ਸਨਕਾਦਿਕ (sanak-aadik)
Meaning: noun: Sanak, etc.; the sons of Brahma, one of the three major gods in Hinduism.
Quote:
ਗੋਵਿੰਦ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਸਨਕਾਦਿਕ ਉਧਾਰੇ॥ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਸਬਦਿ ਬੀਚਾਰੇ॥
goviňd preet sanak-aadik udhaare. raam naam sabad beechaare.
Love of the Divine liberated Sanak, etc., the sons of Brahma. They contemplated on the Name of the Divine through the word of their guru. -Guru Amar Das Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, 1129
Message: A Mentor is needed in all aspects of life
The verse here refers to the four sons of Brahma, namely Sanak, Sanandan, Sanatan and Sanat Kumar.
Though the offsprings of Brahma, they were enlightened only by the word of their guru, Agastya.
There are many versions of the legend. According to one, they once stayed in the hermitage of the sage Agastya, who told them about the glory of the Divine. They sang praises of the Divine and relished them as their spiritual food.
Citing such examples, Gurbani advises us to seek the instructions of the Guru and thus be imbued with the love of the Divine.
It is love and devotion to divinity and spiritual wisdom that emancipated people from ancient times to the present era.
By listening to the inspiring words of the Guru, true love for the Divine arises in the mind.
As we learn and practice truth and love in life, these will move us closer to the Divine. We will experience the Divine to be near and dear to us in good times and bad.
ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾਦਿਕ ਸਨਕਾਦਿਕ ਸਨਕ ਸਨੰਦਨ ਸਨਾਤਨ ਸਨਤਕੁਮਾਰ ਤਿਨ ਕਉ ਮਹਲੁ ਦੁਲਭਾਵਉ॥
Even gods like Brahma, and his sons Sanak, Sanandan, Sanatan and Sanat Kumar, etc., found it difficult to obtain the abode of the Divine. -Guru Amar Das Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, 401
Image: Four sons of Brahma. Read more about them here.
Etymology: From Sanskrit sanak (ancient), sanatan (eternal), sanandan (joyful) and sanatkumar (ever young).
Summary of the Week:
Legends, myths and other forms of literature are part of a peoples’ heritage.
Over time, such stories have been passed down from previous generations and revolve around heroes and pious men, leaders and kings and teachers.
Despite the fact that such stories belong to the mists of time, there are many moral lessons that we derive from such stories.
So the Gurus used the names of wise and renowned personalities of the past as examples of people who remembered the Creator.
We have much to learn from the past which is preserved in Gurbani by our Gurus.
ਨਾਰਦ ਬਚਨ ਬਿਆਸੁ ਕਹਤ ਹੈ ਸੁਕ ਕਉ ਪੂਛਹੁ ਜਾਈ॥
ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਰਾਮੈ ਰਮਿ ਛੂਟਹੁ ਨਾਹਿ ਤ ਬੂਡੇ ਭਾਈ॥
Narad advises, Vyas states, and you may go and ask Sukdev as well. Kabir’s word is that only by reflecting on the Divine will you be saved, otherwise, you will drown, O Bhai. -Bhagat Kabir, Guru Granth Sahib, 1103
