Gurbani Word Of The Day: ku-sat

Theme for the Week:
The language of Gurbani is of a very mixed character, since it draws upon a variety of local languages and dialects. Sometimes the authors use existing words to express multiple meanings. On occasions they use words borrowed from other languages. They even coin new words to express some of their ideas.

Various ways have been used to express opposites in Gurbani. In one of our earlier issues, we discussed opposites formed by adding a suffix ‘a’ to words.

This week we bring you another sample of such words. These words are formed by adding a prefix ‘ku’ to them, which makes them opposite in their general usage and meaning. These are the words where a prefix reverses the meaning.

Language is a city, to the building of which, every human being brought a stone. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

ਕੁਸਤਿ (ku-sat)
Meaning: noun: Untruth, falsehood.

Quote:
ਇਹੁ ਸਰੀਰੁ ਕੂੜਿ ਕੁਸਤਿ ਭਰਿਆ   ਗਲਤਾਈ ਪਾਪ ਕਮਾਏ॥
ih sareer kooṛ kusat bhariaa   galtaaee paap kamaae.
maanukh kau jaachat sram paaeeai   prabh kai simran mokh.
One, whose body remains filled with lies and falsehood, continues to commit wrongdoings by being engrossed in these vices. – Guru Amar Das Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, 245

Message: So often on the journey of life, we come to crossroads and have to make choices. It is difficult to know the future, or where our choices will take us. The majority of us are led by egoism, our senses, and the attraction for worldly comfort. No wonder the mind remains filled with falsehood and deception. Remaining on the opposite side of truth, one continues in a spiral of wrongdoing. This leads ultimately to discontent and restlessness.

At crossroads, our decisions require an injection of truth. The Guru’s wisdom when understood and applied in our life, leads us to make decisions which bring us closer to the divine consciousness that we are a part of. Through the practice of love for truth and virtue, we keep away from lies, falsehood and deception. We begin to understand the need to shed egoism, and to embrace virtues, which cleanse our body and mind.

Etymology: Blend of ku, prefix (un-) + sat (truth) from Sanskrit satya (true, truth, promise).