SGGS pp 3-3, Japji Paurris 12-15

Believing – Mannai

There are five aids to spiritual advancement – Living by Hukam or Divine will, Remembering God’s virtues, listening. believing and emulating.

It means accepting what one learns and putting it into practice. It also means complying with Hukam or Divine commands as also the guru’s teachings. It involves submission.

ਕਹਤ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਸਚੇ ਸਿਉ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਲਾਏ ਚੂਕੈ ਮਨਿ ਅਭਿਮਾਨਾ ॥

ਕਹਤ ਸੁਣਤ ਸਭੇ ਸੁਖ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਮਾਨਤ ਪਾਹਿ ਨਿਧਾਨਾ ॥੪॥੪॥ ੩ ੭੯੮

Kahaṯ Nānak sacẖe si▫o parīṯ lā▫e cẖūkai man abẖimānā.

Kahaṯ suṇaṯ sabẖe sukẖ pāvahi mānaṯ pāhi niḏẖānā. ||4||4||

Those who love the eternal Lord shed vanity (and practice humility);

Talking of and listening to virtues is comforting but compliance brings the treasure (M: 3, p 798).

The treasure is God’s virtues, in fact God Itself.

In the reference given above M;3, p 798 means it is the composition of the third Guru and is on page 798 of Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS), the sikh scripture.

The fourth Guru says that service with a sense of commitment, which is the other name emulating, is fruitful:

ਸਾ ਸੇਵਾ ਕੀਤੀ ਸਫਲ ਹੈ ਜਿਤੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਮਨੁ ਮੰਨੇ ॥

ਜਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਮਨੁ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਤਾ ਪਾਪ ਕਸੰਮਲ ਭੰਨੇ ॥

ਉਪਦੇਸੁ ਜਿ ਦਿਤਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਸੋ ਸੁਣਿਆ ਸਿਖੀ ਕੰਨੇ ॥

ਜਿਨ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਭਾਣਾ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਤਿਨ ਚੜੀ ਚਵਗਣਿ ਵੰਨੇ ॥

ਇਹ ਚਾਲ ਨਿਰਾਲੀ ਗੁਰਮੁਖੀ ਗੁਰ ਦੀਖਿਆ ਸੁਣਿ ਮਨੁ ਭਿੰਨੇ ॥੨੫॥ ੪ ੩੧੪

Sā sevā kīṯī safal hai jiṯ saṯgur kā man manne.

Jā saṯgur kā man mani▫ā ṯā pāp kasamal bẖanne.

Upḏes jė ḏiṯā saṯgurū so suṇi▫ā sikẖī kanne.

Jin saṯgur kā bẖāṇā mani▫ā ṯin cẖaṛī cẖavgaṇ vanne.

Ih cẖāl nirālī gurmukẖī gur ḏīkẖi▫ā suṇ man bẖinne. ||25||

Service done according to the intent of the true guru is fruitful;

If we accept what the Guru desires all sins are washed;

The Sikhs should pay heed to what the guru teaches;

Those who submit to the will of the guru are fully imbued with the teachings;

This is the unique quality of the guru’s followers; they relish his teachings (M: 4, p 314).

The guru is one who has known God and teaches the Sikhs likewise. One should therefore submit to the guru’s teachings;

ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਦਾਤਾ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮ ਕਾ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਆਪਿ ਮਿਲਾਵੈ ਸੋਇ ॥

ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਬੁਝਿਆ ਗੁਰ ਜੇਵਡੁ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥

ਹਉ ਗੁਰ ਸਰਣਾਈ ਢਹਿ ਪਵਾ ਕਰਿ ਦਇਆ ਮੇਲੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਸੋਇ ॥੨॥ ੪ ੩੯

Saṯgur ḏāṯā har nām kā parabẖ āp milāvai so▫e.

Saṯgur har parabẖ bujẖi▫ā gur jevad avar na ko▫e.

Ha▫o gur sarṇā▫ī dẖėh pavā kar ḏa▫i▫ā mele parabẖ so▫e. ||2||

The guru acquaints us with the virtues of God and helps us unite with It;

The true guru understands God; there is none like the guru;

I seek the sanctuary of the compassionate guru who unites with God (M: 4, p 39).

One who is fortunate to receive instruction from the guru praises God and reaches his (or her) destination (God).

ਨਾਮੁ ਸੁਣੀਐ ਨਾਮੁ ਮੰਨੀਐ ਨਾਮੇ ਵਡਿਆਈ ॥

ਨਾਮੁ ਸਲਾਹੇ ਸਦਾ ਸਦਾ ਨਾਮੇ ਮਹਲੁ ਪਾਈ ॥੪ ॥੩ ੪੨੬

Nām suṇī▫ai nām mannī▫ai nāme vadi▫ā▫ī.

Nām salāhe saḏā saḏā nāme mahal pā▫ī. ||4||

Let us listen to, believe and praise the virtues of God;

By thus praising continuously we would reach God’s abode (M: 3, p 426).

In Japji Sahib the first composition in SGGS, the subject of Mannai i.e. believing and emulating is dealt with in two stages; in Pauris (stanzas) 12-15 dealing with believing, and in Pauris 36- 37, and the Slok (the epilogue) with compliance or emulation.

Also Guru Nanak describes the virtues of believing in Pauris 9-12 of Saarang Ki Vaar on page 1241-42.

It is interesting to study the three together:

The last two lines of each of Pauris 12-15 end with and convey this underlying message:

ਐਸਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਜੇ ਕੋ ਮੰਨਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਮਨਿ ਕੋਇ ॥੧੨॥

Aisā nām niranjan ho▫e.

Je ko man jāṇai man ko▫e. ||12||

The Master’s virtue is that It is not attached to any thing;

One who believes in It become likewise.

This means that the way the Master remains detached so should one trying to emulate Its virtues. There should be no expectation for doing one’s duties, the results will come naturally. We read in Sukhmani Sahib:

ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਤ ਹੋਇ ਨਿਹਕਾਮੀ ॥ ਤਿਸ ਕਉ ਹੋਤ ਪਰਾਪਤਿ ਸੁਆਮੀ ॥ ੫ ੨੮੬

Sevā karaṯ ho▫e nihkāmī. Ŧis ka▫o hoṯ parāpaṯ su▫āmī.

One who serves selflessly reaches the Master (M: 5, 286).

Out of these four Pauris number 12 describes the profound state of one who believes and emulates while Pauris 13-15 say how it helps:

ਮੰਨੇ ਕੀ ਗਤਿ ਕਹੀ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਜੇ ਕੋ ਕਹੈ ਪਿਛੈ ਪਛੁਤਾਇ ॥

ਕਾਗਦਿ ਕਲਮ ਨ ਲਿਖਣਹਾਰੁ ॥ ਮੰਨੇ ਕਾ ਬਹਿ ਕਰਨਿ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥

Manne kī gaṯ kahī na jā▫e. Je ko kahai picẖẖai pacẖẖuṯā▫e.

Kāgaḏ kalam na likẖaṇhār. Manne kā bahi karan vīcẖār.

The state of believing and emulation is hard to describe;

Any one who tries to do so realizes it is futile trying;

This state cannot be expressed in writing;

And may be understood by contemplation. Pauri 12, p 3.

Pauri 36 which deals with Saram Khand, the realm of effort, uses similar terms to describe this as molding one’s mind:

ਸਰਮ ਖੰਡ ਕੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਰੂਪੁ ॥ ਤਿਥੈ ਘਾੜਤਿ ਘੜੀਐ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਅਨੂਪੁ ॥

ਤਾ ਕੀਆ ਗਲਾ ਕਥੀਆ ਨਾ ਜਾਹਿ ॥ ਜੇ ਕੋ ਕਹੈ ਪਿਛੈ ਪਛੁਤਾਇ ॥

Saram kẖand kī baṇī rūp. Ŧithai gẖāṛaṯ gẖaṛī▫ai bahuṯ anūp.

Ŧā kī▫ā galā kathī▫ā nā jāhi. Je ko kahai picẖẖai pacẖẖuṯā▫e.

The realm of effort is characterized by how one transforms the self;

Here one molds an absolutely unique form,

that cannot be described;

Any one who tries, realizes that it is futile to do so. Pauri 36, p 8.

The Pauris in Saarang Ki Vaar describe the benefits of believing in Naam i.e. God’s virtues. Naam also involves trying to emulate those virtues. Pauri 11 says:

ਨਾਇ ਮੰਨਿਐ ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਗਈ ਮਤਿ ਪਰਗਟੀ ਆਇਆ ॥

ਨਾਉ ਮੰਨਿਐ ਹਉਮੈ ਗਈ ਸਭਿ ਰੋਗ ਗਵਾਇਆ ॥

ਨਾਇ ਮੰਨਿਐ ਨਾਮੁ ਊਪਜੈ ਸਹਜੇ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥

ਨਾਇ ਮੰਨਿਐ ਸਾਂਤਿ ਊਪਜੈ ਹਰਿ ਮੰਨਿ ਵਸਾਇਆ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਰਤੰਨੁ ਹੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹਰਿ ਧਿਆਇਆ ॥੧੧॥

Nā▫e mani▫ai ḏurmaṯ ga▫ī maṯ pargatī ā▫i▫ā.

Nā▫o mani▫ai ha▫umai ga▫ī sabẖ rog gavā▫i▫ā.

Nā▫e mani▫ai nām ūpjai sėhje sukẖ pā▫i▫ā.

Nā▫e mani▫ai sāʼnṯ ūpjai har man vasā▫i▫ā.

Nānak nām raṯann hai gurmukẖ har ḏẖi▫ā▫i▫ā. ||11||

Naam is the jewel which is admired through the Guru’s word;

By believing in Naam and emulating –

Evil thoughts leave and virtues manifest;

Ego is shed and all afflictions leave;

God manifests in the mind and one obtains natural happiness;

One gets peace as God abides in the mind. 11, p 1242.

Pauri 13 describes how the self is molded and its results:

ਮੰਨੈ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਮਨਿ ਬੁਧਿ ॥ ਮੰਨੈ ਸਗਲ ਭਵਣ ਕੀ ਸੁਧਿ ॥

ਮੰਨੈ ਮੁਹਿ ਚੋਟਾ ਨਾ ਖਾਇ ॥ ਮੰਨੈ ਜਮ ਕੈ ਸਾਥਿ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥

Mannai suraṯ hovai man buḏẖ. Mannai sagal bẖavaṇ kī suḏẖ.

Mannai muhi cẖotā nā kẖā▫e. Mannai jam kai sāth na jā▫e.

By believing –

Consciousness molds the mind and understanding;

The sphere of understanding expands to the whole cosmos;

One is not subjected to indignities

And is left alone by the messenger of death. Pauri 13, p 3.

The second part of Pauri 36 puts it thus:

ਤਿਥੈ ਘੜੀਐ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਮਤਿ ਮਨਿ ਬੁਧਿ ॥ ਤਿਥੈ ਘੜੀਐ ਸੁਰਾ ਸਿਧਾ ਕੀ ਸੁਧਿ ॥੩੬॥

Ŧithai gẖaṛī▫ai suraṯ maṯ man buḏẖ. Ŧithai gẖaṛī▫ai surā siḏẖā kī suḏẖ. ||36||

In the realm of effort –

Consciousness molds the mind and understanding;

One gets awareness like the gods and accomplished people. Pauri 36, p 8.

The last two lines of Pauri 13 say that one who believes in God’s commands and acts on them does not suffer in any way. This concept is explained by the third guru saying that the Gurmukh – one who follows the guru’s teachings – does not suffer:

ਜਿਨਿ ਜਮੁ ਕੀਤਾ ਸੋ ਸੇਵੀਐ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਦੁਖੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜਮੁ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰੇ ਜਿਨ ਮਨਿ ਸਚਾ ਹੋਇ ॥੧॥ ੩ ੫੮੮

God created the messenger of death; the Gurmukhs obey God and are not tormented;

Rather the messenger of death shows respect the Gurmukh who has God in mind (M: 3, p 588).

Pauri 12 of Saarang Ki Vaar elaborates:

ਨਾਇ ਮੰਨਿਐ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਊਪਜੈ ਨਾਮੇ ਮਤਿ ਹੋਈ ॥

ਨਾਇ ਮੰਨਿਐ ਗੁਣ ਉਚਰੈ ਨਾਮੇ ਸੁਖਿ ਸੋਈ ॥

ਨਾਇ ਮੰਨਿਐ ਭ੍ਰਮੁ ਕਟੀਐ ਫਿਰਿ ਦੁਖੁ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥

ਨਾਇ ਮੰਨਿਐ ਸਾਲਾਹੀਐ ਪਾਪਾਂ ਮਤਿ ਧੋਈ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਪੂਰੇ ਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਨਾਉ ਮੰਨੀਐ ਜਿਨ ਦੇਵੈ ਸੋਈ ॥੧੨॥

Nā▫e mani▫ai suraṯ ūpjai nāme maṯ ho▫ī.

Nā▫e mani▫ai guṇ ucẖrai nāme sukẖ so▫ī.

Nā▫e mani▫ai bẖaram katī▫ai fir ḏukẖ na ho▫ī.

Nā▫e mani▫ai salāhī▫ai pāpāʼn maṯḏẖo▫ī.

Nānak pūre gur ṯe nā▫o mannī▫ai jin ḏevai so▫ī. ||12||

Naam is obtained through the perfect guru and whom God gives;

By believing and compliance-

Consciousness develops and one obtains understanding;

One talks of Divine virtues and obtains comfort;

All delusions leave and then there is no suffering;

God is praised and evil washed from the mind. 12, p 1242

Pauri 14 says that for one who believes the transformation is real there are no impediments to journey of the soul to merge with God:

ਮੰਨੈ ਮਾਰਗਿ ਠਾਕ ਨ ਪਾਇ ॥ ਮੰਨੈ ਪਤਿ ਸਿਉ ਪਰਗਟੁ ਜਾਇ ॥

ਮੰਨੈ ਮਗੁ ਨ ਚਲੈ ਪੰਥੁ ॥ ਮੰਨੈ ਧਰਮ ਸੇਤੀ ਸਨਬੰਧੁ ॥

Mannai mārag ṯẖāk na pā▫e. Mannai paṯ si▫o pargat jā▫e.

Mannai mag na cẖalai panth. Mannai ḏẖaram seṯī san▫banḏẖ.

Those who believe –

Face no obstacles in their path to God;

Reach God’s presence with honor;

Do not waver from their path of righteousness. Pauri 14, p 3.

These thoughts are elaborated in Pauri 37 that deals first with Karam Khand or the realm of grace and then with Sach Khand or the realm of truth/eternity;

ਨਾ ਓਹਿ ਮਰਹਿ ਨ ਠਾਗੇ ਜਾਹਿ ॥ ਜਿਨ ਕੈ ਰਾਮੁ ਵਸੈ ਮਨ ਮਾਹਿ ॥

ਤਿਥੈ ਭਗਤ ਵਸਹਿ ਕੇ ਲੋਅ ॥ ਕਰਹਿ ਅਨੰਦੁ ਸਚਾ ਮਨਿ ਸੋਇ ॥

Nā ohi marėh na ṯẖāge jāhi. Jin kai rām vasai man māhi.

Ŧithai bẖagaṯ vasėh ke lo▫a. Karahi anand sacẖā man so▫e.

Those in the realm of grace –

Have God in mind,

Do not suffer spiritual death nor are they misled;

They are devotees who abide in grace; and

With God in mind enjoy the bliss. Pauri 37, p 8.

Pauri 9 of Saarang Ki Vaar elaborates this further:

ਨਾਇ ਮੰਨਿਐ ਸੁਖੁ ਊਪਜੈ ਨਾਮੇ ਗਤਿ ਹੋਈ ॥

ਨਾਇ ਮੰਨਿਐ ਪਤਿ ਪਾਈਐ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਹਰਿ ਸੋਈ ॥

ਨਾਇ ਮੰਨਿਐ ਭਵਜਲੁ ਲੰਘੀਐ ਫਿਰਿ ਬਿਘਨੁ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥

ਨਾਇ ਮੰਨਿਐ ਪੰਥੁ ਪਰਗਟਾ ਨਾਮੇ ਸਭ ਲੋਈ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਮਿਲਿਐ ਨਾਉ ਮੰਨੀਐ ਜਿਨ ਦੇਵੈ ਸੋਈ ॥੯॥

Nā▫e mani▫ai sukẖ ūpjai nāme gaṯ ho▫ī.

Nā▫e mani▫ai paṯ pā▫ī▫ai hirḏai har so▫ī.

Nā▫e mani▫ai bẖavjal langẖī▫ai fir bigẖan na ho▫ī.

Nā▫e mani▫ai panth pargatā nāme sabẖ lo▫ī.

Nānak saṯgur mili▫ai nā▫o mannī▫ai jin ḏevai so▫ī. ||9||

The benediction of believing comes through the guru’s teachings;

By believing and complying/emulating –

We obtain peace and emancipation;

We receive honor and the Lord abides in the mind;

There is no impediment in crossing the world ocean;

The path shows up duly illuminated by Naam.9. p 1241.

Travelling with grace one reaches the gate to salvation, God’s abode, taking others along says Pauri 15:

ਮੰਨੈ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਮੋਖੁ ਦੁਆਰੁ ॥ ਮੰਨੈ ਪਰਵਾਰੈ ਸਾਧਾਰੁ ॥

ਮੰਨੈ ਤਰੈ ਤਾਰੇ ਗੁਰੁ ਸਿਖ ॥ ਮੰਨੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਭਵਹਿ ਨ ਭਿਖ ॥

Mannai pāvahi mokẖḏu▫ār. Mannai parvārai sāḏẖār.

Mannai ṯarai ṯāre gur sikẖ. Mannai Nānak bẖavahi na bẖikẖ.

Those who believe –

Reach the gate to salvation;

Are a source of support for their families;

Are the gurus who save themselves and their Sikhs;

Look to none else. Pauri 15, p 3.

Pauri 38 puts it thus:

ਸਚ ਖੰਡਿ ਵਸੈ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰੁ ॥ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਵੇਖੈ ਨਦਰਿ ਨਿਹਾਲ ॥

Sacẖ kẖand vasai nirankār.

Kar kar vekẖai naḏar nihāl.

The formless Lord abides in the realm of truth/eternity;

And looks after all in Its grace. Pauri 38, p 8.

Pauri 10 of Sarang Ki Vaar says

ਨਾਇ ਮੰਨਿਐ ਕੁਲੁ ਉਧਰੈ ਸਭੁ ਕੁਟੰਬੁ ਸਬਾਇਆ ॥

ਨਾਇ ਮੰਨਿਐ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਉਧਰੈ ਜਿਨ ਰਿਦੈ ਵਸਾਇਆ ॥

ਨਾਇ ਮੰਨਿਐ ਸੁਣਿ ਉਧਰੇ ਜਿਨ ਰਸਨ ਰਸਾਇਆ ॥

ਨਾਇ ਮੰਨਿਐ ਦੁਖ ਭੁਖ ਗਈ ਜਿਨ ਨਾਮਿ ਚਿਤੁ ਲਾਇਆ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਤਿਨੀ ਸਾਲਾਹਿਆ ਜਿਨ ਗੁਰੂ ਮਿਲਾਇਆ ॥੧੦॥

Nā▫e mani▫ai kul uḏẖrai sabẖ kutamb sabā▫i▫ā.

Nā▫e mani▫ai sangaṯ uḏẖrai jin riḏai vasā▫i▫ā.

Nā▫e mani▫ai suṇ uḏẖre jin rasan rasā▫i▫ā.

Nā▫e mani▫ai ḏukẖ bẖukẖ ga▫ī jin nām cẖiṯ lā▫i▫ā.

Nānak nām ṯinī salāhi▫ā jin gurū milā▫i▫ā. ||10||

Those who meet the Guru remember the Lord;

By believing and compliance;

The lineage and family are emancipated;

The companions who keep this in mind are are saved;

Listen to the Naam and talk about it;

All suffering and craving leave if Naam is in mind. 10. p 1241.

Finally the Slok (epilogue) to Japji says:

ਜਿਨੀ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਇਆ ਗਏ ਮਸਕਤਿ ਘਾਲਿ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਤੇ ਮੁਖ ਉਜਲੇ ਕੇਤੀ ਛੁਟੀ ਨਾਲਿ ॥੧॥

Jinī nām ḏẖi▫ā▫i▫ā ga▫e maskaṯ gẖāl.

Nānak ṯe mukẖ ujle keṯī cẖẖutī nāl. ||1||

The toil of those who remember God bears fruit;

They themselves receive honor and many are saved in their company. Slok, p 8.

The above lines of the Slok clarify that remembering God is not just saying but acting. Actions are to be both emulation of virtues and living by God’s will.

The soul comes from God, the Supreme Soul. That is called Nij Ghar, its own home, where the soul belongs and wishes to get back. Praising the virtues of God with the guidance of the Guru and emulating those facilitates return to the source:

ਜਿਨੀ ਸੁਣਿ ਕੈ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਤਿਨਾ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਵਾਸੁ ॥

ਗੁਰਮਤੀ ਸਾਲਾਹਿ ਸਚੁ ਹਰਿ ਪਾਇਆ ਗੁਣਤਾਸੁ ॥ ੩ ੨੭

Jinī suṇ kai mani▫ā ṯinā nij gẖar vās. Gurmaṯī sālāhi sacẖ har pā▫i▫ā guṇṯās.

Those who listen, believe and emulate get to their own home;

Praising the eternal Lord with guru’s teachings they obtain access to God (M: 3, p 27).

God bless.

Note: The Roman version of Gurbani is copied from www.srigranth.org