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Chapter 1 โ€” Japji Sahib

Japji Sahib
42 Shloka โ€ข Translation Only
AUM. The correct pronunciation of this word is 'Ek Omkar'. It is pronounced as three parts. The meanings of these three are also different. Ekโ€” One (non-dual). Ek Auโ€” The same. Omkarโ€” Nirankar (Formless One, i.e., Brahma, Creator, Ishwar, Parmatma, Bhagwan, Vahiguru) Ek Auโ€” Nirankar is the only one. Sat Namuโ€” His name is truth. Kartaโ€” He is the creator of the universe and its creatures. Purkhuโ€” He is perfect (powerful) in doing all this. Nirbhauโ€” There is no fear of any kind in him. i.e., Like other gods, demons and worldly creatures, he does not have hatred or fear of birth and death; he is beyond all these. Nirvairuโ€” He is devoid of enmity (hatred/enmity). Akaalโ€” He is beyond time (death); i.e., He is immortal. Moortiโ€” Being immortal, he always exists. Ajooniโ€” He does not take any form because he is free from the cycle of birth and death. Saibhamโ€” He is self-illuminated. Guruโ€” One who brings light (knowledge) in the darkness (ignorance). Prasadiโ€” A gift of grace. (all this can be achieved by the grace of the Guru.)
Chant. (This is also considered a title of Guru's words.)
Nirankar (Akaal Purush) was also true before the creation of the universe; he was the truth (form) at the beginning of the ages. Now only he exists in the present as well, Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji has said that in the future also the same true form Nirankar will exist.
Even if someone keeps defecating (bathing etc) a million times, the external bath of this body cannot purify the mind. Without purity of mind, one cannot even think about God (Vaahiguru). Even if someone meditates in deep concentration and keeps silence from the mouth, one cannot attain peace of mind until the false disorders are removed from the mind. Even if someone consumes all the food items of the world, he cannot satiate the hunger of the mind in the form of craving by staying hungry (by observing fasts etc.). Even if someone has thousands of clever thoughts, they are never helpful in reaching God because they are full of ego. Now the question arises that how can one become a beacon of light of truth in front of God, how can the wall of falsehood between us and Nirankar be broken? While showing the path to becoming the true form, Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji says that it has been written since the beginning of creation that a worldly being can do all this only by following the orders of God.
All the bodies (in the creation of the world) have been created by the order of (Nirankar), but his order cannot be expressed by uttering words. By the order of God, living beings are created in various species (on this earth), by his order only one gets respect (or high or low position). By the order of God (Vahiguru) only a living being gets a good or bad life, by the order written by him only a living being experiences happiness and sorrow. By the order of God many living beings get blessings, by his order many remain trapped in the cycle of birth and death. Everything remains under the control of that supreme power God, there is no work of the world outside him. O Nanak! If a living being comes to know the order of that Akaal Purush with a happy mind, then no one will remain under the control of the egoistic 'I'. This ego does not allow a living being engrossed in worldly splendor to come close to Him.
Some sing his praises knowing him to be with them. Many have described his fame but there is no end to it. Billions of beings have described his qualities, yet his real form could not be found. Akaal Purush becomes the bestower and keeps on giving material things to the beings (indefatigably), (but) the being gets tired of taking. All beings have been enjoying these things for ages. The paths (of the entire creation) are running only by the will of Nirankar who gives orders. Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji while cautioning the beings of the creation says that Nirankar (Vahiguru) is always happy (on the beings of this world) without any worries.
That Akaal Purush (Nirankar) is himself true along with his true name. Those who love him (the one with the true name and truth) call him Anant. (All gods, demons, humans and animals etc.) living beings keep on asking, keep on asking, keep on asking (material things), that Giver (Paramatma) keeps on giving to everyone. Now questions arise that (like we take some gifts to other kings and emperors) what kind of gift should be taken to that perfect Paramatma so that his door is easily visible? What kind of praise should we sing from our tongue so that on hearing it that infinite power (God) gives us love-prasad? Guru Maharaj gives clear answer to this that in the morning (Amrit Vela) (at which time a person's mind is generally detached from worldly entanglements) remember the name of that Akaal Purush with the true name and sing his glories, only then can we get his love. (If he is blessed by this) Guruji tells us that by mere deeds, a living being gets this body-like cloth, i.e., human birth, but does not get liberation from this. To attain salvation, His gracious sight is required. O Nanak! Understand this way that the true form Nirankar is the whole and all the doubts of man will be dispelled by this.
That God cannot be established in a tangible form by anyone, nor can He be created. He is beyond illusion and is self-illuminating. The human who has remembered the name of that God has received respect in His court. Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji says that one should worship Nirankar, the storehouse of virtues. While singing His praises and listening to His praises, one should have reverence for Him in his heart. By doing this, sorrows are destroyed, and happiness resides in the house. The words that come out of the Guru's mouth are the knowledge of the Vedas, the same knowledge in the form of teachings is present everywhere. Guru is Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma and Mother Parvati, because Guru is the supreme power. Even if I know about that God with attributes, I cannot describe Him, because He cannot be described. O true Guru! Just explain to me that I should never forget the one who is the only giver of all living beings.
One can bathe in holy places only if he accepts it. What will I do by bathing in holy places without the wish of that Akaal Purush, because then all this will be meaningless. Whatever creation I see created by that Creator, in it, without deeds, no creature attains anything, nor does it get anything. If just one knowledge of the true Guru is accepted, then the intellect of the human being becomes full of gems, jewels and rubies. O Guru Ji! Just make me understand that Nirankar, the giver of all the creatures of the creation, should not be forgotten by me.
If a person or a Yogi by practising yoga becomes ten times more than four Yugas, that is, he lives forty Yugas. He becomes famous in the nine regions (Ilavrita, Kimpurush, Bhadra, Bharat, Ketumal, Hari, Hiranya, Ramya and Kush as described in ancient spiritual texts), everyone walks with him in his honour. He becomes a famous person in the world and keeps on singing his praises. If that person does not come under the grace of Akaal Purush, then no one asks about his well-being. Despite having so much splendour and honour, such a person is considered to be the lowest of all insects in front of God, that is, the lowliest person. Even the faulty people will consider him guilty. Guru Nanak Ji says that the infinite power Nirankar gives virtues to the virtueless people and makes the virtue-rich people more virtuous. But no one else is visible who can give any virtue to that God who is full of virtues.
It is by listening to the name of God, i.e. by devoting one's heart to His glory that Siddha, Peer, Dev and Nath etc., have attained the supreme position. By listening to the name, one gets the knowledge of the earth, the bull that holds it (according to the mythological texts, the white bull holds the earth on its horns) and the power of stability of the sky. By listening to the name, one gets the inner control of the seven islands of Shalmali, Kraunch, Jambu, Palak etc., Bhuh Bhavah, the fourteen worlds like Swah and the seven netherworlds like Atal, Vital, Sutal etc. Death cannot even touch the one who listens to the name. O Nanak! There is always a light of joy in the devotee of God, by listening to the name of God, all sorrows and bad deeds are destroyed.
Those great saints who have meditated on the name of God are accepted at the door of Nirankar, they are the lords there. Such Gurumukhs get respect in the assembly of the beloved Akal Purush. Such good men look beautiful in the royal court. The attention of a Saguni human remains fixed on that one Satguru (Nirankar) only. If a person wants to talk about that creator or give an account of his creation, then the nature of that creator cannot be assessed. The creation created by Nirankar is supported by the Vrishabha (Dhaula bull) in the form of Dharma, which is the son of mercy (because only when there is compassion in the heart, then the dharmic work will be possible with this human being). Which is tied with the thread of satisfaction. If someone knows this secret of God, then he can be truthful. If someone does not believe in this miracle of God, then doubts will arise in his mind that how much burden of this earth is on that bull in human form, how much burden does he have the ability to bear. Because the creation made by the Creator on this earth is beyond the beyond, it is infinite. Then on which power does the burden of that bull depend? In this creation of the Creator, there are people of many sects, colours and known by different names. The account of their deeds has been written on their brains by the pen that works under the command of God. But if any common man talks about writing this account of deeds, then he will not even be able to know how much this account to be written will be. How much power will that God who is writing have, how beautiful is his form. How many teeth does he have, who is there who can estimate it completely. The entire creation has spread with just one word of Akaal Purush. With that one word-like command, the flow of one-to-many living beings and other things has started in the creation. Therefore, I do not have enough intelligence to think about the power of that indescribable God. O eternal form! I am not worthy of sacrificing myself for you even once. Whatever you find good is the best deed. O Nirankar! O Parabrahma! You are always eternal.
If a person achieves respect by pilgrimage, penance, showing mercy to living beings and by selfless charity, then it is very small. But those who have heard the name of God with love in their heart and have constantly thought about it, they have taken a bath in the pilgrimage of their inner self and have removed their impurities. (That is, that person has cleaned the dirt of his inner soul by merging into Nirankar residing in his heart) O Sargun Swaroop! All the qualities are in you, there is no good quality in me. Without adopting the qualities of virtue, even the devotion of God cannot be done. O Nirankar! May you always be victorious, you are the form of welfare, you are the form of Brahma. You are truth, you are consciousness and always the form of happiness. When God created this universe, what was the time, what was the time, what was the date and what was the day? Then which season, which month was it, when this expansion happened, who knows all this. Even great scholars, sages, munis etc. could not know the exact time of the expansion of the universe, if they had known, they would have definitely mentioned it in the Vedas or dharmic texts. Even the Qazis could not know the time, if they had known, they would have definitely mentioned it in the Quran etc. Even no Yogi has been able to know the day, season and month of creation of this universe. The creator of this world can only know when this universe was expanded. How can I talk about the wonders of that Akaal Purush, how can I praise him, how can I describe him and how can I know his secret? Satguru Ji says that everyone praises that God by becoming more intelligent than others. But God is great, His name is even greater than that, whatever is happening in the universe is happening because of His doing. O Nanak! If someone talks about knowing His qualities, then he does not get respect in the next world. That is, if any creature boasts of knowing the qualitative secret of that indistinguishable Nirankar, then he does not get respect not only in this world but also in the next world.
The qualities of Nirankar which cannot be described are priceless, and the remembrance of this Nirankar is a priceless business. The saints who guide this business of remembrance are also priceless businessmen and the storehouse of virtues that these saints have is also priceless. The people who come to these saints for God-union are also priceless and the virtues that they take from them are also priceless. The love between the Guru and the Sikh is priceless, the bliss that the soul gets from the love of the Guru is also priceless. The justice of Akal Purush is also priceless, his court is also priceless. The scales that give justice to Akal Purush are priceless, and the measure (weight) to weigh the good and bad deeds of the living beings is also priceless. The things provided by Akal Purush are also priceless, and the sign of those things is also priceless. The grace of Nirankar on the living beings is also priceless and his order is also priceless. That God is very priceless, it is impossible to describe Him closely. But still many devotees are merging with Him in the past, present and future by describing His qualities i.e. by praising Him. His glory has been described in the four Vedas and eighteen Puranas. Those who read them also describe Akaal-Purush. The Creator Brahma and the Lord of Heaven Indra also describe His invaluable qualities. Giridhar Gopal Krishna and His Gopis also praise that, Nirankar. Siddhas like Mahadev and Gorakh also talk about His glory. All the wise people that the Creator has created in this world also talk about His glory. All the demons and gods also talk about His glory. All the virtuous humans of the world, sages like Narada and other devotees sing songs of His praise. Many beings are saying this in the present and many will try to say it in the future. Many beings have ended their lives saying this in the past. We have already counted so many, if we add more to this list, then also no one can praise Him invaluably by any means. The more one wants to expand himself, the more he expands. Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji says that only the true form Nirankar knows his invaluable qualities. If any meaningless speaker says that God is this much, then he is marked among the great fools.
How is the door and house of that savior God, where he is looking after the whole universe? (Here Satguru Ji answers this question in retirement) O human! At his door, innumerable musical instruments of various types are resonating and so many players are present. There are so many ragas which are being sung there along with raginis and so many ragis like Gandharva etc. who sing those ragas. The wind, water and fire gods are singing the glory of that Nirankar and Dharmaraj, the analyst of the deeds of all living beings, also stands at his door and sings his glory. Chitragupt, who writes the deeds done by living beings, also sings the praises of that Akaal-Purush and Dharmaraj considers the good and bad deeds written by Chitragupt. Shiva, Brahma and their goddesses (Shakti) who are beautiful, created by God, always sing his praises. O Nirankar! Indra, the ruler of all gods and heaven, sitting on his throne, along with other gods, is standing at your door and singing your praises. Siddhas sing your praises while being in meditation, the thoughtful sages sing your praises with discretion. Ascetics, Satis and contented people also sing your praises, and mighty warriors also sing your glory. All the learned and great self-controlled sages of the world have been singing the praises of that Akaal Purush by reading the Vedas for ages. All the beautiful women who captivate the mind are singing your praises in heaven, earth and underworld. The fourteen gems created by Nirankar, the sixty-eight pilgrimages of the world and the saints (best people) present in them also sing his praises. All the warriors, the mighty, the valiant sing the praises of Akaal Purush, the four sources of origin (egg-born, womb-born, sweat-born and plant-born) also sing his virtues. The nine regions, the mandalas and the entire universe, which the Creator has created and sustained, all sing Your praise. In reality, only those can sing Your praise who are absorbed in Your devotion, who are fond of Your name, and who are liked by You. I am unable to recall many more such beings who sing Your praises, O Nanak! How far should I think of them, that is, how far should I count the living beings who sing Your praises. That true formless Akaal Purush was there in the past, the same Nirankar with attributes is there in the present as well. He will always remain in the future, that Creator God neither takes birth nor perishes. The Creator of the universe, God, has created colourful, diverse and numerous living beings through His Maya. After creating them, He looks after them according to His own liking, that is, He takes care of them according to His own wish. Whatever seems good to that Akaal Purush, he does that and will do it in future, there is no one like him who can command him in this regard. Guru Nanak Ji's order is that O human! That God is the king of kings, i.e. Shahanshah, it is appropriate to live under his orders.
Krishjan
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