Shabad by Maninder Singh Sri Nagar Wale

Caste, creed and social status are to no avail in our quest to God realisation.  Only meditation, devotion and worship are the tools that will help us.

ਆਸਾ ॥ SGGS 485 Namdev Asa

ਮਨੁ ਮੇਰੋ ਗਜੁ ਜਿਹਬਾ ਮੇਰੀ ਕਾਤੀ ॥    

Man Maero Gaj Jihabaa Maeree Kaathee ||

My mind is the yardstick, and my tongue is the scissors.

ਮਪਿ ਮਪਿ ਕਾਟਉ ਜਮ ਕੀ ਫਾਸੀ ॥੧॥ 

Map Map Kaatto Jam Kee Faasee ||1||

I measure it out and cut off the noose of death.

ਕਹਾ ਕਰਉ ਜਾਤੀ ਕਹ ਕਰਉ ਪਾਤੀ ॥ 

Kehaa Karo Jaathee Keh Karo Paathee ||

What do I have to do with social status? What do I have to with ancestry?

ਰਾਮ ਕੋ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਉ ਦਿਨ ਰਾਤੀ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ 

Raam Ko Naam Japo Dhin Raathee ||1|| Rehaao ||

I meditate on the Name of the Lord, day and night. 

ਰਾਂਗਨਿ ਰਾਂਗਉ ਸੀਵਨਿ ਸੀਵਉ ॥ 

Raangan Raango Seevan Seevo ||

I dye myself in the color of the Lord, and sew what has to be sewn.

ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨੁ ਘਰੀਅ ਨ ਜੀਵਉ ॥੨॥ 

Raam Naam Bin Ghareea N Jeevo ||2||

Without the Lord’s Name, I cannot live, even for a moment.

ਭਗਤਿ ਕਰਉ ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਗੁਨ ਗਾਵਉ ॥ 

Bhagath Karo Har Kae Gun Gaavo ||

I perform devotional worship, and sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord.

ਆਠ ਪਹਰ ਅਪਨਾ ਖਸਮੁ ਧਿਆਵਉ ॥੩॥ 

Aath Pehar Apanaa Khasam Dhhiaavo ||3|

Twenty-four hours a day, I meditate on my Lord and Master. ||3||

ਸੁਇਨੇ ਕੀ ਸੂਈ ਰੁਪੇ ਕਾ ਧਾਗਾ ॥ 

Sueinae Kee Sooee Rupae Kaa Dhhaagaa ||

My needle is gold, and my thread is silver.

ਨਾਮੇ ਕਾ ਚਿਤੁ ਹਰਿ ਸਉ ਲਾਗਾ ॥੪॥੩॥

Naamae Kaa Chith Har So Laagaa ||4||3|

Naam Dayv’s mind is attached to the Lord.

SUMMARY by Harnaak Singh

In this shabad Bhagat Namdev is using, a yardstick / needle /  dye / sewing, essentially the tools and work done by a tailor as a metaphor to teach us how we should relate to God and cut ourselves loose from reincarnation and attain salvation.  Just like the tailor cuts the cloth with a scissors, we should recite the praises of God to let us loose of the noose of death.  Our caste, creed and social status are to no avail; only meditation will help us achieve this.  We should dye our inner-self with the colour of God’s devotion and worship at all times.  Just like the needle and thread is used to bind the cloth, we should meditate to bind our inner-self to God realisation.

AUDIO EXPLANATION by Sukha Singh