The foregoing Shabad is of Bhagat Kabeer Jee in Raga (pronounced Raaga) Basant on page 1194 of the SGGS (Sri Guru Granth Sahib). Alike many other Shabads of Bhagat Kabeer Jee throughout the SGGS, his this Shabad is also impregnated with spiritual suggestions. He draws our attention to his extraordinary statements in this Shabad and would like us to understand their proper purport. The following is the full text of this Shabad, first with just word-meaning in English (which, by the way, is not its true spiritual gist), followed by an attempt to understand its deeper crux.

• joie Ksmu hY jwieAw ]pUiq bwpu KylwieAw ]ibnu sRvxw KIru iplwieAw ]1]dyKhu logw kil ko Bwau ]suiq muklweI ApnI mwau ]1] rhwau ]pgw ibnu hurIAw mwrqw]bdnY ibnu iKr iKr hwsqw ]indRw ibnu nru pY sovY ]ibnu bwsn KIru iblovY ]2]ibnu AsQn gaU lvyrI ]pYfy ibnu bwt GnyrI ]ibnu siqgur bwt n pweI ]khu kbIr smJweI ]3]3]: Joi khasam hai jaaiaa...: The wife gives birth to her husband. The son makes his father play. (The mother) without breasts, suckles milk. ||1|| Behold, people! This is how it is in the (Dark Age of) Kali Yuga. The son marries his mother. ||1||Pause|| Without feet, (the mortal) jumps. Without a mouth, (he) bursts into laughter. Without feeling sleepy, (he) lays down and sleeps. Without a churning vessel, (he) churns the milk. ||2|| Without udders, the cow gives milk. Without traveling, a long journey is made. Without the True Guru, the path is not found. Kabeer utters this understanding. ||3||3|| (sggs 1194).

In this entire Shabad, Bhagat Kabeer Jee is describing the sorry plight of the Kali Yugee Jeeva (individual beings of Kali Yuga) caught in the spell or influence of Maya (" kil ko Bwau: Kali Ko Bhaaou"). With this in mind, it would become relatively easier to appreciate the inner message of this Shabad.

First, before attempting to reflect on this Shabad, allow to hit upon as to why Bhagat Kabeer Jee used seemingly contradictory or seemingly unusual statements in some of his Shabads. From ancient time, Mahaatamaas (Great Souls) in India have been using such statements as a teaching tool to help seekers break free from the chains of their ignorance and thus enlighten them. In addition to this kind of teaching, in some traditions Mahaatamaas speak to seekers in outwardly paradoxical instructions or in questions with no right answer. The idea behind all these different traditions of teaching is to make or trick the disciple into surrendering his conditioned and narrow intellect and making his contact with the Unconditioned Consciousness beyond. Mahaatamaans thus teach using various tools to clearly show how we could all lift ourselves and live the life that is for most of us beyond our wildest imagination. Yet it all begins with the expanded vision (mind's expansiveness), and development of spiritual Understanding.

joie Ksmu hY jwieAw ]pUiq bwpu KylwieAw ]ibnu sRvxw KIru iplwieAw ]1]: Joi khasam hai jaaiaa. Poot baap khelaaiaa. Bin sravanaa kheer pilaaiaa ||1||: The wife gives birth to her husband. The son makes his father play. (The mother) without breasts, suckles milk. ||1||>>>>Consider Maya to be the female gender (Istaree Ling) and Mann (the mind) to be the male gender (Purash Ling). Maya gives birth to the mind (the sense of false ego or Haume). The reason the mind is called "husband" is that, even though Maya gives birth to the mind, but it's the mind that turns around and enjoys Maya! This is the wife's giving birth to her husband. Caught in the vertex of Maya (duality or relativist consciousness), the mind ("Poot" = the son) cradles or leads his father ("Baap" = the Jeevaatmaan) in the worldly play. Under the influence of Maya, the mind nurses the defiled senses. This is the woman's nursing of her baby without breast.

• mn kw sUqku dUjw Bwau: The pollution of the mind is the love of duality (sggs 229).
• iesu mn mwieAw kau nyhu Gnyrw: Is mann Maya kaou nahu ghaneraa: This mind is so much in love with Maya (sggs 1038).
• iesu mn mwieAw moih ibnwsu: Is mann Maya mohi binaas: This mind is ruined by its attachment to Maya (sggs 1344).
• mwieAw moih sBo jgu soieAw iehu Brmu khhu ikau jweI: Maya mohi sabho jag soeiaa eihu bharam kahahu kio jaaee: In emotional attachment to Maya, all the world is asleep. Tell me, how can this doubt be dispelled? (sggs 205).
• mwieAw ptl ptl hY BwrI Gru GUmin Gyir GulwvYgo ] pwp ibkwr mnUr siB Bwry ibKu duqru qirE n jwvYgo: The veil of Maya is thick and heavy, a whirlpool which destroys one’s inner home. Sins and corrupt vices are totally heavy, like rusted slag. They will not let you cross over the poisonous and treacherous world-ocean (sggs 1308).

Now, let's attempt to relate the foregoing to the current world situation on a gross material level. Traditionally, the man's role was to be the breadwinner of his family and the woman's role was to manage the house. But due to the industrialization, "globalization", ever-increasing worldly desires, greed, envy etc., these traditional roles are reversed. Also, traditionally son (or children) used to listen to and obey his father (i.e., parents). Nowadays, children are seen quarreling with their parents. Furthermore, in old days, mothers used to breast-feed their infants. This ancient practice is not very popular any more. Consequently, these days babies are fed on the "formula" milk sold in the food stores — they are being nursed without the mother's breast!

• kwhy pUq Jgrq hau sMig bwp: Kaahae pooth jhagarath ho sang baap: O son, why do you argue with your father? (sggs 1200).

dyKhu logw kil ko Bwau ]suiq muklweI ApnI mwau ]1] rhwau ]: Dekhahu logaa kali ko bhaaou. Sut mukalaaee apanee maaou ||1|| Rahaaou ||: Behold, people! This is how it is in the (Dark Age of) Kali Yuga. The son marries his mother. ||1||Pause|| >>>> As mentioned earlier, in his entire Shabad, Bhagat Kabeer Jee is describing the plight of the Kali Yugee Jeevas (individual beings of Kali Yuga) caught in the vertex of Maya. This central theme of this Shabad or the intent of Bhagat Kabeer Jee is indicated by this "Rahaaou" verse. Here Bhagat Kabeer Jee makes an another seemingly odd statement: "The son marries his mother." This statement essentially indicates as to how the Mayaic mind (that mind which is influenced by Maya consciousness) is wedded to his mother Maya. Here Maya is indicated to be the mother of the mind, because as stated earlier, Maya gives birth to the mind. Thus, it's said that "The son marries his mother."

• mnu mwieAw mY rim rihE inksq nwihn mIq: Manu Maya mai ram rahiou nikasat naahin meet: The mind is absorbed in Maya - it cannot escape it, my friend (sggs 1428).
• mwieAw BuieAMgmu srpu hY jgu GyirAw ibKu mwie: Maya bhuiangam sarap hai jag gheriaa bikh maai: Maya is the poisonous snake, the serpent. This Maya-snake has surrounded the world (with its poison that brings death to the Aatmic-Jeevan or spiritual life). (sggs 1415).

Now, let's attempt to relate the foregoing to the current world situation on a gross material plane. Because of the unnatural lifestyle of rat-race, decline in moral values and the principles of Dharma, the family fabric is deteriorating (increase in divorce rate, number of children born out of wedlock etc.) throughout the world. In such chaotic social environment, it's not always possible to know upfront about the person one is going out with. As a result, there have been reports (especially in the west) of people getting involved with their own blood-relations, including even mothers. To avoid these sorts of problems as much as possible, many governments require blood test prior to issuing a marriage license to any couple wanting to marry.

pgw ibnu hurIAw mwrqw]bdnY ibnu iKr iKr hwsqw ]indRw ibnu nru pY sovY ]ibnu bwsn KIru iblovY ]2]: Pagaa bin hureeaa maarataa. Badanai bin khir khir haasataa. Nidraa bin nar pai sovai. Bin baasan kheer bilovai ||2||: Without feet, (the mortal) jumps. Without a mouth, (he) bursts into laughter. Without feeling sleepy, (he) lays down and sleeps. Without a churning vessel, (he) churns the milk. ||2|| >>>> Here we have four more interesting statements! The mind has no legs, but still it jumps (from one thought to the other) and wanders around! The mind has no mouth, but still it laughs around! The mind is asleep, fascinated by Maya. Although in it's True Nature as "Joti-Svaroopa", the mind was not to fall asleep to Maya's fascination, but on account of the influence of Maya in this Kali Yuga (" kil ko Bwau: Kali Ko Bhaaou"), the mind has forgotten it's True Nature and has fallen to an endless sleep of illusion. The man's wandering mind builds castles in the air. This is his churning of the milk without a churning vessel.

• mnu soieAw mwieAw ibsmwid: Man soeiaa maaeiaa bisamaadh: The mind is asleep, fascinated by Maya (sggs 182).
• mqvwro mwieAw soieAw: Matavaaro Maya soeiaa: Intoxicated with Maya, the people are asleep (sggs 210).
• mnmuK haumY mwieAw sUqy: Manmukh hayumai maaeiaa sootae: The manmukhs are asleep in egotism — Hayume Maya (sggs 1049).

Now, let's attempt to relate the foregoing to the current world situation on a gross material level. Even if someone for some reason has lost his legs, nowadays he can still walk using the artificial legs (as well other limbs of the body can also be replaced). Those who have lost their natural voice, can communicate using many innovative devices available in the market. People can fall a sleep using sleeping-pills. In dairy farms, the milk is being churned without traditional Madhaanee and Dadhoonee (traditional milk-churning apparatus).

ibnu AsQn gaU lvyrI ]pYfy ibnu bwt GnyrI ]ibnu siqgur bwt n pweI ]khu kbIr smJweI ]3]3]: Bin asathhan goo lavaeree. Paiddae bin baatt ghanaeree. Bin sathigur baatt n paaee. Kahu kabeer samajhaaee ||3||3||: Without udders, the cow gives milk. Without traveling, a long journey is made. Without the True Guru, the path is not found. Kabeer utters this understanding. ||3||3||>>>> Here again we have more thought provoking statements. This cow of Maya is without udders, therefore, she cannot provide the milk (or Happiness). However, she lures this mind into the milk of enchanting objects of the mirage-like world. The long journey mentioned is the vicious cycle of coming and going (repeated birth and death). Kabeer Jee says that without Satguru, the true path of life is not found. He utters this understanding or Wisdom to us, the Kali Yugee Jeeva.

Now, let's attempt to relate the foregoing to the current world situation on a gross material plane. Many of us, particularly those who live in the big cities, probably never see a cow in life but consume her milk the entire life. The homogenized milk sold in containers in the food stores has long shelf-life, and can last several days in the kitchen refrigerator. The dry milk (or the powder milk) has even longer shelf-life. No need to keep cow at home — the milk is available without touching the cow or her udders! Also, in dairy farms, cows are milked using new innovative technologies consisting of automatic milking systems. People travel thousands of miles between continents and into the space, without moving from the seats of an aircraft or a space-shuttle.

Clearly, it's remarkable as to how this Shabad that was written several centuries ago depicts conditions of the current time we live in with such a pinpoint accuracy! Amazing indeed! Isn't it?

There is a similar Shabad of Baabaa Nanak in Raaga Aasaa on page 349 of the SGGS. Striking similarity between these two Shabads is pretty obvious, and how accurately both of them portray the nature of the gross world we are currently living in is also incredible! Please note that Baabaa Nanak in his Shabad also uses the words (" kil kw Bwau: Kali Kaa Bhaaou").

• qwl mdIry Gt ky Gwt ]dolk dunIAw vwjih vwj ]nwrdu nwcY kil kw Bwau ]jqI sqI kh rwKih pwau ]1]nwnk nwm ivthu kurbwxu ]AMDI dunIAw swihbu jwxu ]1] rhwau ]gurU pwshu iPir cylw Kwie ]qwim prIiq vsY Gir Awie ]jy sau virHAw jIvx Kwxu ]Ksm pCwxY so idnu prvwxu ]2]drsin dyiKAY dieAw n hoie ]ley idqy ivxu rhY n koie ]rwjw inAwau kry hiQ hoie ]khY Kudwie n mwnY koie ]3]mwxs mUriq nwnku nwmu ]krxI kuqw dir Purmwnu ]gur prswid jwxY imhmwnu ]qw ikCu drgh pwvY mwnu ]4]4]: Taal madheerae ghatt kae ghaat...: Urges of the mind are like cymbals and ankle-bells; the (Moh or attachment) to the world is Dholak (drum). These instruments (Vaaje) play (constantly within the mind of the individuals of the Kali Yuga). The mind (devoid of the Divine Name) dances to their tune. (This is what's called the Dark Age) of Kali Yuga; where can the Yati (one who is putting forth effort to realize the Truth) and Satee (the one who has realized the Truth) be found (in this Kali Yuga)? ||1|| Says Nanak, I am a sacrifice to the Naam, the Name of the Lord (or I am a sacrifice to those who are absorbed in the Naam). (Withiout the Name) the world is blind (in the love of Maya); O Lord, You are (the only One) All-seeing (Sujaakhaa, following whom the path can be found) ||1||Pause|| (Traditionally, the desciple serves the Guru, but now) The Guru feeds (serves) the disciple; For the sake of food, he becomes desciple and comes to dwell in the Guru's home. (In this condition) if one were to live and eat for hundreds of years (consider such age to be worthless). That day (of one's life) alone would be auspicious, when one recognizes his Lord ||2|| By seeing (each other) alone compassion is not practiced (because of Maya-consciousness). No one lives without giving and taking (bribe). (Even) the king administers justice only if his palm is greased (i.e., bribed). No one is moved by (or listened to the complain of that person) who (pleads or appeals for justice in the) Name of God ||3|| Says Nanak, the man (in Kali Yuga) is human being only in name and in form; (But) by his deeds he is (nothing more than) a dog - following the command (of his owner for the sake of food). By the Guru's Grace, if one sees himself as a guest in this world (and obey the Divine Hukam), then he gains honor in the Court of the Lord ||4||4|| (sggs 349).
  

— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org

Updated on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 8:54 AM (PST)

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