Wish Truth to all
and say Satsriakal.

I have heard a story.

Scientists from different countries gathered. They showed their expertise on topics. One of the topics was 'ginger'. The audience from different countries was not confident because every person was used to the name of ginger in his native language.
At the end the interpreter informed about the different names of ginger in different languages. An Indian name of ginger is adrak, a French name is gingembre, its German name is ingwer etc.

Some got satisfied. Most of the people remained unsatisfied as they had never tasted the ginger.

A wise man then gave everyone some ginger to taste and cultivate.

The story says that all those who use ginger enjoy life today also without flatulence.

Often I remember this story when I find people who are vexed because they use different names of a particular thing.

Different names like Pauri, Vaar, Stanza or Poem should not deviate us from the real query.

Most important is to know the taste of and cultivate the Guru's words.

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Here are few words on third Pauri from Japuji Sahib. I feel like using the word Pauri because I am used to it since I was in my mother's womb.

The central point of this Pauri is that it does not matter how and what one sings about God, It is not possible to limit HIM in words. "kathnaa kathee na aavai tot."

In all His worldly business HE evaluates and still seems to be uninvolved. "naanak vigsai vayparvaahu."

Is it not with all of us that we doubt His existence? How often we feel that God does not listen to our cries?

Third Pauri becomes easy to understand when we keep in mind the last Vaak of the second Pauri. "naanak hukmai jay bujhai ta ha-umai kahai na ko-ay." Nanak, one who understands His Command, does not speak in ego.

Normally one does not forget his ego and goes on singing in many different ways (gaavai ko . . .). He sings till he comes to know God's real NAM through the Guru. Then time comes and he realizes that It was God who was singing, always, is singing today and also HE will be singing for ever.

HE is nothing else than TRUTH.

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My few words are to clarify the matter of 'taan'.

The Gurmukhi word from Gurbani is 'taarn'. Its origin lies in Sanskrit. 'taarn' means to punch, to slap, to pat or to stroke with force.
A common word for beating or lashing is 'taarnaa denaa' in Indian languages.
As all these words mean an action governed by force, the meaning of the word 'taarn' is accepted as force or power in Punjabi or Gurmukhi language.

The word 'taan', as Amarpaal Ji has understood here as prolonged ton in singing, is not meant by our Guruji.

However in the context of "kathnaa kathee na aavai tot" it does not matter what meaning one traces out of this word. God remains unexplained.

The word 'ko' used by Gurdev here means 'one who'(someone) in the whole Pauri. It does not mean 'which' in one line and 'who' in the other lines as Amarpaal Ji has tried to explain.

The most common meaning of "gaavai ko taan hovai kisai taan" is "One who sing of Power-whom has that Power"
This is most appropriate also, I feel.
An individual may be proud of his strength or power. One day or the other he comes to know that all powerful is not that individual but someone else. He is the Supreme.

The meaning of "gaavai ko taan hovai kisai taan" as Amarpaal Ji has explained is "Guru Sahib says that which ‘Taan’ one can sing; who has that ‘Taan’. Please note ‘Taan’ is a part of Hindustani Classical Music and there is not equivalent English word."

In my view, it is not very appropriate.

God is found by doing Simran of NAM.

May I reveal the secret that it is also a Taan (Tune).

How can our Gurus question the way by which they have attained the Supreme?

Love.


Balbir Singh