Chaubole‘
M.5. (11 padas).
Guru Arjun Dev Ji concludes the Banis at Angg 1364. After that we find Sloks by Bhagat Kabir Ji, Sheikh Fareed Ji, Sawaiyee, Shaloks Vaaran tey Vadheek, Slok M.9 and Raagmala.
This Bani (Chaubole’) is addressed to four persons. Saman, Musan, Jamal and Patang. There is a word play on the names. The gist of Chaubole’ is various aspects of Divine Love.
Firstly, it can never be purchased by money. Thus “Saman jo iss prem ki damm kio hotee satt….”
“ਸੰਮਨ ਜਉ ਇਸ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਕੀ ਦਮ ਕ੍ਯ੍ਯਿਹੁ ਹੋਤੀ ਸਾਟ ॥
O Samman, if one could buy this love with money,
ਰਾਵਨ ਹੁਤੇ ਸੁ ਰੰਕ ਨਹਿ ਜਿਨਿ ਸਿਰ ਦੀਨੇ ਕਾਟਿ ॥੧॥
then consider Raawan the king. He was not poor, but he could not buy it, even though he offered his head to Shiva. ||1||”
Secondly, there should be no other loves besides Love for God and this Love is not external or showy, rather it is enshrined in the consciousness. Thus “… beech na rayee hote..” and “bujjan surat sanjogh“
“ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਤਨੁ ਖਚਿ ਰਹਿਆ ਬੀਚੁ ਨ ਰਾਈ ਹੋਤ ॥
My body is drenched in love and affection for the Lord; there is no distance at all between us.
ਚਰਨ ਕਮਲ ਮਨੁ ਬੇਧਿਓ ਬੂਝਨੁ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਸੰਜੋਗ ॥੨॥
My mind is pierced through by the Lotus Feet of the Lord. He is realized when one’s intuitive consciousness is attuned to Him. ||2||”
Thirdly, this Divine Love should be of such fervor that one would cross oceans, mountains, forests, and the entire earth to be with the Beloved.
“… prem piram ke ganno ek kar karam.”
“ਸਾਗਰ ਮੇਰ ਉਦਿਆਨ ਬਨ ਨਵ ਖੰਡ ਬਸੁਧਾ ਭਰਮ ॥
I would cross the oceans, mountains, wilderness, forests and the nine regions of the earth,
ਮੂਸਨ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਪਿਰੰਮ ਕੈ ਗਨਉ ਏਕ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਮ ॥੩॥
in a single step, O Musan, for the Love of my Beloved. ||3||”
Fourthly, this Love is not gross like worldly love. It is at a lofty plane “ambar shaaye.” And you clasp tight to this Divine Love like a bumble bee caught in the lotus flower. ” bhavar rahe laptaaiye.”
“ਮੂਸਨ ਮਸਕਰ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਕੀ ਰਹੀ ਜੁ ਅੰਬਰੁ ਛਾਇ ॥
O Musan, the Light of the Lord’s Love has spread across the sky;
ਬੀਧੇ ਬਾਂਧੇ ਕਮਲ ਮਹਿ ਭਵਰ ਰਹੇ ਲਪਟਾਇ ॥੪॥
I cling to my Lord, like the bumble bee caught in the lotus flower. ||4||”
Fifthly, in exchange for a mere moment of the Lord’s Love one should be willing to sacrifice all disciplines, pleasures, honor, pride.
“…vaar vaar deyo sarab.”
“ਜਪ ਤਪ ਸੰਜਮ ਹਰਖ ਸੁਖ ਮਾਨ ਮਹਤ ਅਰੁ ਗਰਬ ॥
Chanting and intense meditation, austere self-discipline, pleasure and peace, honor, greatness and pride –
ਮੂਸਨ ਨਿਮਖਕ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਪਰਿ ਵਾਰਿ ਵਾਰਿ ਦੇਂਉ ਸਰਬ ॥੫॥
O Musan, I would dedicate and sacrifice all these for a moment of my Lord’s Love. ||5||”
Sixthly, Guru Ji looks at the world. It is engrossed in perishable pursuits and does not understand the mystery of the Lord. “… urjiyo mith biohaar“
“ਮੂਸਨ ਮਰਮੁ ਨ ਜਾਨਈ ਮਰਤ ਹਿਰਤ ਸੰਸਾਰ ॥
O Musan, the world does not understand the Mystery of the Lord; it is dying and being plundered.
ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਪਿਰੰਮ ਨ ਬੇਧਿਓ ਉਰਝਿਓ ਮਿਥ ਬਿਉਹਾਰ ॥੬॥
It is not pierced through by the Love of the Beloved Lord; it is entangled in false pursuits. ||6||”
Then in the seventh pada, Guru Ji says we tend to grieve when we suffer some worldly loss.
But it is a true grief when one gets separated from the Lord.
“ਘਬੁ ਦਬੁ ਜਬ ਜਾਰੀਐ ਬਿਛੁਰਤ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਬਿਹਾਲ ॥
When someone’s home and property are burnt, because of his attachment to them, he suffers in the sorrow of separation.
ਮੂਸਨ ਤਬ ਹੀ ਮੂਸੀਐ ਬਿਸਰਤ ਪੁਰਖ ਦਇਆਲ ॥੭॥
O Musan, when mortals forget the Merciful Lord God, then they are truly plundered. ||7||”
In the eight pada, Guru Ji says those who enjoy the taste of the Lord’s Love and remember Naam do not ever wander away from Him. “….aan na kathu jaaye.“
“ਜਾ ਕੋ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਸੁਆਉ ਹੈ ਚਰਨ ਚਿਤਵ ਮਨ ਮਾਹਿ ॥
Whoever enjoys the taste of the Lord’s Love, remembers His Lotus Feet in his mind.
ਨਾਨਕ ਬਿਰਹੀ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਕੇ ਆਨ ਨ ਕਤਹੂ ਜਾਹਿ ॥੮॥
O Nanak, the lovers of God do not go anywhere else. ||8||”
The ninth pada says high worldly acclaim makes the mind fickle; the lowly (humble) lotus grows beautiful although it draws sustenance from the mud. Divine Love thrives in humility. “neech keech nimrat ghanee karni kamal jamaal.“
“ਲਖ ਘਾਟੀਂ ਊਂਚੌ ਘਨੋ ਚੰਚਲ ਚੀਤ ਬਿਹਾਲ ॥
Climbing thousands of steep hillsides, the fickle mind becomes miserable.
ਨੀਚ ਕੀਚ ਨਿਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਘਨੀ ਕਰਨੀ ਕਮਲ ਜਮਾਲ ॥੯॥
Look at the humble, lowly mud, O Jamaal: the beautiful lotus grows in it. ||9||”
In the tenth pada Guru Ji says smash your necklace of pride to bits if you wish to get a Vision of the Beauteous Lord. “…khand khand kar haar.“
“ਕਮਲ ਨੈਨ ਅੰਜਨ ਸਿਆਮ ਚੰਦ੍ਰ ਬਦਨ ਚਿਤ ਚਾਰ ॥
My Lord has lotus-eyes; His Face is so beautifully adorned.
ਮੂਸਨ ਮਗਨ ਮਰੰਮ ਸਿਉ ਖੰਡ ਖੰਡ ਕਰਿ ਹਾਰ ॥੧੦॥
O Musan, I am intoxicated with His Mystery. I break the necklace of pride into bits. ||10||”
Finally in the 11th pada, Guru Ji says Love for the Divine should reach such heights of intoxication that you are no longer conscious of your body “sudh na simrat angg.“
“ਮਗਨੁ ਭਇਓ ਪ੍ਰਿਅ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਸਿਉ ਸੂਧ ਨ ਸਿਮਰਤ ਅੰਗ ॥
I am intoxicated with the Love of my Husband Lord; remembering Him in meditation, I am not conscious of my own body.
ਪ੍ਰਗਟਿ ਭਇਓ ਸਭ ਲੋਅ ਮਹਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਅਧਮ ਪਤੰਗ ॥੧੧॥
He is revealed in all His Glory, all throughout the world. Nanak is a lowly moth at His Flame. ||11||”
Rather, your Love for the Lord should be like the moth, mesmerised by the flame willing to be consumed by the very Flame it adores, just so that it can be near its Beloved.
Gurfateh
Manjeet SIngh
September 16, 2023.
