Yogis: At which stage is the evil intellect dispelled? Why does one, not realizing the Essence, suffer the blows of destiny? Why does no one rescue those held in chains at Yama’s door? Why is there neither honour nor recognition without devotion to Shabd? Nanak: Evil thinking is destroyed by meditation on the Guru’s Shabd, and by meeting the true Guru one finds the door to salvation. Not understanding the Essence, the slave of the mind burns in the fire of passions, and separated from God through his evil thinking he suffers the blows of destiny.

1. 1
Adapted from Gurbani Selections 1: Sidh Gost – Guru Nanak Dev (Pub – RSSB)
Sidh Gost – Guru Nanak Dev
Introduction
Guru Nanak Dev’s well-known composition Sidh Gost is based on
his dialogues with the siddhas, who practiced a rigorous yogic
discipline called hatha yoga. Through this discipline they attained
supernatural powers (siddhis) and achieved a state of bliss through
Samadhi, a state of deep self-absorption which they believed
would ultimately lead to salvation.
According to tradition, Guru Nanak had four meetings with the
siddhas at different places. The dialogue was finally put to paper
later in Guru Nanak’s life, when he had settled in Kartarpur.
In this solemn interchange of ideas, Guru Nanak was meeting with
a group of older yogis who did not think much of him to start with
and addressed him as ‘young man’. As the dialogue progressed,
they began to realize that Nanak was no ordinary person, but a
mystic of great spiritual insight. Gone was the initial scepticism, and
they started addressing him with deep reverence.
At that time the yogis held considerable sway over the common
people, who were in awe and fear of their supernatural powers,
real or presumed. In contrast to their wandering ascetic way of life
and austere discipline of hatha yoga, Guru Nanak emphasized the
value of devotion in a balanced household life.
According to Guru Nanak it was not turning away from society and
roaming the forests, but meditation on the Shabd that brought
spiritual quality to life and opened the door to salvation. Without
mincing words the Guru opened the dialogue with a
straightforward message to the yogis (Adi Granth: 938 – 8):
ͩकआ भवीऐ सͬच सूचा होइ ॥ साच सबद ǒबनु मुकǓत न कोइ ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥

2. 2
Adapted from Gurbani Selections 1: Sidh Gost – Guru Nanak Dev (Pub – RSSB)
Of what avail is wandering around!
Truth alone brings about purification,
And without the true Shabd no liberation is possible.
With these words, Guru Nanak touched upon the core of his
philosophy. The rest of the dialogue is an elaboration on the
philosophy of Shabd and its role in the soul’s quest for Truth.
Both Guru Nanak and the yogis acknowledged that human suffering
resulted from past deeds, and that release from the web of action
and reaction can only be achieved through the control of one’s
mind.
They considered attainment of a higher state of consciousness as
an essential prerequisite to achieving the supreme object of life,
although their methods were different.
The yogis believed in renunciation, which entails physical
withdrawal from society, whereas Guru Nanak believed in inner
detachment and a life of devotion to God’s Nam while meeting
one’s social and moral obligations and remaining part of society, as
portrayed in the following lines (Adi Granth:938 – 15, 16):
जैसे जल मǑह कमलु Ǔनरालमु मुरगाई नै साणे ॥ सुरǓत सबǑद भव सागǽ
तरȣऐ नानक नामु वखाणे ॥
रहǑह इकांǓत एको मǓन वͧसआ आसा माǑह Ǔनरासो ॥
As the lotus growing in the water and the duck swimming in the
stream remain untouched by water, one crosses the ocean of
existence, O Nanak, by repeating God’s Nam and attuning one’s
consciousness to Shabd.
Let us live detached, with only the one Lord dwelling in our minds,
and remain desire-less amid temptations.
*******

3. 3
Adapted from Gurbani Selections 1: Sidh Gost – Guru Nanak Dev (Pub – RSSB)
Sidh Gost – Guru Nanak Dev
(Pauri 43 to 56)
AG: 942-18, 19 and 943-1
कवण मूलु कवण मǓत वेला ॥ तेरा कवणु गुǾ िजस का तू चेला ॥ कवण कथा
ले रहहु Ǔनराले ॥ बोलै नानकु सुणहु तुम बाले ॥ एसु कथा का देइ बीचाǽ ॥
भवजलु सबǑद लंघावणहाǽ ॥४३॥
Yogis:
What is the origin of your teaching and since when has it been in
operation? Who is your Guru? Whose disciple are you? What
teaching keeps you detached? Listen, O Nanak – explain to us,
young man, that teaching, and the Shabd that takes one across the
ocean of existence. [43]
AG: 943-1, 2, 3
पवन अम[भु सǓतगुर मǓत वेला ॥ सबदु गुǾ सुरǓत धुǓन चेला ॥ अकथ कथा ले
रहउ Ǔनराला ॥ नानक जुͬग जुͬग गुर गोपाला ॥ एकु सबदु िजतु कथा वीचारȣ
॥ गुरमुͨख हउमै अगǓन Ǔनवारȣ ॥४४॥
Nanak:
The breath of life28
is beginning of this teaching, which is imparted
by the true Guru. Shabd is the Guru, and consciousness attuned to
the divine melody is the disciple. By this unuttered sermon I remain
detached, and it is the Guru who, age after age, nourishes the
world, O Nanak. The Guru’s devotee, who meditates on the one
Shabd alone, extinguishes the fire of ego. [44]
AG: 943-3, 4, 5
मैण के दंत ͩकउ खाईऐ साǽ ॥ िजतु गरबु जाइ सु कवणु आहाǽ ॥ Ǒहवै का
घǽ मंदǽ अगǓन ͪपराहनु ॥ कवन गुफा िजतु रहै अवाहनु ॥ इत उत ͩकस कउ
जाͨण समावै ॥ कवन ͬधआनु मनु मनǑह समावै ॥४५॥
Yogis:
How can one chew iron with teeth of wax? What food eliminates
ego? How does one clothed in fire live in a house of ice29
? Where is
the cave in which one would remain unwavering30
? Whom should

4. 4
Adapted from Gurbani Selections 1: Sidh Gost – Guru Nanak Dev (Pub – RSSB)
one believe to be all-pervading – both here and hereafter – the One
into whom he will finally merge? What kind of contemplation will
make the mind merge into its own source? [45]
Note:
28. The breath of life (pawan) refers to the beginning of life when breath
was infused into matter.
29. House of ice: One’s body is consumed by passions of lust, greed,
jealousy and hatred as is a house of ice by fire burning in it.
30. Yogis retreat to and live in caves for uninterrupted meditation.
Considering prana (the life-breath) to be the vehicle of the mind, the
yogis use certain breath-control exercises to still the mind.
AG: 943-5, 6, 7
हउ हउ मै मै ͪवचहु खोवै ॥ दूजा मेटै एको होवै ॥ जगु करड़ा मनमुखु गावाǽ
॥ सबदु कमाईऐ खाईऐ साǽ ॥ अंतǐर बाहǐर एको जाणै ॥ नानक अगǓन मरै
सǓतगुर कै भाणै ॥४६॥
Nanak:
Eliminating his ego from within, one should eradicate duality and
become one with God. For the thoughtless egoist, the world is a
tough place – one can chew this iron only through the practice of
Shabd. It is by living in the true Guru’s will, O Nanak, the one Lord is
perceived both within and without, and the fire of passion is
extinguished. [46]
AG: 943-7, 8, 9
सच भै राता गरबु Ǔनवारै ॥ एको जाता सबदु वीचारै ॥ सबदु वसै सचु अंतǐर
हȣआ ॥ तनु मनु सीतलु रंͬग रंगीआ ॥ कामु Đोधु ǒबखु अगǓन Ǔनवारे ॥
नानक नदरȣ नदǐर ͪपआरे ॥४७॥
Nanak:
One who is imbued with the fear of the true One overcomes his
ego. By meditating on Shabd he realizes the one Lord. Through the
Shabd, Truth comes to abide in his heart, and imbued with God’s

5. 5
Adapted from Gurbani Selections 1: Sidh Gost – Guru Nanak Dev (Pub – RSSB)
love his body and mind are at peace. The fiery passions of lust and
anger are subdued, O Nanak, and one is blessed with the Beloved’s
merciful glance. [47]
AG: 943-9, 10, 11
कवन मुͨख चंदु Ǒहवै घǽ छाइआ ॥ कवन मुͨख सूरजु तपै तपाइआ ॥ कवन
मुͨख कालु जोहत Ǔनत रहै ॥ कवन बुͬध गुरमुͨख पǓत रहै ॥ कवनु जोधु जो
कालु संघारै ॥ बोलै बाणी नानकु बीचारै ॥४८॥
Yogis:
How does the chill and darkness of the moon receive the warm
radiance of the sun? By what means does death end its relentless
pursuit of life? By what wisdom does the honour of the Guru’s
devotee remain intact? Which heroic warrior slays the demon of
death? Nanak gives his considered answer: [48]
AG: 943-11, 12, 13
सबदु भाखत सͧस जोǓत अपारा ॥ सͧस घǐर सूǽ वसै ͧमटै अंͬधआरा ॥ सुखु
दुखु सम कǐर नामु अधारा ॥ आपे पाǐर उतारणहारा ॥ गुर परचै मनु साͬच
समाइ ॥ ĤणवǓत नानकु कालु न खाइ ॥४९॥
Nanak:
From the repetition of the Word comes the endless moonlight. The
sun abides in the home of the moon and dispels all darkness31
. God,
of his own accord, takes all those across the ocean of existence who
treats joy and sorrow alike and takes refuge in Nam. Says Nanak
humbly: one who by following the Guru’s instructions, keeps his
mind absorbed in Truth is not swallowed by death32
.
Note:
31. Just as the sun illumines the moon, repetition of the Word enables the
devotee to experience inner light within him, which dispels the darkness
of ignorance and, at a certain stage, resembles soothing moonlight.
32. When someone is not swallowed by death it means that he is no longer
subject to the cycle of birth and death.

6. 6
Adapted from Gurbani Selections 1: Sidh Gost – Guru Nanak Dev (Pub – RSSB)
AG: 943-13, 14
नाम ततु सभ हȣ ͧसǐर जापै ॥ ǒबनु नावै दुखु कालु संतापै ॥ ततो ततु ͧमलै
मनु मानै ॥ दूजा जाइ इकतु घǐर आनै ॥ बोलै पवना गगनु गरजै ॥ नानक
Ǔनहचलु ͧमलणु सहजै ॥५०॥
Nanak:
Nam is the essence and most exalted of devotional practices.
Without devotion to Nam one is afflicted by the pain of birth and
death. When the human essence merges with the divine Essence,
the mind is appeased. Rid of duality, one enters the home of Unity.
O Nanak, one then hears the spiritual sound like the blowing of the
wind and resounding of the heavens, and one attains spontaneous
union with the eternal Lord. [50]
AG: 943-15, 16, 17
अंतǐर सुंनं बाहǐर सुंनं ǒğभवण सुंन मसुंनं ॥ चउथे सुंनै जो नǽ जाणै ता कउ
पापु न पुंनं ॥ घǑट घǑट सुंन का जाणै भेउ ॥ आǑद पुरखु Ǔनरंजन देउ ॥ जो
जनु नाम Ǔनरंजन राता ॥ नानक सोई पुरखु ǒबधाता ॥५१॥
Nanak:
It is all sunn, within as well as without, and sunn pervades the three
worlds. One who realizes the sunn of the fourth plane33
is beyond
virtue and vice. One who knows the secret of the sunn in every
heart is an image of the primal, immaculate Lord. One who is
absorbed in the immaculate Nam, O Nanak, himself becomes the
Creator Lord. [51]
Note:
33. There are four planes, spheres, realms or divisions of existence: Pind,
And, Brahmand and Sach Khand. The first three are the divisions of
creation, conditioned by time, hence subject to dissolution. The sunn of
the fourth plane (chautha pad) which falls in Sach Khand is the realm of
eternity.
Pind and And comprise of physical, astral and causal regions of Triloki
under Brahmn whereas Brahmand here refers to the Parbrahmn region
also known as Mahasunn.

7. 7
Adapted from Gurbani Selections 1: Sidh Gost – Guru Nanak Dev (Pub – RSSB)
AG: 943-17, 18
सुंनो सुंनु कहै सभु कोई ॥ अनहत सुंनु कहा ते होई ॥ अनहत सुंǓन रते से कै से
॥
Yogis:
All talk of sunn at great length; where did the eternal sunn
originate? What kind of devotees are those who are absorbed in
the eternal sunn?
िजस ते उपजे Ǔतस हȣ जैसे ॥ ओइ जनͧम न मरǑह न आवǑह जाǑह ॥ नानक
गुरमुͨख मनु समझाǑह ॥५२॥
Nanak:
They are akin to the One from whom they originated. They are not
caught up in the cycle of birth and death – they neither come nor
go. By the Guru’s grace, O Nanak, they have counselled their mind
and won it over. [52]
AG: 943-19 and 944-1
नउ सर सुभर दसवै पूरे ॥ तह अनहत सुंन वजावǑह तूरे ॥ साचै राचे देͨख
हजूरे ॥ घǑट घǑट साचु रǑहआ भरपूरे ॥ गुपती बाणी परगटु होइ ॥ नानक
परͨख लए सचु सोइ ॥५३॥
Nanak:
By complete control of the nine doors they have secured the tenth,
where the un-struck music of the eternal sunn resounds. Finding
themselves in the presence of the true Lord, they become absorbed
in him and see the Truth pervading all hearts. When the Un-
manifest Word is revealed to them, O Nanak, they come to realize
the Truth. [53]
AG: 944-1, 2, 3
सहज भाइ ͧमलȣऐ सुखु होवै ॥ गुरमुͨख जागै नीद न सोवै ॥ सुंन सबदु
अपम[पǐर धारै ॥ कहते मुकतु सबǑद Ǔनसतारै ॥ गुर कȧ दȣͨखआ से सͬच राते
॥ नानक आपु गवाइ ͧमलण नहȣ ħाते ॥५४॥
Nanak:

8. 8
Adapted from Gurbani Selections 1: Sidh Gost – Guru Nanak Dev (Pub – RSSB)
Peace is attained by meeting God when devotion becomes natural.
Ever awake in God, the Guru’s devotee never sleeps. Repeating
Nam he gets attuned to the boundless Shabd of Sunn, and through
the Shabd he attains salvation. Those initiated by the Guru are
absorbed in the Truth. Effacing their ego, O Nanak, they end their
wanderings and unite with God. [54]
AG: 944-3, 4, 5
कु बुͬध चवावै सो ͩकतु ठाइ ॥ ͩकउ ततु न बूझै चोटा खाइ ॥ जम दǐर बाधे
कोइ न राखै ॥ ǒबनु सबदै नाहȣ पǓत साखै ॥ ͩकउ कǐर बूझै पावै पाǽ ॥
नानक मनमुͨख न बुझै गवाǽ ॥५५॥
Yogis:
At which stage is the evil intellect dispelled? Why does one, not
realizing the Essence, suffer the blows of destiny? Why does no one
rescue those held in chains at Yama’s door? Why is there neither
honour nor recognition without devotion to Shabd? How is it that
the ignorant slave of the mind does not know how to grasp the
Essence, O Nanak, and swim across the ocean of existence? [55]
AG: 944-5, 6, 7
कु बुͬध ͧमटै गुर सबदु बीचाǐर ॥ सǓतगुǽ भेटै मोख दुआर ॥ ततु न चीनै
मनमुखु जͧल जाइ ॥ दुरमǓत ͪवछु ͫड़ चोटा खाइ ॥ मानै हुकमु सभे गुण
ͬगआन ॥ नानक दरगह पावै मानु ॥५६॥
Nanak:
Evil thinking is destroyed by meditation on the Guru’s Shabd, and
by meeting the true Guru one finds the door to salvation. Not
understanding the Essence, the slave of the mind burns in the fire
of passions, and separated from God through his evil thinking he
suffers the blows of destiny. One who submits to God’s command
gains wisdom and all good qualities, O Nanak, and receives honour
in the divine court. [56]
*******