Tu sun harna kaleya ki varhiye rata Raam – Raag Assa – Ang 438

SGGS Angg 438.

Raag Assa (Asa) M.1

This Shantt has 4 padas. This is the first pada (ghar 3). It is addressed to the mann. It is like a black buck deer found in some parts of India. It is also known as the musk deer with musk hidden in its navel. As the wind blows, some musk is blown away. The deer smells the fragrance in the air, and runs after it hoping to find its source, not knowing the source is in its own navel.

The mind is like that too. It chases after external fragrances of maya, oblivious to the fact the most fragrant (Naam) is within it’s own body.

Guru Ji addresses the black buck, deer like mind. The deer is dark tawny grey black in color. To say deer would be enough, but Guru Ji stresses this deer (like mind) is black. Black being the symbolic color for sins. Gurbani also uses black crows and ravens as metaphors for black sinful lekha.

Listen O black deer, why are you attached to the orchard (maya is often described as bikh – poison) of poison.?

“Tu sun harna kaleya ki varhiye rata Raam.”

The fruit of sin is sweet for four days (short while), then it grows hot and bitter.

“Bikh falh mitha din char firr hovay taata Raam.”

Without Naam, that fruit which intoxicated you, has now become bitter and painful.

“Firr hoye taata khara mataa Naam bin partaapey.”

(This fruit of sin) it is temporary, like the waves on the sea, and like flashes of lightning. (The attractions of the world are like lightning. Very flashy and attractive, but if you touch these lightning like pleasures you get burnt. (Ang 319 – “damani chamatkaar tiyo vartara jagh kheh). Contrast this with the inner flashes of lightning you see in the night sky as you do simran and look within yourself. You will see flashes of lightning before the Jote fully manifests. (Ang 1041 – “niss daman jio chamak chandaiyen dekhay; ahiniss Jote nirantar pekhay.”)

“Oye jev sayer de lahree bijjal jivay chamkey.”

There is no one besides the Lord who can Protect you, but you have forgotten Him.

“Har bajh rakha koyee nahi soye tujhe bisareaya.”

Nanak speaks the Truth, O black deer (sinful mind), kill off your sinful thoughts.

“Sach kahe Nanak chet re mann mareh harna kaaliya.”

Shabad Viakhya by Bhai Manjeet Singh Ji

Shabad Kirtan available on YouTube