Nanak now turns his attention from the means of salvation, to the working of God’s creation. The universe moves on the triple principles concerned respectively with creating, sustaining and destroying. All these principles work according to His will and are only His agents. But though God watches over these agents, they paradoxically cannot know Him who is the Subjective and the Formless, since they are part of the objective creation.
Stanza XXX
The Great Mother,1 conceiving, brought forth three regents; the first creating, the second sustaining, and the last destroying. What He desires, they perform, They work under His Will. But great the wonder, though He watches over them, they behold Him not. Hail, Hail to Him alone, the Primal, Pure, Eternal, Immortal, and Immutable in all ages!
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Explanation: 1) Maee: This word in the original, can mean both Mother and Maya, illusionary matter. Nanak, referring to the two meanings, regards Maya as a mother who has borne three sons, who symbolise the three principles that sustain her dominion. They are the three deities representing the Trinity: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, the creator, the sustainer and the destroyer respectively; but all working only under His Will with no say of their own. Hence, Nanak enjoins the worship of the highest only and not gods and goddesses of a lower order.