2nd Pauree: Hukamee Hovan[i] Aakaar...
For previous sections, please see here
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TN = Translator's Note
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In this section, the Greatness of Hukam is explained in order to develop conviction within the ਮੁਮੋਖੀ ~ mumokhee (mumukshoo - the spiritual seeker desiring liberation):
ਹੁਕਮੀ ਹੋਵਨਿ ਆਕਾਰ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਨ ਕਹਿਆ ਜਾਈ ॥
Hukamee Hovan[i] Aakaar Hukam[u] n Kahiaa Jaaee
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Padh Arth (word-by-word):
ਹੁਕਮੀ (Hukamee) = The Hukam-giving Parameshwar-Vaheguru, Within the Hukam of the Almighty Akaal Purakh
ਹੋਵਨਿ (Hovan[i]) = Comes to be, Happens, Made
ਆਕਾਰ (Aakaar) = Form, Creation, Shape, Manifestation
ਨ ਕਹਿਆ ਜਾਈ (na Kahiaa Jaaee) = cannot be explained, indescribable
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The One who commands is referred to as ਹੁਕਮੀ (Hukamee)... in this way, from the command of Vaheguru, the creation/form (TN: 5 elemental/sensible universe) is made. ਆਕਾਰ (Aakaar [Manifestation/Form]) is inclusive of sentient creatures and non-moving things/places. Vaheguru’s Manifestation/Form expanded & is inclusive of all the countless galaxies, universes, multiverses... whatever existence exists... it is all ਆਕਾਰ (Aakaar) manifested by Vaheguru.
Question
If someone asks: If the One who commands (through which Hukam occurs) does not have any end then how can we calculate or start to understand/estimate Hukam?
Answer
The Hukam/Command cannot come to be explained/is indescribable as through Hukam all of the sentient and non-moving things have been created... meaning: The Hukam/Command has developed the endless space and galaxies (TN: we cannot understand the observable universe, so how can we begin to understand the command that causes it to be?)
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ਹੁਕਮੀ ਹੋਵਨਿ ਜੀਅ ਹੁਕਮਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਵਡਿਆਈ ॥
Hukamee Hovan[i] Jeea Hukam[i] Milai Vadiaaee
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Padh Arth (word-by-word):
ਹੁਕਮੀ (Hukamee) = The Hukam-giving Parameshwar-Vaheguru, Within the Hukam of the Almighty Akaal Purakh
ਹੋਵਨਿ (Hovan[i]) = Comes to be, Happens, Made, Take Birth
ਜੀਅ (Jeea) = Jeev Ja[n]th = All species, all beings
ਹੁਕਮਿ (Hukam[i]) = Through Hukam, via the Command
ਮਿਲੈ (Milai) = Mildhee Hai = Attained
ਵਡਿਆਈ (Vadiaaee) = Grace, Honour, Glory, Respect
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According to the Commander, the Command of the 5 elemental bodies as separate beings was created. ਜੀਅ (Jeea) also means water. Through Hukam, water came to be. Jeev also refers to insects and bugs in the common language. Through the Commander’s Command, the microscopic bacteria were created who are truly powerless. The separate beings gained glory [by attaining strenght] through the Commander’s Power. They gained cleverness through the power of consciousness through the Hukam.
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ਹੁਕਮੀ ਉਤਮੁ ਨੀਚੁ ਹੁਕਮਿ ਲਿਖਿ ਦੁਖ ਸੁਖ ਪਾਈਅਹਿ ॥
Hukamee Utham[u] neech[u] Hukam[i] Likh[i] Dhukh Sukh Paaeeah[i]
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Padh Arth (Word-by-Word):
ਹੁਕਮੀ (Hukamee) = The Hukam-giving Parameshwar-Vaheguru, Within the Hukam of the Almighty Akaal Purakh
ਉਤਮੁ (Utham[u]) = Highly, Good, Great
ਨੀਚੁ (neech[u]) = Lowly, bad, insignificant
ਹੁਕਮਿ (Hukam[i]) = Through the Hukam/Command
ਲਿਖਿ (Likh[i]) = is/are written
ਪਾਈਅਹਿ (Paaeeah[i]) = have to go through, endure, enjoy, etc.
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The Commanding Parameshwar-Vaheguru – the person who is of high status can become humbled into a low position. Within Vaheguru’s Hukam, the person who is of low position gains high position.
For example, Vaalmeekee Ji was of low caste but became highly respected as a Saint. Whether high or low, it is all attained due to Vaheguru’s Command. No one can attain this on their own accord. Due to Vaheguru’s Command, the separated being has to go through pleasures and pains. [as written in their fate]. They are written in the office of Chithr-Gupth [personification of fate/destiny]... meaning they are written on our foreheads [TN: In South Asia, someone's fate is said to have been written on someone's forehead].
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ਇਕਨਾ ਹੁਕਮੀ ਬਖਸੀਸ ਇਕਿ ਹੁਕਮੀ ਸਦਾ ਭਵਾਈਅਹਿ ॥
Iknaa Hukamee Bakhsees Ik[i] Hukamee Sadhaa Bhavaaeeah[i]
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Padh Arth (Word-by-Word):
ਇਕਨਾ (Iknaa) = Some people
ਹੁਕਮੀ (Hukamee) = The Hukam-giving Parameshwar-Vaheguru, Within the Hukam of the Almighty Akaal Purakh
ਬਖਸੀਸ (Bakhsees) = Blessings
ਸਦਾ (Sadhaa) = Constantly, Forever, Continuously
ਭਵਾਈਅਹਿ (Bhavaaeeah[i]) = Go through cycles [ie reincarnation: life & death]
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Blessings are bestowed through the One’s Command. Through the One’s Command, some will continue to wander – whether it be between cycles of life and death, hell and heaven, etc. – people will come into this world and exit as well.
Question
ਹੁਕਮਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਵਡਿਆਈ (Hukam[i] Milai Vadiaaee) Doesn’t this refer to the blessings? What is the purpose of writing this again? ਪੁਨਰੁਕਤਿ (Punarukath[i]).
Answer
Becoming great or grand in this world due to blessings of strength/power is different from what saints/holy people refer to as blessings. They do not see these as blessings.
Rather, they see being blessed as the good transformation of those who previously earned bad karma: beasts, ghosts, demons and kings. The saints see remembrance of Sathinaam, receiving spiritual knowledge as a result of this, becoming one with their True Form, from which Parameshwar-Vaheguru becomes pleased with and then blesses them with the Blessing of Naam... this is the True Blessing. Anything else can be considered as a worldly greatness but not a blessing.
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Alankaars (poetic/literary devices)
In the 3rd of 4 lines above, an ਆਬ੍ਰਿਤਦੀਪਕ (Aabrith-dheepak Alankaar) is featured.
Quality: Where a word is referred to multiple times with no difference in connotation and denotation then that is referred to as an Aabrith-dheepak Alankaar. In this Pauree, Hukam is used multiple times and the meaning does not change. This type of alankaar is also referred to as an ਉਭਯਾਬ੍ਰਿਤ (Ubhyaabrith-dheepak Alankaar).
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There is also the use of a ਪਰਕਰ (Parkar Alankaar).
Quality: where there is a special reference & that too with a specific mental reflection, is referred to as a ਪਰਕਰ (Parkar Alankaar). In this Pauree, Hukamee is especially being referred to the Commanding/Commander Vaheguru, this is to guide the mind’s thoughts towards action and so this is referred to as a ਪਰਕਰ (Parkar Alankaar).
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ਹੁਕਮੈ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਹੁਕਮ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥
Hukamai A[n]dhar[i] Sabh[u] Ko Baahar[i] Hukam na Koe[i]
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Padh Arth (Word-by-Word):
ਹੁਕਮੈ (Hukamai) = Vaheguru’s Hukam, Will, Command
ਅੰਦਰਿ (A[n]dhar[i]) = Within, Inside, [Limitations]
ਸਭੁ ਕੋ (Sabh[u] Ko) = Everyone/Everything/Every place
ਬਾਹਰਿ ਹੁਕਮ (Baahar[i] Hukam) = Outside of the Command
ਨ ਕੋਇ (na Koe[i]) = na Koee = No one
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All of the created universe – from Brahma to a small little ant – is within the Hukam/Command of Parameshwar-Vaheguru. There is nothing outside of this Command. All karma earned has been done through Parameshwar-Vaheguru’s Command. Just like a puppeteer makes puppets dance, so do they dance. The puppet cannot act independently, this is how all of the perceived separated beings are.
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ਨਾਨਕ ਹੁਕਮੈ ਜੇ ਬੁਝੈ ਤ ਹਉਮੈ ਕਹੈ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥੨॥
Nanak Hukamai Jae Bujhai Tha Ho[u]mai Kahai na Koe[i]
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Padh Arth (Word-by-Word):
ਹੁਕਮੈ (Hukamai) = Vaheguru’s Hukam, Will, Command
ਜੇ (Jae) = If
ਬੁਝੈ (Bujhai) = Understands, Realized, Know
ਤ (Tha) = Then
ਹਉਮੈ ਕਹੈ (Houmai Kahai) = speak in ego, with egotistic intentions
ਨ ਕੋਇ (na Koe[i]) = na Koee = No one
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Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji tell us: What can we know/understand about this Hukam/Command? If nothing can happen outside of Hukam then the one trying to understand the Hukam would not be in [the painful suffering of] ego any more and they do not attach karma to themselves anymore. No ego attached to the actions which are being done nor actions which will happen in the future... not thinking that they have any power nor have any knowledge. The Saintly people know that: the Doer of All is Parameshwar-Vaheguru. It is like the kite that flies in the sky – whether it goes up or it goes down... – it is not in the control of the kite. ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ (Hukam[i] Rajaaee ChalaNaa)...in this line, we are to understand that we receive pain according to Hukam then learning to become accepting of that Hukam because Parameshwar-Vaheguru never does injustice... they are always as a result of our past Karma and not to be prideful of material wealth and positions you have received as a result of Vaheguru’s Hukam/Command.
ਨਾਨਕ ਹੁਕਮੈ ਜੇ ਬੁਝੈ (Nanak Hukamai Jae Bujhai) The teaching in this line is that if one receives material wealth or other pleasures according to Parameshwar-Vaheguru’s Hukam then not become proud/egotistic. The principle is that us beings face two different states: ਦੁਖ (Dhukh: suffering) and ਸੁਖ (Sukh: peace), Raja (king), and Runk (poor person). This is a teaching to people of both states. Question
There is no mention of ਦੁਖ (Dhukh) ਸੁਖ (Sukh) in this line then how can we develop this as a meaning?
Answer
One can understand if they do vichaar. That which needs to be dived into deeper is referred to as Adhyahaar. Then is this the correct meaning... from which perspective/angle does this mean to be able to accept Hukam? Everyone always accepts pleasures and material wealth, , so we don’t need to give a teaching about accepting Sukh. Whereas for Dhukh, one has to put in effort to accept Hukam... ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ (Likhiaa naal[i]) can be understood if analyzed through the perspective of ਦੁਖ (Dhukh). Keeping this in mind, this implies that the teaching is to let go of ego. In pain, everyone lets go of their ego... as everyone starts to connect the pain towards Parameshwar-Vaheguru's Hukam, Their Karma... so then this teaching is not for them. Others stay in ignorance while pleased, they start to say that this happened through my own strength, through my own intelligence, I am the one that did this, I am the one who carried out the sacrifice, I am the one who did the good thing, this is how people get caught into ego. This is why ਸੁਖ (Sukh) is understood through deeper analysis. If someone receives all of these pleasures but then lets go of the self as the doer then accepts Vaheguru’s Hukam, ultimately, the ego will become removed. If we let go of the ego... only then do we become worthy of Simran/Divine Remembrance. If one cannot accept Vaheguru’s Will and cannot let go of the ego then one does not become worthy.. Guru Ji tells us for example:
ਹਉਮੈ ਨਾਵੈ ਨਾਲਿ ਵਿਰੋਧੁ ਹੈ ਦੁਇ ਨ ਵਸਹਿ ਇਕ ਠਾਇ ॥
Houmai naavai naal[i] Virodhh[u] Hai Dhue[i] na Vasah[i] Ik Ttaae[i]
The Ego is an enemy of Naam, they cannot both exist in one place...
(Dhan Dhan Guru Amardas Sahib Ji Maharaj in Raag Vad-ha[n]s, Ang 560)
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From this we realize that all of the rewards – that are mentioned in Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj – are not attained by anyone. In the same way, dirt is dug up and softened then in this same soft dirt a seed can be planted & nourished. Whoever does not do this, they cannot receive any fruit [as the plant cannot grow]. In the same way – through accepting Hukam and renouncing the ego – the anthahkaran [mental faculties of man, chith, budh] becomes pure. Only then the remembrance of Sathinaam can happen and only then can the complete fruit [of liberation] become attained. Those who wish for liberation, they should make their anthahkaran pure through Naam Simran. All of these discussions together point towards Naam Simran and attaining spiritual knowledge [TN: not book knowledge but unlearning misunderstood perception & realigning mental faculty to spiritual reality through Gurbani].
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Did not include the explanation of the ਪਰਾਯੋਕਤਿ (Praayokath[i]) and ਸੰਭਾਵਨ (Sa[m]bhaavan) Alankaars...
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Guru Panth Ka Daas,
~Aaeenaa
