Prabh kirpa te mann vass aaya – Raag Assa – Ang 385

SGGS Angg 385.

Raag Assa M.5

The mind has been the despair of all persons who set out on the Spiritual Path. It is very mercurial and affects your moods, your concentration, your reflections, and is not easily subdued without the Grace of the Satguru.

Bhagat Kabir Ji says “mamma, mañn seyo kaaj hai mann sadhe sidh hoye.” (the letter M. The true dealing is with the mind (Kabir instructs the mind using the mind itself, I have not seen/met anything like the mind).

If one lets the mind do it’s own frolics, it leads you to ruin. But if you manage to subdue it, and gear it towards a higher consciousness, it can give you enlightenment/secrets of the entire Universe.
“eh mann leh jo unmann rahe; tao teen loke ki baate kahe.” (Bavan Akhri Bhagat Kabir Ji – Ang 340).

In this Shabad, there are two rahaos. In the 1st rahao, the Sikh is looking for a place where Praises of the Lord are always sung as he knows in such a place, he can progress to restrain his mind. The 2nd rahao gives the answer as Sadhsanggat and this restraint of the mind comes with the God’s Grace.

The Shabad starts with the Sikh saying he has found flaws in many places. When I go to places of pilgrimage, I see egos strutting about; when I ask the scholars, I find they are tainted with greed (to enrich themselves).

“Tirath jao tao hao hao karte; pandit pucho to maya ratte.”

O Friend, do tell me where is that blessed place where Praises of the Lord are sung forever?.

“So asthaan batavho meeta; ja ke Har Har Kirtan neeta.” (rahao).

The Friend (the Guru), explains. The Shastras (6) and the Vedas (4), speak of sin and good deeds (which are subjective, and within the jurisdiction of Dharam Raaj ” changiaayan buriaayan vache Dharam hadoor”); (the result of being caught in sin and good deeds) mortals get sent to hell and heaven and get reincarnated again and again. (One must start with good deeds and rise to a higher Truth i.e. to act according to His Hukam).

“Shastar Bedh paap punn vichaar; narak surag firh firh avtaar.”

In the householder’s life, there is anxiety while the renunciate feeds his ego; (in both cases), performing rituals, the soul gets entrapped in bondage.

“Ghirastt meh chintt udass ahangkaar; karam karatt jee ko jhanjaar.”

The Friend (Guru) states further. It is only with His Grace that the mind can come under control; Nanak says, the gurmukh swims across the ocean of maya.

“Prabh kirpa te mann vass aaya; Nanak gurmukh taree tinn maya.”

Sing the Praises of the Lord in Sadhsanggat; this Plane (of the mind, where His Praises are sung always) is found only by the Grace of the Guru.

“Sadhsang Har Kirtan gaaiyeh; eh asthaan Guru (Shabad) te paaiyeh.” (rahao dujja).

Shabad Viakhya by Manjeet Singh 

Shabad Kirtan available on YouTube