A prayer for those who are suffering during Covid:
ਧਨਾਸਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥
धनासरी महला ५ ॥
Ḏẖanāsrī mėhlā 5.
Dhanaasaree, Fifth Mehl:
ਅਉਖੀ ਘੜੀ ਨ ਦੇਖਣ ਦੇਈ ਅਪਨਾ ਬਿਰਦੁ ਸਮਾਲੇ ॥
अउखी घड़ी न देखण देई अपना बिरदु समाले ॥
Aukẖī gẖaṛī na ḏekẖaṇ ḏeī apnā biraḏ samāle.
He does not let His devotees see the difficult times; this is His innate nature.
ਹਾਥ ਦੇਇ ਰਾਖੈ ਅਪਨੇ ਕਉ ਸਾਸਿ ਸਾਸਿ ਪ੍ਰਤਿਪਾਲੇ ॥੧॥
हाथ देइ राखै अपने कउ सासि सासि प्रतिपाले ॥१॥
Hāth ḏee rākẖai apne kao sās sās parṯipāle. ||1||
Giving His hand, He protects His devotee; with each and every breath, He cherishes him. ||1||
ਪ੍ਰਭ ਸਿਉ ਲਾਗਿ ਰਹਿਓ ਮੇਰਾ ਚੀਤੁ ॥
प्रभ सिउ लागि रहिओ मेरा चीतु ॥
Parabẖ sio lāg rahio merā cẖīṯ.
My consciousness remains attached to God.
ਆਦਿ ਅੰਤਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਸਦਾ ਸਹਾਈ ਧੰਨੁ ਹਮਾਰਾ ਮੀਤੁ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
आदि अंति प्रभु सदा सहाई धंनु हमारा मीतु ॥ रहाउ ॥
Āḏ anṯ parabẖ saḏā sahāī ḏẖan hamārā mīṯ. Rahāo.
In the beginning, and in the end, God is always my helper and companion; blessed is my friend. ||Pause||
ਮਨਿ ਬਿਲਾਸ ਭਏ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਕੇ ਅਚਰਜ ਦੇਖਿ ਬਡਾਈ ॥
मनि बिलास भए साहिब के अचरज देखि बडाई ॥
Man bilās bẖae sāhib ke acẖraj ḏekẖ badāī.
My mind is delighted, gazing upon the marvelous, glorious greatness of the Lord and Master.
ਹਰਿ ਸਿਮਰਿ ਸਿਮਰਿ ਆਨਦ ਕਰਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਪ੍ਰਭਿ ਪੂਰਨ ਪੈਜ ਰਖਾਈ ॥੨॥੧੫॥੪੬॥
हरि सिमरि सिमरि आनद करि नानक प्रभि पूरन पैज रखाई ॥२॥१५॥४६॥
Har simar simar ānaḏ kar Nānak parabẖ pūran paij rakẖāī. ||2||15||46||
Remembering, remembering the Lord in meditation, Nanak is in ecstasy; God, in His perfection, has protected and preserved his honor. ||2||15||46||
This particular translation/reflection, especially the “that’s just how you are” reminds me of a William Stafford poem I recently read. We are all following a thread:
The way it is
There’s a thread you follow. It goes among
things that change. But it doesn’t change.
People wonder about what you are pursuing.
You have to explain about the thread.
But it is hard for others to see.
While you hold it you can’t get lost.
Tragedies happen; people get hurt
or die; and you suffer and get old.
Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.
You don’t ever let go of the thread.
things that change. But it doesn’t change.
People wonder about what you are pursuing.
You have to explain about the thread.
But it is hard for others to see.
While you hold it you can’t get lost.
Tragedies happen; people get hurt
or die; and you suffer and get old.
Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.
You don’t ever let go of the thread.
- William Stafford
And while we are on “following” might as well ponder upon this:
Translation and Lyrics in Hindi
धनासरी महला ५ ॥ अउखी घड़ी न देखण देई अपना बिरदु समाले ॥ हाथ देइ राखै अपने कउ सासि सासि प्रतिपाले ॥१॥
पद्अर्थ: अउखी = दुख देने वाली। देई = देता। बिरदु = मूल कदीमों का (प्यार वाला) स्वभाव। समाले = याद रखता है। देइ = दे के। राखै = रक्षा करता है। कउ = को। सासि सासि = हरेक सांस के साथ।1।
अर्थ: हे भाई! (वह प्रभु अपने सेवक को) कोई दुख देने वाला समय नहीं देता, वह अपना प्यार वाला बिरद स्वभाव सदा याद रखता है। प्रभु अपना हाथ दे के अपने सेवक की रक्षा करता है, (सेवक को उसके) हरेक सांस के साथ पालता रहता है।1।
प्रभ सिउ लागि रहिओ मेरा चीतु ॥ आदि अंति प्रभु सदा सहाई धंनु हमारा मीतु ॥ रहाउ॥
पद्अर्थ: सिउ = साथ। आदि अंति = शुरू से आखिर तक, सदा ही। सहाई = मददगार। धंनु = सराहनीय। रहाउ।
अर्थ: हे भाई! मेरा मन (भी) उस प्रभु से जुड़ा रहता है, जो आरम्भ से आखिर तक सदा ही मददगार बना रहता है। हमारा वह मित्र प्रभु धन्य है (उसकी सदा तारीफ करनी चाहिए)। रहाउ।
मनि बिलास भए साहिब के अचरज देखि बडाई ॥ हरि सिमरि सिमरि आनद करि नानक प्रभि पूरन पैज रखाई ॥२॥१५॥४६॥
पद्अर्थ: मनि = मन में। बिलास = खुशियां। देखि = देख के। सिमरि = स्मरण करके। करि = मान। प्रभि = प्रभु ने। पैज = इज्जत।2।
अर्थ: हे भाई! मालिक प्रभु के हैरान करने वाले करिश्मे देख के, उसका बड़प्पन देख के (सेवक के) मन में (भी) खुशियां बनी रहती हैं। हे नानक! तू भी परमात्मा का नाम स्मरण कर-कर के आत्मिक आनंद ले। (जिस भी मनुष्य ने स्मरण किया) प्रभु ने पूरे तौर पर उसकी इज्जत रख ली।2।15।46।
Another English Translation -
The Lord does not let his servant go through any painful time, he always remembers his servant. That is his loving nature. The Lord protects His servant by lending his own hand. He sustains the servant through every breath.
My mind remains attached to the one who is always helpful from beginning to end. My companion is great!
Seeing the astonishing charisma of the Lord, seeing his greatness, happiness resides in my mind. O Nanak! Be blissful in the remembrance of the Lord who saves his own honor.
My thoughts
Today I am marveling upon the times of Guru Arjan, the guru who sat on a boiling iron plate and sang Tera Kiya Meetha Lagai in raag Asa - whatever you do appears sweet to me he sang. This steadfast optimism in the power of oneness is reflected in another phrase he sings ... this time in raag dhanasri - Sada Sahai. Always helpful. I hear him meditating upon oneness -
Prabhu ...
You are saḏā sahāī ... always helpful
You lend me your own hand,
You nurture every breath of mine
You don't let me see any difficult times;
because that is what you do
that is your inherent
nature.
You are saḏā sahāī ... always helpful
From the very beginning to forever
you sustain me breath by breath
you help me task after task
Through your remembrance
my bliss is unfolded.
My mind is unfurled
in enchanting amazement
as I behold your compassion.
I know that you are saḏā sahāī
that no matter what happens
you will uphold your own honor
you will always protect me
after all that's just how you are
and I ... I am your very own
Singing oneness!
