ਸਲੋਕੁ ॥ ਪੂਰਾ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਆਰਾਧਿਆ ਪੂਰਾ ਜਾ ਕਾ ਨਾਉ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਪੂਰਾ ਪਾਇਆ ਪੂਰੇ ਕੇ ਗੁਨ ਗਾਉ ॥੧॥ Salok. Pūrā parabẖ ārāḏẖi▫ā pūrā jā kā nā▫o. Nānak pūrā pā▫i▫ā pūre ke gun gā▫o. ||1|| (Slok) prologue. One who (aaraadhia) remembers and invokes (poora prabh = omnipotent Master) the Almighty, (ja ka) whose (naau, naam) virtues [...]

Note: One of the themes that occur in Gurbani frequently is enlightenment of the mind or inner-self. The Creator is present but one cannot find it within because of the veil of ignorance which has been called “koorai paal” or wall of false-hoods in Pauri 1 of Japji. Elsewhere this has been explained as ਧਨ [...]

Note: This Astpadi and its preceding Slok emphasize the Omnipresent and Omnipotent virtues of the Creator who is the protector of all.ਸਲੋਕੁ ॥ ਜੀਅ ਜੰਤ ਕੇ ਠਾਕੁਰਾ ਆਪੇ ਵਰਤਣਹਾਰ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਏਕੋ ਪਸਰਿਆ ਦੂਜਾ ਕਹ ਦ੍ਰਿਸਟਾਰ ॥੧॥ Salok. Jī▫a janṯ ke ṯẖākurā āpe varṯanhār. Nānak eko pasri▫ā ḏūjā kah ḏaristār. ||1|| (Slok) prologue. O (thaakura) [...]

ਸਲੋਕੁ ॥ ਸਰਗੁਨ ਨਿਰਗੁਨ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਸੁੰਨ ਸਮਾਧੀ ਆਪਿ ॥ ਆਪਨ ਕੀਆ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਫਿਰਿ ਜਾਪਿ ॥੧॥ Salok. Sargun nirgun nirankār sunn samāḏẖī āp. Āpan kī▫ā nānkā āpe hī fir jāp. ||1|| (Slok) prologue. The Creator is (nirankaar) without any physical form. In that form IT is (nirgun) without attributes i.e. displays no material nature, [...]

Note: This twentieth Astpadi of Sukhmani Sahib together with its preceding Slok describes the state of satisfaction of a person. S/he having searched for means of happiness realizes that real and lasting happiness lies in being being able to live free of wrong-doings, and thus have no apprehensions. Freedom from vices removes impediments to union [...]

ਸਲੋਕੁ ॥ ਸਾਥਿ ਨ ਚਾਲੈ ਬਿਨੁ ਭਜਨ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਸਗਲੀ ਛਾਰੁ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਮਾਵਨਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਇਹੁ ਧਨੁ ਸਾਰੁ ॥੧॥ Salok. Sāth na cẖālai bin bẖajan bikẖi▫ā saglī cẖẖār. Har har nām kamāvanā Nānak ih ḏẖan sār. ||1|| (Slok) prologue. Nothing (bin) except – the fruits of – (bhajan) remembering and living by Divine virtues [...]

Note: This eighteenth Astpadi of Sukhmani Sahib and its preceding Slok are on the subject of ‘Guru’. The Slok defines the Guru while the Astpadi describes the virtues of the guru and the benefits of following the guru’s teachings. The guru enlightens the mind to know about the Creator; the understanding about the Almighty is [...]

Note: This seventeenth Astpadi of Sukhmani Sahib is about the Creator and the seekers/devotees. It emphasizes that it is with sincerity of purpose that the seeker can know the Master, the Truth. The final stanza encourages us to follow the true seeker. ਸਲੋਕੁ ॥ ਆਦਿ ਸਚੁ ਜੁਗਾਦਿ ਸਚੁ ॥ ਹੈ ਭਿ ਸਚੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਹੋਸੀ ਭਿ [...]

Note: This sixteenth Astpadi of Sukhmani Sahib recounts some of the multifaceted Divine virtues and how they fascinate those who reflect on Divine nature. The fifth stanza which is on the subject of Naam, says how the whole creation exists supported by Naam and indicates that Naam is synonymous with the laws of nature or [...]

ਸਲੋਕੁ ॥ ਸਰਬ ਕਲਾ ਭਰਪੂਰ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਜਾਨਨਹਾਰ ॥ ਜਾ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਉਧਰੀਐ ਨਾਨਕ ਤਿਸੁ ਬਲਿਹਾਰ ॥੧॥ Salok. Sarab kalā bẖarpūr parabẖ birthā jānanhār. Jā kai simran uḏẖrī▫ai Nānak ṯis balihār. ||1|| (Slok) prologue. (Prabh) the Almighty (jaananhaar) knows (birtha = pain, problems) the state of all creatures and also (bharpur = full of) has [...]

Note 1: This thirteenth Astpadi is about people who are not at ease with those leading spiritual lives; they find faults with and slander them. The Slok and Astpadi bring out that with this they pollute their own minds and suffer. Note 2: As the name indicates, each Astpadi has eight stanzas. In this Astpadi [...]

Note: The twelfth Astpadi of Sukhmani Sahib deals with various causes for ego and pride. However these bring restlessness to the mind. Solace comes only through humility.ਸਲੋਕੁ ॥ ਸੁਖੀ ਬਸੈ ਮਸਕੀਨੀਆ ਆਪੁ ਨਿਵਾਰਿ ਤਲੇ ॥ ਬਡੇ ਬਡੇ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੀਆ ਨਾਨਕ ਗਰਬਿ ਗਲੇ ॥੧॥ Salok. Sukẖī basai maskīnī▫ā āp nivār ṯale. Bade bade ahaʼnkārī▫ā Nānak garab gale. [...]

Note: This eleventh Astpadi of Sukhmani Sahib states that every thing happens as the Creator desires; in fact IT is IT-self the doer and the creatures are tools in the hands of the Master.ਸਲੋਕੁ ॥ ਕਰਣ ਕਾਰਣ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਏਕੁ ਹੈ ਦੂਸਰ ਨਾਹੀ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਤਿਸੁ ਬਲਿਹਾਰਣੈ ਜਲਿ ਥਲਿ ਮਹੀਅਲਿ ਸੋਇ ॥੧॥ Salok. Karaṇ kāraṇ [...]

Note: This tenth Astpadi is about the diversity in creation which has numerous different entities and types of creatures. The latter have different pursuits in life. Every thing and every one is subject to Divine commands/laws of nature. Throughout the Astpadi the expression ਕਈ ਕੋਟਿ (kaee kot) meaning many crore – a crore is ten [...]

Note: This ninth Astpadi of Sukhmani Sahib takes examples of people who are considered fit for veneration and in each case mentions what qualities they should have. This will be seen in each stanza. Generally speaking the Slok (prologue) before every Astpadi in Sukhmani Sahib gives the theme of the Astpadi. However in this case [...]

ਸਲੋਕੁ ॥ ਮਨਿ ਸਾਚਾ ਮੁਖਿ ਸਾਚਾ ਸੋਇ ॥ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਪੇਖੈ ਏਕਸੁ ਬਿਨੁ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਇਹ ਲਛਣ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਹੋਇ ॥੧॥ Salok. Man sācẖā mukẖ sācẖā so▫e. Avar na pekẖai ekas bin ko▫e. Nānak ih lacẖẖaṇ barahm gi▫ānī ho▫e. ||1|| (Slok) prorogue. S/he has (saacha) the Eternal (mani) in mind, and (mukhi saacha = [...]