saṅg sakhā sabhi taji gae koū na nibhio sāthi.
kahu nānak ih bipati mai ṭek ek raghunāth.55.
-Guru Granth Sahib 1429
Guru Teghbahadar Sahib reminds beings of the purpose of life, which is to remember and reflect on the virtues of IkOankar (the Divine). The saloks describe how life is wasted in the entanglements of familial and material attachments distracting from the purpose of life. They inspire seekers to search for deeper meaning beyond the attachment to family and temporary material things and develop a relationship with IkOankar. These saloks gently nudge seekers to live in awareness of IkOankar and see the entire world from that place of realization.
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
Calligraphy
In the fifty-fifth stanza, Guru Teghbahadar says, in adversity, when all companions leave, and no one remains, only the support of the swift One becomes one's help.
The Guru says, in this condition, take the support of the One; everyone is leaving. We know that companionship leaves. We know that our people and our networks, and the ones we love all go. It is only the One, here referred to as Ragunath, who is our companion in the end. Ragunath is an important reference to Ram’s great-grandfather, and to a sense of speed in chariot-riding. Here, the Guru references Ragunath to invoke a sense of dynasty, of the dynasty of the One, and a sense of swiftness, of the swift One. In times of adversity, we are desperate to get through it all quickly, and with ease, so we call on the swift One to help us.
When we know that no one remains with us in adversity; when we are alone in our struggles, do we remember that we can lean on the support of the swift One?
The Guru says, in this condition, take the support of the One; everyone is leaving. We know that companionship leaves. We know that our people and our networks, and the ones we love all go. It is only the One, here referred to as Ragunath, who is our companion in the end. Ragunath is an important reference to Ram’s great-grandfather, and to a sense of speed in chariot-riding. Here, the Guru references Ragunath to invoke a sense of dynasty, of the dynasty of the One, and a sense of swiftness, of the swift One. In times of adversity, we are desperate to get through it all quickly, and with ease, so we call on the swift One to help us.
When we know that no one remains with us in adversity; when we are alone in our struggles, do we remember that we can lean on the support of the swift One?
Tags
