Shattering and breaking apart, He creates and re-creates; creating, He shatters again. He builds up what He has demolished, and demolishes what He has built.
ਸਰ ਭਰਿ ਸੋਖੈ ਭੀ ਭਰਿ ਪੋਖੈ ਸਮਰਥ ਵੇਪਰਵਾਹੈ ॥
sar bhar sokhai bhee bhar pokhai samrath vayparvaahai.
He dries up the pools which are full, and fills the dried tanks again. He is all-powerful and independent.
Bhabha: The way of the terrifying world-ocean is treacherous. Remain free of hope, in the midst of hope, and you shall cross over.
ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਆਪੋ ਚੀਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੈ ਜੀਵਤਿਆ ਇਵ ਮਰੀਐ ॥੪੧॥
gur parsaadee aapo cheenHai jeevti-aa iv maree-ai. ||41||
By Guru's Grace, one comes to understand himself; in this way, he remains dead while yet alive. ||41||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
In plain words
The One shapes and reshapes without end — building up what was taken down, and taking down to build anew.
It dries the brimming pool and fills the dry one again, all-powerful and utterly carefree.
Lost in doubt, people go crazy; without good fortune, what can anyone gain?
Those turned toward the Guru know the One holds the string — wherever it pulls, there they go.
Those who sing the One's praises stay colored in love forever and are never sorry again.
Whoever searches and turns toward the Guru comes to live at home in their own heart.
The way across the frightening world-ocean is hard — stay free of hope in the middle of hopes, and you cross.
By the Guru's grace you come to know yourself; this is how the self dies away while you are still alive.
Hold your hopes lightly and the crossing gets easier.
The deeper layer
The great litany of building and dissolving — providence beyond our control (vayparvaah, carefree). Prabh doree pakrhee — the One holds the string; an image of trusting surrender. Aas niraasaa taree-ai — you cross by holding your hopes lightly, in equipoise. Jeevti-aa iv maree-ai — dying-while-living, the ego released, framed positively.
A Question to Sit With
What would it feel like to want something and still hold it lightly?
