19th Paurree: 'Asankh naav, Asankh Thaav...'
For previous sections, please see here
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TN = Translator's Note
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Now, Guru Maharaj show a mix of both Satki/Shaanthkee and Tamsi/Thaamsee powers (Satoguni - Saintly, Nurturing; Tamoguni - Darkness/Ignorance, lack of energy, animal nature, destruction)-
ਅਸੰਖ ਨਾਵ ਅਸੰਖ ਥਾਵ ॥
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Padh Arthh (word-by-word):
ਅਸੰਖ (Asankh) = A + Sankh = Countless, Immeasurable
ਨਾਵ (naav) = Names
ਥਾਵ (Thaav) = Places
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Asankh refers to that which is countless. This applies to both Satogun and Tamogun qualities. There are countless names for each of them. The amount of names cannot be counted. In the previous two paurree’s, the two powers were given a few examples of names/types of people but not all of them have been written. In order to understand the meaning of this all, Guru Maharaj say: there are countless names of the lowly but there are also countless names for the exalted/saintly/righteous. They cannot be described enough. They are in countless places. We can say where the lowest and the highest live? Those who have good karma end up in Brahm Lok among other similar places. Those who have bad karma, they end up in Narak/Hells among other similar places. There are many names and places that belong to both of these categories. None of which can be counted.
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**Alankaar Information Omitted**
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ਅਗੰਮ ਅਗੰਮ ਅਸੰਖ ਲੋਅ ॥
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Padh Arthh (word-by-word):
ਅਗੰਮ ਅਗੰਮ (Aga[n]m Aga[n]m) = Unfathomable, Unreachable, Unapproachable, Inaccessible
ਲੋਅ (Loa) = Realms, People’s, Lands
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There are uncountable places (i.e. realms, planets, galaxies etc) which are so hard to describe or even reach. This line also describes both Satogun and Tamogun. It is quite difficult to reach the state of being a good peace-giving person. It is also hard to reach places which give peace to us. Among the 500,000,000 worlds, there are 10,000,000 worlds which are for the great sinners and of heavy tamasee nature. Those who turn themselves away from Naam, they will take on the lifeform of a snake next. They have to bear the heat of the sun from above and the burning hot ground as well. They become quite restless/anxious there. There is Gurbani from Sri Guru Granth Sahib teaching us about this:
ਤੇ ਤਸਕਰ ਜੋ ਨਾਮੁ ਨ ਲੇਵਹਿ ਵਾਸਹਿ ਕੋਟ ਪੰਚਾਸਾ ॥੨॥
Thae Thaskar Jo naam[u] na Laevah[i], Vaasah[i] Kot Pa[n]chaasaa
Those thieves which do not speak the Name of Vaheguru
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They live in the fortress of their body filled with the Panj Vikaars [Five Vices -Anger, Greed, Lust, Emotional Attachment, Ego/Arrogance](Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji in Raag Prabhaathee)
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In the beginning of time, there was unfathomableness and then unfathomable places/realms created. None of these can be measured or countable.
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**Alankaar Information Omitted**
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ਅਸੰਖ ਕਹਹਿ ਸਿਰਿ ਭਾਰੁ ਹੋਇ ॥
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Padh Arthh (word-by-word):
ਅਸੰਖ (Asa[n]kh) = Countless, Immeasurable
ਕਹਹਿ (Kahah[i]) = Say
ਸਿਰਿ ਭਾਰੁ ਹੋਇ (Sir[i] Bhaar[u] Ho-i) = Carry the weight on their head [of their sins]
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In this section, this does not refer to nindiya [slandering/insulting/gossiping]. Ninda had already been mentioned then what is the meaning? There are countless beings that question or rationalize Parameshwar-Vaheguru Ji’s Will. How do they handle the weight of their shortcomings? If you want to interpret this in context to both Satogun and Rajogun then it would be as so: ‘Kahah[i]’ can also mean ‘Sukh’ = Pleasure and Happy/Pleasant. There are countless peaceful/happy beings and there are countless of those who have to carry the weight of their sins. [TN: Both Sato leading to good state and Tamo which leads to a bad state] There are countless happy/peaceful ones and countless sorrowful/suffering beings. Who exists that can count them all?
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**Alankaar Information Omitted**
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Parameshwar-Vaheguru Ji and Their Creation/Creative Power are countless/immeasurable, can They not be described/discussed? This question is posed to Guru Sahib and they reply:
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ਅਖਰੀ ਨਾਮੁ ਅਖਰੀ ਸਾਲਾਹ ॥
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Padh Arthh (word-by-word):
ਅਖਰੀ (Akhree) = Through the Letters
ਨਾਮੁ (naam[u]) = Name of Vaheguru
ਸਾਲਾਹ (Saalaah) = Praises of Vaheguru
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The Letters/Alphabet are fruitful/reward-giving. It is through these Letters that we come to remember the Name of Parameshwar-Vaheguru. There are many strategies/methods and letters/alphabet through which Sath[i]naam[u] is taught to us. The Praise/Saalaah of Parameshwar-Vaheguru Ji is written through many letters. [We wouldn’t be able to read it without].
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ਅਖਰੀ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਗੀਤ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਹ ॥
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Padh Arthh (word-by-word):
ਅਖਰੀ (Akhree) = Through the Letters
ਗਿਆਨੁ (Giaan[u]) = Spiritual Realization
ਗੁਣ ਗਾਹ (GuN Gaah) = Singing the praises, Ocean of Qualities
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It is through the Letters/Alphabet we attain spiritual wisdom/realization. Guru Sahib utilizes different strategies/methods to teach us through the Letters/Alphabet. They also discuss and reflect through the Letters/Alphabet, Gaah means to reflect/discuss.
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**Alankaar Information Omitted**
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ਅਖਰੀ ਲਿਖਣੁ ਬੋਲਣੁ ਬਾਣਿ ॥
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Padh Arthh (word-by-word):
ਅਖਰੀ (Akhree) = Through the Letters
ਲਿਖਣੁ (LikhaN[u]) = Writing
ਬੋਲਣੁ (BolaN[u]) = Speaking
ਬਾਣਿ (BaaN[i]) = Speech
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It is through the letters/alphabet that people can recite the writings of the Veda’s [Quran, Bible, Tao-Te-Ching, etc; TN: note that Kavi Ji are writing to Vedic Scholars of that time]. If there weren’t any letters then how could it be written? A great darkness/fog would have come into the world. How could we recite or read Gurbani if there weren’t any Letters? Without letters/alphabet, this world would sink. Everything in regards to teaching rules/laws is brought to us through Letters/Alphabet. So, oh one who is questioning! [referring to Anandghan] You should think and reflect on the Letters/Alphabet which have caused people to attain the Supreme Bliss/Liberation. Can the Limits of Parameshwar Vaheguru Ji be known? Just like an ant can approach a mountain of sugar and attain fulfillment. Does it need to understand the height of the mountain in order to become fulfilled? Parameshwar-Vaheguru Ji have created these Letters/Alphabet for our own Liberation. It is through the Letters/Alphabet that millions upon millions of beings have become saved.
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**Alankaar Information Omitted**
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ਅਖਰਾ ਸਿਰਿ ਸੰਜੋਗੁ ਵਖਾਣਿ ॥
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Padh Arthh (word-by-word):
ਅਖਰਾ (Akhraa) = Letters, Alphabet
ਸਿਰਿ (Sir[i]) = Upon the Head/Forehead
ਸੰਜੋਗੁ (Sa[n]jog[u]) = Destiny, Fate, Fortune
ਵਖਾਣਿ ॥ (VakhaaN[i]) = Describe, Inform
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There are letters written on our head i.e. forehead [TN: In traditional India, it is said that our fate/destiny is written on our forehead; not with literal writing but figurative]. It is through these letters that this world’s karmic connections, separations, relations etc are based on. ‘VakhaaN[i]’ means everyone says this [i.e. a common saying/understanding].
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**Alankaar Information Omitted**
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ਜਿਨਿ ਏਹਿ ਲਿਖੇ ਤਿਸੁ ਸਿਰਿ ਨਾਹਿ ॥
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Padh Arthh (word-by-word):
ਜਿਨਿ (Jin[i]) = Whoever
ਏਹਿ ਲਿਖੇ (Aeh[i] Likhae) = Has written, Developed these alphabets/letters
ਤਿਸੁ ਸਿਰਿ (This[u] Sir[i]) = Their Head
ਨਾਹਿ (naah[i]) = Does not have
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That Vaheguru Ji - who has written these Letters (on our foreheads), They do not have any Letters written on Their Forehead - Themselves. Only if there was a creator above them then there would be [but there isn’t]. There is only the One Vaheguru above everyone.
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ਜਿਵ ਫੁਰਮਾਏ ਤਿਵ ਤਿਵ ਪਾਹਿ ॥
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Padh Arthh (word-by-word):
ਜਿਵ (Jiv) = As, In this way
ਫੁਰਮਾਏ (Phurmaa-ae) = Commanded, Gave Permission
ਤਿਵ ਤਿਵ (Thiv Thiv) = In that way, like that
ਪਾਹਿ (Paah[i]) = Receives, Attains, Gets
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As we are commanded, so do we all have different writing on our forehead. Good Karma gives peace and Bad Karma gives suffering. This is a topic which is not discussed by ‘Bipran’ [Bipran can mean other traditions (i.e. non-Sikh) but originally refers specifically to Brahmins].-**Alankaar Information Omitted**
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ਜੇਤਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਤੇਤਾ ਨਾਉ ॥
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Padh Arthh (word-by-word):
ਜੇਤਾ (Jaethaa) = Whomever/How much ever
ਕੀਤਾ (Keethaa) = Did, Created
ਤੇਤਾ ਨਾਉ (Thaethaa naa-o[u]) = That Name(s) of Vaheguru Ji
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The endless/countless Satoguni and Tamoguni descriptions which have been done, they all fall under one Naam/Name. What Naam/Name is that? Oan-kaar. Everything became manifest from the One Oa[n]kaar. Meaning: From that One Naam spoken, all of this countlessness came to be which no one can find an end too. How can an end be found for anything else? They speak about this one Naam/Name again.
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ਵਿਣੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਕੋ ਥਾਉ ॥
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Padh Arthh (word-by-word):
ਵਿਣੁ ਨਾਵੈ (ViN[u] naavai) = Without the Name of Vaheguru
ਨਾਹੀ ਕੋ (naahee Ko) = No one
ਥਾਉ (Thaa-o[u]) = Place
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Besides this Oankaar, there is no other place. From Oankaar, a whirl was formed. From which material manifestation came to be. It is from this Oankaar: 3 Gun (Rajo - Tamo - Sato), 3 Dev (Brahma - Vishnu - Shiv), 3 Tenses (Past, Present, Future), 3 Avastha’s (Child, Youth/Adult, Senior), 5 Elements, 25 Prakriti’s, and everything that came to be after this. There is no place/comparison to anything like Oankaar. This is why, everything that came to be came from the One Name/Naam of Oankaar. From this, millions and billions came to be. There are countless names, natures/attributes, other classifications that came from this.
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**Alankaar Information Omitted**
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From one word, countless came to be. The purpose of mentioning this is to show the Endlessness/Limitness of Vaheguru. They conclude this discussion of the Endlessness with:
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ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਕਵਣ ਕਹਾ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥
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Padh Arthh (word-by-word):
ਕੁਦਰਤਿ (Kudhrath[i]) = Vaheguru’s Creative Power and Nature
ਕਵਣ (KavaN) = How? Who? What?
ਕਹਾ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ (Kahaa Veechaar) = speak/describe or contemplate
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Who can describe/measure Your Collective Creative Power manifest? Or who has the power to measure You - Vaheguru Ji?
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ਵਾਰਿਆ ਨ ਜਾਵਾ ਏਕ ਵਾਰ ॥
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Padh Arthh (word-by-word):
ਵਾਰਿਆ (Vaariaa) =Sacrifice or Varnan/Barnan = Describe
ਨ ਜਾਵਾ (na Jaavaa) = cannot, not go
ਏਕ ਵਾਰ (Aek Vaar) = [TN: even] one time
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Not even a hair/pore worth cannot be described.
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ਜੋ ਤੁਧੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਸਾਈ ਭਲੀ ਕਾਰ ॥
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Padh Arthh (word-by-word):
ਜੋ ਤੁਧੁ ਭਾਵੈ (Jo Thudh[u] Bhaavai) = Whatever pleases You - Vaheguru Ji
ਸਾਈ (Saaee) = Soee = Ohee = That
ਭਲੀ ਕਾਰ (Bhalee Kaar) = A good action/outcome-Vaheguru Ji - You are Endless/Limitless and whatever pleases You - is good.
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ਤੂ ਸਦਾ ਸਲਾਮਤਿ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ॥੧੯॥
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Padh Arthh (word-by-word):
ਤੂ ਸਦਾ (Thoo Sadhaa) = You Always/Forever
ਸਲਾਮਤਿ (Salaamath[i]) =
Secure/Stable/Permanent
ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ (nira[n]kaar) = Nir + Akaar = Without Form = Formless Vaheguru
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You are the ever-Secure/Permanent Formless Brahm-Vaheguru. The Mahavaak of Thath-Thvam-Asee (That You Are) can be described quite deeply. If we were to try to describe all of it then this granth would become too long. So, it will be described in brief. There are three parts to this: ‘Thath’ (That) refers to Perceived-Separate God, ‘Thvang’ (You) refers to the perceived individual soul and Formless Brahm-Vaheguru Ji. The meaning of this Mahaavaak: realizing [TN: not just understanding the words but actualizing] that Jeev/Perceived Individual Soul and Eeshwar/Perceived Separate God are One. This is why it is said that even thinking about a relationship between two: Jeev and Eeshwar is against the spiritual union that exists because they are not actually separate. In reality, the individualized soul is ignorant. [Kavi Ji are now showing us classical definitions of Jeev and Eshwar. Kavi Ji will later share that these traits are not actually separate]. It has 6 waves. The waves of the body are: birth and death, praan (gasses), hunger and thirst, mind’s subjectivity to happiness & suffering. God is all-knowing and also has 6 qualities: Giaan [Form of Realization/Spiritual Wisdom], Vairaag [Detachment], Udhaar [Support], Ashcharaj/Ashwaraj [Wonder/Bliss], Bal [Power], Lachhmee/Laxmi [Material]. In other beings, these qualities only exist as fragments/parts and in God, these qualities exist in their completeness. God gives birth, nourishes, destroys, and has other powers like this whereas the individualized soul is dependent and suffering. How can both of them be seen as united? Just by saying that they are united does not make it actualized. It is through understanding various qualities does the realization occur.
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Here, let’s focus on the division/separation of the two. By letting go of the other [ie when talking about Jeev - you define it separate from Eshwar and vice versa], oneness/union cannot be attained because the Aatma/Self/Perceived Individualized Soul is the Form of Truth (meaning true in all 3 tenses - past, present, future; i.e. eternally true). Just like if we say that there is a village within the Ganga River, there cannot be a village within the river itself. Just like a word loses its meaning as it appears in a different context. Like how renouncing the flow of water, one defines the banks/shore of a river. We cannot develop a different meaning of the river when we let go of it and focus on the river banks. ** illustrative example not included due to lack of understanding** The whole point of this is to understand the point that when we mention Eshwer (God) we cannot think of Jeev (perceived sense of separate self) as different.
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We initially mentioned that the Jeev and Eshwar have different traits which define who they are but these traits exist within both of them. The same Truth-Consciousness-Bliss Form that belongs to the Jeev/Individualized Soul also belongs to God/Eeshwar. [TN: Both of them together are Brahm-Vaheguru]. Just like there are 3 qualities within the fire: Ability to Burn, Heat, Light. The fire can exist as a forest fire, another as a torch, and the third as a lamp. All 3 examples share the same 3 qualities. Just like space can be limited by the form of the sky, within a pot, within the body etc. When the impositions are removed then the space is just one: unlimited space. This has only been touched on briefly. In all of the Vedant granths, one can read about this in depth in order to understand.
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Please forgive any mistakes. Proofreading is heavily required.
Suggest changes where needed.
Guru Panth da Daas,
Aaeenaa
