Vidhya Series Part 6 - The Priceless Jewel

In this new series, we will be sharing sections from various Granths which are studied when learning Katha. The Bhavrasamrit Granth is an 18th Century Granth written in Braj Bhasha by the great saint-scholar Pandit Gulab Singh Ji Nirmala. This Granth is an important component of the traditional curriculum of Taksals and Sampardas. This Granth offers a collection of insightful teachings, including the importance of righteous action, the consequences of false attachment, human suffering, and the spiritual practices to eliminate it. The following Swaiya written by Pandit Gulab Singh Ji shares the importance of making the most of the priceless jewel which is the human life:

ਜਗ ਮਾਨਵ ਦੇਹ ਮਿਲੇ ਨ ਸਦਾ, ਨਰ ਰਾਮ ਭਜੋ ਜਿਹ ਤੇ ਸੁਖ ਪਾਵੋ।

Padh Arth (word by word meaning): ਜਗ(world) ਮਾਨਵ ਦੇਹ(human body) ਮਿਲੇ ਨ(shall not receive) ਸਦਾ(always) ਨਰ(O mortal!) ਰਾਮ(Raam - Vaheguru) ਭਜੋ(meditate) ਜਿਹ ਤੇ(from which) ਸੁਖ(happiness/tranquillity) ਪਾਵੋ(obtain)

Arth (meaning): O mortal! You shall not have this human body forever, meditate on Raam from which you shall obtain tranquillity.

ਜਗ ਭੋਗ ਵਿਰਾਟਕ ਕੇ ਬਦਲੇ, ਨ ਅਮੋਲਕ ਲਾਲ ਅਕਾਜ ਗਵਾਵੋ।

Padh Arth (word by word meaning): ਜਗ(worldly) ਭੋਗ(pleasures) ਵਿਰਾਟਕ(seashell) ਬਦਲੇ(exchange) ਅਮੋਲਕ(priceless) ਲਾਲ(jewel) ਅਕਾਜ(meaningless) ਗਵਾਵੋ(lose)

Arth (meaning): Do not meaninglessly lose the priceless jewel (the human life) for the sake of worldly pleasures, which is like exchanging the jewel for worthless sea shells.

ਲਰਕਾਪਨ ਜਾਠਰ ਮੈਂ ਬਲ ਖੀਨ, ਸੁ ਜੋਬਨ ਮੈਂ ਦਿਢ ਪੁੰਨ ਕਮਾਵੋ।

Padh Arth (word by word meaning): ਲਰਕਾਪਨ(childhood) ਜਾਠਰ(old age) ਬਲ(strength) ਖੀਨ(weak) ਜੋਬਨ(youth) ਦਿਢ(firm) ਪੁੰਨ(virtuous) ਕਮਾਵੋ(obtain)

Arth (meaning): In childhood and old age, one is weak, so make use of your youth by firmly practising virtuous actions.

ਸੁਭ ਸੀਖ ਇਹੈ ਜਨ ਮਾਨਿ ਚਲੋ, ਜਿਹ ਤੇ ਨਹਿ ਅੰਤ ਸਮੇਂ ਪਛੁਤਾਵੋ।।

Padh Arth (word by word meaning): ਸੁਭ(good) ਸੀਖ(teaching/advice) ਜਨ(mortal) ਅੰਤ ਸਮੇਂ (last moment) ਪਛੁਤਾਵੋ(repent)

Arth (meaning): Pandit Gulab Singh Ji says, O mortal! listen to my good advice, so that you shall not have to repent during your last moments.

- ਭਾਵਰਸਾਂਮ੍ਰਿਤ, ਪੰਡਿਤ ਗੁਲਾਬ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ Bhavrasamrit, Pandit Gulab Singh Ji