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aad0002 · #43 (**permalink**) 31-12-2007, 08:19 AM

Archived_member2 ji,

Back because the hukmnama was a repeat of several other dates. So my seva was very short.
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The importance of reading more than just one line of a shabad is very clear when we consider one of the lines from Bhai Gurdas that is at issue in your previous post #41 and which I attempt to answer in post #42.

This line
Vaar 39 Pauri 4

ਗੁਰ ਗੋਵਿੰਦੁ ਖੁਦਾਇ ਪੀਰ ਗੁਰੁ ਚੇਲਾ ਚੇਲਾ ਗੁਰੁ ਹੋਆ ।
gur govindu khudaai peer guru chaylaa chaylaa guru hoaa|
Guru Hargobind is the Lord in the form of Guru. Earlier a disciple he is now a. Guru i.e. earlier Gurus and Guru Hargobind are the same.
Line 1

Why does Bhai Gurdas in Vaar 39 Pauree 4 line 1 use the term "gur govindu" , but the translator translates "gur govindu" to refer to Guru Hargobind? Why in the Gumukhi do we not see the name of Guru Hargobind in Line 1 at all? What we see is "gur govindu." And why did I say that "gur govindu" refers to seed of the universe (or Guru, Seed of the Universe), and not to Guru Gobind Singh Rai? Because we are supposed to make the connection that Guru Hargobind is also the seed of the universe.

The translator is taking liberties with the line as translators do. It is not a mistake, but a decision made for the understanding of English speakers. To understand what is going on we have to go back to the previous pauree, Pauree 3 of Vaar 39.

It starts as follows:

ਦਸਤਗੀਰ ਹੁਇ ਪੰਜ ਪੀਰ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਰੁ ਹਰਿ ਗੋਬਿੰਦੁ ਅਤੋਲਾ ।
dasatageer hui panj peer hari guru hari gobindu atolaa|
The first five Gurus held the hands of the people and the sixth Guru Hargobind is incomparable God-Guru.
Line 1

Now Bhai Gurdas says "hari gobindu" -- but we know that " hari gobindu" has to be Guru Hargobind, because he is the only one who was the 6th Guru. And hari gobindu = Hargobind.

Bhai Gurdas is next establishing that Hargobind is on an equal footing with the previous 5 gurus. How? Because Hargobind is all these things:

ਦੀਨ ਦੁਨੀ ਦਾ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹੁ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹਾਂ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹੁ ਅਡੋਲਾ ।
deen dunee daa paatisaahu paatisaahaan paatisaahu adolaa|
He is the king of spirituality as well as temporality and is in fact irremovable emperor of all the kings.
Line 2

ਪੰਜ ਪਿਆਲੇ ਅਜਰੁ ਜਰਿ ਹੋਇ ਮਸਤਾਨ ਸੁਜਾਣ ਵਿਚੋਲਾ ।
panj piaalay ajaru jari hoi masataan sujaan vicholaa|
Assimilating the unbearable knowledge of the earlier five cups (Gurus) in the inner core of his mind he re,mains merry and wise mediator for humanity.
Line 3

ਤੁਰੀਆ ਚੜ੍ਹਿ ਜਿਣਿ ਪਰਮਤਤੁ ਛਿਅ ਵਰਤਾਰੇ ਕੋਲੋ ਕੋਲਾ ।
tureeaa charhhi jini paramatatu chhia varataaray kolo kolaa|
In spite of the six philosophies spread around, he reaching the turiyä (highest stage of meditation) has attained the supreme reality.

Line 4
ਛਿਅ ਦਰਸਣੁ ਛਿਅ ਪੀੜ੍ਹੀਆਂ ਇਕਸੁ ਦਰਸਣੁ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਗੋਲਾ ।
chhia darasanu chhia peerhheeaan ikasu darasanu andari golaa|
He has strung all the six philosophies and their sects in the strung of one philosophy.

The pauree ends with this line.

ਅੰਤਰਜਾਮੀ ਬਾਲਾ ਭੋਲਾ ॥੩॥
antarajaamee baalaa bholaa ॥3॥
This Guru is omniscient yet he possesses a childlike innocence.

Then we go onto the first line of Pauri 4. The line where you take Bhai Gurdas to task. And again Line 1 is repeated below.

Vaar 39 Pauri 4

ਗੁਰ ਗੋਵਿੰਦੁ ਖੁਦਾਇ ਪੀਰ ਗੁਰੁ ਚੇਲਾ ਚੇਲਾ ਗੁਰੁ ਹੋਆ ।
gur govindu khudaai peer guru chaylaa chaylaa guru hoaa|
Guru Hargobind is the Lord in the form of Guru. Earlier a disciple he is now a. Guru i.e. earlier Gurus and Guru Hargobind are the same.
Line 1

Although the translator refers to Guru Hargobind, the line actually says "gur govindu" I am sorry for repeating myself. Hargobind must be a Guru who is the seed of the universe. And who else could it be? It can only be Guru Hargobind. Why? because Pauree 3 and Pauree 4 are all about Guru Hargobind.

And why is Guru Hargobind "gur govindu", the seed of the universe. Because he is also these things:

ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਆਕਾਰੁ ਕਰਿ ਏਕੰਕਾਰੁ ਅਕਾਰੁ ਪਲੋਆ ।
nirankaar aakaaru kari aykankaaru akaaru paloaa|
First, the formless Lord assumed the form of the Ekarikar and later he created all the forms (i.e. universe).
Line 2

ਓਅੰਕਾਰਿ ਅਕਾਰਿ ਲਖ ਲਖ ਦਰੀਆਉ ਕਰੇਂਦੇ ਢੋਆ ।
aoankaari akaari|akh|akh dareeaau karaynday ddhoaa|
In the form of Oatikär (Guru) lacs of streams of life take shelter.
Line 3

So Bhai Gurdas is not referring to Guru Gobind Singh Rai. Rather the translator is substituting the name of Guru Hargobind for the words “gur govindu.” We can relax.