VII. Means to be Adopted For Achievement of Salvation
ਕਵਨ ਗੁਨ ਪ੍ਰਾਨਪਤਿ ਮਿਲਉ ਮੇਰੀ ਮਾਈ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
O My mother, what are the ways and means to meet the Almighty Lord?
{204}
Having quoted enough from the Holy Hymns (ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ) to establish the role of Satguru (Guru Nanak) in granting salvation to human beings, let us now see how Guru Nanak shows us the way to salvation and what He tells us to do in order to behold the Almighty and merge in Him.
2.
ਮਨ ਤੂੰ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਰੂਪੁ ਹੈ ਆਪਣਾ ਮੂਲੁ ਪਛਾਣੁ ॥
{441}
Addressing the mind in us Guru Nanak says, “You are a part and parcel of the Supreme Soul (God) from where you had originated; and recognising this fact you must endeavour to merge back in Him.” How this is to be achieved, follows:
3.
ਖਤ੍ਰੀ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣ ਸੂਦ ਵੈਸ ਸਭ ਏਕੈ ਨਾਮਿ ਤਰਾਨਥ ॥
ਗੁਰੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਉਪਦੇਸੁ ਕਹਤੁ ਹੈ ਜੋ ਸੁਨੈ ਸੋ ਪਾਰਿ ਪਰਾਨਥ ॥4॥1॥10॥
{1001}
Guruji says, “people of all castes and creeds will find salvation through God’s name (ਨਾਮੁ) only, whosoever follow this virtuous advise of Guru Nanak, shall achieve salvation.”
4.
ਚਿਰੰਕਾਲ ਪਾਈ ਦ੍ਰੁਲਭ ਦੇਹ ॥ ਨਾਮ ਬਿਹੂਣੀ ਹੋਈ ਖੇਹ ॥
{890}
We have got the precious human life after ages. Devoid of the Almighty’s Name this most valued life will go down the drain as cheap as dust.
5.
ਏਕੋ ਨਾਮੁ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਹੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਦੀਆ ਬੁਝਾਇ ਜੀਉ ॥5॥
{72}
God has ordained the entire mankind “His only Name”, the Only One Name (ਏਕੋ ਨਾਮੁ). This ‘Holy Name’ has been revealed to mankind by the Satguru.
6.
ਗਨਿ ਮਿਨਿ ਦੇਖਹੁ ਸਗਲ ਬੀਚਾਰਿ ॥
ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨਾ ਕੋ ਸਕੈ ਨ ਤਾਰਿ ॥
ਸਗਲ ਉਪਾਵ ਨ ਚਾਲਹਿ ਸੰਗਿ ॥
ਭਵਜਲੁ ਤਰੀਐ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੈ ਰੰਗਿ ॥2॥
{793}
“You may well weigh in your mind that without the Almighty’s Name (ਨਾਮੁ ਸਿਮਰਨ) no other method can help you achieve salvation. All other efforts will prove futile to assist you. Association with the Almighty (through devotional utterance of His Name), only can help you achieve salvation”, says the Guru.
7.
ਪੂਰੈ ਗੁਰਿ ਪੂਰੀ ਮਤਿ ਦੀਨੀ ਹਰਿ ਬਿਨੁ ਆਨ ਨ ਭਾਈ ॥10॥
ਨਾਮੁ ਨਿਧਾਨੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਵਡਭਾਗੀ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਰਕਿ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥11॥
{915}
The Almighty Guru has given me a complete and wholesome advice, and therefore nothing else except God appeals to me. The biggest treasure of God’s Name has been found by virtue of good luck, and therefore it shall save me from going to hell.
8.
ਧ੍ਰਿਗੁ ਜੀਵਣੁ ਸੰਸਾਰ ਸਚੇ ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨੁ ॥
ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਦਾਤਾ ਦਾਤਾਰ ਨਿਹਚਲੁ ਏਹੁ ਧਨੁ ॥
{956}
It is a big curse to live in this world without His Name. God is the Benevolent Giver of this immortal treasure, i.e. His Name.
9.
ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨੁ ਬਿਰਥੇ ਜਗਿ ਜਨਮਾ ॥
ਬਿਖੁ ਖਾਵੈ ਬਿਖੁ ਬੋਲੀ ਬੋਲੈ ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਨਿਹਫਲੁ ਮਰਿ ਭ੍ਰਮਨਾ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
{1127}
Man’s life is worth nothing without the Almighty’s Name; and devoid of His Name, whatever man eats is poison and whatever he speaks is venom and all other efforts of his, are infructuous, as a result of which his chain of birth and re-birth never ends.
10.
ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਇ ਲੇ ਮੀਤਾ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਮਰਤ ਤੇਰੀ ਲਾਜ ਰਹੈ ॥
ਹਰਿ ਸਿਮਰਤ ਜਮੁ ਕਛੁ ਨ ਕਹੈ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
{889}
O’ friend, sing the Almighty’s Name in His praise, so that your dignity is protected by Him; and that the angel of death would dare not say you anything.
11.
ਜਾਤਿ ਅਜਾਤਿ ਜਪੈ ਜਨੁ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਜੋ ਜਾਪੈ ਤਿਸ ਕੀ ਗਤਿ ਹੋਇ ॥3॥
{1150}
A person from any caste or creed (high or low) has the right to repeat His Name. Whosoever says it, will achieve salvation.
12.
ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਲੋਗ ਨਹੀ ਜਮੁ ਮਾਰੈ ॥ ਨਾ ਦੁਖੁ ਦੇਖਹਿ ਪੰਥਿ ਕਰਾਰੈ ॥
ਦਰਗਹ ਪੈਧੇ ਜਾਨਿ ਸੁਹੇਲੇ ਹੁਕਮਿ ਸਚੇ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹਾ ਹੇ ॥15॥
{1033}
“Godly men (who sing His Name) are not punished by the angel of death, they are not made to tread perilous paths. After death they proceed straight to God’s Domain in perfect tranquility and supreme peace of mind,” says the Almighty Guru.
13.
ਸੋਧਤ ਸੋਧਤ ਸੋਧਿ ਤਤੁ ਬੀਚਾਰਿਆ ॥ ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨਾ ਸੁਖੁ ਨਾਹਿ ਸਰਪਰ ਹਾਰਿਆ ॥4॥
{761-62}
After repeated thought truth has been found and the resultant factual and solid conclusion is that there is not even a tinge of peace without the Holy Name, (ਨਾਮੁ) ; and without nwmu (Name) one would positively lose the game of this life, i.e., he would miss salvation; the very object of human life.
14.
ਪੂਰੈ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਬੂਝ ਬੁਝਾਈ ॥ ਵਿਣੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਕਿਨੈ ਨ ਪਾਈ ॥
{1052}
The Almighty Guru has helped us understand that nobody will find salvation without repeating Almighty’s Name (Holy name).
15.
ਨਾਨਕ ਵਿਣੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਆਲੂਦਿਆ ਜਿਤੀ ਹੋਰੁ ਖਿਆਲੁ ॥3॥
{1097}
Guru Nanak tells us that all other thoughts except that of Almighty Name (ਨਾਮੁ) are base.
16.
ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਅਰਾਧਿ ਸਭਨਾ ਤੇ ਵਡਾ ਸਭਿ ਨਾਵੈ ਅਗੈ ਆਣਿ ਨਿਵਾਏ ॥15॥
{89}
Guru Nanak urges us to say the Holy Name (ਨਾਮੁ) repeatedly, because His Name is the mightiest. All the rest are subordinate to His Name (ਨਾਮੁ).
To be continued...
