Connect

2005 Stokes Isle Apt. 896, Vacaville 10010, USA

[email protected]

mahalā 2.
nāli iāṇe dostī kade na āvai rāsi.
jehā jāṇai teho vartai vekhahu ko nirjāsi.
vastū andari vastu samāvai dūjī hovai pāsi.
sāhib setī hukamu na calai kahī baṇai ardāsi.
kūṛi kamāṇai kūṛo hovai nānak siphati vigāsi.3.

mahalā 2.

nāli iāṇe dostī kade na āvai rāsi.

jehā jāṇai teho vartai vekhahu ko nirjāsi.

vastū andari vastu samāvai dūjī hovai pāsi.

sāhib setī hukamu na calai kahī baṇai ardāsi.

kūṛi kamāṇai kūṛo hovai nānak siphati vigāsi.3.

Guru Angad takes the metaphor from the previous verse and applies it to relationships, saying that planting the seeds of friendship with immature or ignorant people will never bear fruit. It will never be worth our time and emotional energy. This is because, again, we behave outwardly in the world and in our relationships as per our understanding and maturity level. The same way that we cannot expect the seeds of poison to result in fruits of nectar, we cannot expect that an immature person will behave in a way that does not correlate with who they are on the inside, in their minds and hearts. In a vessel, a substance will merge with those substances that are similar to it. But if the vessel contains a substance whose essence is different from the other substance, the vessel must first be emptied before adding in the new substance, otherwise, the two dissimilar substances will mix into something else. Another way to think of this is that if a vessel of clear water has muddy water poured into it, the clean water will mix with the muddy water and change as a result. If we are operating in one framework of understanding and maturity level, and we create relationships with those operating in other frameworks of understanding and maturity level, we will be affected.

Guru Angad goes on to say that a command made by a servant to the Sovereign never works because it is not part of our nature to command the Sovereign. Instead, we can humbly ask, or feel the 1Force. If a person’s mind already has a particular nature that does not make space for divinity to enter it, then that nature needs to be changed. Our inherent nature is to praise the One and humbly make requests. If we ask in humility we will know that there is no place for trash or falsehood — that the only thing that will bring joy is praise. For many of us, the current nature of our minds is rooted in falsehood, which is received by practicing falsehood, through which we become the embodiment of falsehood, and because of which, we suffer.

The “substance” of divinity cannot enter us or center us if we are filled with another substance already, if we are rooted in falsehood — that same vessel must be poured out to make room for a change in our nature and our behavior. We must change our nature to fill our vessels with praise.

Friendship established with an immature person never fructifies. Because a person behaves as per one's understanding and level of maturity. Let anyone try and test it!
In a vessel, a substance merges with the substance of the same kind. But if the vessel contains a different substance, then it becomes necessary to take that other substance out. Similarly, it is important to eliminate ego from the mind before enshrining Identification of IkOankar (Nam) in it, since both cannot dwell in the mind at the same time.
A command made by a devotee to IkOankar never works. Only a supplication made in front of IkOankar is successful.
Nanak! Only falsehood is received by practicing falsehood, due to which one becomes an embodiment of falsehood and suffers, whereas by praising IkOankar, the mind blossoms.

Friendship with an ignorant (being) does not ever come (out) right; as (one) understands, so does one behave. Let any (of you) see (for yourselves), having tested (it).
(In a vessel), a substance merges in the substance (of the same kind, but if the vessel contains a different substance, then it is necessary that the substance of the) second (kind) is (first kept) aside.
Command does not work with the Owner, (only a) prayer made (to the Owner) succeeds.
Nanak! By practicing falsehood (one) becomes (embodiment of only) falsehood, (whereas) by the praise (of the Owner, the mind) blossoms.

The first two lines of the salok employ a simple style to convey that friendship with an ignorant/immature person never fructifies. A person’s conduct is bound by their understanding.

The third line is figurative, and states that a substance can be put in a vessel only if the already existing substance is taken out of it. By implication, it is suggesting that love of the Owner can be enshrined in the mind only if love of other things is first taken out of the mind.

The fourth and fifth lines again employ simple linguistic expressions to convey that commands and demands do not work in front of the Owner, only prayer does. Only falsehood is received by engaging in falsehood, whereas the mind blossoms in spiritual bliss with the praise of the Owner.

The meter convention of the first line is 13+11, whereas the next four lines exhibit 16+11. Here, a four line verse with 16+11 characters each (sarsī chand) has been added after one round/phase of a two line verse/couplet with 13+11 characters each (doharā chand).