When we ponder over the bhagat-bani, we see it fully aligned with the Gurmat; here and there in SGGS, the Guru added his own views in response to any bhagata’s bani but basically that is a kind of further interpretation to remove any ambiguity in the thought presented by the Bhagata. The below shabda is by Bhagat Kabir who stresses the idea of Guru Nanak Sahib, which is expressed on, SGGS, the Guru says:
ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਮੇਰਾ ਏਕੋ ਹੈ ॥ ਏਕੋ ਹੈ ਭਾਈ ਏਕੋ ਹੈ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Sāhib merā eko hai. Ėko hai bẖā-ī eko hai. ||1|| Rahā-o.
{SGGS–350}
My Master is but one. Oh brother! My Master is one only. Pause.
Here is Bhagat Kabir’s shabda
ਗਉੜੀ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ ॥
ਜਬ ਹਮ ਏਕੋ ਏਕੁ ਕਰਿ ਜਾਨਿਆ ॥ ਤਬ ਲੋਗਹ ਕਾਹੇ ਦੁਖੁ ਮਾਨਿਆ ॥1॥
Ga-oṛī Kabīr jī.
Jab ham eko ek kar jāni-ā. Ŧab logah kāhe ḏukẖ māni-ā. ||1||
Raag Gaurhi of Bhagat Kabir .
In essence: When I have realized that there is only one Akalpurakh, why people are upset?
Bhagat Kabir is talking about his contemporary people who had belief in many gods and deities or the different concept of the Creator of faiths, and contrary to them, he believed in only one Creator. Humans are found of trashing others just because they cannot take disagreement positively. Talking about Him, they act ignorantly Obviously Bhagat Kabir stands in disagreement with them but totally aligned with the Guru. Now he questions them about their unnecessary anger over his belief. They accuse him of losing his honor in the society by not following their convictions. It is very important to know that no story has anything to do with Bhagat Kabir’s Shabda;.
ਹਮ ਅਪਤਹ ਅਪੁਨੀ ਪਤਿ ਖੋਈ ॥ ਹਮਰੈ ਖੋਜਿ ਪਰਹੁ ਮਤਿ ਕੋਈ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Ham apṯah apunī paṯ kẖo-ī. Hamrai kẖoj parahu maṯ ko-ī. ||1|| Rahā-o.
(As per your thought) I am dishonored one, and I have lost my honor. On what path I tread, you do not need to tread on (you remain honored ones. It is ironical expression!). Pause.
Bhagat Kabir says, “If your following me takes away your honor, you don’t need to do that. So let me remain as I am, and let me believe in the one universal Creator.
ਹਮ ਮੰਦੇ ਮੰਦੇ ਮਨ ਮਾਹੀ ॥ ਸਾਝ ਪਾਤਿ ਕਾਹੂ ਸਿਉ ਨਾਹੀ ॥2॥
Ham manḏe manḏe man māhī. Sājẖ pāṯ kāhū si-o nāhī. ||2||
If I am bad, it is me (what to others?). I am not into establishing relationships with others.
Bhagat Kabir say, “Oh honored ones! Stay away from me to keep your honor!” It is very sarcastic statement! Bhagat Kabir is very clear about His mission of having His union, as he sees the hypocritical religious trends in other people. He declares that this curtain of hypocrisy will be torn up at the end.
ਪਤਿ ਅਪਤਿ ਤਾ ਕੀ ਨਹੀ ਲਾਜ ॥ ਤਬ ਜਾਨਹੁਗੇ ਜਬ ਉਘਰੈਗੋ ਪਾਜ ॥3॥
Paṯ apaṯ ṯā kī nahī lāj. Ŧab jānhuge jab ugẖraigo pāj. ||3||
I don’t care to have honor or dishonor (from you), but you will know the reality when your “cover up” will be exposed.
Bhagat Kabir is hinting at the false honor for which people live. For His devotee, it is Ekankar’s acceptance that supersedes all the worldly honors. Please also ponder over why Bhagat Kabir is saying that the “put up show” of people (of his time) will be exposed eventually. This is what all enlightened ones say, because they deem Ekankar’s acceptance as the real honor and His name the real wealth.
ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਪਤਿ ਹਰਿ ਪਰਵਾਨੁ ॥ ਸਰਬ ਤਿਆਗਿ ਭਜੁ ਕੇਵਲ ਰਾਮੁ ॥4॥3॥
Kaho Kabīr paṯ har parvān. Sarab ṯi-āg bẖaj keval rām. ||4||3|| (323-324)
The real honor is in fact Akalpurakh’s acceptance; for that, Oh Kabir say this: forsake everything else and meditate only on Akalpurakh.
Here Kabir puts the secret about His path wide open. It is Akalpurakh’s acceptance, because the worldly opinion doesn’t matter for His devotees. They do not need to worry about the worldly honor or dishonor. Remembering only the one Creator is the first priority of His devotees.
Wishes
G Singh
www.gursoch.com
