Vidhya Series Part 11 - Effort & Laziness, the double edged sword - Translation from Saarkutavali Granth

In this series, we will be sharing sections from various Granths which inspire us in our study of Santhia and Sikhi Jeevan. This passage from Saarkutavali Granth (written by Pandit Hardayal Ji) explores the topic of where effort can become our enemy and laziness can be our best friend!

ਉੱਦਮ ਉੱਤਮ ਮਿੱਤ੍ਰ ਵਤ; ਭਯੋ ਸੁ ਸ਼ੱਤ੍ਰ ਸਮਾਨ।।

Padh Arth (word by word meaning): ਉੱਦਮ(effort) ਉੱਤਮ(great) ਮਿੱਤ੍ਰ(friend) ਵਤ(like) ਭਯੋ(becomes) ਸ਼ੱਤ੍ਰ(enemy) ਸਮਾਨ(like/equal)

Arth (meaning): That effort put in righteous actions is like our greatest friend, but that same effort if put into unrighteous actions (sins) is like our greatest enemy.

ਆਲਸ ਸ਼ਤ੍ਰ ਮਿਤ੍ਰ ਜਯੋਂ; ਉਭੈ ਵਿਪਰਜੈ ਗਿਆਨ।।

Padh Arth (word by word meaning): ਆਲਸ(laziness) ਸ਼ਤ੍ਰ(enemy) ਮਿਤ੍ਰ(friend) ਜਯੋਂ(like) ਉਭੈ(both) ਵਿਪਰਜੈ(opposite) ਗਿਆਨ(knowledge)

Arth (meaning): (In the same way) laziness is like our greatest enemy (when it stops us from doing righteous actions) but at times this laziness can be our greatest friend (when we become lazy in committing sins/unrighteous actions), know this knowledge to work in opposites (i.e. in both ways).

Where can effort be our friend? In awaking at Amrit Vela, reading Gurbani, doing our Abhiaas and keeping Rehat, effort (uddam/mehnat) becomes our greatest friend. But if we make an effort to go and steal or commit sins, this same effort becomes our greatest enemy. Usually we consider laziness to be a bad quality in a person, but Pandit Ji says laziness can be our greatest friend when we become lazy in committing sins. When we become lazy in doing good actions, this laziness becomes our greatest enemy. Guru Sahib Ji says in Salok Sehiskritee:

ਨਹ ਬਿਲੰਬ ਧਰਮੰ ਬਿਲੰਬ ਪਾਪੰ ॥

Do not delay in practising righteousness; delay in committing sins.

ਦ੍ਰਿੜੰਤ ਨਾਮੰ ਤਜੰਤ ਲੋਭੰ ॥ - ਅੰਗ ੧੩੫੪

Implant the Naam, the Name of Vaheguru, within yourself, and abandon greed. - Ang 1354