MAYA – SELECTED VERSES
These are some of the
verses on *Maya* mostly taken from the **Sri Guru Granth Sahib**, along with
page numbers. The term *Maya* encompasses the transient aspects of life and
human attachments. Gurbani uses words like *कूड़* (falsehood), *माई* (mother), *मोहि* (attachment), *रोगी* (diseased), *सुपने* (dream), worldly darkness, and personal possessions
to allude to Maya. Also included are verses from Kabir Sahib, Baba Farid, Baba
Bulleh Shah, and Allama Iqbal.
---
1. **Guru Nanak Sahib on
Truth and Illusion**
**Page 1**
**किव सचिआरा होईऐ किव कूड़े
तुटे पाल ॥
हुकमि रजाई चलਣਾ नानक लिखिआ नालि ॥**
*(Translation)*
So how can you become truthful? And how can
the veil of illusion be torn away? O Nanak, it is written that you shall obey
the Hukam of His Command, and walk in the Way of His Will.
*(Interpretation)*
To attain truthfulness and break free from
illusions, one must surrender to the Divine Will. Following His command and
embracing righteousness leads to liberation from the confines of *Maya*.
---
2. **The Divine Mother and
the Illusory Trinity**
**Page 7**
**एका माई जुगति विआई तिनि
चेले परवाणु ॥
इकु संसारी इकु भंडारी इकु लाए
दीबाणु ॥**
*(Translation)*
The One Divine Mother conceived and gave
birth to the three deities. One is the Creator of the World, One is the
Sustainer, and One is the Destroyer.
*(Interpretation)*
*Maya*, as the Divine Creative Force,
manifests in creation, sustenance, and destruction, symbolizing unity in
diversity. These "three disciples" represent divine functions, acting
by the Creator’s command.
---
3. **Guru Arjan Dev Ji on
Attachment to Maya**
**Page 204**
**माया मोहि सभो जगु सूता
॥
किउ बिनु सतिगुरु भरमु चुकै
॥**
*(Translation)*
The whole world is asleep, in the bondage of
attachment to Maya. How can it be freed of doubt without the True Guru?
*(Interpretation)*
The world lies trapped in Maya’s delusions.
Liberation from this illusion requires the True Guru’s guidance, who dispels
doubts and awakens one to divine truth.
---
4. **The False Wisdom of
the Mind**
**Page 467**
**नानक मती मिथिआ करमु सचा
नीसाणु ॥ २ ॥**
*(Translation)*
O Nanak, all these things (including the
wisdom of the self) are false or a myth. True is the Insignia of His Grace.
*(Interpretation)*
Wisdom derived from worldly knowledge is
illusory. True understanding comes from Divine grace, which marks the authentic
truth in our lives.
---
5. **Guru Nanak Sahib on
the Illusion of Worldly Power**
**Page 468**
**कूड़ु राजा कूड़ु परजा कूड़ु
सभु संसारु ॥
कूड़ु मंडप कूड़ु माड़ी कूड़ु
बैसणहारु ॥
कूड़ु सुइना कूड़ु रुपा कूड़ु
पैन्हणहारु ॥
कूड़ि कूड़ै नेहु लगा विसरिआ करतारु
॥
किसु नालि कीचै दोसती सभु जगु
चलणहारु ॥**
*(Translation)*
False is the king, false are the subjects;
false is the whole world. False are the mansions, false the houses, and false
are those who dwell within them.
*(Interpretation)*
All worldly power, wealth, and relationships
are transient illusions, binding people to pride and attachments.
---
6. **The Three Gunas as
Illusions**
**Page 1123**
**रज गुण तम गुण सत गुण कहीऐ
इह तेरी सभ माइआ ॥
चौथे पद कउ जो नरु चीन्है तिन्ह
ही परम पदु पाइआ ॥**
*(Translation)*
Raajas (activity), Taamas (inertia), and
Satva (purity) are all creations of Maya. Only those who realize the fourth
state attain the supreme state.
*(Interpretation)*
The qualities of Rajas, Tamas, and Satva are
illusions. True liberation requires transcending these qualities to reach the
Divine.
---
7. **Guru Arjan Dev Ji on
Spiritual Disease**
**Page 1140**
**जो जो दीसै सो सो रोगी
॥
रोग रहित मेरा सतिगुरु जोगी ॥१॥
रहाउ ॥**
*(Translation)*
Whoever I see is diseased. Only my True
Guru, the True Yogi, is free of disease.
*(Interpretation)*
This verse highlights the spiritual
afflictions present in the world. The True Guru, embodying divine purity,
guides others beyond the "diseases" of ego, desire, and attachment.
---
8. **Attachment to Maya as
Sorrow**
**Page 1140**
**माइआ मोहि कड़े कड़ि पचिआ
॥
बिनु नावै भ्रमि भ्रमि खपिआ ॥१॥
रहाउ ॥**
*(Translation)*
In love and attachment to Maya, mortals are
consumed by deep sorrow. Without the Name, they wander endlessly and waste
away.
*(Interpretation)*
Attachment to *Maya* fills life with sorrow
and dissatisfaction, leaving individuals spiritually lost.
---
9. **Kabir on Maya as a
Whirlpool**
**Page 1365**
**कबीर माया डोलनी पवनु
झकोलनहारु ॥
साकत बूडे बूडि गए कहि कबीर
बीचारु ॥**
*(Translation)*
Kabir, Maya is the whirlpool, and the wind
is the one who rocks it. The faithless cynics are drowned, says Kabir after
deep reflection.
*(Interpretation)*
*Maya* is like a whirlpool, with desires as
winds that agitate it. True understanding helps transcend this illusion.
---
10. **Baba Farid on the
Futility of Worldly Attachments**
**Page 1380**
**फरीदा कोठे मंडप माड़ीआ
उसारेदे भी गए।
कूड़ा सउदा करि गए गोरी आइ
पए॥**
*(Translation)*
Farid, those who built mansions and lofty
buildings have also passed away.
*(Interpretation)*
Worldly possessions are futile, as those
who amass them ultimately leave empty-handed.
---
11. **Guru Nanak Sahib on
False Pride**
**Page 1428**
**झूठै मानु कहा करै जगु सुपने
जिउ जानु ॥
इन मै कछु तेरो नही नानक कहिओ
बखानि ॥४१॥**
*(Translation)*
Why take false pride in yourself? Know that
the world is just a dream.
*(Interpretation)*
Worldly pride is futile; life is fleeting,
like a dream, and nothing truly belongs to us.
---
12. **Guru Nanak Sahib on
the Mind’s Entrapment in Maya**
**Page 1428**
**मनु माइआ मै रमि रहिओ निकसत
नाहिन मीत ॥
नानक मूरति चित्र जिउ छाडित
नाहिन भीति ॥३७॥**
*(Translation)*
The mind is absorbed in Maya—it cannot
escape it, my friend.
*(Interpretation)*
A mind caught in Maya is fixed, like a
picture on a wall, unable to break free.
---
13. **Guru Nanak Sahib on
the Dream-like World**
**Page 1429**
**रामु गइओ रावनु गइओ जा कउ
बहु परवारु ॥
कहु नानक थिरु कछु नही सुपने जिउ
संसारु ॥५०॥**
*(Translation)*
Ram Chand and Ravan both passed away.
Nothing lasts forever; the world is like a dream.
*(Interpretation)*
Life is as fleeting as a dream; even the
powerful must depart.
---
14. **Guru Nanak Sahib on
Worry and Impermanence**
**Page 1429**
**चिंता ता की कीजीऐ जो अनहोनी
होइ ॥
इहु मारगु संसार को नानक थिरु
नही कोइ ॥५१॥**
*(Translation)*
Why worry? Nothing here is permanent.
*(Interpretation)*
Worry is an illusion; stability exists only
in the Divine.
---
15. **Guru Nanak Sahib on
Creation and Destruction**
**Page 1429**
**जो उपजिओ सो बिनसि है परो
आजु कै कालि ॥
नानक हरि गुन गाइ ले
छाडि सगल जंजाल ॥५२॥**
*(Translation)*
Everything created will be destroyed; only
Divine praise brings freedom.
*(Interpretation)*
True liberation lies in praising the Divine
and letting go of worldly distractions.
---
16. **Kabir on Life’s
Transience**
**क्या माँग कछु थिर न रहाई, देखत नैन चल्यो जग जाई।
इक लख पूत सवालख नाती, जा रावन घर दिया न बाती ।
कहैं कबीर अंत की बारी, हाथ झारि ज्यों चला
जुवारी।**
*(Translation)*
Ravan, with all his wealth, left
empty-handed. Life’s attachments fade.
---
17. **Kabir on the
Persistent Nature of Desire**
**माया मारी न मन मरा, मर मर गए शरीर।
आशा तृष्णा ना मारी कह गए दास
कबीर॥**
*(Translation)*
Maya has not been conquered, nor has the
mind died; the body may perish, but desire remains.
*(Interpretation)*
Worldly desires persist even when the body
dies, making true liberation elusive.
---
18. **Baba Bulleh Shah on
Inner Reflection**
**ऐथे दुनिया विच हनेरा है अते
तिलकन बाज़ी वेहड़ा है।
अंदर वड के वेखो केहड़ा है, बाहर खलकत पई डूंड दी
है।
मूहं आई बात ना रहन्दी
है!**
*(Translation)*
In this world, there is darkness; look
within, as the masses search outside.
*(Interpretation)*
True understanding lies within; outer
appearances are deceptive.
---
19. **Allama Iqbal on the
Illusion of Wealth**
**ये माल-ओ-दौलत-ए-दुनिया, ये रिश्ता ओ पैवंद
बुतान-ए-वहम-ओ-गुमाँ, ला-इलाहा-इल्लल्लाह।**
*(Translation)*
This world of riches and bonds are idols of
illusion. Only the Divine is true.
---
20. **Sayyad Baqar Hussain
on the Enchantment of Maya**
**अजब अंदाज़ तुझको नरगिसे
मस्ताना आता है
के हर होशियार यहाँ बन्ने को
दीवाना आता है।**
*(Translation)*
O enchanting illusion, even the wise seek
madness from you.
*(Interpretation)*
Maya entices even the wise, challenging
true wisdom.
---
This document provides
insight into the transient nature of worldly attachments and *Maya*,
highlighting the importance of seeking the eternal Divine truth beyond
illusions.
