Asa Ki Var

(Page: 23)

ਇਹੁ ਮਾਣਸ ਜਨਮੁ ਦੁਲੰਭੁ ਹੈ ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨਾ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਸਭੁ ਜਾਏ ॥

eihu maanas janam dulanbh hai naam binaa birathaa sabh jaae |

It is so difficult to obtain this human incarnation, and without the Naam, it is all futile and useless.

ਹੁਣਿ ਵਤੈ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਨ ਬੀਜਿਓ ਅਗੈ ਭੁਖਾ ਕਿਆ ਖਾਏ ॥

hun vatai har naam na beejio agai bhukhaa kiaa khaae |

Now, in this most fortunate season, he does not plant the seed of the Lord's Name; what will the hungry soul eat, in the world hereafter?

ਮਨਮੁਖਾ ਨੋ ਫਿਰਿ ਜਨਮੁ ਹੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਭਾਏ ॥੨॥

manamukhaa no fir janam hai naanak har bhaae |2|

The self-willed manmukhs are born again and again. O Nanak, such is the Lord's Will. ||2||

ਸਲੋਕੁ ਮਃ ੧ ॥

salok mahalaa 1 |

Salok, First Mehl:

ਸਿੰਮਲ ਰੁਖੁ ਸਰਾਇਰਾ ਅਤਿ ਦੀਰਘ ਅਤਿ ਮੁਚੁ ॥

sinmal rukh saraaeiraa at deeragh at much |

The simmal tree is straight as an arrow; it is very tall, and very thick.

ਓਇ ਜਿ ਆਵਹਿ ਆਸ ਕਰਿ ਜਾਹਿ ਨਿਰਾਸੇ ਕਿਤੁ ॥

oe ji aaveh aas kar jaeh niraase kit |

But those birds which visit it hopefully, depart disappointed.

ਫਲ ਫਿਕੇ ਫੁਲ ਬਕਬਕੇ ਕੰਮਿ ਨ ਆਵਹਿ ਪਤ ॥

fal fike ful bakabake kam na aaveh pat |

Its fruits are tasteless, its flowers are nauseating, and its leaves are useless.

ਮਿਠਤੁ ਨੀਵੀ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਗੁਣ ਚੰਗਿਆਈਆ ਤਤੁ ॥

mitthat neevee naanakaa gun changiaaeea tat |

Sweetness and humility, O Nanak, are the essence of virtue and goodness.

ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਨਿਵੈ ਆਪ ਕਉ ਪਰ ਕਉ ਨਿਵੈ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥

sabh ko nivai aap kau par kau nivai na koe |

Everyone bows down to himself; no one bows down to another.

ਧਰਿ ਤਾਰਾਜੂ ਤੋਲੀਐ ਨਿਵੈ ਸੁ ਗਉਰਾ ਹੋਇ ॥

dhar taaraajoo toleeai nivai su gauraa hoe |

When something is placed on the balancing scale and weighed, the side which descends is heavier.

ਅਪਰਾਧੀ ਦੂਣਾ ਨਿਵੈ ਜੋ ਹੰਤਾ ਮਿਰਗਾਹਿ ॥

aparaadhee doonaa nivai jo hantaa miragaeh |

The sinner, like the deer hunter, bows down twice as much.

ਸੀਸਿ ਨਿਵਾਇਐ ਕਿਆ ਥੀਐ ਜਾ ਰਿਦੈ ਕੁਸੁਧੇ ਜਾਹਿ ॥੧॥

sees nivaaeaai kiaa theeai jaa ridai kusudhe jaeh |1|

But what can be achieved by bowing the head, when the heart is impure? ||1||

ਮਃ ੧ ॥

mahalaa 1 |

First Mehl:

ਪੜਿ ਪੁਸਤਕ ਸੰਧਿਆ ਬਾਦੰ ॥

parr pusatak sandhiaa baadan |

You read your books and say your prayers, and then engage in debate;

ਸਿਲ ਪੂਜਸਿ ਬਗੁਲ ਸਮਾਧੰ ॥

sil poojas bagul samaadhan |

you worship stones and sit like a stork, pretending to be in Samaadhi.

ਮੁਖਿ ਝੂਠ ਬਿਭੂਖਣ ਸਾਰੰ ॥

mukh jhootth bibhookhan saaran |

With your mouth you utter falsehood, and you adorn yourself with precious decorations;

ਤ੍ਰੈਪਾਲ ਤਿਹਾਲ ਬਿਚਾਰੰ ॥

traipaal tihaal bichaaran |

you recite the three lines of the Gayatri three times a day.

ਗਲਿ ਮਾਲਾ ਤਿਲਕੁ ਲਿਲਾਟੰ ॥

gal maalaa tilak lilaattan |

Around your neck is a rosary, and on your forehead is a sacred mark;

ਦੁਇ ਧੋਤੀ ਬਸਤ੍ਰ ਕਪਾਟੰ ॥

due dhotee basatr kapaattan |

upon your head is a turban, and you wear two loin cloths.

ਜੇ ਜਾਣਸਿ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੰ ਕਰਮੰ ॥

je jaanas brahaman karaman |

If you knew the nature of God,