Vidhya Series Part 9 - How to make our body fruitful? - Translation from Bhavrasamrit Granth

In this section of the newsletter, we will be sharing sections from various Granths which inspire us in our study of Santhia and Sikhi Jeevan. 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 how to make our human body fruitful:

ਸ੍ਵੈਯਾ।। ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਕਰੇ ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਯਸ ਸੌਂ; ਗੁਣ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਕੇ ਸੁ ਭਨੇ ਮੁਖ ਮਾਹੀ।।

Padh Arth (word by word meaning): ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ(love) ਹਰਿ(Vaheguru) ਯਸ(praise) ਗੁਣ(virtues) ਗੋਬਿੰਦ(Vaheguru) ਭਨੇ(to say) ਮੁਖ(mouth) ਮਾਹੀ(in)

Arth (meaning): Always have love for the praises of Vaheguru (in your heart), your mouth should always be singing/uttering the virtues of Vaheguru.

ਹਾਥਨ ਤੇ ਪੁੰਨ ਦਾਨ ਕਰੇ; ਪੁਨ ਸੀਸ ਧਰੇ ਗੁਰ ਕੇ ਪਦ ਮਾਂਹੀ।।

Padh Arth (word by word meaning): ਹਾਥਨ(hands) ਪੁੰਨ*(good deeds) ਦਾਨ*(charity) ਪੁਨ(then) ਸੀਸ(head) ਧਰੇ(place) ਗੁਰ ਕੇ ਪਦ(the feet of the Guru)

Arth (meaning): With your hands do good deeds and give to the needy, then place your head in the feet of your Guru.

*Note: What is the difference between ਪੁੰਨ and ਦਾਨ? According to Sampardai Vidhvaans, ਪੁੰਨ is those items/money given to the needy on a certain day (i.e. a Gurpurab, or on a certain set time of the year), and ਦਾਨ is that which is given ਸੁਤੇ ਸਿਧ i.e. without planning beforehand.

ਦੇਹ ਸਨੇਹ ਨ ਭੂਲ ਕਰੇ; ਅਰੁ ਸਾਧ ਸਨੇਹ ਸਦਾ ਨਿਰਬਾਹੀਂ।।

Padh Arth (word by word meaning): ਦੇਹ(body) ਸਨੇਹ(love/attachment) ਨ(not) ਭੂਲ(by mistake) ਸਾਧ(the saints) ਸਨੇਹ(love) ਸਦਾ(always) ਨਿਰਬਾਹੀਂ(maintain)

Arth (meaning): Do not even by mistake have any love/attachment with your body (as this will not remain with you forever), (but) always have love for (the company) of the Saints/the Saadhsangat.

Why should we always have love for the society of Saints (Saadhsangat)? Sri Bhagat Ravidaas Sahib Ji say without the Saadhsangat, Bhagti cannot be performed:

ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਬਿਨਾ ਭਾਉ ਨਹੀ ਊਪਜੈ ਭਾਵ ਬਿਨੁ ਭਗਤਿ ਨਹੀ ਹੋਇ ਤੇਰੀ ॥

Without the Saadh Sangat, love for Vaheguru does not arise; without this love, your devotional worship (Prema-Bhagti) cannot be performed. - Ang 694

ਮਾਨਵ ਮਾਹਿ ਮਹਾਤਮ ਕੇ ਬ੍ਰਤ; ਧੰਨ ਵਹੀ ਜਿ ਧਰੇ ਜਗ ਮਾਂਹੀ।।

Padh Arth (word by word meaning): ਮਾਨਵ(human body) ਮਹਾਤਮ(great beings/Saints) ਬ੍ਰਤ(rules/way of life) ਧੰਨ(blessed) ਵਹੀ(only those) ਧਰੇ(adopt) ਜਗ ਮਾਂਹੀ(in this world)

Arth (meaning): That person who obtaining the rare human body, follows the way of life adopted by the Saints, is truly blessed in this world.