stands as the eternal Bestower, the eternal Giver. Addressing humanity as saintly beings, Guru Amardas implores us to embrace the Sabad (the hymn-like stanza that exemplifies the word-sound of the Infinite Wisdom) with love. We pause to contemplate. Such is the boundless essence of the Wisdom; such is the magnificence of the Wisdom. The reminder that "eternality" resides within us, and to truly experience it, we ought to cultivate a profound love for the Sabad. Thus, we may also receive Nam, making it our sustenance and experiencing the unending bliss. Guru Amardas concludes this ladder step, reaffirming that the eternal Nam has become my support.
We reflect on our state of mind. For many among us, our mind lacks the support of Nam. Hence, the mind incessantly yearns for more, a cycle where obtaining one thing leads to craving another—the larger home, the loftier promotion, the grander vehicle, the elevated societal position. The mind’s thirst remains unquenched, its hunger unabated, and serenity remains elusive, trapped within this vicious cycle. How can we break this pattern? How can we taste true bliss? Guru Amardas illuminates the path. We are asked to embrace Nam as our support. Nam will eliminate the mind’s desires and hunger, bestowing tranquility and ease. We invest in spas, exercise routines, and balanced diets for bodily comfort, but how do we nurture our minds’ comfort? We ought to prime our minds to receive the most precious gem—Nam. When we establish Nam as our foundation, we can potentially experience the Eternal both within ourselves and others. A sense of gratitude, humility, awe, steadfastness, and tranquility might embrace us. This may solidify our bond with the eternal Wisdom. Nam is not selective; Nam is not exclusive. Nam is open to all. This may be the reason we are addressed as saintly beings—because each of us possesses the potential to develop a connection with the One through Nam. Many of us may not feel worthy. Guru Amardas, with tenderness and affection, urges us to love the Sabad and cherish the Sabad, enabling us to partake in unending bliss. Our lack of devotion to the Sabad might be why we do not dwell in perpetual bliss. Although we encounter transient moments of joy and fleeting glimpses of divine magnificence, they remain ephemeral. Guru Amardas aspires for us to savor a ceaseless, eternal bliss that necessitates a shift in our priorities and aspirations.
We may ask ourselves: Do we wish to embrace the Sabad as lovers or merely want to establish an intellectual rapport with it? Are we prepared to allow Nam to serve as our foundation? Are we ready to commit ourselves wholeheartedly to attaining Nam? Are we willing to perceive ourselves as saintly beings? What adjustments are we willing to make to realize this latent potential?
We reflect on our state of mind. For many among us, our mind lacks the support of Nam. Hence, the mind incessantly yearns for more, a cycle where obtaining one thing leads to craving another—the larger home, the loftier promotion, the grander vehicle, the elevated societal position. The mind’s thirst remains unquenched, its hunger unabated, and serenity remains elusive, trapped within this vicious cycle. How can we break this pattern? How can we taste true bliss? Guru Amardas illuminates the path. We are asked to embrace Nam as our support. Nam will eliminate the mind’s desires and hunger, bestowing tranquility and ease. We invest in spas, exercise routines, and balanced diets for bodily comfort, but how do we nurture our minds’ comfort? We ought to prime our minds to receive the most precious gem—Nam. When we establish Nam as our foundation, we can potentially experience the Eternal both within ourselves and others. A sense of gratitude, humility, awe, steadfastness, and tranquility might embrace us. This may solidify our bond with the eternal Wisdom. Nam is not selective; Nam is not exclusive. Nam is open to all. This may be the reason we are addressed as saintly beings—because each of us possesses the potential to develop a connection with the One through Nam. Many of us may not feel worthy. Guru Amardas, with tenderness and affection, urges us to love the Sabad and cherish the Sabad, enabling us to partake in unending bliss. Our lack of devotion to the Sabad might be why we do not dwell in perpetual bliss. Although we encounter transient moments of joy and fleeting glimpses of divine magnificence, they remain ephemeral. Guru Amardas aspires for us to savor a ceaseless, eternal bliss that necessitates a shift in our priorities and aspirations.
We may ask ourselves: Do we wish to embrace the Sabad as lovers or merely want to establish an intellectual rapport with it? Are we prepared to allow Nam to serve as our foundation? Are we ready to commit ourselves wholeheartedly to attaining Nam? Are we willing to perceive ourselves as saintly beings? What adjustments are we willing to make to realize this latent potential?
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