pMc mwir suKu pwieAw ]
ਪੰਚ ਮਾਰਿ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥
Panch Maar Sukh Paa-i-aa.
God has given us body mind and soul, mind keeps wandering, body keeps running behind and soul feels hungry. If soul remains hungry for long, our life will mess-up. The purpose of life is to make wandering mind wonderful by feeding soul with Naam.
Guru Nanak: “Listen, O my mind, my friend, my darling: now is the time to meet the Lord. As long as there is youth and breath, give this body to Him. Without virtue, it is useless; the body shall crumble into a pile of dust”. (GGS: 20).
Panch Maar Sukh Paa-i-aa (GGS: 1330), Baba Nanak wants us to transform the five vices (Kaam, Krodh, Lobh, Moh and Ahankaar) into five noble virtues (Satt, Santokh, Daia, Dharam and Such). These five virtues are listed by Guru Arjun in Sri Guru Granth Sahib on page 379, and this can be done by contemplating Shabad Guru. When the five vices are conquered, peace is attained; such is the contemplative wisdom of Shabad Guru, the Naam. Satt means Truthful Living, Santokh means Contentment, Daiaa is Compassion or Mercy, Dharam is the son of daiaa as said by Baba Nanak in Japji Sahib. This is religious instinct, to live and let live others in love, peace and harmony. Without compassion or daiaa one can never be religious. Guru Nanak in Japji Sahib has declared the following about these five vices and virtues.
ਪੰਚ ਪਰਵਾਣ ਪੰਚ ਪਰਧਾਨੁ ॥ ਪੰਚੇ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਦਰਗਹਿ ਮਾਨੁ ॥
ਪੰਚੇ ਸੋਹਹਿ ਦਰਿ ਰਾਜਾਨੁ ॥ ਪੰਚਾ ਕਾ ਗੁਰੁ ਏਕੁ ਧਿਆਨੁ ॥
pMc prvwx pMc prDwnu ] pMcy pwvih drgih mwnu ]
pMcy sohih dir rwjwnu ] pMcw kw guru eyku iDAwnu ]
Pancẖ parvaān, Pancẖ parḏẖāan, Pancẖe pāvahi ḏargahi mān.
Pancẖe sohahi ḏar rājān, Pancẖā kā gur ek ḏẖi▫ān.
Here five vices are classified as Pardhaan and they are only good for show off at the door of worldly Kings to show their hollow power. On the other hands five noble virtues are considered as Parvaan in God's abode, since they are welcome in heavenly abode.
Guru Arjun further express about the transformations of vices into virtues on page 430 of Sri Guru Granth Sahib as under.
ਪੰਚ ਮਨਾਏ ਪੰਚ ਰੁਸਾਏ ॥ ਪੰਚ ਵਸਾਏ ਪੰਚ ਗਵਾਏ ॥
pMc mnwey pMc ruswey ] pMc vswey pMc gvwey ]
Panch manaa-ay panch rusaa-ay, panch vasaa-ay panch gavaa-ay.
When the five virtues were reconciled, I enshrined them within myself, and the five passions estranged, were cast out from within. Such is the power of contemplation of Shabad Guru, the Naam. This is how Panch Maar Sukh Paa-i-aa, as proclaimed by Guru Nanak.
Let us tune into gurbani enshrined in Sri Guru Granth Sahib and follow the guide line of gurmat hidden in it, so as to transform the five vices to five noble virtues.
Mohan Singh (Homeopath)
walia44@hotmail.com