THE MASTER OF ALL TREASURES AND US

It is the faith of Akalpurakh’s lover that is described in the following Shabada on 376 SGGS, it also elaborates the state of mind of His lover who deems Akalpurakh as his/her world because nothing is beyond His Ordinance, period. Whatever we get; comes to us under His blessings because all gifts are in His domain. Why one should fear from any one then? Why any one should then bow to any other than Him? What He bestows upon us out of His treasures, is what we have. Add to it, worldly support [ also provided through His medium - creation]is temporary but His direct-support goes a long way

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ਆਸਾ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥ ਨਉ ਨਿਧਿ ਤੇਰੈ ਸਗਲ ਨਿਧਾਨ ॥

ਇਛਾ ਪੂਰਕੁ ਰਖੈ ਨਿਦਾਨ ॥੧॥

Āsā mėhlā 5. Na▫o niḏẖ ṯerai sagal niḏẖān. Icẖẖā pūrak rakẖai niḏān. ||1||

In Essence: Prabh Ji ! You have nine treasures of riches and miracles and all other treasures; you are such a Fulfiller of wishes that you are capable of satiating the mortals and saving them in the end.

Guru Ji says that everything is in His hand, it comes from Him, the word “Nidhan”(treasure) indicates the immense gifts Akalpurakh gives to mortals and His immense power to satiate and protect His creatures. Whatever beings get, is provided by Akalpurakh because source of everything is Akalpurakh. Now question rises “Why do we feel more dependent to others than our Creator?”That is the point Guru takes on here and guides us towards Him by suggesting to abandon duality

ਤੇਰੈ = ਤੇਰੇ ਘਰ ਵਿਚ (ਹੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ!)। ਸਗਲ = ਸਾਰੇ। ਨਿਧਿ = ਖ਼ਜ਼ਾਨਾ। ਨਿਧਾਨ = ਖ਼ਜ਼ਾਨੇ। ਇਛਾ ਪੂਰਕੁ = ਇੱਛਾ ਪੂਰੀ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲਾ। ਰਖੈ = ਰਾਖੀ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਨਿਦਾਨ = ਅੰਤ ਨੂੰ (ਜਦੋਂ ਹੋਰ ਆਸਰੇ ਛੱਡ ਕੇ ਜੀਵ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਸਰਨ ਪੈਂਦਾ ਹੈ)।੧।

(ਹੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ!) ਤੇਰੇ ਘਰ ਵਿਚ (ਜਗਤ ਦੀਆਂ) ਨੌ ਹੀ ਨਿਧੀਆਂ ਮੌਜੂਦ ਹਨ ਸਾਰੇ ਖ਼ਜ਼ਾਨੇ ਮੌਜੂਦ ਹਨ। ਤੂੰ ਐਸਾ ਇੱਛਾ-ਪੂਰਕ ਹੈਂ (ਤੂੰ ਹਰੇਕ ਜੀਵ ਦੀ ਇੱਛਾ ਪੂਰੀ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਅਜੇਹੀ ਤਾਕਤ ਰੱਖਦਾ ਹੈਂ) ਜੇਹੜਾ ਅੰਤ ਨੂੰ ਰਾਖੀ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ (ਜਦੋਂ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਹੋਰ ਸਾਰੇ ਮਿਥੇ ਹੋਏ ਆਸਰੇ ਛੱਡ ਬੈਠਦਾ ਹੈ)।੧।

ਤੂੰ ਮੇਰੋ ਪਿਆਰੋ ਤਾ ਕੈਸੀ ਭੂਖਾ ॥

ਤੂੰ ਮਨਿ ਵਸਿਆ ਲਗੈ ਨ ਦੂਖਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

Ŧūʼn mero pi▫āro ṯā kaisī bẖūkẖā. Ŧūʼn man vasi▫ā lagai na ḏūkẖā. ||1|| rahā▫o.

In Essence: As you are my Beloved Master, I have no desire, when you abide in my mind, I have no pain.(Pause)

Here the plight of His sincere devotee is expressed, in His love, His devotee becomes completely satiated with His love, being in His love,longing for anything else ceases. In His love a miracle occurs, the mind gets stilled and remains satiated completely with His love. Fears, anxieties disappear, and in His love, devotee enjoys peace and happiness. No pain remains painful. Who have experienced His love; get elevated to reach to this kind of state of mind.

ਭੂਖਾ = ਭੁੱਖ, ਤ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨਾ। ਮਨਿ = ਮਨ ਵਿਚ।੧।ਰਹਾਉ।

(ਹੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ!) ਜਦੋਂ ਤੂੰ ਮੇਰੇ ਨਾਲ ਪਿਆਰ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲਾ ਹੈਂ (ਤੇ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਸਭ ਕੁਝ ਦੇਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਹੈਂ) ਤਾਂ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਕੋਈ ਤ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਰਹਿ ਸਕਦੀ। ਜੇ ਤੂੰ ਮੇਰੇ ਮਨ ਵਿਚ ਟਿਕਿਆ ਰਹੇਂ ਤਾਂ ਕੋਈ ਭੀ ਦੁੱਖ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਪੋਹ ਨਹੀਂ ਸਕਦਾ।੧।ਰਹਾਉ।

ਜੋ ਤੂੰ ਕਰਹਿ ਸੋਈ ਪਰਵਾਣੁ ॥

ਸਾਚੇ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਤੇਰਾ ਸਚੁ ਫੁਰਮਾਣੁ ॥੨॥

Jo ṯūʼn karahi so▫ī parvāṇ. Sācẖe sāhib ṯerā sacẖ furmāṇ. ||2||

In Essence: Whatever you do, is acceptable to all beings, Oh Eternal Prabh, your Ordinance is also eternal.

>So the mind(in His love) believes in His Will as the final decree which is beyond error, whatever He wills, prevails and is right too, who cry over His Ordinance, are ignorant; however, who accept it without any complain by deeming it beyond error, are His true devotees. Being His devotees they loudly say that only that happens what pleases to Him, mortal cannot be the judge of His ordinance. Since He is the Eternal one, so is His Ordinance.

ਪਰਵਾਣੁ = ਕਬੂਲ। ਸਾਚੇ ਸਾਹਿਬ = ਹੇ ਸਦਾ-ਥਿਰ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਮਾਲਕ! ਸਚੁ = ਸਦਾ ਕਾਇਮ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲਾ। ਫੁਰਮਾਣੁ = ਹੁਕਮ।੨।

ਹੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ! ਜੋ ਕੁਝ ਤੂੰ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈਂ (ਜੀਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ) ਉਹੀ (ਸਿਰ-ਮੱਥੇ ਉੱਤੇ) ਕਬੂਲ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਹੇ ਸਦਾ ਕਾਇਮ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਮਾਲਕ! ਤੇਰਾ ਹੁਕਮ ਭੀ ਅਟੱਲ ਹੈ।੨।

ਜਾ ਤੁਧੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਤਾ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਉ ॥

ਤੇਰੈ ਘਰਿ ਸਦਾ ਸਦਾ ਹੈ ਨਿਆਉ ॥੩॥

Jā ṯuḏẖ bẖāvai ṯā har guṇ gā▫o. Ŧerai gẖar saḏā saḏā hai ni▫ā▫o. ||3||

In Essence: In your House, there is always justice that prevails, if it pleases to you, I do sing your virtues.

A Point to be noted here is the belief of His devotees regarding His praise. They don’t believe that they sing His praises at their own. Their faith is that nothing occurs beyond His Will. If it pleases to Him, mortals start praising Him, if not, they remain drenched in Maya. Whom He blesses, they deem happily to be subject to His justice and strongly believe that He does justice for sure. Those who boast about praising Him and those who praise to get something from Him are nothing but utterly ignorant
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ਤੁਧੁ = ਤੈਨੂੰ। ਗਾਉ = ਗਾਉਂ, ਮੈਂ ਗਾਂਦਾ ਹਾਂ। ਘਰਿ = ਘਰ ਵਿਚ। ਨਿਆਉ = ਇਨਸਾਫ਼।੩।

ਹੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ! ਜਦੋਂ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਮਨਜ਼ੂਰ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ ਤਦੋਂ ਹੀ ਮੈਂ ਤੇਰੀ ਸਿਫ਼ਤਿ-ਸਾਲਾਹ ਦੇ ਗੀਤ ਗਾ ਸਕਦਾ ਹਾਂ। ਤੇਰੇ ਘਰ ਵਿਚ ਸਦਾ ਹੀ ਇਨਸਾਫ਼ ਹੈ, ਸਦਾ ਹੀ ਇਨਸਾਫ਼ ਹੈ।੩।

ਸਾਚੇ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਅਲਖ ਅਭੇਵ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਲਾਇਆ ਲਾਗਾ ਸੇਵ ॥੪॥੨੦॥

Sācẖe sāhib alakẖ abẖev. Nānak lā▫i▫ā lāgā sev. ||4||20||

In Essence: Nanak says Oh Eternal Master! You are inexpressible and unfathomable! Whom you inspire, gets assigned to your service.

Who have experienced Him, always tell others about His being Infinite and inexpressible; however, they share only what they know about Him with His grace. So this is a fact too that they share with others that it is His Will that prevails in all cases. If one falls in His love, it occurs as per His Will, if one goes away from Him, it is also due to His Will. Here Guru verifies that only those praise His virtues whom He assigns to do so. Those who praise Him are considered very fortunate ones(in Gurbani). As per Gurmat, coming into this world, is only successful if one, being in His love, lives in His Ordinance by meditating on Him.

ਅਲਖ = ਜਿਸ ਦਾ ਸਹੀ ਸਰੂਪ ਬਿਆਨ ਨਾਹ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾ ਸਕੇ। ਅਭੇਵ = ਜਿਸ ਦਾ ਭੇਤ ਨਾਹ ਪਾਇਆ ਜਾ ਸਕੇ।੪।

ਹੇ ਨਾਨਕ! (ਆਖ-) ਹੇ ਸਦਾ ਕਾਇਮ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਮਾਲਕ! ਹੇ ਅਲੱਖ ਤੇ ਅਭੇਵ! ਤੇਰਾ ਪ੍ਰੇਰਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੀ ਜੀਵ ਤੇਰੀ ਸੇਵਾ-ਭਗਤੀ ਵਿਚ ਲੱਗ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ।੪।੨੦।

Look at the following Guru Vaakas in Raag Gauri Guareri, Mehla 5 on 181 SGGS, it is the same idea that is fortified, when only One Akalpurakh is loved heartily, this is what heart believes in, read on please

ਤੂੰ ਮੇਰੇ ਲਾਲਨ ਤੂੰ ਮੇਰੇ ਪ੍ਰਾਨ ॥

ਤੂੰ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਤੂੰ ਮੇਰੇ ਖਾਨ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

Ŧūʼn mere lālan ṯūʼn mere parān. Ŧūʼn mere sāhib ṯūʼn mere kẖān. ||1|| rahā▫o.

In Essence: Oh Prabh! You are my beloved and you are my life. You are my Master and Chief (Pause)

ਲਾਲਨ = ਲਾਡਲਾ। ਪ੍ਰਾਨ = ਜਿੰਦ (ਦਾ ਸਹਾਰਾ)। ਸਾਹਿਬ = ਮਾਲਕ।੧।ਰਹਾਉ।

(ਹੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ!) ਤੂੰ ਮੇਰਾ ਸੋਹਣਾ ਲਾਲ ਹੈਂ, ਤੂੰ ਮੇਰੀ ਜਿੰਦ (ਦਾ ਸਹਾਰਾ) ਹੈਂ, ਤੂੰ ਮੇਰਾ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਹੈਂ, ਤੂੰ ਮੇਰਾ ਖ਼ਾਨ ਹੈਂ।੧।ਰਹਾਉ।

Doubtless, for His devotees, Akalpurakh becomes the world. Now see how His Ordinance is embraced as stated in the following

ਜਿਉ ਤੁਮ ਰਾਖਹੁ ਤਿਵ ਹੀ ਰਹਨਾ ॥

ਜੋ ਤੁਮ ਕਹਹੁ ਸੋਈ ਮੋਹਿ ਕਰਨਾ ॥

ਜਹ ਪੇਖਉ ਤਹਾ ਤੁਮ ਬਸਨਾ ॥

ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਉ ਤੇਰਾ ਰਸਨਾ ॥੨॥

Ji▫o ṯum rākẖo ṯiv hī rahnā. Jo ṯum kahhu so▫ī mohi karnā. Jah pekẖa▫o ṯahā ṯum basnā. Nirbẖa▫o nām japa▫o ṯerā rasnā. ||2||

In Essence: I live (without any complain) as you keep me. I do what you command. Wherever I see, I see you present there, I utter your Name that protects me from the fears of the world.

ਮੋਹਿ ਕਰਨਾ = ਮੈਨੂੰ ਕਰਨਾ ਪੈਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਜਹ = ਜਿੱਥੇ। ਪੇਖਉ = ਪੇਖਉਂ, ਮੈਂ ਵੇਖਦਾ ਹਾਂ। ਰਸਨਾ = ਜੀਭ (ਨਾਲ)।੨।

(ਹੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ!) ਜਿਵੇਂ ਤੂੰ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਰੱਖਦਾ ਹੈਂ ਤਿਵੇਂ ਹੀ ਮੈਂ ਰਹਿੰਦਾ ਹਾਂ। ਮੈਂ ਉਹੀ ਕਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ ਜੋ ਤੂੰ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਹੁਕਮ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈਂ। ਮੈਂ ਜਿਧਰ ਵੇਖਦਾ ਹਾਂ ਉਧਰ ਹੀ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਤੂੰ ਹੀ ਵੱਸਦਾ ਦਿੱਸਦਾ ਹੈਂ। ਮੈਂ ਆਪਣੀ ਜੀਭ ਨਾਲ ਤੇਰਾ ਨਾਮ ਜਪਦਾ ਰਹਿੰਦਾ ਹਾਂ ਜੇਹੜਾ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਦੇ ਡਰਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਬਚਾ ਕੇ ਰੱਖਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਹੈ।੨।

In this Shabada, Guru builds total faith in Him and inspires his followers to do the same. Guru also frees his followers from other kinds of dependency. In His love, as mind is stilled, pains disappear; bliss of His love takes over the stilled mind. I wonder many times, after studying this Guru Shabada, if we still show dependency on others, obviously we fail to understand what Guru says here. It is not only about total faith in Him and His dominance over all but also the power of His grace. It is also His Will that Guru communicates to others too about all this.

Interpretation in Punjabi is by Dr. Sahib Singh Ji