Crowds follow the path of Falsehood, Pakhand…

There is a saying to the effect that there is neither a crowd of wise people, nor are there many wise people in a crowd! Not being able to stand alone and unique, the majority of people want to follow the crowd and be part of the crowd! Also, the crowd has no positive idea, intelligent thinking (Soch) or Bibek-Budh (discerning intellect); the crowd either has applause, riots, destruction or stones to hurl. That said, the conduct of the crowd will stoop to the level of the average person in the crowd.

Crowd or mob mentality — also called herd or hive mentality — is the inclination and tendency of people to be part of a large group and fit into society, often neglecting their individual responsibility and accountability in the process, and adopting the behaviors and actions of the people around them. Also, walking in a crowd one may feel safe, but you lose your identity.

Fear, greed, desires, ignorance, foolishness, bloated false ego-sense (Haumai), anger, hostility, heightened emotional state, political agenda or interests, dire economic conditions, Pakhand, falsehood etc. can lead to such mentality where humans flock like sheep and birds, subconsciously following or thinking and behaving in ways that conform with minority of individuals rather than as individuals.

The Wisdom of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) Liberates human beings from Pakhand and Karamkaand. It teaches humanity not to blindly follow and believe the crowd, because it can be very misleading and troublesome! It teaches us to use Bibek-Budh to think about what is right and follow it.

If one’s conscience doesn’t agree, then following the crowd is a betrayal of oneself, and one looses his/her identity for a person gets lost in the crowd. Identity is made only by standing alone. People will accuse one of having a stand out character, but standing with or imitating a wrong would will create many social problems, atrocities etc.!

Crowd mentality

The crowd or mob has nothing to create. That being said, if one follows a crowd, one can get no further than that crowd. In other words, if one follows the narrative set by a crowd, one will not be an original success! Also, since crowd does not think, right decisions cannot be made in crowds!

However, the Way of the Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS or spiritual journey of the Shabad (a journey of BECOMING) demands living a daily life of Wisdom-Giyan / Virtues.

But such Divine Life is an uphill climb, which one has to walk all ALONE! Thus not attractive to the majority of people! This is why Wise people are always in minority.

• ਓਹ ਰਲਾਈ ਕਿਸੈ ਦੀ ਨਾ ਰਲੈ ਜਿਸੁ ਰਾਵੇ ਸਿਰਜਨਹਾਰੁ ॥: One who is United with the Creator within, stands out and does not blend in with others. (sggs 786).

Here Bhagat Kabeer Ji talks about the path of the self serving Pujaaree (clergy: Granthis, Parcharaks, Ragis, Dhadees etc.) and the freeloading Deraa-Vaad Baabaas (ਵੇਹਲੜ) etc. Since the Pujaaree’s path of falsehood, Pakhand, Karamkaand etc. is easy and thus attractive, crowds of people follow it.

Since BECOMING THE GURBANI is difficult, the majority of us take the easy way out and walk behind the crowds. But this is not all Gurmat. Crowds (‘Baheer‘) always follow the path of Brahmanical rituals (Karamkaand) Bhagat Kabeer Ji says:

• ਕਬੀਰ ਜਿਹ ਮਾਰਗਿ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਗਏ ਪਾਛੈ ਪਰੀ ਬਹੀਰ ॥ ਇਕ ਅਵਘਟ ਘਾਟੀ ਰਾਮ ਕੀ ਤਿਹ ਚੜਿ ਰਹਿਓ ਕਬੀਰ ॥੧੬੫॥ : Kabeer, crowds are following the same path (i.e. the stale and distorted path of falsehood,  Pakhand,  Karamkaand,  superstitions…) on which the Pujaaree people are walking; but realizing God is very difficult like climbing a treacherous hill, Kabeer is treading this difficult path. ||165|| (sggs 1373).
• ਭਗਤੀ ਨਾਮ ਵਿਹੂਣਿਆ ਆਵਹਿ ਵੰਞਹਿ ਪੂਰ ॥੩॥: Without ‘Bhagti Naam‘ (i.e. without Awakening of Wisdom / Virtues) crowds of people come into this world and depart from this world empty handed. ||3|| (sggs 47).

Also, the Gurbani (SSGS) teaches us selfish people cannot be trusted. If one follows them, one will have to blindly agree with every nonsense, hidden agenda or selfish interests of such crowd. Therefore, the Gurbani counsels us those who speak with forked tongues based on self-interests or self-promoting agendas cannot be trusted. All they do is to create controversies.

• ਆਪਨ ਸੁਆਇ ਕਰਹਿ ਬਹੁ ਬਾਤਾ ਤਿਨਾ ਕਾ ਵਿਸਾਹੁ ਕਿਆ ਕੀਜੈ ॥੬॥: One who talks excessively but to suit ones own interests; how can such a person be trusted? ||6|| (sggs 1326).

Stand alone

Although joining and following a crowd does not take or cost anything, but it takes everything to stand alone!

Having said that, those who want to do something different and important in life, the first quality of them is that they separate themselves from the crowd. Instead, they choose their path apart from the crowd.

Aptly, the SGGS teaches us to discard the Pujaaree and thus walk away from the Pujaaree’s path and crowds that follow the Pujaaree. Instead, we are asked to become ‘PAARKHOO‘ — Appraiser: person of commonsense, logic, discerning intellect, Bibek Budh, Wisdom etc. In other words, instead of blindly following crowds or mobs, Sikhs (learners-ਸਿਖਿਆਰਥੀ) are advised by the Gurbani to become Appraisers, rational thinker, and so on.

• ਪਾਰਖੀਆ ਵਥੁ ਸਮਾਲਿ ਲਈ ਗੁਰ ਸੋਝੀ ਹੋਈ ॥: Those Appraisers or ‘PAARKHOO‘ (persons of commonsense, logic, discerning intellect, Bibek Budh, Wisdom, appraiser…) of spiritual life who obtained the Understanding from the Guru, cherished the Wealth of Naam (Wisdom / Virtues). (sggs 425).

However, getting away from crowd-mentality is not easy and comfortable, particularly the path of the self-serving Pujaaree. As a result, people find it easier to imitate crowds and follow them — the path of Pakhand, hypocrisy, applause (praise, flattery…), desiring name and fame, fraud, self-glory, pretension, corruption, falsehood, deception, ostentatious show of religiosity, rituals or Karamkaand (formalities), pilgrimage, distorted and corrupted narratives of the self serving Pujaaree. The SGGS teaches us not to be lazy and not to accept narratives that are hurled at us repeatedly with brute force.

The Gurbani’s edict (ਫੈਸਲਾ) is that following such path or crowd will never free anybody from foolishness, vices/Bikaar (i.e. lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride etc.), doubts (ਭਰਮ), Maya attachment., wrong resolutions, stubborn-mindedness, ignorance, fraud, false ego-sense or Haumai, ‘Parpanch’ (ਪਰਪੰਚ), blind faith (ਅੰਧ ਵਿਸ਼ਵਾਸ), and so on.

• ਦੇਖਾ ਦੇਖੀ ਸਭ ਕਰੇ ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਬੂਝ ਨ ਪਾਇ ॥: Manmukhs (Unenlightened persons) do everything seeing other people do to make a show (Pakhand, ਦੇਖਾ ਦੇਖੀ, ਨਕਲ, ਦਿਖਾਵਾ…), but they themselves have no understanding of the true way of living. (sggs 28).
• ਜੇ ਜਾਣਸਿ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੰ ਕਰਮੰ ॥ ਸਭਿ ਫੋਕਟ ਨਿਸਚਉ ਕਰਮੰ ॥: If (you) know the Way of the Brahm, (then you would) definitely know that all rituals are of no value. (sggs 1353).
• ਵਰਤ ਨੇਮੁ ਸੁਚ ਸੰਜਮੁ ਪੂਜਾ ਪਾਖੰਡਿ ਭਰਮੁ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥: (Mind’s) doubt does not depart with pomp or ostentation (Pakhand) such as ritualistic fasts, vows, (outer) purity, restraint and worship ceremonies. (sggs 1423).

What the Gurbani is telling us can be seen taking place in our own towns, communities, Gurdwaras, so called locations of pilgrim (Teerath), ritual bathing etc.!

• ਬਾਹਰਿ ਭੇਖ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਮਲੁ ਮਾਇਆ ॥ ਛਪਸਿ ਨਾਹਿ ਕਛੁ ਕਰੈ ਛਪਾਇਆ ॥: Outside (on his body) is the religious dress but in his mind is the filth of Maya (However, the filth of the mind) cannot be concealed by trying to conceal it with (outwardly wearing religious robes. (sggs 267).
• ਗਜ ਸਾਢੇ ਤੈ ਤੈ ਧੋਤੀਆ ਤਿਹਰੇ ਪਾਇਨਿ ਤਗ ॥ ਗਲੀ ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ਜਪਮਾਲੀਆ ਲੋਟੇ ਹਥਿ ਨਿਬਗ ॥ ਓਇ ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਸੰਤ ਨ ਆਖੀਅਹਿ ਬਾਨਾਰਸਿ ਕੇ ਠਗ ॥੧॥ ਐਸੇ ਸੰਤ ਨ ਮੋ ਕਉ ਭਾਵਹਿ ॥ ਡਾਲਾ ਸਿਉ ਪੇਡਾ ਗਟਕਾਵਹਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਬਾਸਨ ਮਾਂਜਿ ਚਰਾਵਹਿ ਊਪਰਿ ਕਾਠੀ ਧੋਇ ਜਲਾਵਹਿ ॥ ਬਸੁਧਾ ਖੋਦਿ ਕਰਹਿ ਦੁਇ ਚੂਲ੍ਹ੍ਹੇ ਸਾਰੇ ਮਾਣਸ ਖਾਵਹਿ ॥੨॥ ਓਇ ਪਾਪੀ ਸਦਾ ਫਿਰਹਿ ਅਪਰਾਧੀ ਮੁਖਹੁ ਅਪਰਸ ਕਹਾਵਹਿ ॥ ਸਦਾ ਸਦਾ ਫਿਰਹਿ ਅਭਿਮਾਨੀ ਸਗਲ ਕੁਟੰਬ ਡੁਬਾਵਹਿ ॥੩॥ : (Freeloading/Pakhandi Sant/Sadh) they wear three and a half yard long loincloths, and triple-wound sacred threads. They wear rosaries around their necks, and glittering jugs in their hands. Just because of such religious paraphernalia they should not be called Sant of God — they are thugs of Baanaaras (i.e., religious conmen, cheats, robbers…). Fallen from human thinking, such pretentious so called Sant are not pleasing to me. Because, they rob their victims of not only their wealth, but also of their life which is like gulping down the entire tree instead of consuming just a branch. ||1||Pause|| They wash their pots and pans before putting them on the stove, and wash the wood before lighting it. (To show others how holy they are) they dig earth, and make two hearths – one for their use and he second for others to use. (But in their real life, they are so cruel) they rob their victims as if they devoured the whole person (i.e. exploit the gullible people and destroy their life). ||2|| Such sinners always keep roaming around (looking for more victims), but they call themselves “Aprass” (i.e. untouched by vices or any other person). They always live in arrogance and thus drown themselves (in vices) along with their family (i.e. those in their company also suffer for their deeds). ||3|| (sggs 476).

Instead, the Gurbani teaches us to follow the Way of the Enlightened beings — the Way of Wisdom / Virtues.

But to follow this Way of Wisdom / Virtues one will have to abandon he stale and distorted path of crowds that follow the self-serving Pujaaree, corrupt leaders etc.

In short, the path of Wisdom / Virtues is like walking on the razor’s edge, ‘sharper than a two-edged sword’ or like chewing steel balls with teeth of wax! As a result it does not attract crowds. Aptly, the Gurbani says only a ‘rare’ person Realizes Truth!

• ਮੁਠੜੇ ਸੇਈ ਸਾਥ ਜਿਨੀ ਸਚੁ ਨ ਲਦਿਆ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਸੇ ਸਾਬਾਸਿ ਜਿਨੀ ਗੁਰ ਮਿਲਿ ਇਕੁ ਪਛਾਣਿਆ ॥੨॥ : (In the journey of human life) looted are those caravans who have not loaded themselves with Truth. Nanak, blessed are those who by meeting the Guru and following his Giyan-Wisdom, have realized the One Creator. ||2|| (sggs 319).
• ਹਿਰਦੈ ਸਚੁ ਏਹ ਕਰਣੀ ਸਾਰੁ ॥ ਹੋਰੁ ਸਭੁ ਪਾਖੰਡੁ ਪੂਜ ਖੁਆਰੁ ॥੬॥: Realize the Creator within Heart, make this your sole aim. Otherwise all else is falsity (Pakhand) and the worship of falsity as such. ||6|| (sggs 1343).

This is the reason the Enlightened beings (Bhagats (Daas, Jan, Gurmukhs Mindsets) are always ALONE — crowds of people don’t follow them)!

• ਭਗਤਾ ਕੀ ਚਾਲ ਨਿਰਾਲੀ ॥ ਚਾਲਾ ਨਿਰਾਲੀ ਭਗਤਾਹ ਕੇਰੀ ਬਿਖਮ ਮਾਰਗਿ ਚਲਣਾ ॥ ਲਬੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੁ ਤਜਿ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਬੋਲਣਾ ॥ ਖੰਨਿਅਹੁ ਤਿਖੀ ਵਾਲਹੁ ਨਿਕੀ ਏਤੁ ਮਾਰਗਿ ਜਾਣਾ ॥: The Way of life of Bhagat (Daas, Jan, Gurmukh…) is unique for it is arduous Way of life. (They reform themselves by) renouncing greed, avarice, pride, desire and refrain from speaking unnecessarily. Know that their this Way of life is sharper than a two-edged sword, and finer than the hair (i.e. arduous). (sggs 918).
• ਜਹ ਆਵਟੇ ਬਹੁਤ ਘਨ ਸਾਥ ॥ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਕੇ ਸੰਗੀ ਸਾਧ ॥੩॥ : That way of life in which many caravans of (spiritually dead) human beings are subjected to great pain and suffering, while the seekers remain connected with God (they do not suffer because of this). ||3|| (sggs 393).

Also the nature, thinking, habit etc. of a person immersed in worldliness is contrary to that of a Bhagt or Bhagti. Accordingly, the Gurbani reminds us that there can never be a ‘Jorr-ਜੋੜੁ’ (meeting of minds, connection etc.) between a worldly person and a Bhagat (who is engaged in the Gurmat-Bhagti)! As a result, Bhagats (Daas, Jan, Gurmukh Mindsets) are always ALONE.

• ਭਗਤਾ ਤੈ ਸੈਸਾਰੀਆ ਜੋੜੁ ਕਦੇ ਨ ਆਇਆ ॥: There can never be true alliance or connection (of nature, thinking, habits etc.) between the Bhagats (Gurmukh, Daas, Jan etc.) and the worldly people. (sggs 145).

Aptly, the Gurbni asserts Bhagats or Enlightened beings are very ‘rare‘ in this world. Because, the challenges in this quest (the Way of Sach-ਸਚ, Truth…) are many and need courage to surmount them. It’s a uphill climb!

• ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਭਗਤਿ ਪਾਵੈ ਜਨੁ ਕੋਈ ॥੧॥: A rare ‘Janu’ (Gurmukh, Bhagat, Daas…) obtains the ‘Gurmati Bhagti‘ (understanding of the Gur-Shabad, Naam, Hukam…) ||1|| (sggs 879).

As the Gurbani asserts, they are ‘rare’ because rest of us who follow the Pujaaree’s path and crowds only know the way of ‘Phaasan Kee Bidhi-ਫਾਸਨ ਕੀ ਬਿਧਿ — the way to get trapped)!

To the contrary, the Gurbani reveals that a very ‘rare’ one knows the Way of ‘Chhootan-ਛੂਟਨ‘ — the Way to be freed from vices and become Living Liberated (JeevanMukat) etc.

• ਫਾਸਨ ਕੀ ਬਿਧਿ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਊ ਜਾਨੈ ਛੂਟਨ ਕੀ ਇਕੁ ਕੋਈ ॥: (Wherever you see) everyone knows the way to be trapped, but hardly anyone knows how to be Freed. (sggs 331).

The Way of the SGGS or Enlightenment of the Shabad is a ‘Chhootan Bidhi–ਛੂਟਨ ਬਿਧਿ‘ — a method of escaping Bhav Saagar, slavery of senses, slavery of outer domination etc.

• ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਨੀ ਹਾਂ ॥ ਜਪੀਐ ਸਹਜ ਧੁਨੀ ਹਾਂ ॥ ਸਾਧੂ ਰਸਨ ਭਨੀ ਹਾਂ ॥ ਛੂਟਨ ਬਿਧਿ ਸੁਨੀ ਹਾਂ ॥ ਪਾਈਐ ਵਡ ਪੁਨੀ ਮੇਰੇ ਮਨਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : (O my mind!) God who is the possessor of all Virtues, should be Realized immersed in ‘Sahaj Dhun’ (Enlightened State of the Mind, Natural state of Being etc.). Taking the shelter of the Shabad Guru (i.e. Giyan–Wisdom), repeat it (i.e. live it in daily life). Listen, this is the only Way to escape (vices/Bikaar). O my mind, through (a spiritual life of) Virtuous or Noble deeds one learns about this Way. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 409).

In short, the path of falsehood, Pakhand etc. or to follow crowds is a ‘Phaasan Kee Bidhi‘ while the Gurmat is a ‘Chhootan Bidhi‘.

• ਸੰਤ ਜਨਹੁ ਸੁਣਿ ਭਾਈਹੋ ਛੂਟਨੁ ਸਾਚੈ ਨਾਇ ॥ : O my seeker (Satsangee) brothers listen! Our release (from the vices/Bikaar) happens only by Naam (Wisdom / Virtues). (sggs 52).

Therefore, the spiritual Message of the Shabad time and again asks us to give up the path of Pakhand or falsehood. Because, Bhagati — living Divine Life of Wisdom / Virtues — cannot be practiced through Pakhand etc.:

• ਪਾਖੰਡਿ ਭਗਤਿ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਨ ਪਾਇਆ ਜਾਇ ॥: Through hypocrisy, Bhagti cannot be done, and Paarbrahm is not Realized (sggs 849).
• ਕਰਮ ਧਰਮ ਪਾਖੰਡ ਜੋ ਦੀਸਹਿ ਤਿਨ ਜਮੁ ਜਾਗਾਤੀ ਲੂਟੈ ॥: (Whosoever does not Internalize — practice: ਅਮਲ — the Advice or Message of the Guru’s Shabad) his religious acts are just ‘Pakhand‘ (pretending, hypocrisy, ਦਿਖਾਵਾ); he is plundered by Jamm (i.e. vices/Bikaar). (sggs 747).
• ਜਪਹੁ ਤ ਏਕੋ ਨਾਮਾ ॥ ਅਵਰਿ ਨਿਰਾਫਲ ਕਾਮਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: Realize the One Naam (Wisdom / Virtues). All other deeds (i.e. all rituals, which fail to bring Realization of the One Naam) are useless efforts. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 728).

Herd mentality and ‘cawing’ of crows

Bhai Gurdas calls this herd mentality as ‘cawing’ of a horde of crows (‘ਕਾਵਾਂ ਰੌਲਾ‘-Kaavaan Rolaa). Furthermore, in the last verse, Bhai Gurdas calls it the gathering of the ‘fool‘ (ਮੂਰਖੁ–Moorakh)!

• ਠੰਢੇ ਖੂਹਹੁੰ ਨ੍ਹਾਇ ਕੈ ਪਗ ਵਿਸਾਰਿ ਆਇਆ ਸਿਰਿ ਨੰਗੈ। ਘਰ ਵਿਚਿ ਰੰਨਾ ਕਮਲੀਆਂ ਧੁਸੀ ਲੀਤੀ ਦੇਖਿ ਕੁਢੰਗੈ। ਰੰਨਾ ਦੇਖਿ ਪਿਟੰਦੀਆ ਢਾਹਾਂ ਮਾਰੈਂ ਹੋਇ ਨਿਸੰਗੈ। ਲੋਕ ਸਿਆਪੇ ਆਇਆ ਰੰਨਾ ਪੁਰਸ ਜੁੜੇ ਲੈ ਪੰਗੈ। ਨਾਇਣ ਪੁਛਦੀ ਪਿਟਦੀਆਂ ਕਿਸ ਦੈ ਨਾਇ ਅਲ੍ਹਾਣੀ ਅੰਗੈ। ਸਹੁਰੇ ਪੁਛਹ ਜਾਇ ਕੈ ਕਉਣ ਮੁਆ ਨੂਹ ਉਤਰੁ ਮੰਗੈ। ਕਾਵਾਂ ਰੌਲਾ ਮੂਰਖੁ ਸੰਗੈ ॥੧੯॥ : Having taken bath on the well, a person forgot his turban and returned home bare headed. Seeing his improper conduct (of being bare headed) the silly women started weeping and wailing (without questing, seeing master of the house without turban they conjectured the death of some one in the family). Seeing the weeping women, others too, began mourning. Men and women gathered and sitting in lines started condoling with the family. Now the professional Wailer woman who leads the mourning on occasions asked as to who is to be wept and whose dirge she should lead, i.e. what is the name of the dead. The daughter-in-law of family hinted towards father-in-law to elicit answer of this question (because he was found bare headed). The daughter-in-law of family hinted towards father-in-law to elicit answer of this question (because he was found bare headed. Then the fact was disclosed by him that he just forgot to wear turban!). In the gathering of the fool such cawing takes place (because crows also listening to one voice start cawing jointly). (Bhai Gurdas, Vaar 32, Paouri 19).

Pakhand and crane (ਬਗਲਾ)

Pakhand can not be wiped out with Pakhand!

Fitting example of ‘Pakhand‘ given in the SGGS is that of a crane (ਬਗਲਾ) — Pakhandee Saadh, Pakhandee Sant, Pakhandee Baabaa, Pakhandee person or politician, and so on.

• ਤਨਿ ਚੰਦਨੁ ਮਸਤਕਿ ਪਾਤੀ ॥ ਰਿਦ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਕਰ ਤਲ ਕਾਤੀ ॥ ਠਗ ਦਿਸਟਿ ਬਗਾ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਗਾ ॥ : (O lewed man) you rub your body with sandalwood oil, and place basil leaves on your forehead. However, thou hold a knife in the hand of your heart (within you is cheat, deception…). (You: lewed) look like a thug; pretending to meditate, you pose like a crane.
• ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਸਦਾ ਬਗੁ ਮੈਲਾ ਹਉਮੈ ਮਲੁ ਲਾਈ ॥: The Manmukh (Unenlightened Mindset) will always be filthy as a crane (ਬਗਲੇ ਵਾਂਗ ਪਖੰਡੀ-Pakhandee); smeared with the filth of false ego-sense. (sggs 129).
• ਇਕਿ ਅਪਣੈ ਸੁਆਇ ਆਇ ਬਹਹਿ ਗੁਰ ਆਗੈ ਜਿਉ ਬਗੁਲ ਸਮਾਧਿ ਲਗਾਈਐ ॥: Some come for their own self-interest, and sit before the Guru; they pretend to be in Samaadhi, like the crane! ||3|| (sggs 881).
• ਠਗ ਦਿਸਟਿ ਬਗਾ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਗਾ ॥: (You: Lewd) look like a thug; pretending to meditate, you pose like a crane (sggs 1351).

Opposite of crane mentality (Pakhand) is Hans mindset (ਹੰਸ – Gurmukh).

The Gurmat (Wisdom of SGGS) asks Sikhs to give up crane mentality (Pakhand) and become Hans (i.e. Gurmukhs). That said, Pakhand can only be wiped out with Gurmat.

• ਬਗੁਲੇ ਤੇ ਫੁਨਿ ਹੰਸੁਲਾ ਹੋਵੈ ਜੇ ਤੂ ਕਰਹਿ ਦਇਆਲਾ ॥ : If one bestows mercy upon himself (by filling senses with Amrit-Naam, Shabad), that person gets transformed from hypocrite (Pakhnadee) to a Gurmukh (Enlightened mindset). (sggs 1171).
• ਸਬਦਿ ਰਤੇ ਵਡ ਹੰਸ ਹੈ ਸਚੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਉਰਿ ਧਾਰਿ ॥ : They are Gurmukhs (Hans) who have realized the Enlightening spiritual Message embedded in the Shabad. (sggs 585).
• ਸੇਵਕ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਖੋਜਿਆ ਸੇ ਹੰਸੁਲੇ ਨਾਮੁ ਲਹੰਨਿ ॥੨॥ : These Hans like Gurmukhs who have found the lake like the Guru peck on the pearls like Naam (Wisdom / Virtues). ||2|| (sggs 757).

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