LOVE FOR THE LORD

Guru Arjun Dev

Bilawal M.5, P.838, Steps 6-10

Guru Granth Saheb

“Prabhu tujh bina nahin hor”

O Lord, there is none other than Thou,

My love like that of chakor* for the moon

Or fish’s love for water,

The bumblebee and the lotus ever together,

Like the chakavi* longing for the sun,

For the Lord’s feet, Nanak’s compulsion.

For the young lass, her groom is her life,

Or the greedy keeping his purse closed tight.

Like milk and water mixing with such ease

Or, food valued by a hungry person to eat.

Like a mother’s love for her child,

Nanak remembers the Lord all the time. (7)

Like a moth falling on the flame, in love for the same.

Thief stealing others’ things without shame.

The elephant trapped being mad with lust.

A pleasure seeking person , suffer he must.

A gambler never free from his obsession.

Nanak remembers the Lord daily with passion.

The typical sound keeps the deer spell bound.

The chatrak*s longing for rain is profound.

The devotee, with a saint, is full of zest.

Hearing the praise of God, he feels blessed.

His Name ever chanted by the tongue.

Nanak seeking a glimpse of His as a boon. (9)

Sings His virtues, listens to His songs,

Writes the same for others to read.

Such a one earns all His boons

Also salvages his whole group.

He crosses the world’s ocean

With the Lord’s feet as ship to ferry him on.

With the holy extolling the Lord .

The Lord preserves their honour.

Nanak seeks refuge at the door of the Lord. (10)

* These are legendary birds known for their unwavering love for the moon, the sun and the rain respectively. They are symbols of constant love.

———-Translated by Ashok Gupta.