saloku.
panc bikār man mahi base rāce māiā saṅgi.
sādhsaṅgi hoi nirmalā nānak prabh kai raṅgi.5.
-Guru Granth Sahib 297
Guru Arjan Sahib describes vices like lust and anger dwelling in the mind of the individual engrossed in earthly attachment. That being alone is vice-free who, by joining the company of virtuous beings, is imbued in the love of IkOankar (the Divine). Corresponding to the fifteen-day lunar calendar and each pauri (stanza) correlates to each day formed by the waxing and waning of the moon. The fifth pauri states that those beings imbued with the love and devotion of IkOankar are liberated from earthly attachment. Those who do not remember IkOankar continue to wander due to being engrossed in worldly pleasures.
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
Calligraphy
In the fifth salok (couplet), Guru Arjan says, the five vices are dwelling in the mind. The beings are engrossed with Maya. Through the company of the virtuous beings, the being whose mind becomes filth-free is imbued in the color of Prabhu. There are so many things that we call material attachment, or Maya — our relationships with friends and family, power, and wealth. There are so many things we do to attach ourselves to the temporary. We are steeped in vices. But the being who joins the company of the virtuous beings, keeps the company of those engaged in remembrance and connection with IkOankar (One Universal Integrative Force, 1Force, the One) rather than the company of Maya, is dyed in the color of love of the One. The Guru urges us to get rid of the company of Maya and instead come into the company of those living in devotion to and relationship with the One. The Guru invokes Prabhu as one of the many names of IkOankar. Prabhu is a name that invokes the royal and godlike nature of the One, whose nature is to fulfill a particular role of goodness and compassion. This is the One who is capable of helping us when no one else can. This is the One under whom even Maya, which has a power of its own, is subject. We may have a hard time ridding ourselves of Maya on our own. We may have a hard time ridding ourselves of vices on our own. But we can join the company of the virtuous and develop a connection with the One who has power over even this all-entangling attachment. We can become filth-free.
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