Sikh Sacred Writings: Guru Nanak SelectionsSikhismScripture SelectionGurmukhi / Punjabi / Sant Bhasha and related languages in the Sikh scriptural traditionShareTwelve Months 1Max Arthur Macauliffe 1909, vol. 1 - EnglishMoreVersion - 1 availableMax Arthur Macauliffe 1909, vol. 1LanguageEnglishEspañol‹Twelve Months 1Japji 2Asa Ki War 3Rahiras 4Sohila 5Guru Nanak Hymns 6Additional Sloks 7›Twelve MonthsTwelve Months 1ListenPlay this chapter in spoken English.Save chapterListen to chapter1Hear Thou, O God — according to men's acts in previous states of existence The weal or woe which Thou givest to each individual is just. O God, the Creation is Thine ; what is my condition ? I cannot live for a moment without Thee. The Formless One continueth His creation; to obey God is the best of human acts. Nanak, the woman is waiting for Thee ; hear Thou, O Omnipresent Spirit. The chatrik l crieth ' Prio ! ' and the kokil 2 also singeth its lays. The woman who is embraced by her Spouse enjoyeth every happiness. She whom God in His pleasure hath embraced is a happy woman. God established the nine mansions of the body ; the tenth which is superior to them all, is His home. 2Everything is Thine ; Thou art my Beloved ; I delight in Thee night and day. Nanak, the chatrik crieth ' Prio, prio ! ' and sweet is the kokil's song. O God, filled with delight, my Beloved, hear Thou me. Thou art contained in my soul and body ; I forget Thee not for an instant. Why should I forget Thee for an instant ? I am a sacrifice unto Thee ; I live by singing Thy praises. I have sought the shelter of His feet, and dwell there ; and my body hath become pure. Nanak, he on whom God looketh with favour obtaineth peace in his home, and his mind is consoled with the Guru's teaching. It raineth a torrent of nectar, whose drops are delightful, 3When the friend, the kindly Guru meeteth one, and love is established with God. God entereth the temple of the body when it pleaseth Him, and the woman riseth up and repeateth His praises. In every house the spouse enjoy eth his happy wife ; why hath my Spouse forgotten me ? Lowering clouds have overspread the heavens ; it raineth pleasantly and love comforteth my soul and body. Saith Nanak, Thou who rainest ambrosial speech, graciously come to mine abode. 4pleasing. In the Bar the forests are flowering ; may my Beloved return to me ! When her beloved returneth not home, how can a wife obtain comfort ? Her body wasteth away with the pain of separation. The kokil singeth sweetly on the mango-tree ; why should I endure pain of body ? The bumble-bee is flitting on the flowering branches; how shall I survive ? I am dying, O mother. Nanak, in Chet comfort is easily obtained if woman obtain God in her home as her Spouse. 5blossom ; The woman is waiting for God at her gate, saying, ' Come, take compassion on me. ' Come home, my Beloved, make me cross the difficult ocean ; without Thee I am worthless. ' Who can appraise Thy worth, my Darling ? If it please Thee, I shall look at Thee and show Thee to others. ' I know that Thou art not distant ; I acknowledge that Thou art in my heart, and I recognize Thy mansion.' Nanak, in Baisakh God is found by him who meditateth on the Word and whose mind is thus happy. 6be forgotten ? The land is burning like a furnace ; woman is making supplication — Woman is making supplication and praising His qualities : ' I shall be pleasing to the Lord if I utter His praises. ' The Bairagi l liveth in the true palace ; if He allow me to go to Him, I will go. ' Without God I am without honour and strength ; how shall I obtain comfort in His palace ? ' Nanak, in Jeth if a woman know God and embrace virtue, she shall by His favour become like unto Him. 7sky ; The earth is suffering ; it is parched and heated like fire ; The heat is drying up moisture ; men die in anguish, yet the sun wearieth not of his toil. When his chariot turneth towards the south, woman looketh for the shade ; the grasshoppers chirp in the forest. She who hath departed with her sins shall suffer in the next world, while she who remembereth the True One shall obtain comfort. Nanak, with God, to whom I gave my heart, are death and life. 8and rain. ' I love my Spouse with my soul and body, but the Dear One hath gone abroad ; ' My Spouse cometh not home ; I am dying with the pang of separation ; the flash of the lightning terrifieth me. ' I am alone on my couch and greatly grieved ; O mother, my pain is as bad as death. 'Say how can sleep and appetite come to me without God ? Raiment affordeth my body no comfort.' Nanak, she is the happy wife who is embraced by her beloved Spouse. 9is led astray by doubt, but afterwards repent eth. The lakes and the meadows are filled with water ; it is the rainy season — the time for pleasure. It raineth during the dark night ; how can the young wife have comfort without her mate ? Frogs and peacocks are croaking. 'Prio, prio' crieth the chatrik ; serpents go abroad biting ; Mosquitoes sting ; lakes are filled to the brim ; how shall man obtain comfort without God ? Nanak, I will ask my Guru and go where the Lord is. 10for Thee. Man can meet the Lord when He granteth him an inter view ; but love of mammon ruineth him. When woman is spoiled by falsehood, her husband putteth her away ; then bloom the kukah and the kahi reeds. The heat is over, the cool season is approaching ; on seeing this my mind is uneasy. On all sides the trees are green and verdant ; that which slowly ripeneth is sweet. Nanak, the true Guru hath become my mediator ; may I meet my Beloved in Assu ! 11The lamp which is lit by divine knowledge easily burneth. Love is the oil of the lamp ; the woman and her Beloved have met ; 3 she is overwhelmed with delight. She whom sin killeth shall not be acceptable at her death, while she whom virtue killeth shall really die. God hath given His name and service to those who dwell in their own homes ; ever their prayer is — ' Meet us, O God, and open the doors of our understand ing ; otherwise one hour shall be as six months.' 12blended with God's person by singing His praises. The virtuous woman through her virtues enjoyeth her spouse ; my Spouse is ever pleasing to me. While the whole world is movable, He is immovable, clever, wise, the Arranger. They who possess the merits of divine knowledge and meditation shall be blended with God. They are pleasing to God, and God is pleasing to them. The songs, music, and poems of bards have I heard ; but it is at the name of God sorrow fleeth away. Nanak, that wife is dear to her spouse who in his pre sence doeth him hearty service. 13grass drieth up. Why comest Thou not ? Thou dwellest in my body, in my soul, and in my mouth. The Life of the world pervadeth my soul and body ; I enjoy pleasure through the instruction of the Guru. The light of God is contained in the hearts of animals born from eggs, wombs, perspiration, and earth. Lord of compassion, beneficent One, grant me a sight of Thee, and give me understanding that I may obtain salva tion. Nanak, the Enjoyer enjoyeth her with pleasure who beareth Him love and affection. 14place of Pilgrimage 2 within her. I have easily met the Friend, and, by adopting His attributes, have become blended with Him. Hear me, O beloved and beautiful God, I made Thine attributes mine ornaments ; if it please Thee, I shall bathe in Thy tank. The Ganges, the Jamna, the meeting of the three rivers at Tribeni Priyag, the seven oceans, Alms, charity, and worship are all contained in God's name. I recognize Him as the One God in every age. Nanak, in the month of Magh, if I repeat God's name with great delight, I bathe at the sixty-eight places of pilgrimage. 15pleasing are happy. Night and day are pleasant to him who effaceth himself. When it pleased God, I effaced worldly love from my heart ; O Lord, mercifully come to my home. Though I deck myself in various garbs, yet without the Beloved I shall not obtain a place in heaven. I decorated myself with necklaces, strings of pearls, per fumes, silks, and satins, when my Beloved desired me. Nanak, my Guru hath blended me with God, and I have obtained Him as my Spouse. 16week days, The gharis, the mahurats, the moments, are all pleasant when the True One cometh and meeteth me of His own accord. When the dear Lord is obtained, everything is arranged ; the Creator knoweth everything. I am dear to Him who decorated me ; I have met Him and am happy. The couch of my home is beautiful when my Beloved enjoyeth me ; the holy have good fortune written on their foreheads. Nanak, the Beloved enjoyeth me day and night ; having obtained God as my Spouse, I am a permanent bride. Next chapterJapji 2›Similar passagesBy tradition and source labelFind similarCompare selectedCompare with similarAsk Deep ThoughtSelect passages to search for parallels.Tap any verse to select it, then compare selected passages or ask Deep Thought. Public-domain 1909 English translation