Hukmnama, Golden Temple, Amritsar (Oct 29, 2023)
🎵 ਧਨਾਸਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੪ ॥🎵
Dhanaasaree, Fourth Mehl
🍃 Insight:
This hymn is penned by the Fourth Master, Guru Ramdas ji, in Raag Dhanasari.
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🌸 Verse 1:
🌿 ਕਲਿਜੁਗ ਕਾ ਧਰਮੁ ਕਹਹੁ ਤੁਮ ਭਾਈ ਕਿਵ ਛੂਟਹ ਹਮ ਛੁਟਕਾਕੀ ॥
“Tell me, O brother, what religion is for this Dark Age. I seek emancipation – how can I be emancipated?”
🍃 Insight:
The Guru begins by posing a question that has eternal relevance—how can one find spiritual liberation in an age of darkness and confusion?
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🌸 Verse 2:
🌿 ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਜਪੁ ਬੇੜੀ ਹਰਿ ਤੁਲਹਾ ਹਰਿ ਜਪਿਓ ਤਰੈ ਤਰਾਕੀ ॥੧॥
“Meditation on the Lord’s Name is the boat, the raft; meditating on the Lord, the swimmer swims across.”
🍃 Insight:
Meditation on the Lord’s Name is likened to a boat that helps one cross the difficult waters of life. It’s a direct answer to the question posed in the first verse.
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🌸 Pause:
🌿 ਹਰਿ ਜੀ ਲਾਜ ਰਖਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਜਨ ਕੀ ॥
“O Dear Lord, protect and preserve the honour of Your humble servant.”
🍃 Insight:
This line serves as a heartfelt prayer to the Lord for protection and guidance, highlighting the devout relationship between the Creator and the devotee.
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🌸 Pause Continued:
🌿 ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਜਪਨੁ ਜਪਾਵਹੁ ਅਪਨਾ ਹਮ ਮਾਗੀ ਭਗਤਿ ਇਕਾਕੀ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
“O Lord, Har, Har, please make me chant the chant of Your Name; I beg only for Your devotional worship.”
🍃 Insight:
The Guru seeks the blessing of being able to continually chant the Lord’s name, emphasizing that true devotion is the ultimate goal.
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🌸 Verse 3:
🌿 ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਸੇਵਕ ਸੇ ਹਰਿ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਜਿਨ ਜਪਿਓ ਹਰਿ ਬਚਨਾਕੀ ॥
“God’s slaves, who recite the Lord’s word, are dear to God.”
🍃 Insight:
Those who are devoted to the Lord and engage in His meditation are held in high esteem by the Divine.
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🌸 Verse 4:
🌿 ਲੇਖਾ ਚਿਤ੍ਰ ਗੁਪਤਿ ਜੋ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਸਭ ਛੂਟੀ ਜਮ ਕੀ ਬਾਕੀ ॥੨॥
“The writ, written by the recording angles, is erased and the balance of account with the death couriers is all settled.”
🍃 Insight:
The Guru assures that by embracing devotion, one can even erase the karmic debts recorded by the celestial scribes, thereby attaining liberation.
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🌸 Verse 5:
🌿 ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਸੰਤ ਜਪਿਓ ਮਨਿ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਲਗਿ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਸਾਧ ਜਨਾ ਕੀ ॥
“Joining the society of the holy persons, the devotees of God remember the Lord Master in their mind.”
🍃 Insight:
The Guru emphasizes the importance of the company of the saintly. Being in the company of the devout fosters an environment conducive for spiritual growth and remembrance of the Lord.
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🌸 Verse 6:
🌿 ਦਿਨੀਅਰੁ ਸੂਰੁ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਅਗਨਿ ਬੁਝਾਨੀ ਸਿਵ ਚਰਿਓ ਚੰਦੁ ਚੰਦਾਕੀ ॥੩॥
“The piercing sun of desires has set, and the cool moon has risen.”
🍃 Insight:
The metaphor of the sun and moon is used to describe the state of mind. When one meditates on the Lord, the scorching heat of desires cools down, and a sense of serenity takes over.
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🌸 Verse 7:
🌿 ਤੁਮ ਵਡ ਪੁਰਖ ਵਡ ਅਗਮ ਅਗੋਚਰ ਤੁਮ ਆਪੇ ਆਪਿ ਅਪਾਕੀ ॥
“You are the Greatest Being, absolutely unapproachable and unfathomable; You created the Universe from Your Own Being.”
🍃 Insight:
Here, the Guru expresses awe and reverence for the Divine, acknowledging His greatness and the mystery that surrounds Him. It emphasizes the Creator’s self-sufficiency and grandeur.
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🌸 Verse 8:
🌿 ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਕਉ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕੀਜੈ ਕਰਿ ਦਾਸਨਿ ਦਾਸ ਦਸਾਕੀ ॥੪॥੬॥
“O Lord, take pity on servant Nanak, and make him the slave of the slave of Your slaves.”
🍃 Insight:
Guru Nanak concludes by humbling himself before the Divine, asking to be made the humblest of the humble in the service of the Lord.
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🌼 Review:
The Shabad beautifully captures the essence of devotion and the quest for spiritual liberation. It teaches us to meditate on the Lord’s name as a means to navigate the complexities and challenges of life. The Shabad emphasizes that remembering God’s name is not just an act of devotion but also a powerful tool for mental and emotional balance. By focusing on the Divine, we are reminded of the impermanence of worldly matters and are encouraged to live life as humble guests on this earth. The Shabad makes it clear that God’s grace is the ultimate equalizer and the remover of ego, bringing us closer to spiritual liberation. 🌼
