Translating Gurbani using Gurbani Framework.

Karminder Singh Dhillon, Phd

The Gurbani Framework calls for the use of GURBANI to understand, explain, translate and interpret GURBANI.

The Gurbani Framework is a response to a variety of distorted translations using Vedantic, Taksalee, Yogic and Literal frameworks that are available in print and the internet.

It is argued that Vedic, Taksalee and Yogic translations DISTORT Gurbani to the extent that they hijack the UNIQUE spiritual messages of Gurbani; slanting it to REJECTED non-Sikhi belief systems.

The following pauree from page 463 of the SGGS ji illustrates the above points.

ਪਉੜੀ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਜੀਅ ਉਪਾਇ ਕੈ ਲਿਖਿ ਨਾਵੈ ਧਰਮੁ ਬਹਾਲਿਆ ॥ Pauree. Nanak Jee Upaye Key Likh Navey Dharam Bhaleya.

Vedic / Yogic Translatiion: O Nanak, having created the souls, the Lord installed the Righteous Judge of Dharma to read and record their accounts.

Comment:

1. The underlined words in the translation DO NOT exist in the Gurbani Verse.

2. There is the issue of wrong translation of words. ਜੀਅ (JEE) is translated as soul instead of life or life-beings.

3. Sikhi concepts are CHANGED to Vedic / Yogic concepts. ਧਰਮੁ (Dharam) is changed to Dharam Raj, the Righteous Judge of Dharma. ਲਿਖਿ (Likh) is changed to “Reading and writing of accounts.”

4. Concepts that don’t fit into the Vedic/Yogic framework are left out. The word ਨਾਵੈ Navey is OMMITTED from the translation above.

The outcome therefore, is a distorted translation as above.

By using Gurbani to understand Gurbani we get the meanings of the words

ਜੀਅ (JEE) means LIFE as in ਜੀਅ ਜੰਤ ਤੇਰੇ ਧਾਰੇ ॥ Jee Juntt Terey Dharey. Meaning: Humans and other life forms are created by You. ਧਰਮੁ (Dharam) means Hukm, the law of nature as in ਧੌਲੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਦਇਆ ਕਾ ਪੂਤੁ ॥ Dhaul Dhram Dyaa Ka Poot. Meaning: The HUKM or Law of Creation (Dhram) is the “bull” that holds up the earth.

(Note: the Vedic / Yogic people claimed the earth was held up by the horns of a Bull. Guru Nanak is explaining that the Law of Nature (Hukm) is the “bull” that holds up the earth.

ਨਾਵੈ Navey from the word Nao means “The One with the Naam, of the Naam” meaning the Creator. As in ਨਾਉ ਤੇਰਾ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰੁ ਹੈ ॥ Nao Tera Nirangkar Hai.

Using the Gurbani Framework, the meaning of the above verse is

Nanak, Having Created Beings (Jee Upaye Kay), the Creator created and established His Hukm (for the Beings).

ਓਥੈ ਸਚੇ ਹੀ ਸਚਿ ਨਿਬੜੈ ਚੁਣਿ ਵਖਿ ਕਢੇ ਜਜਮਾਲਿਆ ॥ Uthey Sachey Hee Sach Nibrey Chunn Vakk Kadhey Jujmaliya.

Vedic / Yogic / Literal Translation: There, only the Truth is judged true; the sinners are picked out and separated

Comment:

1. The words are ਸਚੇ ਹੀ ਸਚਿ (Sachey Hee Sach). The translation takes it to mean ਸਚ ਹੀ ਸਚ (Sach Hee Sach) – ignoring the vowels and hence the grammar. Sach Hee Sach is indeed ‘only the truth”. But Sachey Hee Sach has a vastly different meaning. In any case, Gurbani is not concerned with “our truths” which are all RELATIVE – what is true today is no longer true tomorrow, what is true to you may not be true to me, etc. Gurbani is concerned with spiritual truths.

2. The underlined words (in the translation) don’t exist in the Gurbani verse.

3. ਓਥੈ (Uthey) is translated as “There” as if there is a certain PLACE where the Righteous Judge of Dharma reads and records their accounts.”

By using Gurbani to understand Gurbani we get the meanings of the words.

Sach (with a sihari) always refers to God, the Creator. As in ਸਚਿ ਮਿਲਾਵਾ ਹੋਇ ॥ Sach (with sihari) Milava Hoey. Meaning One merges / realizes the Creator (Sach).

Again, the outcome is a distorted translation as above.

Using the Gurbani Framework, then, the meaning of the above verse is:

Within His Creation (Uthey) His Hukm reigns (Nibrey); it is Hukm that differentiates (Chunn Vakh Kadhey) between Created Beings (Jujmaleya).

ਥਾਉ ਨ ਪਾਇਨਿ ਕੂੜਿਆਰ ਮੁਹ ਕਾਲੈ ਦੋਜਕਿ ਚਾਲਿਆ ॥Thao Na Payean Kooreaar Moh Kaley Dojak Chaleya.

Vedic / Yogic / Literal Translation: The false find no place there, and they go to hell with their faces blackened.

Comment:

All the underlined words in the translation DO NOT exist in the Gurbani Verse. In the translation of verse 1, JEE was translated as SOULS. So the question arises: Souls have faces? The “faces” of souls can be “blackened”. Where are all these ALIEN concepts coming from and being forced-inserted into Gurbani verses? ਥਾਉ (Thao) is mistranslated as “place”. This belief that the Creator sits in a particular “place” or judgements happen at a particular “place” is NOT a Sikhi concept. The God of Sikhi is OMNIPRESENT. Sikhi concepts are CHANGED to Vedic / Yogic concepts. ਦੋਜਕਿ (Dojak) is translated as “going to hell” whereas in Sikhi there is no such thing as “going to a place called hell.”

By using Gurbani to understand Gurbani we get the meanings of the words.

ਕੂੜਿਆਰ (Kureear) is the opposite of SACHIAAR. The word Sachiar means GOD CONNECTED and Korrear therefore means GOD DISCONNECTED; those who DENY the Creator. As in ਤੁਧੁ ਬਾਝੁ ਕੂੜੋ ਕੂੜੁ ॥ Tudh Baajh Kooro Koor. Meaning in anything and everthing that You are DENIED; that is defined as Koor. ਮੁਹ ਕਾਲੈ Moh Kaley is a Punjabi idiom which means UNDIGNIFIED. The English equivalent is to “loose face.” ਥਾਉ ਨ ਪਾਇਨਿ Thao Na Payen is therefore idiomatic for “gaining no (spiritual) dignity” ਦੋਜਕਿ (Dojak) means spiritual distress caused by disconnecting from the Creator in our minds. The verse is ਦਿਨਸੁ ਰੈਣਿ ਜਿ ਤੁਧੁ ਅਰਾਧੇ ਸੋ ਕਿਉ ਦੋਜਕਿ ਜਾਇ ॥ ੨ Dinus Raen Jay Tudh Aradhey So Kion Dojak Jaye. Meaning One who remembers You at all times does NOT suffer distress of being disconnected from You.

Taking into mind that the CONTEXT of the PAUREE is Hukm, using the Gurbani Framework, then, the meaning of the above verse is:

Denying the Hukm of the Creator leads to spiritual distress and undignified conduct (Chaleya) of (spiritual) life.

ਤੇਰੈ ਨਾਇ ਰਤੇ ਸੇ ਜਿਣਿ ਗਏ ਹਾਰਿ ਗਏ ਸਿ ਠਗਣ ਵਾਲਿਆ ॥ Teyrey Naye Rattey Say Jinn Gaye Haar Gayey Se Thagun Valeya.

Vedic / Yogic / Literal Translation: Those who are imbued with Your Name win, while the cheaters lose.

Comment:

ਨਾਇ Naye is WRONGLY translated as YOUR NAME. Win what? Win / Lose Where ? Uthey? Who wins/loses ? Jee? Souls can “win or lose”?

By using Gurbani to understand Gurbani we get the meanings of the words.

ਨਾਇ Naye means HUKM. As in swcw swihbu swcu nwie Sacha Sahib Sach Naye. Meaning: The Creator (Sahib) is in Permanent Existance (Sacha); so is His Hukm (Naye). Naye comes from the word ਨਿਆਇ Niaye meaning system of judicious operation; meaning His Law. The words ਤੇਰੈ ਨਾਇ ਰਤੇ Tayrey Naye Rattey therefore mean “those who ACCEPT / ABIDE by Your HUKM The words ਠਗਣ ਵਾਲਿਆ Thagun Valeya are the OPPOSITE of that. They mean “those who DENY Your Hukm.

Again, taking into mind that the CONTEXT of the PAUREE is Hukm, using the Gurbani Framework, then, the meaning of the above verse is:

The acceptance of Your Hukm is my spiritual success; denying Your Hukm destructs my spirituality.

ਲਿਖਿ ਨਾਵੈ ਧਰਮੁ ਬਹਾਲਿਆ ॥ ੨ ॥Likh Navey Dhram Bhaleya.

Vedic / Yogic / Literal Translation: The Lord installed the Righteous Judge of Dharma to read and record the accounts.

Comment:

The underlined words do not exist in the Gurbani Verse. All underlined words contain concepts that are ALIEN to SIKHI and imported from other Vedic / Yogic spiritualties and force-inserted into Gurbani.

By using Gurbani to understand Gurbani we get the meanings of the words.

ਨਾਵੈ Navey grammatically operates as the OWNER of ਨਾਇ Naye which means HUKM. So NAYE is the Hukm and NAVEY is the HUKMEE; the MASTER of the Hukm meaning the Creator. ਧਰਮੁ (Dharam) as established in verse 1 means HUKM, the law of nature

Note: The FINAL verse of the Pauree always act as the Rahao Verse – the title verse or the verse with the gist of the message. Every verse of the pauree MUST be translated while keeping in mind the FINAL verse. This is how we know that the CONTEXT of this pauree is HUKM.

Taking into mind the Gurbani Framework, then, the meaning of the above verse is:

The Creator Creates the Hukm upon which His Creation is Established (Bhaleya).

POINTS TO NOTE.

Gurbani is talking about LIFE HERE and NOW. While the Vedic / Yogic translations are trying to steer Gurbani into LIFE AFTER DEATH. The Vedic / yogic systems are indeed obsessed with LIFE AFTER DEATH ; whereas Gurbani is focused on LIVING LIFE . The ultimate outcome of these mistranslations is the almost complete hijacking of Sikhi. Large majorities of Sikhs today accept these Vedic and Yogic concepts as Sikhi tenets. The hijacking of Gurbani happens through the following methods which may be deliberate or by error; Wrong Translation of Words Changed Concepts; Adding (in the translation) what is NOT contained in the Verse’ Changing the original words in the verse to suit the hijacking Presenting downright Illogical stuff. There is therefore a need to interpret Gurbani as Gurbani; using Gurbani as the only source of reference. End.

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