saloku.
āṭh pahar gun gāīahi tajīahi avari janjāl.
jamkaṅkaru johi na sakaī nānak prabhū daïāl.8.
-Guru Granth Sahib 298
Guru Arjan Sahib depicts how when the virtues of IkOankar (the Divine) are reflected upon, the fear of death does not afflict the individual. 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 eighth pauri states that all powers and treasures of the world are received through Nam (Identification with IkOankar). The mind blooms and remains blissful. One develops such an understanding which never diminishes.
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Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
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In the eighth salok (couplet), Guru Arjan says, if in all eight parts of the day and night, if in all moments virtues are sung, and other entanglements are renounced, then dearest Prabhu is compassionate. The messenger of Death cannot look upon you. Instead of focusing on the eighth auspicious day of the lunar calendar, the Guru urges us to think instead about the eight parts of the day and night, all 24 hours in which we can engage in the essential devotion of the One through singing virtues. When we sing of the One, we Identify with the One, and all other things that bind us are eliminated. Death, the thing we fear, will not even glance at us, and instead, Prabhu will be compassionate to us, bestowing us with the glance of grace. Prabhu is a name of IkOankar (One Universal Integrative Force, 1Force, the One) that invokes the royal and godlike nature of One, whose job is to fulfill a particular role. This is not about an obligation that IkOankar has to us. It is about the intrinsic goodness present in IkOankar that the Guru is invoking. This is the One who is capable of helping us when no one else can. Why are we not concerned with receiving this glance?
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