Anand Sahib - Pauri 9

Amarpal · #1 (**permalink**) 29-Nov-2004, 16:13 PM

Dear Khalsa Ji,

With the blessing of ‘The Sat’, today, I share with you, my understanding of the 9th Pauri of Anand Sahib.

1. Awvhu sMq ipAwirho AkQ kI krh khwxI ] aavhu sant pi-aariho akath kee karah kahaanee.

Come, beloved saints; we make (create or design) the story of ‘Akath’.

My understanding:

Guru Sahib in this sentence calls upon all the beloved spiritual individuals to join him to create the story of ‘Akath’.

I see in this sentence ‘Akath’ is used as noun. It means that ‘Akath’ is some entity. To me the word ‘Akath’ means which cannot be stated or put in words. The first question that arises is ‘what does the Guru Sahib mean by this term ‘Akath’?

Since the entire Sri Guru Granth Sahib deals with spirituality and the associated way of living as a householder. Based on my current awareness, I gravitate towards the meaning that my knowledgebase provides.

To me, the only entity in the domain of spirituality that cannot be stated i.e. put in words is the One – ‘The Sat’. Guru Sahib in this sentences states for me that he is about to create the story of ‘Akath’ i.e. ‘The Sat’. Now the second question arises, if it is ‘Akath’ then how a story about this entity, which are nothing but words? Understanding is needed.

After deliberating over this issue, I come to the conclusion that the story of ‘Akath’ need not always mean that it describes or states in words what is this entity - ‘Akath’?

2. krh khwxI AkQ kyrI ikqu duAwrY pweIAY ] karah kahaanee akath kayree kit du-aarai paa-ee-ai.

To create the story of ‘Akath’, which door can it be found?

My understanding:

Here Guru Sahib makes the things clearer. Guru Sahib says which way (the word door here means the way) can we create the story of ‘The Sat’ i.e. ‘Akath’. Guru Sahib here makes the dilemma of the common man, like me, explicit. To create the story of ‘Akath’, one must first know what it is. Guru Sahib is taking step-by-step approach to teach me the way.

3. qnu mnu Dnu sBu sauip gur kau hukim mMinAY pweIAY ] tan man Dhan sabh sa-up gur ka-o hukam mani-ai paa-ee-ai.

Dedicate the body, mind, all material wealth to ‘The Sat’ and obey the ‘Hukam’ of ‘The Sat’ to receive the grace of ‘The Sat’.

My understanding:

Guru Sahib here instructs me to dedicate all that this human form and life has given me to the one who is the real giver ‘The Sat’ i.e. ‘The Akath’. I should not start owning any thing. Every thing belongs to ‘The Sat’ all the time, no matter in whose custody it is at any time.

This needs to be understood in the context of the life of the householder whose life has been sanctified by Sikhi for the individual to evolve spiritually. It means application of our slogan ‘Sri Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa; Sri Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh’ to our real life. It means that all that we earn – material, intellectual, social, professional, spiritual etc – in this life is to be dedicated to ‘The Sat’. One can enjoy all the fruits or benefits that accrue consequent to the achievements and gains in life, without getting attached to them or to assume the ownership of them. All these belong to ‘The Sat’ who has bestowed them on the individual. The individual is only the temporary custodian and the beneficiary of them. In other ways one can say ‘since the Khalsa belongs to Waheguru; all that comes to her or him naturally belongs to Waheguru; this is what ‘Sri Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa; Sri Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh’ means in our real life. The proof of this is that nothing goes with the individual when she or he leaves this world; because nothing really belongs to the individual; our start owning them is nothing but Maya. That is why it is said ‘always remember death; it helps the individual understand life better’.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/anand-sahib/1091-anand-sahib-pauri-9-a.html

4. hukmu mMinhu gurU kyrw gwvhu scI bwxI ] hukam mannihu guroo kayraa gaavhu sachee banee.

Obeying ‘Hukam’ of ‘The Sat’ and life based on truth.

My understanding:

Through this sentence Guru Sahib instructs me that I should not only obey the ‘Hukam’ but on my own accord live a life based on truth i.e. That is the way to know ‘The Sat’ and then create the story of The Akath’. ‘gaavhu sachee banee’ here is not just melodiously singing Shabads. To me it means my entire life should be just what the Shabad (banee) demands it to be. My thoughts, my speech and my actions should be in conformance with the teachings of the banee. My life should become the song coming from banee. This is what I understand from this sentence.

5. khY nwnku suxhu sMqhu kiQhu AkQ khwxI ]9] kahai naanak sunhu santahu kathihu akath kahaanee. ||9||

Says Nanak, listen saints; this is the way to the say the story of ‘The Akath’.

My understanding:

In this Guru Sahib instructs me on how to develop the interface with ‘The Sat’, evolve spiritually and qualify for the grace of ‘The Sat’ thus know the ‘The Akath’ i.e. to know the full story.

With this I close.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=1091

With love and respect for all.

Amarpal