22nd Paurree: 'Paathaalaa Paathaal Lakh...'
-
TN: means Translator's Note
-
ਪਾਤਾਲਾ ਪਾਤਾਲ ਲਖ ਆਗਾਸਾ ਆਗਾਸ ॥
-
Padh Arthh (word-by-word):
ਪਾਤਾਲਾ ਪਾਤਾਲ (Paathaalaa Paathaal) = Underworlds, Hells, Nether realms
ਆਗਾਸਾ ਆਗਾਸ (Aagaasaa Aagaas) = Heavens, Realms above, Skies
-
The Supreme-God/Param-Eshar-Vaheguru Ji are endless. There are hundreds of thousands of hells further from the hells that are known to us. There are also hundreds of thousands of skies/heavesn from the heavens we know. The term ‘lakh’ (100,000) has a Dhaehalee Dheepak (This is a literary term used to a situation where a word applies to the things mentioned before and after it). In this case, ‘lakh/100,000’ applies to both the ‘Paathaalaa Paathaal’ before it and ‘Aagaasaa Aagaas’ after it.
-
**Alankaar Information Omitted**
-
ਓੜਕ ਓੜਕ ਭਾਲਿ ਥਕੇ ਵੇਦ ਕਹਨਿ ਇਕ ਵਾਤ ॥
-
Padh Arthh (word-by-word):ਓੜਕ (O-rrak) = At the end, limit, the final
ਭਾਲਿ ਥਕੇ (Bhaal[i] Thhakae) = Tired of finding
ਕਹਨਿ (Kahan[i]) = They say
ਵਾਤ (Vaath) = Baath = Conversation Topic, Narration, Say
-
Even beyond hundreds of thousands, if one were to try to find the ‘Orrak[i]’ end then they will not find an end. The powerful ‘Bhaal[i]’ = searching and searching until they get tired but they can only observe the endless beyond not find the end. This is teaching is not only for stating it but when Sri Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji Maharaj went to Baghdad then a Muslim Saint/Peer[‘s son] witnessed this too.
-
[Kavi Ji mentions that] he wrote a granth called Sri Nanak Prakash Granth where you can read about this. All of the story is explained in detail there. Here it is briefly described as so: One time, Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji went to Baghdad (modern day Iraq), read one line of Gurbani, and in response - a Peer named Dasthgeer ordered every Muslim in the city to stone Guru Sahib. When the Muslims came then they surrounded Guru Sahib with a stone in each of their hands. When they begin to throw the stones then Guru Sahib roared and everyone froze with their hands straight up like sticks. Seeing such a miracle the Peer then asked why do you speak in disbelief (speaking against the words of Quran)? Everyone says there are 14 realms (7 Heavens and 7 Hells, even in Hindu belief - 14 Lok), the Quran also states there are 14 realms and that is all we understand as correct. Guru Sahib said we have an understanding of hundreds of thousands. After hearing this, Peer Dasthgeer did not agree and said if you can prove it then show us 100,000 realms. At that time, Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji held onto the arm of the Peer/Saint’s Son and said close your eyes. In one second, he was shown 100,000s of hells and heavens. They spend years in all the various hells and heavens. After countless years passed and he got tired and said bring me back to my father. So then they returned. He began to say to his father: [Sri Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji Maharaj] are the Form of God, it had been countless years of me seeing all of the different heavens and hells. There is no end to the different realms. They showed me all this and so it is appropriate to bow down to [Guru Sahib]. In this way, 100,000s of heavens and hells were proven to the Peer. Even still the end had not been found.
-
‘Vaedh Kahan[i] Ik Vaath’ = The Veda’s say one thing or one word: Oan-kaar. Within the word ‘Oan-kaar, Oan-kaar’ - the entire universe was developed. There has been no end to the developed Universe including all realms.
OR:
‘Vaath’ can refer to Air/Wind as well. All of this expanse of existence is part of the One Brahm-Vaheguru Ji. Just like the wind/air is all one but it has many names. This is due to people’s misperception that air is treated differently. For example, there are easterly winds, storm winds, tornado’s, etc. There are no end to the names of these winds.
OR: ‘Vaedh Kahan[i] Ik Vaath’ is what? Endlessness, It is all one thing whether written as Bi-anth or Bae-anth.
OR: ‘Vaedh’ can refer to realization/knowing... after searching they become tired and only can conclude that there is endlessness.
-
**Alankaar Information Omitted**
-
ਸਹਸ ਅਠਾਰਹ ਕਹਨਿ ਕਤੇਬਾ ਅਸੁਲੂ ਇਕੁ ਧਾਤੁ ॥
-
Padh Arthh (word-by-word):
ਸਹਸ (Sahas) = Hazaar = Thousands
ਅਠਾਰਹ (Attaarah) = 18
ਕਹਨਿ (Kahan[i]) = They say
ਕਤੇਬਾ (Kathaebaa) = Religious Scriptures; specifically 4 Books of Abrahamic Traditions as per Islam: Quran, Anjeel (Gospel to Jesus), Torah, Jamboor (Psalms)
ਅਸੁਲੂ (Asuloo) = In reality
ਇਕੁ ਧਾਤੁ (Ik[u] Dhhaath[u]) = One Thing, One Entity = Vaheguru Ji
-
In the Hindu’s Purana’s, they say there is 8.4 million life forms and in the Turk/Muslim’s Scriptures they say that there are 18,000 Aalam’s (realms/worlds). Guru Sahib Ji are addressing this. ‘Asuloo’ can be read as Asloo[n] - like how Punjabi’s saying Asulo or Asul Vich = In reality/actuality. In actuality, there is only One Entity/Being. What is that Entity/Being? It is all Maya manifesting at once. OR: ‘Ik Dhhaath[u]’ = such elements like gold can be made into different jewelry which can be imagined as taking different forms but in reality, they are all still gold. Any other imagined thing is false. [TN: gold can be moulded into earrings, necklace, bracelet etc but we have given these different names. In their essence, they are still gold]. In this way, the One Brahm-Vaheguru Ji have various lifeforms which we perceive... in reality, if we reflect then we realize there is only One Brahm Vaheguru Ji. Everything perceived/imagined as separate is false.
-
Just like a rope can produce the misperception of a snake or a garland of flowers can produce a misperception of a crack in a floor, among many other examples - in reality, there is only one rope. The rope has not actually produced anything and if you were to misperceive something - even that misperception would not happen without the existence of the rope. That rope causes people to realize or misunderstand.
-
**Alankaar Information Omitted and last paragraph translation omitted due to lack of understanding. It is of classic literary knowledge**
-
ਲੇਖਾ ਹੋਇ ਤ ਲਿਖੀਐ ਲੇਖੈ ਹੋਇ ਵਿਣਾਸੁ ॥
-
Padh Arthh (word-by-word):
ਲੇਖਾ ਹੋਇ (Laekhaa Ho-i) = The written account of this
ਲੇਖੈ (Laekhai) = The writer
ਵਿਣਾਸੁ (ViNaas[u]) = End, Destroyed, Die
-
If someone knows how to write an account of our existence. That account of existence cannot be written. The Responsibilites/Duties, the Form, the Strength, The Beauty, the Gifts, among other observable aspects of Param-Aathmaa-Vaheguru Ji cannot be written about. We cannot come to any conclusions about these. If we were able to write about karma or Vaheguru Ji’s Actions then we would be able to. Vaheguru Ji are beyond thoughts and speech. Is there any good person who can write about such aspects? That which comes into writing is subject to going away. Param-Eshwar/Supreme God Vaheguru Ji are permanent.
-
**Alankaar Information Omitted**
-
ਨਾਨਕ ਵਡਾ ਆਖੀਐ ਆਪੇ ਜਾਣੈ ਆਪੁ ॥੨੨॥
-
Padh Arthh (word-by-word):
ਵਡਾ (Vadaa) = Great, Grand, Big
ਆਖੀਐ (Aakhee-ai) = Consider, call
ਆਪੇ ਜਾਣੈ (Aapae JaaNai) = Vaheguru Ji Themselves only know
ਆਪੁ (Aap[u]) = Themselves
-
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji say: Parameshwar Vaheguru Ji are Great. One person finds out by listening to another person that Vaheguru Ji are Great. In other places Guru Ji have mentioned the same. For example:
ਸੁਣਿ ਵਡਾ ਆਖੈ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਕੇਵਡੁ ਵਡਾ ਡੀਠਾ ਹੋਇ ॥
SuN[i] Vadaa Aakhai Sabh[u] Ko-i; Kaevad[u] Vadaa Deettaa Ho-i
Hearing Vaheguru Ji are Great/Grand; everyone says They are Great;How Great are they? One realizes when they see Vaheguru Ji [within Themselves](Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji in Raag Aasaa/Rehraas Sahib)
-
This is why Guru Sahib say: Param-Aathmaa Vaheguru Ji Themselves only Know Themselves. In this way, we can write that Vaheguru Ji are Great/Grand in all different ways and of their responsibilities but Vaheguru Ji are even Greater than that. In a way that only They Themselves Know. No one has the power to write such. Another interpretation: That Great Master are Great, in a way knows the water within itself. Who is Great? The Giani/Spiritually Realized.
-
**Alankaar Information Omitted**
-
Please forgive for any mistakes and DM us on IG for any suggestions or corrections.
- Guru Panth Da Daas,
Aaeenaa
