ਉਲਾਹਨੋ (ulaahano)
Meaning: noun: Reproach, complaint.
Quote:
ਉਲਾਹਨੋ ਮੈ ਕਾਹੂ ਨ ਦੀਓ॥ ਮਨ ਮੀਠ ਤੁਹਾਰੋ ਕੀਓ॥
ulaahano mai kaahoo na deeo. man meeṭh tuhaaro keeo.
(O Divine!) I do not complain to anyone, because everything done by You is sweet to my mind. -Guru Arjan Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, 978
Message: In all sweetness…through joy and sorrow
Guru Arjan’s older brother, Prithi Chand, had feelings of animosity towards him. Their father had passed the guruship to Guru Arjan who was younger and not Prithi Chand who was older.
The ambitious Prithi Chand not only opposed the passing of guruship to his brother, he maneuvered circumstances in order to receive offerings made to the Guru’s house to himself.
This is one of the incidents, there are many. Yet, the Guru humbly states that he will not complain as he sees this as the will of the Divine.
The devotees never complain, whatever befalls them in life. They live by remembering, reflecting, and following the teachings of the Guru. They come to realise that the Divine pervades everywhere and in everyone.
With such a tendency and attitude of the mind, we can make diligent effort and then accept every event or circumstance as the will of the Divine and face it boldly.
He who lives in harmony with himself lives in harmony with the universe. -Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor, 121-180
Etymology: From Sanskrit upaalambh (reproach, blame) → Pali upaarambh → Prakrit uvaalaṁbh/olaalaṁbh → Marwari olamu, Hindi olaabhaa, Sindhi olaabho and Punjabi ulaambhaa.
