Book X / II – (iv)
Charan Dhur: Its Merits
1. It rids one of all pains and sorrows, and the grief of separation.
They alone are rich, oh Lord (complete and perfect as Thou art) who practice the Word under the guidance of a Master, poor Nanak asks for the Dust of a Sadhu, for it rids the mind of all pains, sorrows and grief.
Guru Ram Das, Asa M4
All ills vanish, pains and sorrows depart, when one is purified by the dust of the Saints.
Guru Arjan, Asa M5
All ills have taken leave, now that I have tasted the Dust of a Saint; it sanctifies the sinner in no time by dispelling the darkness of ignorance.
Guru Arjan, Ramkali M5
2. It casts off lusts and egotism.
Take a daily dip in the dust of the Master, It will wash off the egotism of ages on ages.
Guru Arjan, Gauri M5
Besmear your face and forehead with the dust of a Sadhu and rid yourself of the filth of lust and fury, see the Light of God even in the pariah and wish well to all.
Guru Arjan, Dev Gandhari M5
3. It sanctifies the mind by destroying sins and removing the accumulated filth of ages.
My perfect Satguru, I have taken shelter with thee; the mind gets rarefied with the dust of the Saints.
Guru Arjan, Vadhans M5
The eyes are purified by Thy sight, and the hands when they are engaged in Thy Service; the heart is purified by Thy presence within and the forehead by the dust of the Saints.
Guru Arjan, Sarang M5
The sacred waters of the Ganges, Jumna, Godavari and Sarasati strive for the dust of the Sadhus (outer); we, filled with all ills and egotism, can also be purified by the dust of the Sadhus (inner).
Guru Ram Das, Malar M4
A dip in the dust of the devotee's feet washes down the ills of ages upon ages.
Guru Arjan, Kanra M5
Besmear the dust of Saints on your forehead, and cleanse yourself of the ills of past ages.
Guru Arjan, Ramkali M5
4. It fulfills all wishes and desires and even the innate latencies of the mind.
The contact with the feet of the Master awakens Reality and fulfills all desires; the dust of the Saints is wish-yielding and brings about union with the Lord.
Guru Arjan, Bilawal M5
In His great mercy, God has brought me to a perfect Master, all my heart's desires have now been fulfilled with the dust of the Master.
Guru Ram Das, Gauri M4
5. It is the harbinger of peace and bliss, grants freedom from the cycle of births and deaths, and saves one from the Angel of Death.
After long and ceaseless wanderings I have come unto Thee, Hari Rai, the Destroyer of all fear; the devotees get bliss through the dust of a Sadh and Nanak too has been so blessed.
Guru Arjan, Gujri M5
Be in communion with the Holy Word, for that is the true devotion; the company of the Saints puts an end to births and deaths, oh Nanak! This is the virtue of their dust.
Guru Arjan, Gauri M5
Obeisance unto the Saviour, who got us absorbed in Him, a bath in the dust of a Sadhu, oh Nanak! bestows innumerable blessings.
Guru Arjan, Parbhati M5
Their (Saints') very sight is the source of great bliss, and their dust rescues one from death.
Guru Arjan, Ramkali M5
Nanak says: He who secures the Saint's dust within, even the Angel of Death cannot come near him.
Guru Arjan, Gauri M5
6. It helps in saving millions of souls and one becomes Jivan Mukta or liberated in life.
Besmear the face and forehead with the dust of a Sadhu, oh Nanak! Thus saved, sing the praises of the Lord.
Guru Arjan, Suhi M5
Grant unto me the devotion of the Master, oh Satguru, so that I may remain absorbed in the all-pervading Word; grant me the dust of a perfect Master, oh Lord, so the sinners like me may also rest in Thee, freed from all bondage.
Guru Amar Das, Suhi M3Dyed in the colour of the Lord, my mind sings of the Lord, salvation comes from the dust (the Word) of a Sadhu.
Guru Arjan, Parbhati M5
God be merciful to poor Nanak! Grant unto him the dust of the Sadhus so that he may be saved.
Guru Arjan, Bilawal M5
7. It opens the inner vision wherewith one sees and witnesses the All-Pervading Power of God everywhere.
I crave the dust of Thy devotees; by practice of the Word, oh Nanak! God Himself becomes visible.
Guru Arjan, Basant M5
In the dust of the Sadhu, one witnesses the presence of God around him.
Guru Arjan, Basant M5
8. It gives bliss here and hereafter and one is honoured at His Court.
Whoever dedicates his life to the service of the Lord (Hari) and with full faith has besmeared his face with the dust of a Sadh Guru shines in the glory of the Lord both here and hereafter and is imbued with intoxication to the core of his heart.
Guru Ram Das, Jaitsri M4
Those who adorn themselves with the dust of a Sadhu, turn their back on the world and turn to the Word, They are honoured in His Court and their faces shine with glory.
Guru Ram Das, Gauri M4
In the Court of God they sit in honour and glory, lowly Nanak prays for the dust of such devotees of the Master.
Guru Ram Das, Gauri War M4
9. It grants the bliss of Sehaj.
Oh Nanak! In the dust of the devotee there is the bliss of Sehaj and extreme ecstasy; all things get straightened by themselves by devotion to the perfect Master.
Guru Arjan, Asa M5
10. It effects union with Truth.
Live in devotion to the feet of a Sadh, besmear your body with the dust of his feet, serve him with all your mind and soul, then shall you reach the True Homeland.
Guru Arjan, Asa M5
It grants conquest over death and all the deadly sins drop off by themselves. Nature, the handmaid of God, becomes a bound slave. With the inner vision opened, one sees God everywhere and spends his days happily in His beneficent presence, a conscious co-worker with Him.