Maya the enticer makes you crave more the more you have, reaching everywhere and seeming sweet to mind and body; but by the Guru's grace her deception is seen through, her courtiers subdued, the noose cut, and the soul comes home in peace.
The Arc
Pauri 0: the more he has, the more he craves; the Guru's feet save him. The Pause (Pauri 1): Maya renounced, the Absolute met, congratulations pouring in. Pauri 2: Maya's beauty reaches everywhere, but grace sees through her. Pauri 3: her courtiers are deceivers, but grace subdues them. Pauri 4: bliss, fear gone, noose cut — home in peace.
Key Vocabulary
the insatiable craving: the more you have, the more you want
Maya the enticer: seeming sweet to mind and body, reaching everywhere (cf. Shabad 92, Shabad 95)
her courtiers: the great deceivers who serve Maya, subdued by grace
the noose cut / home in peace: freedom and the interior home
Themes and Cross-Connections
Maya as enticer continues Shabad 92 and Shabad 95 — and again grace turns the tables, subduing her courtiers, whom the hymn calls great deceivers. "The more he has, the more he craves" names the insatiability of desire (Shabad 102). The noose cut and "dwell in my own home" join freedom with the interior home (Shabad 36, Shabad 95).
For Raag Aasaa
Aasaa's hope is liberation from a sweetness that never satisfies: see through it by grace, and come home in peace. The mood is bright and relieved — the enticer thrown off, the soul at home.
Maya the enticer makes you crave more the more you have, reaching everywhere and seeming sweet to mind and body; but by the Guru's grace her deception is seen through, her courtiers subdued, the noose cut, and the soul comes home in peace.
The Arc
Pauri 0: the more he has, the more he craves; the Guru's feet save him. The Pause (Pauri 1): Maya renounced, the Absolute met, congratulations pouring in. Pauri 2: Maya's beauty reaches everywhere, but grace sees through her. Pauri 3: her courtiers are deceivers, but grace subdues them. Pauri 4: bliss, fear gone, noose cut — home in peace.
Key Vocabulary
Themes and Cross-Connections
Maya as enticer continues Shabad 92 and Shabad 95 — and again grace turns the tables, subduing her courtiers, whom the hymn calls great deceivers. "The more he has, the more he craves" names the insatiability of desire (Shabad 102). The noose cut and "dwell in my own home" join freedom with the interior home (Shabad 36, Shabad 95).
For Raag Aasaa
Aasaa's hope is liberation from a sweetness that never satisfies: see through it by grace, and come home in peace. The mood is bright and relieved — the enticer thrown off, the soul at home.