SGGS pp 2-3, Japji Paurris 8-11, Suniai.
There are five aids to spiritual advancement as stated in the first five Paurris of Japji and elaborated thus:
- Living by Hukam or Divine will: Japji Paurri 2.
- Remembering Divine virtues – Gaaveeai, Gaavai: Japji Paurri 3.
- Listening and keeping in mind – Suniai: Japji Paurris 8-11.
- Believing, accepting – Man-e/Manai: Japji Paurris 12-15.
- Belief leading to faith/obedience – Man-i rakheeai bhaau, j-e ko man-i jaanai man-i ko-e: Japji Paurris 12-15.
The last four are mentioned together in Japji Paurri 5 thus: Gaaveeai, suniai, maneeai man-i rakheeai bhaau; the last three are also repeated in Japji Paurri 21 thus: Suniaa mania man-i keeta bhaau.
Listening has an important connotation – that of the listener being secondary to one who speaks. It thus has an element of humility. We go to Sadhsangat or holy congregation to listen and serve. Humility is the other name for submission, not subjugation as to a tyrant, but to someone who is more profound, and naturally to the guru and the Almighty. But this listening is not just from another person, it is also listening to the inner-self awakened by the guru’s guidance.
Elaboration of Suniai and Maniai is given on SGGS pages 1240-41 by the fourth Guru in Saarang Ki Vaar Pauris 6-8 (Suniai), and Paurris 9-12 (Maniai). All lines of these Paurris start with Naa-e Suniai or Naa-e Maneeai. Naa-e means Naam. In the context of Suneeai, it means we should be receptive to Naam. Similarly Maniai or believing and obeying refer to putting into practice. “Naam” is “Divine virtues and commands”. This is helpful in understanding Gurbani. Guru Nanak says:
ਏਕੋ ਨਾਮੁ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਹੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਦੀਆ ਬੁਝਾਇ ਜੀਉ ॥੫॥ ੧ ੭੨
The guru gives the understanding that Naam of the One is Hukam or Divine commands. M: 1, p 72.
Guru Nanak says in Japji Sahib:
ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ॥੧॥
Hukam razaaee chalna Nanak likhiaa naal-i (Paurri 2).
We live by the preordained commands, says Nanak.
In all Paurris of Japji the last lines give the central idea which in the case of Paurris 8 to 11 is:
ਨਾਨਕ ਭਗਤਾ ਸਦਾ ਵਿਗਾਸੁ ॥ ਸੁਣਿਐ ਦੂਖ ਪਾਪ ਕਾ ਨਾਸੁ ॥
| Nānak bẖagṯā saḏā vigās. | Suṇi▫ai ḏūkẖ pāp kā nās. |
Says Nanak: The devotees are always joyful; because by listening to Naam, transgressions and the resulting suffering is obviated.
Paurri 8.
ਸੁਣਿਐ ਸਿਧ ਪੀਰ ਸੁਰਿ ਨਾਥ ॥ ਸੁਣਿਐ ਧਰਤਿ ਧਵਲ ਆਕਾਸ ॥
| Suṇi▫ai siḏẖ pīr sur nāth. | Suṇi▫ai ḏẖaraṯ ḏẖaval ākās. |
(Suniai) listening makes (sidh) accomplished saints, (peer = Muslim equivalent of guru) religious teachers, (sur-i) god-like persons and (naath) the head of the Yogis, i.e. even ordinary persons can attain spiritual heights by listening.
By listening one becomes aware of (dharat-i) the earth, (dhaval) the white bull – supporting the earth according to Hindu belief, and (aakaas) the sky.
ਸੁਣਿਐ ਦੀਪ ਲੋਅ ਪਾਤਾਲ ॥ ਸੁਣਿਐ ਪੋਹਿ ਨ ਸਕੈ ਕਾਲੁ ॥
| Suṇi▫ai ḏīp lo▫a pāṯāl. Suṇi▫ai pohi na sakai kāl. |
(Suniai) by listening, one –
Learns about (deep = island) land, (lo-a) creatures on the earth, and (paataal) the lower regions of earth.
(Kaal-u) the messenger of death (na sakai) cannot (poh-i = reach) lay hands, i.e. one who listens to Naam refrains from vices and hence there is no retributions.
ਨਾਨਕ ਭਗਤਾ ਸਦਾ ਵਿਗਾਸੁ ॥ ਸੁਣਿਐ ਦੂਖ ਪਾਪ ਕਾ ਨਾਸੁ ॥ ੮ ॥
| Nānak bẖagṯā saḏā vigās. | Suṇi▫ai ḏūkẖ pāp kā nās. |
Says Nanak: The devotees are always joyful; because by listening to Naam, transgressions and the resulting suffering is obviated.
Pauri 9.
ਸੁਣਿਐ ਈਸਰੁ ਬਰਮਾ ਇੰਦੁ ॥ ਸੁਣਿਐ ਮੁਖਿ ਸਾਲਾਹਣ ਮੰਦੁ ॥
| Suṇi▫ai īsar barmā inḏ. |
| Suṇi▫ai mukẖ sālāhaṇ manḏ |
The Hindu gods (Eesar-u) Shankar/Mahesh, (barma) Brahma and (ind) Indra carry out their roles as in Hindu mythology after listening to Divine commands.
By listening, (mand-u = bad) those caught in evil are motivated (saalaahan) to praise the Almighty (mukh-i) with their mouths – and emulate the virtues.
ਸੁਣਿਐ ਜੋਗ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਤਨਿ ਭੇਦ ॥ ਸੁਣਿਐ ਸਾਸਤ ਸਿਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਵੇਦ ॥
| Suṇi▫ai jog jugaṯ ṯan bẖeḏ. |
| Suṇi▫ai sāsaṯ simriṯ veḏ. |
By listening –
We learn (jugat-i) the ways of yoga – how to attain union with the Almighty, and (bh-ed) the mysteries (tan-i) of the body – that the Almighty is within.
We can learn the teachings of (saast) Shastras, Smiritis, (v-ed) the Vedas, i.e. the scriptures.
Page 3
ਨਾਨਕ ਭਗਤਾ ਸਦਾ ਵਿਗਾਸੁ ॥ ਸੁਣਿਐ ਦੂਖ ਪਾਪ ਕਾ ਨਾਸੁ ॥ ੯ ॥
| Nānak bẖagṯā saḏā vigās. | Suṇi▫ai ḏūkẖ pāp kā nās. |
Says Nanak: The devotees are always joyful; because by listening to Naam, transgressions and the resulting suffering is obviated.
Paurri 10
ਸੁਣਿਐ ਸਤੁ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ ॥ ਸੁਣਿਐ ਅਠਸਠਿ ਕਾ ਇਸਨਾਨੁ ॥
| Suṇi▫ai saṯ sanṯokẖ gi▫ān. |
| Suṇi▫ai aṯẖsaṯẖ kā isnān. |
By listening –
We learn (sat-u = charity) to share – spiritually and materially, (santokh-u = contentment) to submit to Divine will and obtain (giaan-u = knowledge) awareness of Divine virtues and commands;
We are purified for which people go (isnaan-u) for ceremonial baths at (attsatth-i = sixty eight) all pilgrimages according to Hindu belief.
ਸੁਣਿਐ ਪੜਿ ਪੜਿ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਮਾਨੁ ॥ ਸੁਣਿਐ ਲਾਗੈ ਸਹਜਿ ਧਿਆਨੁ ॥
| Suṇi▫ai paṛ paṛ pāvahi mān. |
| Suṇi▫ai lāgai sahj ḏẖi▫ān. |
By listening –
People (paavah-i) obtain (maan-u = honor) recognition for which people (parr-i paar-i) keep reading.
(Dhiaan-u) attentiveness/focus on Naam is (sahaj-i) effortlessly (laagai) achieved.
ਨਾਨਕ ਭਗਤਾ ਸਦਾ ਵਿਗਾਸੁ ॥ ਸੁਣਿਐ ਦੂਖ ਪਾਪ ਕਾ ਨਾਸੁ ॥ ੧੦॥
| Nānak bẖagṯā saḏā vigās. | Suṇi▫ai ḏūkẖ pāp kā nās. |
Says Nanak: The devotees are always joyful; because by listening to Naam, transgressions and the resulting suffering is obviated.
Paurri 11
ਸੁਣਿਐ ਸਰਾ ਗੁਣਾ ਕੇ ਗਾਹ ॥ ਸੁਣਿਐ ਸੇਖ ਪੀਰ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹ ॥
| Suṇi▫ai sarā guṇā ke gāh. | Suṇi▫ai sekẖ pīr pāṯisāh. |
| By listening –We can (gaah) wade through, i.e. achieve awareness of (saraa = seas) profound (gunaa) virtues. People learn to attain the status of (s-ekh) Sheikh and (peer = guru) religious heads and (paatshaas = emperor) temporal heads.
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ਸੁਣਿਐ ਅੰਧੇ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਰਾਹੁ ॥ ਸੁਣਿਐ ਹਾਥ ਹੋਵੈ ਅਸਗਾਹੁ ॥
| Suṇi▫ai anḏẖe pāvahi rāhu. |
| Suṇi▫ai hāth hovai asgāhu. |
By listening –
(andh-e) the blind (paavah-i) find (raah-u) the way, i.e. the ignorant become aware;
(asgaah-u) un-crossable (hovai) becomes (haath = in hand) is within capability to cross i.e. what is considered impossible can be achieved.
ਨਾਨਕ ਭਗਤਾ ਸਦਾ ਵਿਗਾਸੁ ॥ ਸੁਣਿਐ ਦੂਖ ਪਾਪ ਕਾ ਨਾਸੁ ॥ ੧੧ ॥
| Nānak bẖagṯā saḏā vigās. | Suṇi▫ai ḏūkẖ pāp kā nās. |
Says Nanak: The devotees are always joyful; because by listening to Naam, transgressions and the resulting suffering is obviated.
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