The Consequences of Turning Away from the True Guru: And, How to Find the Path to Salvation

Personal Hukamnama of 8th September, 2024.

The Path to Salvation: Turning Towards the True Guru

The Consequences of Turning Away

This composition, set in Raag Gauree Bairaagan by the Third Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Amar Das ji (Ang 233-234), speaks of the adverse consequences of turning away from the True Guru, and conversely finding the path to salvation through devotion and service. Those who turn their backs on the true Guru are seen as unfaithful and suffer in life, bound by their worldly attachments and unable to redeem themselves.

Seeking Divine Mercy and True Congregation

The Third Nanak implores the Lord to shower mercy and provide the opportunity to engage with the True Congregation, which brings inner peace through the remembrance of God’s virtues. True devotees, known as Gurmukhs, align their will with the Divine by renouncing their ego and engaging in selfless service. The essence of life lies in serving the Creator, as life and body are gifts from God.

Attaining Honour Through Naam

Through the Guru’s teachings, one can attain the Naam, the Divine Name, which brings honour and peace. Those who turn away from the true Guru remain lost in confusion, while those who walk the path illuminated by the Guru’s are purified. The world is deluded by attachment and desire, but those who have met the True Guru remain unaffected by these worldly illusions.

Selflessness as the Path to Purity

Serving the True Guru cleanses the soul of ego, making one pure and radiant. Ultimately, God is the only Giver and forgiver. In the end, the humble servant Nanak prays for liberation, seeking God’s protection and deliverance according to His Will.

Transliteration and Translation of the Shabad (Raag Gauree Bairaagan, Third Mehl)

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Page 233, Line 11
ਰਾਗੁ ਗਉੜੀ ਬੈਰਾਗਣਿ ਮਹਲਾ ੩ ॥
Rāg ga▫oṛī bairāgaṇ mėhlā 3.
Raag Gauree Bairaagan, Third Mehl:

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Page 233, Line 11
ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਜੋ ਮੁਹ ਫੇਰੇ ਤੇ ਵੇਮੁਖ ਬੁਰੇ ਦਿਸੰਨਿ ॥
Saṯgur ṯe jo muh fere ṯe vaimukẖ bure ḏisann.
Those who turn their faces away from the True Guru are seen as unfaithful and evil.

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Page 233, Line 12
ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਬਧੇ ਮਾਰੀਅਨਿ ਫਿਰਿ ਵੇਲਾ ਨਾ ਲਹੰਨਿ ॥੧॥
An▫ḏin baḏẖe mārī▫an fir velā nā lahann. ||1||
They are bound and beaten day and night, and will not have another opportunity. ||1||

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Page 233, Line 12
ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਖਹੁ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਧਾਰਿ ॥
Har har rākẖo kirpā ḏẖār.
O Lord, please shower Your mercy upon me and save me!

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Page 233, Line 12
ਸਤਸੰਗਤਿ ਮੇਲਾਇ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਹਰਿ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਸਾਰਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Saṯsangaṯ melā▫e parabẖ har hirḏai har guṇ sār. ||1|| rahā▫o.
Please, God, unite me with the True Congregation, so that I may remember Your virtues in my heart. ||1||Pause||

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Page 233, Line 13
ਸੇ ਭਗਤ ਹਰਿ ਭਾਵਦੇ ਜੋ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਭਾਇ ਚਲੰਨਿ ॥
Se bẖagaṯ har bẖāvḏe jo gurmukẖ bẖā▫e cẖalann.
Those devotees are loved by the Lord who walk the path of the Gurmukh (those who follow the Guru's teachings).

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Page 233, Line 13
ਆਪੁ ਛੋਡਿ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਨਿ ਜੀਵਤ ਮੁਏ ਰਹੰਨਿ ॥੨॥
Āp cẖẖod sevā karan jīvaṯ mu▫e rahann. ||2||
They renounce their ego, engage in selfless service, and remain spiritually "dead" while living. ||2||

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Page 233, Line 14
ਜਿਸ ਦਾ ਪਿੰਡੁ ਪਰਾਣ ਹੈ ਤਿਸ ਕੀ ਸਿਰਿ ਕਾਰ ॥
Jis ḏā pind parāṇ hai ṯis kī sir kār.
The body and life belong to the One; serve Him above all.

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Page 233, Line 14
ਓਹੁ ਕਿਉ ਮਨਹੁ ਵਿਸਾਰੀਐ ਹਰਿ ਰਖੀਐ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਧਾਰਿ ॥੩॥
Oh ki▫o manhu visārī▫ai har rakẖī▫ai hirḏai ḏẖār. ||3||
Why forget Him? Keep the Lord enshrined in your heart. ||3||

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Page 233, Line 15
ਨਾਮਿ ਮਿਲਿਐ ਪਤਿ ਪਾਈਐ ਨਾਮਿ ਮੰਨਿਐ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਇ ॥
Nām mili▫ai paṯ pā▫ī▫ai nām mani▫ai sukẖ ho▫e.
Through the Naam (Name of the Lord), one attains honour, and through faith in the Naam, one finds peace.

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Page 233, Line 16
ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਨਾਮੁ ਪਾਈਐ ਕਰਮਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਸੋਇ ॥੪॥
Saṯgur ṯe nām pā▫ī▫ai karam milai parabẖ so▫e. ||4||
The Naam is obtained through the True Guru, and by His Grace, God is realised. ||4||

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Page 233, Line 16
ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਜੋ ਮੁਹੁ ਫੇਰੇ ਓਇ ਭ੍ਰਮਦੇ ਨਾ ਟਿਕੰਨਿ ॥
Saṯgur ṯe jo muhu fere o▫e bẖaramḏe nā tikann.
Those who turn away from the True Guru continue to wander in confusion and cannot find stability.

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Page 233, Line 17
ਧਰਤਿ ਅਸਮਾਨੁ ਨ ਝਲਈ ਵਿਚਿ ਵਿਸਟਾ ਪਏ ਪਚੰਨਿ ॥੫॥
Ḏẖaraṯ asmān na jẖal▫ī vicẖ vistā pa▫e pacẖann. ||5||
They are neither accepted by the earth nor the heavens; they fall into filth and rot. ||5||

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Page 233, Line 17
ਇਹੁ ਜਗੁ ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲਾਇਆ ਮੋਹ ਠਗਉਲੀ ਪਾਇ ॥
Ih jag bẖaram bẖulā▫i▫ā moh ṯẖag▫ulī pā▫e.
This world is deluded by doubt and has been drugged by attachment.

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Page 233, Line 18
ਜਿਨਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਭੇਟਿਆ ਤਿਨ ਨੇੜਿ ਨ ਭਿਟੈ ਮਾਇ ॥੬॥
Jinā saṯgur bẖeti▫ā ṯin neṛ na bẖitai mā▫e. ||6||
Those who have met the True Guru are not troubled by Maya (illusion). ||6||

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Page 233, Line 18
ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਸੇਵਨਿ ਸੋ ਸੋਹਣੇ ਹਉਮੈ ਮੈਲੁ ਗਵਾਇ ॥
Saṯgur sevan so sohṇe ha▫umai mail gavā▫e.
Those who serve the True Guru become beautiful; they rid themselves of the filth of ego.

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Page 234, Line 1
ਸਬਦਿ ਰਤੇ ਸੇ ਨਿਰਮਲੇ ਚਲਹਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਭਾਇ ॥੭॥
Sabaḏ raṯe se nirmale cẖalėh saṯgur bẖā▫e. ||7||
Those who are immersed in the Word of the Shabad (Divine Word) become pure and walk in harmony with the True Guru's Will. ||7||

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Page 234, Line 1
ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਦਾਤਾ ਏਕੁ ਤੂੰ ਤੂੰ ਆਪੇ ਬਖਸਿ ਮਿਲਾਇ ॥
Har parabẖ ḏāṯā ek ṯūʼn ṯūʼn āpe bakẖas milā▫e.
O Lord God, You are the One and Only Giver; it is You who forgives and unites us with Yourself.

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Page 234, Line 2
ਜਨੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਸਰਣਾਗਤੀ ਜਿਉ ਭਾਵੈ ਤਿਵੈ ਛਡਾਇ ॥੮॥੧॥੯॥
Jan Nānak sarṇāgaṯī ji▫o bẖāvai ṯivai cẖẖadā▫e. ||8||1||9||
Servant Nanak seeks Your sanctuary; if it pleases You, save him as You will. ||8||1||9||

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