paüṛī.
nadari karahi je āpaṇī tā nadarī satiguru pāiā.
ehu jīu bahute janam bharammiā tā satiguri sabadu suṇāiā.
satigur jevaḍu dātā ko nahī sabhi suṇiahu lok sabāiā.
satiguri miliai sacu pāiā jin̖ī vicahu āpu gavāiā.
jini saco sacu bujhāiā.4.
This pauri (stanza), revealed by Guru Nanak Sahib, is accompanied by two saloks. The first salok comprises fourteen lines and communicates that there is no creation beyond fear. The entire phenomenon of creation is operating in reverence of the Command of IkOankar (the Divine), the formless One. Only the formless One is beyond fear. By seeking the shelter of the One, seekers may obtain blessings from the One and be liberated from all fear. The second salok, comprising ten lines, illustrates the theatrical representation of the mythological (puranic) characters (through Ramlila, Raslila, etc.) on stage. This pauri suggests how the wisdom of the formless One can be attained.
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
Calligraphy
Guru Nanak was describing the theatricalities in the previous verse, and concluded that despite what we may believe, following these commands and being distracted by what is presented to us will not lead us to the Wisdom. In the ballad, Guru Nanak is taking that a step further by revealing that the Word is found through the Wisdom and the deep knowledge given to us by the Wisdom. There is no Giver, Guru Nanak says, that matches up to the Wisdom.
Those things that were presented in the micro view of the theater house in Verse 2 are true in the larger world, in larger contexts. Just as we can get lost in the material distractions of the theater, we can also get lost in and distracted by the time or era, the land, and the material things around us outside of the theater house, as humans in the world. And those distractions from the Command can cause us to fall into the same old patterns of othering and creating separations.
Guru Nanak tells us that when the One gives us even a glance of the Grace, we are able to connect with Wisdom. Until we connect with the Wisdom, we are left guessing and wandering. We think we are getting somewhere but in the end we are not, we are left with more questions and frustrations, despite transitory feelings of contentment. It is only when we meet the Wisdom, discover the Wisdom, that our own mental ideas and egos go away. This is how we gain the Wisdom, solve the riddles presented to us in those theatricalities. The Wisdom is what shows us all how to come out of this endless cycle of coming and going. It is through the Wisdom that we resolve the Eternal. We cannot learn this Truth, and so the role of the Wisdom is important.
The real grace is that the One graces us with the Wisdom in life, and the Wisdom is what aids in solving or resolving the Eternal Formless One for us all.
Those things that were presented in the micro view of the theater house in Verse 2 are true in the larger world, in larger contexts. Just as we can get lost in the material distractions of the theater, we can also get lost in and distracted by the time or era, the land, and the material things around us outside of the theater house, as humans in the world. And those distractions from the Command can cause us to fall into the same old patterns of othering and creating separations.
Guru Nanak tells us that when the One gives us even a glance of the Grace, we are able to connect with Wisdom. Until we connect with the Wisdom, we are left guessing and wandering. We think we are getting somewhere but in the end we are not, we are left with more questions and frustrations, despite transitory feelings of contentment. It is only when we meet the Wisdom, discover the Wisdom, that our own mental ideas and egos go away. This is how we gain the Wisdom, solve the riddles presented to us in those theatricalities. The Wisdom is what shows us all how to come out of this endless cycle of coming and going. It is through the Wisdom that we resolve the Eternal. We cannot learn this Truth, and so the role of the Wisdom is important.
The real grace is that the One graces us with the Wisdom in life, and the Wisdom is what aids in solving or resolving the Eternal Formless One for us all.
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