Salok Mahalla Novan – Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, the Ninth Naanak

ਦੋਹਰਾ ॥

ਬਲੁ ਛੁਟਕਿਓ ਬੰਧਨ ਪਰੇ ਕਛੂ ਨ ਹੋਤ ਉਪਾਇ ॥

ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਅਬ ਓਟ ਹਰਿ ਗਜ ਜਿਉ ਹੋਹੁ ਸਹਾਇ ॥੫੩॥

| Dohraa |

Bal Cchutkeo Bandhan Pare Kaachu Naa Hot Upaae |

Kaho Naanak Ab Aut Har Gaj Jeo Hoh Sahaae | 53 |

All the powers within are decreasing; binds you a deathly noose,

And when even a single ray of hope you are starting to lose.

Says Naanak, then only help is God’s pious and sacred shrine,

It will rescue you as The Supreme saved an elephant with his grace divine.

Commentary:

Guru Ji in this verse explains that when our will power and energy is decreasing, the noose of death or ropes of attachments will bind us. We feel hopeless since nothing goes as per our expectation and our resolve is weakening. And we will feel nothing can save us. Guru Ji says God’s grace can save us from every negativity and gives us hope to rise above our attachments. And with the grace of spiritual wisdom of the Divine even fear of death evaporates. Here, Guru Ji is using a story told in fables for children*, about an elephant, who entered in the water to drink some water, but a crocodile gnawed at his legs and dragged him in the river, but the elephant prayed so intently that God appeared and saved him. So, Guru Ji’s point is if God can rescue an elephant, the all-pervading one can also protect and show us a right way to follow. That elephant is nothing but us driven by our endless, hopping** desires, and crocodile is the trap that drains out our energy. Then, only God, the ever-pervading will protect us and guide us.  

P.S.

*It is actually part of Vishnu Puraan, but I have read it in my school book in third grade with much simplified version.

**One moment this, the other moment another thing. And then, we see that life is all gone by. 

Jai Shri Hari and Satnaam Waheguru