ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>SALOK V&#256R&#256&#7748 TE VADH&#298K</TITLE> <style type="text/css"> .BODY { background-color: #EAF1F7; background-image: url('images/gtbh.jpg'); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; background-position: center; color: #0066CC;} .C1{text-align: justify;color: #0066CC;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .BIB{text-align: center;color: #000099;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .CONT{text-align: right;color: #FF0000;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} </style><META http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></HEAD> <BODY class="BODY" oncontextmenu="return false" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false"> <FONT ALIGN="JUSTIFY" FACE="Tahoma"> <p class="C1">&#65279<i>SALOK V&#256R&#256&#7748 TE VADH&#298K</i> is the title given to a miscellany comprising 152 <i>&#347lokas</i> or couplets appearing in the concluding portion of the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib. Gur&#363 Arjan, when compiling the Holy Volume introduced <i>&#347lokas</i> by the Gur&#363s he had collected into the texts of <i>v&#257rs</i>, another favoured form of composition. The couplets left over in the process were assembled under the caption <i>Salok V&#257r&#257&#7749 Te Vadh&#299k</i>, i.e. <i>&#347lokas</i> in excess of the <i>v&#257rs</i>. The first chapter in this section consists of 33 <i>&#347lokas</i>--- 32 by Gur&#363 N&#257nak and one (No 28) by Gur&#363 Amar D&#257s forming a sequel to Gur&#363 N&#257nak&#8217s <i>&#347loka</i> 27. The second chapter contains 67 <i>&#347lokas</i> by Gur&#363 Amar D&#257s, the third 30 by Gur&#363 R&#257m D&#257s, and the fourth 22 by Gur&#363 Arjan.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Gur&#363 N&#257nak&#8217s <i>&#347lokas</i> touch upon themes of moral conduct, social behaviour and spiritual transformation. More pointedly they stress that egoity must be overcome. The only way to attain this goal is to take a mentor, the Gur&#363, who will release one from dubiety and teach him to love God. Man in misguided company does not realize the need of a mentor. Body need not be tormented. Those afflicted with ego remain devoid of wisdom, discernment and true learning. Absorption in God keeps life green forever. Only He and His actions are complete, and the <i>gurmukh</i>, i.e. one who towards Him leans, alone merges in the Complete whole.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Gur&#363 Amar D&#257s' <i>&#347lokas</i> reaffirm the value of the mentor. They who are so destined meet with the Gur&#363. A believer in the Gur&#363 achieves <i>n&#257m</i>, i.e, absorption in the remembrance of God, and thereby completes himself. Of the wayward, discarded brides lost in the cycle of transmigration, the true Gur&#363 alone can be the redeemer. The Gur&#363 dispenses <i>n&#257m</i> and he promotes virtue. <i>M&#257y&#257</i> is a poisonous snake ; the antidote is the Lord's Name. Thus are they saved who are blinded by <i>m&#257y&#257</i>. Gur&#363 leads one to God. Association with <i>gurmukhs</i> helps, but all depends on the grace of God, ultimately. Loving faith in the Gur&#363 is central to the <i>&#347lokas</i> of Gur&#363 R&#257m D&#257s. The Gur&#363's guidance removes all the impediments. The ego-ridden burn in the fire of craving and the cycle of coming and going is not sundered for them. Only by seeking refuge in the Gur&#363 is one emancipated. According to Gur&#363 Arjan, those imbued with the Lord's love never turn their faces away from Him. The Gur&#363's word rescues man from the five enemies--lust, anger, avarice, attachment and ego. Myriads are asleep in ignorance and they alone awake who constantly remember Lord's Name.</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"><i>&#346abd&#257rath Sr&#299 Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib</i>. Amritsar, 1969<BR> <li class="C1"> S&#257hib Si&#7749gh, <i>Sr&#299 Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib Darpan</i>. Jalandhar, 1962-69<BR> <li class="C1"> Kohli, Surindar Singh, <i>A Critical Study of Adi Granth</i>. Delhi, 1961<BR> <li class="C1"> Macauliffe, Max Arthur, <i>The Sikh Religion : Its Gur&#363s, Sacred Writings and Authors</i>. Oxford, 1909<BR> <li class="C1"> Gurbachan Singh Talib, tr., <i>Sr&#299 Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib</i>. Patiala, 1991<BR> </ol><p class="CONT">D. S. Vidy&#257rth&#299<br></p><BR> </font><img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""></HTML></BODY>