14.1. Baani Shri Guru Raam Daas Ji Ki: Ang 757

Ang 757: Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj
Baani Dhan Shri Guru Raam Daas Ji Ki

(Summary of one section of 'Shabad' is provided to keep the post small, the summary of next sections of 'Shabad' will be provided in subsequent posts.

Apologies for same!)

ਰਾਗੁ  ਸੂਹੀ  ਅਸਟਪਦੀਆ  ਮਹਲਾ  ੪  ਘਰੁ  ੨

ੴ  ਸਤਿਗੁਰ  ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ  ॥

ਕੋਈ  ਆਣਿ  ਮਿਲਾਵੈ  ਮੇਰਾ  ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮੁ  ਪਿਆਰਾ  ਹਉ  ਤਿਸੁ  ਪਹਿ  ਆਪੁ  ਵੇਚਾਈ  ॥੧॥

ਦਰਸਨੁ  ਹਰਿ  ਦੇਖਣ  ਕੈ  ਤਾਈ  ॥

ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ  ਕਰਹਿ  ਤਾ  ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ  ਮੇਲਹਿ  ਹਰਿ  ਹਰਿ  ਨਾਮੁ  ਧਿਆਈ  ॥੧॥  ਰਹਾਉ  ॥

ਜੇ  ਸੁਖੁ  ਦੇਹਿ  ਤ  ਤੁਝਹਿ  ਅਰਾਧੀ  ਦੁਖਿ  ਭੀ  ਤੁਝੈ  ਧਿਆਈ  ॥੨॥

ਜੇ  ਭੁਖ  ਦੇਹਿ  ਤ  ਇਤ  ਹੀ  ਰਾਜਾ  ਦੁਖ  ਵਿਚਿ  ਸੂਖ  ਮਨਾਈ  ॥੩॥

ਤਨੁ  ਮਨੁ  ਕਾਟਿ  ਕਾਟਿ  ਸਭੁ  ਅਰਪੀ  ਵਿਚਿ  ਅਗਨੀ  ਆਪੁ  ਜਲਾਈ  ॥੪॥

ਪਖਾ  ਫੇਰੀ  ਪਾਣੀ  ਢੋਵਾ  ਜੋ  ਦੇਵਹਿ  ਸੋ  ਖਾਈ  ॥੫॥

ਨਾਨਕੁ  ਗਰੀਬੁ  ਢਹਿ  ਪਇਆ  ਦੁਆਰੈ  ਹਰਿ  ਮੇਲਿ  ਲੈਹੁ  ਵਡਿਆਈ  ॥੬॥

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रागु सूही असटपदीआ महला ४ घरु २

ੴ सतिगुर प्रसादि ॥

कोई आणि मिलावै मेरा प्रीतमु पिआरा हउ तिसु पहि आपु वेचाई ॥१॥

दरसनु हरि देखण कै ताई ॥

क्रिपा करहि ता सतिगुरु मेलहि हरि हरि नामु धिआई ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥

जे सुखु देहि त तुझहि अराधी दुखि भी तुझै धिआई ॥२॥

जे भुख देहि त इत ही राजा दुख विचि सूख मनाई ॥३॥

तनु मनु काटि काटि सभु अरपी विचि अगनी आपु जलाई ॥४॥

पखा फेरी पाणी ढोवा जो देवहि सो खाई ॥५॥

नानकु गरीबु ढहि पइआ दुआरै हरि मेलि लैहु वडिआई ॥६॥

Summary

When Dhan Shri Guru Amar Das Ji asked His wife, what kind of bridegroom she is looking for Bibi Bhani, Their Daughter, she said pointing at Bhai Jetha Ji (Dhan Shri Guru Raam Das Ji) like Him. Then Guruji said following for Bhai Jetha Ji (Dhan Shri Guru Raam Das Ji):

“There is none like Him.”

• Dhan Shri Guru Raam Das Ji:

ਅਟਲੁ ਅਥਾਹੁ ਅਤੋਲੁ ਤੂ ਤੇਰਾ ਅੰਤੁ ਨ ਪਾਰਾਵਾਰਿਆ ॥[1]

अटलु अथाहु अतोलु तू तेरा अंतु न पारावारिआ ॥

(You are unchanging, unfathomable and immeasurable; You have no end or limitation.)

In this Shabad, Dhan Shri Guru Raam Das Ji is inspiring everyone to have faith in ‘The Guru’, no matter what happens. One should always remember ‘The Guru’ and always wish for ‘Him’ irrespective of the cost one has to pay for it.

Guruji begins with saying; if someone leads you to ‘Beloved One’, even selling oneself to such person should not be an issue. What matters is ‘Blessed Vision of Lord’. Selling signifies subduing the ego to such level that no difference exists between you and HIM. It is sign of humbleness as such individual will eventually overcome all the social barriers which keeps him bounded to lower level of consciousness. But again one has to careful that one does not end up in selling oneself to a ‘Cheat’ to be tormented forever. So, a Sikh should sell himself for services of Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Guruji asks for ‘God’s Grace’ since only by ‘HIS Grace’ one can meet the ‘True Guru’ and in only in ‘True Guru’s’ company the actual meditation on ‘The Naam’ can be done.

Next, Guruji urges everyone to stay firm on ‘Faith and Dedication’ towards ‘The Guru’. Faith and Dedication are so precious they anyone should not give them up in happiness, pains or hunger. When an individual is happy, he tends to forget to ‘The Bestower of Happiness, The Guru’. So Guruji say if Guru blesses an individual with happiness he should worship and adore Him. In pains individual tends to question Guru why he has been subjected to pains. But Guruji say, one should not give-up on meditating ‘The Naam – The One – The Guru’. Hunger can break anyone as that is worse kind of suffering a living being can be subjected to. The entire basic struggle in this world is meant to pacify hunger. But Guruji say, if Guru gives hunger an individual should be satisfied as this is will of Guru. And one should be joyful in the midst of sorrows.

The pain of separation from Guru is so intense for true seeker that no bodily pain matches it. Such a seeker will not mind to cut himself in pieces, not body even mind (suggesting willing to give-up his cleverness and ego) to meet ‘The Guru’. Even the pain caused by burning of fire does not deter him for seeking his Guru. Such seeker will do everything and will accept anything just to get glimpse and affection of his Guru. Seeker will wave fan over and carry water overcoming all the temptations, criticism and appreciations.

Then Guruji say, a true seeker should fall (surrender everything) at ‘Lord’s Door’, should pray to ‘Lord’ that HIS Glorious Greatness makes him to unite with HIMSELF.

The eyes brows will be raised, why Guru would throw adversities? Why Guru will ask seeker to do trivial things? If Guru does that is He worthy of being worshipped? Well, these are absurd questions. Guru does not give any hard times. It is fruit of actions which an individual reaps. How ‘The Bestower of Bliss’ can give any troubles? Also, to achieve worldly success an individual goes thru cycles of hardships and does not complain. But when it comes to Bliss or Faith much better than worldly success since worldly success can be achieved by many but to Bliss, Faith or Supreme State can only be achieved by 1 in billions in centuries, why ask such question. One is bound to be tested if he is worthy of serving Guru and attain the bliss from Him. So a true seeker does not bother to ask such question since his aim is crystal clear in his mind.

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[1] Raamkali Ki Vaar Satta And Balwand The Drummer- Ang 968 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji