Greatness of Guru

1          guru ko kije bandagi, koti koti paranam;

            kit na jane bhring ko, guru karle ap saman.

 

Meaning

 

Offer salutations and obeisances to the Guru millions of times.

Just as a wasp takes a worm into its nest and another wasp emerges, just so Guru makes the ordinary disciple as himself.

 

Commentary

 

One has to offer obeisances to the Guru who takes the disciple on the path to God, and helps him in every way even though the disciple does not know it. The Guru imparts wisdom to him and makes him as knowledgeable as himself.

 

 

2          timir gaya ravi dekhate, kumati gayi guru gyan;

            sumati gayi ati lobhate, bhakti gayi abhiman.

 

Meaning

 

Darkness disappears when the sun arises, and ignorance goes away by the Guru's wisdom.

Good intellect is lost because of greed, and devotion is lost because of ego.

             

Commentary

 

Just as sunrise removes darkness from the world, knowledge given by the Guru removes ignorance from the heart. Similarly, greed abolishes wisdom, and the ego becomes an obstacle to devotion and God realization.

 

 

3          hari kirpa tab janiye, de manav  awatar;

            guru kirpa tab janiye, mukta kare sansar.

 

Meaning

 

Know that it is the grace of God that gave you human birth.

But it is the grace of the Guru that liberates you from the cycle of birth and death.

 

Commentary

 

In this human life you can obtain salvation; therefore thank God that you got a human life. But you are still a victim of rebirth, therefore thank the Guru whose grace frees you from the cycle of birth and death. This is the greatness of the Guru.

 

 

4          guru dhobi sis kapada, sabun sirjanhar;

            surati sila par dhoiye, nikase jyoti apar.

 

Meaning.

 

Guru is like a washerman and the disciple is like cloth; God Himself is the soap.

O Guru! Please wash my thought waves on the stone of meditation, then the unlimited light will appear.

 

Commentary

 

When the Guru gives the gift of God's name to the disciple and the disciple recites it, his heart is cleansed. Thus, with the help and guidance of the Guru, the disciple reaches the destination that is God realization.

 

 

5          guru bin gyan na upaje, guru bin mil na moksh;

            guru bin lakhe na satyako, guru bin mite na dosh.

 

Meaning

 

Without the Guru no one obtains spiritual knowledge or achieves salvation.

Without the Guru no one can see Truth or have his doubts removed.

 

Commentary

 

Importance of the Guru is mentioned in this sakhi. To achieve the higher stages on the spiritual path, and to succeed in the world, one needs the guidance of the Guru all the time to overcome obstacles on the spiritual path.

 

 

6          guru bichara kya kare, sikhahi mahi chuk;

            bhawe tyon parmodhiye, bans bajaye phunk.

 

Meaning

 

What can the poor Guru do if the disciple has faults?

He gives knowledge but it becomes useless, just as a broken flute does not produce music.

 

Commentary

 

The disciple must have faith, courage, and patience on the path of God. He must try to accept discriminative spiritual knowledge from the Guru and keep it in his mind. If he does not, the Guru cannot be blamed, because the Guru can only guide, but the disciple has to walk himself.

 

 

7          ek shabda guru dev ka, taka anant bichar;

            thake muni jan pandita, veda na pawe par.

 

Meaning

 

The one word of Sat Guru gives limitless meanings.

Munis and pandits became exhausted trying to find its meaning. Vedas cannot fathom its depth.

 

Commentary

 

The word of God given by Sat Guru is unfathomable. Only a humble devotee can get it. Munis and pandits, full of ego of their knowledge, cannot find it. Even the Vedas mention very little about it, and they cannot give you spiritual experience.