ਪ੍ਰਭਾਤੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ਦਖਣੀ ॥
ਗੋਤਮੁ ਤਪਾ ਅਹਿਲਿਆ ਇਸਤ੍ਰੀ ਤਿਸੁ ਦੇਖਿ ਇੰਦ੍ਰੁ ਲੁਭਾਇਆ ॥
ਸਹਸ ਸਰੀਰ ਚਿਹਨ ਭਗ ਹੂਏ ਤਾ ਮਨਿ ਪਛੋਤਾਇਆ ॥੧॥
ਕੋਈ ਜਾਣਿ ਨ ਭੂਲੈ ਭਾਈ ॥
ਸੋ ਭੂਲੈ ਜਿਸੁ ਆਪਿ ਭੁਲਾਏ ਬੂਝੈ ਜਿਸੈ ਬੁਝਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
ਤਿਨਿ ਹਰੀ ਚੰਦਿ ਪ੍ਰਿਥਮੀ ਪਤਿ ਰਾਜੈ ਕਾਗਦਿ ਕੀਮ ਨ ਪਾਈ ॥
ਅਉਗਣੁ ਜਾਣੈ ਤ ਪੁੰਨ ਕਰੇ ਕਿਉ ਕਿਉ ਨੇਖਾਸਿ ਬਿਕਾਈ ॥੨॥
ਕਰਉ ਅਢਾਈ ਧਰਤੀ ਮਾਂਗੀ ਬਾਵਨ ਰੂਪਿ ਬਹਾਨੈ ॥
ਕਿਉ ਪਇਆਲਿ ਜਾਇ ਕਿਉ ਛਲੀਐ ਜੇ ਬਲਿ ਰੂਪੁ ਪਛਾਨੈ ॥੩॥
ਰਾਜਾ ਜਨਮੇਜਾ ਦੇ ਮਤੀ ਬਰਜਿ ਬਿਆਸਿ ਪੜ੍ਹ੍ਹਾਇਆ ॥
ਤਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਿ ਕਰਿ ਜਗ ਅਠਾਰਹ ਘਾਏ ਕਿਰਤੁ ਨ ਚਲੈ ਚਲਾਇਆ ॥੪॥
ਗਣਤ ਨ ਗਣੀ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਪਛਾਣਾ ਬੋਲੀ ਭਾਇ ਸੁਭਾਈ ॥
ਜੋ ਕਿਛੁ ਵਰਤੈ ਤੁਧੈ ਸਲਾਹੀ ਸਭ ਤੇਰੀ ਵਡਿਆਈ ॥੫॥
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਅਲਿਪਤੁ ਲੇਪੁ ਕਦੇ ਨ ਲਾਗੈ ਸਦਾ ਰਹੈ ਸਰਣਾਈ ॥
ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਮੁਗਧੁ ਆਗੈ ਚੇਤੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਦੁਖਿ ਲਾਗੈ ਪਛੁਤਾਈ ॥੬॥
ਆਪੇ ਕਰੇ ਕਰਾਏ ਕਰਤਾ ਜਿਨਿ ਏਹ ਰਚਨਾ ਰਚੀਐ ॥
ਹਰਿ ਅਭਿਮਾਨੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ਜੀਅਹੁ ਅਭਿਮਾਨੇ ਪੈ ਪਚੀਐ ॥੭॥
ਭੁਲਣ ਵਿਚਿ ਕੀਆ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਈ ਕਰਤਾ ਆਪਿ ਨ ਭੁਲੈ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਸਚਿ ਨਾਮਿ ਨਿਸਤਾਰਾ ਕੋ ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦਿ ਅਘੁਲੈ ॥੮॥੪॥The central theme of this Shabad is that ultimately, only Guru/Vaheguru is without mistakes. Everyone else makes mistakes and these mistakes that they make are also because this is how much intelligence or wisdom they have been blessed with, by Vaheguru.
Let's take an example of a creator of a fighting video game. The creator of the video game designs different fighters with different capabilities. The players who play these video game warriors know that they can do only that much with a warrior as much the controls of video game allow. The result is that the warrior with limited capabilities loses. Sure the warrior has to bear the consequences of the weaknesses but we need to remember that ultimately, it is the creator of the video game who is responsible with the strengths and weaknesses of the warrior. Same way, even though the Jeev is responsible for his own actions but ultimately as part of the macro picture, the Jeev only acts as per wisdom that he has been blessed with by Vaheguru. Some future events are totally solid as per pre-destiny but most are fluid and can be altered based on current karmas of the Jeev.
Using the above analogy, one should not just sit and not do Bhagti thinking that if Vaheguru wants He will make one do Bhagti. If we hear the Hukam of Gurbani, then it's a Farz on our heads to obey this Hukam of doing Bhagti.
Coming back to the Shabad in discussion, there are 4 examples in the Shabad to explain the principle that firstly no one inherently wants to commit sins and suffer the bad consequences but such enchanting is Maya that Jeevs forget everything and dance to the tune of agents of Maya - Kaam, Krodh etc. Second Gurmat principle of Gurmat explained in this Shabad is that as a result of our own prior bad Karma, we are given the punishment of committing even more sins in this life as was the case in the story of Janmejya, explained below. Third principle explained in this Shabad as is evident from story of Raja Hari Chand is that without Gurmat or Guru Sahib's divine Matt, even one's charity work can backfire. Fourth principle highlighted in this Shabad and as evident from the Saakhi of Baawan Avtaar is that if one does not listen to one's Ustad, one has to suffer immensely.
First Saakhi - Gautam Rishi and AhaliyaAhaliya was created by Brahma after taking the best qualities of 1000 most beautiful women of that time and as per Shastras, Ahaliya was the most beautiful woman ever created. Brahma created her and gave her to Gautam Rishi who brought her up. When it was her age for marriage, Brahma gave her up to Gautam for marriage. Gautam was in a dilemma whether to marry someone who he had brought up as a daughter but nevertheless, Gautama did marry Ahaliya. Indra, who is the king of Devtas in heaven, once saw Ahaliya and could not control his lust. As per one tradition, she too was tempted towards him. In any case, Indra played a trick on Gautama by waking him up earlier than usual and then when he went to river Ganga for bathing, Indra came disguised as Gautama and committed the Bajjar Kurehit with Ahaliya.
Here the story is written in two different ways. One tradition is that Ahaliya was innocent and was tricked into sleeping with Indra but another tradition says that she was also a willing partner to do this sin because if she had been innocent, she would not have faced the wrath of her husband Gautama. And how she could not have realized the difference between her husband and Indra is also baffling.
Whatever the case, Gautama came back realizing he had woke up earlier than usual and caught them in act. He was furious that Indra, who had at his disposal the most beautiful women of heaven, and whose wife Shachi is matchless in beauty, would still enter someone's house, under the spell of Kaam, and commit a Bajjar Kurehit with someone's wife. He was further infuriated knowing that he had not even spared the house of Rishis. He gave him such a curse that Indra and no one else can ever forget. He was cursed to have 1000 Bhaggs (female sexual organ) on his body. The curse came into effect immediately and he basically had to go into hiding out of shame and pain of hiding so many Bhaggs. He stayed secluded for countless time suffering immensely as a result of this punishment. Ahaliya was cursed to become a stone idol and when she begged for mercy, she was told that she would be released from the curse when Siri Raam Chandra comes to this Ashram and touches her with his Charan. And this is what happened.
This story should serve as a lesson for all of us that the result of indulging in Kaamic activities are very horrible. Gurbani says that for one second of illegitimate Kaamic happiness, one has to suffer 10 million days of punishment.
Second Saakhi - Raja Hari ChandThis king was known for his honesty and charity. He used to eat only after giving certain amount of gold in charity. Once he set out for hunting a wild boar, early morning that he lost track of time. He got very thirsty and as he was about to drink water, he realized that he had not yet given his charity of gold. At that time Vishwamitra, the famous Rishi appeared and the king asked him to accept the charity of gold to be given to him as soon as he reached home. The sage agreed and the king drank water. When he reached his kingdom, some calamity befell and all his treasure went empty. He was left with no money to give charity of gold to the sage. The sage came and demanded his gold but the king had nothing. At that time, the righteous king along with his queen and son Rahul, went to the slave market and sold himself and his family to payoff the sage. He was bought by a Chandaala (ones who work in crematory grounds). He was supposed to collect certain amount before letting people cremate their dead loved ones. At one point his own wife with his dead son came to cremate him. He recognized her but still refused to cremate his son without the cremation fees. At that point he passed the test and his kingdom was restored.
Guru Sahib has used this Saakhi to hightlight the point that if Hari Chand knew what Karma to do (according to Gurmat) and which one not to do, he would not have suffered so much, despite his good intentions. Gurmat would have never allowed him to make such a vow of not eating before doing certain amount of charity or giving too much weight to charity.
Third Saakhi - Raja BaliRaja Bali was the grandson of Bhagat Prahlaad and was doing 101 Ashvmedh Yags to attain the position of Indra. The reigning Indra king was upset and when Bali was doing his last Yag, he begged before Vishnu jee to save the heaven from the rule of Asurs (rivals of Devtas). Vishnu made his Baawan (dwarf) Avtaar and came to the place of Yag and started reciting Vedas in a very sweet voice. The king was attracted toward him and asked him anything he wanted as charity. The king's guru, Shukracharya recognized Vishnu and asked the king to not pay attention to the dwarf Avtaar but the king in pride said that if Vishnu had come to him as a beggar, then he would not return him empty handed.
The dwarf asked for 2.5 steps of land to build a hut at the doorway of the king. The king laughed at the demand and asked for more but the dwarf refused. After the king gave his word, the dwarf increased in size and measured the whole kingdom of the king in two steps. He still had half a step, for which the king offered his body. The dwarf (now a giant), stepped on Bali and pushed him to the lower lands. As Vishnu was about to leave, the king reminded of his bachan of staying at his doorway. Vishnu had to accept and he stayed at the door of Bali till he stayed alive.
The lesson to learn again is that by doing non-Gurmat Karma of charity, Yagya and for disobeying one's Guru, one has to suffer a lot.
Fourth Saakhi - Raja JanmejyaJanmeja was the son of Prikshat who was the son of Abhimanyu who was the son of valiant Arjuna of Mahabharata fame. Janmeja was listening to the tale of Mahabharata from Rishi Vyaas that he questioned as to why the Pandavas who were so wise, committed the sin of gambling. Vyaas said that such was their destiny but Janmeja said that if you know your destiny, then how can you commit such actions leading to that destiny. At this Vyaas looked at his forehead and foretold him that he is going to buy a female horse who is going to mate with a wild horse in forest and the calf born out of this relationship will be used to do a Ashavmedh Yag and then he would kill 18 Brahmans.
Janmeja declared that he would stop buying female horses, this way nipping the problem in the bud. But, over the years, he got relaxed and did exactly that. He bought the horse, and used its calf to do the Yag and then when the Yagya was going on, the king along with his queen came to do Pooja. As she was walking, due to wind, the garment on her legs got lifted up and one of her thighs became naked or visible for a split second. The Brahmans saw that and smiled. The king was furious that the Brahman holy-men had embarrassed him by looking at his wife. He got possessed by uncontrollable anger (Krodh) He ordered that they all be tortured to death. All the sages were tortured, burned and hacked to death. This bad Karma resulted in the king getting the disease of leprosy of 18 kinds.
The lesson to learn from this Saakhi is that some events of the future are solid and must happen. Secondly one should not make tall claims of never falling in a Maya trap. Thirdly we should not fall in the trap of Krodh because our actions done in Krodh do a lot of damage around.
ConclusionThe conclusion lies in the Rahao Pankiti and the last 4 Pauris of this Ashtpadi and can be summarized as follows:
1.
ਕੋਈ ਜਾਣਿ ਨ ਭੂਲੈ ਭਾਈ ॥
ਸੋ ਭੂਲੈ ਜਿਸੁ ਆਪਿ ਭੁਲਾਏ ਬੂਝੈ ਜਿਸੈ ਬੁਝਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥No one inherently wants to make mistakes but to whom Vaheguru does Kirpa realizes this, others perish by making mistakes as per Bhaana of Vaheguru jee.
2.
ਗਣਤ ਨ ਗਣੀ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਪਛਾਣਾ ਬੋਲੀ ਭਾਇ ਸੁਭਾਈ ॥
ਜੋ ਕਿਛੁ ਵਰਤੈ ਤੁਧੈ ਸਲਾਹੀ ਸਭ ਤੇਰੀ ਵਡਿਆਈ ॥੫No matter what, don't try to get into too much accountability of Karma. Rather, realize the Hukam (of Naam) and keep speaking the Naam naturally. No matter what happens, keeping praising Vaheguru since all is Vaheguru jee's praise.
3.
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਅਲਿਪਤੁ ਲੇਪੁ ਕਦੇ ਨ ਲਾਗੈ ਸਦਾ ਰਹੈ ਸਰਣਾਈ ॥
ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਮੁਗਧੁ ਆਗੈ ਚੇਤੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਦੁਖਿ ਲਾਗੈ ਪਛੁਤਾਈ ॥੬॥Gurmukh stays aloof from Maya in the Sharan of Vaheguru; this way no harm comes to him. The Manmukh is stupid and does not remember Vaheguru, and then stays in Dukh and regrets his mistakes later on.
4. ਆਪੇ ਕਰੇ ਕਰਾਏ ਕਰਤਾ ਜਿਨਿ ਏਹ ਰਚਨਾ ਰਚੀਐ ॥
ਹਰਿ ਅਭਿਮਾਨੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ਜੀਅਹੁ ਅਭਿਮਾਨੇ ਪੈ ਪਚੀਐ ॥੭॥
All is done by Karta Vaheguru, who created this world. O Hari, pride does not leave our hearts and by being in pride, we destroy ourselves.
5.
ਭੁਲਣ ਵਿਚਿ ਕੀਆ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਈ ਕਰਤਾ ਆਪਿ ਨ ਭੁਲੈ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਸਚਿ ਨਾਮਿ ਨਿਸਤਾਰਾ ਕੋ ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦਿ ਅਘੁਲੈ ॥੮॥੪॥Everyone has been created in such way that one would commit mistakes; only the doer does not commit mistakes. Guru Sahib is saying that only through the True Naam and by Kirpa of Guru Sahib, one gets released from the bonds of Maya.
Gurbani is Agam Agaadh Bodh.
Kulbir Singht
ਸਤਿਗੁਰਬਚਨਕਮਾਵਣੇਸਚਾਏਹੁਵੀਚਾਰੁ॥