Chhant

Chhant

Abounds in all the specks and can be narrated not even by the thousand-tongue (legendry) cobra,

Which has been repeatedly recounted by the bards of the Vedas,

Through out past, present and till the end; it was, is and will be,

Prevailing in all the time; obeisance at the feet of Satguru.(3)(1)

Sidh, Nath and Jogis[1] could not achieve enlightenment,

And through the recitation of Vedas, Brahma and others attain no consciousness.(1)

Shiv and all the four sons of Brahma[2] accomplished not any spiritual knowledge,

Nor, in the world, were recognised Indra[3] and the associates.(2)

Included in them are countless Sheshnaags[4] revelling in contemplations,

And also amazingly integrated are many celibates and the like of Narid.(3)

Through each speck (of your body), pay obeisance to the One prevailing in the cosmos,

Who has, in the human form incarnated to endow the (divine) vision.(1)

Whereas the magnitude of Onkar[5] is varied,

(Guru) has auspiciously pronounced the Shabds for the Gursikhs[6].(2)

The votary for which the world performs oblation, provides consecrated food, and attire,

But the Gursikhs have already found..(3)

What Vedas and theologians have expounded repeatedly,

The perfect Gursikh has achieved the writ of that.(4)(35)

Omnipotent, Almighty, Himself created and, then, prevailed,

Himself gave the name, after contemplating upon Himself.(1)

The Primal Guru then assigned another name and called Himself Gobind[7],

And created Gurmukh within the perimeters of Onkar.(2)

Gurmukh intones Vedas, and Gurmukh comprehends the mysteries,

And Gurmukh displays wonders of various incarnations.(3)

Guru Gobind[8] and Gobind the Guru are one and the same,

Like, deemed are woof & weft, in the woven cotton cloth.(4)(54)

Well wished are the Gurmukh’s paths by all the Panth[9],

But all the (divine) paths are subject to the vision of the Guru.(1)

The gods and the godly tributaries, all are desirous of blessings through the Guru’s feet,

As the Vedas and Brahma’s adherents get imbued with (Guru’s divine) Shabd.(2)

All the knowledge are searching through the Guru’s knowledge,

Because, through the Guru’s benevolence, all the treasurers become like water for fish.(3)

Jogi revels in asceticism and the householder carouses in householdership,

But Gurmukh, aloof from sectarian criteria, achieves divine status.(4)(58)

Among the people, prevails public-ethos, and the Vedic folks revel in Vedas,

But the people remaining aloof from Vedas, exclusively, put their minds in the Guru’s knowledge.(1)

Neither there is (divine) amalgamation in Yoga, nor material satisfaction in householdership

Neither in Yogic criteria nor in Householdership, there lies any ultimate intellect.(2)

Contemplation on godly vision, and the awareness of Shabd,

And through the contemplation and knowledge, are secured millions of treasures of love and reverence.(3)

Among mind, talk and deed, supreme is the spiritual endeavour,

Through which Gurmukh achieves the supreme treasure of tranquillity.(4)(60)

A doctor for a patient, for beggar a philanthropist,

A customer for a trader and parent for the son,(1)

The husband for the wife, friend for a friend,

Real relative for the family, all aspiring for tradition,(2)

Folks among the people, Vedics among the ones who ponder upon Vedas,

Knowledgeable ones for Ek-onkar, the renouncers for ascetics,(3)

Rarely are there any intellectuals, who ponder over theologically,

And, like untainted water, flow smoothly to embrace all the people.(4)(114)

Four watches of the day and four watches of night are there in the world;

(Where) the nights seem like doomsday, but the days are reverse (optimistic)(1)

Superiority, mediocrity and lowliness are prevalent in the world,

And the people are entangled in the discourses upon the knowledge of Vedas.(2)

Qualities of optimism, egotism and pessimism, being the contradictory ones, are pondered over not in mind,

Being considered contrary to Gurmat, are abandoned.(3)

The world is infused with Chaupat, the game of four dices,

Only through the holy company, perceived is the life emancipation.(4)(157)

The Sikh, who is chaste and conforms to Satguru’s command,

The dust of his lotus feet too is revered immensely.(1)

Whereas Siva, Sanak etc, the four sons of Brahma, could not achieve (the prominence as of a Gurmukh,)

In spite of Vedas’ and Sheshnaags’[10] out cry of, ‘No end, no end’ (to their godly grace)(2)

Four traits (Righteousness, Economy, Passion, Emancipation), three ages of past, present and future, all these,

Along with celibates and householders, are trying to surpass (Gurmukh’s) pious streams in the world, (3)

To become sacred for the holies and pious for the piety,

And to deem the discussion of their untold narrations as pure and bounteous.(4)(180)

In four castes, neither there exists the same hue,

Nor there is uniformity in the philosophies of Six Shastras,(1)

Simritis, Puranas, Vedas, Shastras and such treasures,

Are neither melodious nor has as much musical harmony as prevails in Shabd.(2)

The viands are many but they lack juice of affection,

In all their aromas, there is no concordance of the tang.(3)

Warmth, chilliness, feeling of touch and alienation are like woof & weft.(4)(185)

In the people, many types of temporal-loves prevail,

But consider all those as pain-giving myths.(1)

In the criteria of Vedas, they say, there are many a stories,

But adhere not to such affections, which suit not your mind.(2)

The discourses of knowledge in the world prevail not,

And the initiation, the end of Ragas, and the melodious music through instruments is realised not,(3)

The way, there exists the auspicious company of Gursikh and congregation,

Such a criteria is not found to subsist in any other beings, neither here nor hereafter.(4)(188)

Brahm, the Absolute Guru, if endows absolute benevolence,

Then the malady of ego vanishes and humility generates in the heart.(1)

The edicts of Vedas enunciate variety of anecdotes,

But, neither listen to such enticement, nor get your mind imbued with them.(2)

With godly love, the desire to savour Nectarous treasure is fulfilled,

And, then, with strange confidence perceives the (godly) reflection.(3)

Attain the ecstatic feeling after relinquishing the past distresses,

And after gaining true Gurmat from Satguru, become the Sevak of the Guru.(4)(189)

When the Guru and the Sikh integrate, then, even millions of efforts, cannot be matched,

Not even through the Havanas, ritualistic serving of viands to the gods, and ritualistic ceremonial recitals.(1)

The yogic-meditations, spiritualistic-knowledge, supernatural actions,

And many other types of customary austerities.(2)

(Including) Simritis, Puranas, Vedas, Shastras and (Ritualistic) Music,

Sarsvati (a holy river), temples of Gods, all are just illusionary proliferations.(3)

Millions of Sikhs are there in millions of Holy congregations,

Who constantly pay their obeisance at the auspicious feet of Sri Guru.(4)(192)

Varied sacrificial-feasts are performed to gratify the gods,

Also are undertaken, many penances, austerities and benevolences,(2)

Roaming through the seas, lands, valleys, jungles, lands,

And striding towards the snowy hill-tops, abandon their souls.(2)

Trumpeting and singing the Ragas with music, they recite the Vedas,

And perform ecstatic reparations indulging in millions of Yogic meditations,(3)

But, Gursikh, through the auspices of Holy Feet along with the Holy Congregation,

Sacrifices millions of all such endeavours.(4)(255)

(He is the) One who is inaccessible, magnanimous, beyond comprehension, and mysterious,

And cannot be achieved by just controlling the sensual senses.(1)

Can be accomplished not by performing ritualistic or royal services,

And also not through musically trumpeting Vedas.(2)

Can be perceived not through pilgrimages, fiestas and self-punishments before gods,

But only through good-deeds, righteousness, penances, austerities and contemplation.(3)

Ineffectual are all types of demeanours,

But for remaining vigilant in the holy-company and reminiscing on the Shabd.(4)(304)

In spite of dread of death, the thief does not discard stealing,

Highway robber, collaborating with other robbers, practises his designs.(1)

Pursuer of prostitutes; fright of disease, hinders him not,

A gambler relinquishes not even after losing all his family.(2)

An addict abandons not the drugs, even though admonished,

And, in spite, of people’s curses and Vedas sermons, goes on devouring.(3)

When a base and lowbred person renounces not such habits,

Then, how can a Gursikh leave the holy-congregation?(4)(323)

Even an iota of the association with the Gursikh and congregation,

Cannot be achieved by Shiva, Sanak-aad and Brahm etc.(1)

Not even by singing of Simritis, Puranas, Vedas and Shastras,

Ragas, Ragnis and their repeated recitations;(2)

The gods, goddesses, the treasures and their amenities,

And all the heavens just contemplate upon Him with solace.(3)

To deem Satguru, the Absolute Brahm, as the circumspect,

Gurmukh gets imbued with the awareness of Shabd.(4)(341)

The jovial person talks jovially and makes every body happy,

But a grieving (person) always keeps on talking about the miseries,(1)

Settled person sits with settled ones and talks about reconciliation,

But traveller while travelling, talks about the travelling directions,(2)

Whereas people ask about moralities, a Vedic (learner of Vedas) asks modes of Vedas,(3)

The assumption of the life and death, none could erase,

Eternal become those, who seek shelter at Guru’s auspicious feet.(4)(438)

Accord of the Guru the Sikh Sangat is magnanimous,

Like that of virtuous wife who has relinquished the duality,(1)

Neither she consults the fortune-tellers nor the Vedas,

And does not endure the omens and planetary evils,(2)

Knows not the gods and goddesses and cares not about (so called) auspicious omens,(3)

Pious Sikh is like a child, whose sustainer is Sri Guru,

And who is emancipated through contemplation upon the Brahm.(4)(448)

According to Maha Bharata, there have been five pretensions,

But no one annihilated these five to get rid of duality,(1)

Abandoning householdership, many became ascetic and yogis but none achieved ecstasy,

And they never revelled in the trait of Traigun.(2)

Reading and purporting Vedas, Pundits impart knowledge to the world,

But, could not counsel own mind imbued with desires,(3)

But Gurdev, the Absolute Brahm in the holy congregation,

Ponders upon the awareness of the Shabd to recount the Brahm.(4)(457)

Goes to sell clothes in the country where naked people live,

Nothing is gained, rather faces the dreadful loss,(1)

If one wants to learn how to assay diamonds from a blind-man,

And seeks sovereignty through deprived ones, that will be ones misgiving,(2)

The way, one goes to learn astrology and Vedanta from a dumb,

And musical notes from the deaf, it is all just futile attempt,(3)

Same way, a server of divergent-god is trying to eliminate misery, and gain salvation,

But without Satguru faces despair and dread of Yama.(4)(475)

As the sun-rises, unaccountable stars become invisible,

And in place of divergent-gods, the minds are lead towards the service of Gurdev,(1)

Trades, distances and the river-banks start waning as the time passes,

Same way, with contemplation upon Satguru the people start learning the realities of Vedas,(2)

During the nights there is anarchy through thieves, gamblers, and love-betrayers,

But at the ambrosial hour, there are eulogies of Naam, charity and ablution,(3)

In other (ordinary) pools, there can be frogs and various dirty water animals,

But, at Mansrover, (there subsist) only the ones who revel on Guru, the Absolute Brahm.(4)(486)

Quite evidently, a prostitute indulges in whoredom ,

And she cares not about the people and their knowledge in Vedas (religious books),(1)

If a virtuous woman, renounces her husband, goes to some other portal,

Gets herself tainted and cares not about her family honour,(2)

Deceitful crane, with malicious mind, roams around other ponds,

But if a swan abandons Mansrover and goes astray, it commits absolute frailty,(3)

Gurmukh (relinquishing) self-orientation, and (turning) wickedness into Gurmat,

Puts his mind to remain unattached to other’s entities and mundaneness.(4)(490)

Simritis, Puranas may be sermonised millions of times,

And also Bhagwat, Vedas, Grammar and Gita,(1)

Shesh (Nag), Dharam Raj, Akhles[11], Prominent Entities, Ascetics,

And also the humans and saints of the world,(2)

Permeated with knowledge and contemplation and subsisting in celestial domain,

Imbued with Ragas and Pundits of Sarsvati and the statesmen,(3)

All the above (mentioned) are not equivalent to even one Shabd of the Guru,

Because its prominence is deep rooted and much above (the ordinary) knowledge,(4)(540)

. Simritis, Puranas, Vedas, Shastras, Brahma and Viyas,

And magnanimous Sukhdev, and Sheshnaag, all are repeatedly pronouncing ‘Glorious, glorious,’(1)

Shiva, Sanak, Narid, magnanimous Sages,

Gods, Humans, Naths, and Yogis did not ponder upon (the God),(2)

Mountains, rivers, pilgrimages, charities, bounties, austerities,

And oblations, through all these they could not perceive,(3)

Fortunate are those Gursikhs who, although, pass through the criteria of the mammon,

Vision Absolute Brahm through the Guru.(4)(543)

Pondering and pondering upon Vedas, Brahma (the god) could not perceive,

And even the Sheshnaag and Shiva etc. have been perplexed,(1)

Through penances and meditation Nard worshipped,

And also did (Goddess) Sarsvati, Shanker-Acharya[12] and progeny of Brahma,(2)

Beginning and beyond beginning and unapproachable through senses,

And whose name is Unattached, is meditated upon,(3)

But Sri Gurdev is enshrined and revelling in the congregation,

Oh, Brother, go and seek at the auspicious feet.(4)(556)

Lion’s diet is meat, the cows live on fodder,

And the black-bee takes aroma from lotus to perceive pleasure,(1)

Fish survives in water, a baby on milk,

And the snake considers cool atmosphere as its life partner,(2)

Moon is relished by Chatrik and the peacocks revels under the black-clouds,(3)

Pundit ponders over Vedas, people discuss their public moralities,

World is speckled with mundane values but a savant remains permeated with Guru’s knowledge.(4)(599)

Body is formed of five elements, thus say the people and the Vedas,

But, reveal not, how were these created primarily,(1)

How is the earth ensconced and how is it stabilised?

How is sky pitched and how is it standing without pillars?(2)

How is water made, and how does serene winds flow?

How does fire bestows heat? What a strange phenomenon are all of them?(3)

The mysterious Master, the doer of all these is without writ,

His mysteries, He knows better and rest is all futile talk.(4)(624)

Hey Parbati*, Shiva*, Ganesh* and Sehsar*,

I beseech you, let me have your hearty favour,(1)

Hey priest and astrologer, specify the planetary moments,

And write down auspicious instances as per Vedas,(2)

Join together, Oh, all the family and friends, and sing the songs of merriment,

And, on my forehead, place oily propitious dot,(3)

Arrange the holy-fire, tie the nuptial knot and endow the blessings,

So that, in reunion with my spouse, there prevails the harmonious love.(4)627)**

*Various gods in Hindu Mythology

**”In the methodology of love, Bhai (Gurdas) Jee is pleading for benevolence of Sidak[13] (Bhai Vir Singh)

Almighty, which is beyond trickery and analysis, under whose control is all the universe,

You have enticed Him, through what means?(1)

Shiva, Sanak, Brahma, could not achieve (his) attention,

Towards you, (He) is pondering over, through embellishments?(2)

Vedas, Sheshnaags and all narrate (His) benevolences,

Through what attribute of yours, you achieve (His) generosity,(3)

The gods, the humans and the masters, in spite of probing, could perceive not,

But, what love is there in you, as (He) is searching for you?(4)(647)

[3] Indra – The god of gods, god of rain, Jupiter

[5]Onkar - The Protector of All, The formless yet manifest one, God

[8] Here it symbolizes the Lord of Earth not Guru Gobind Singh, the Tenth Master

[10]Sheshnaag - Mythological multifaceted snake

[11] Akhles – Master of All, i.e. God Almighty

[13] Sidak - Faith, belief, trust; contentment or patience