ਜਨਮੇਜਾ (jan-mejaa)
Meaning: noun: Janmeja or Janamejaya, a king and grandson of Arjun, one of the five brothers (Pandavas) mentioned in the Hindu epic, Mahabharat.
Quote:
ਰੋਵੈ ਜਨਮੇਜਾ ਖੁਇ ਗਇਆ॥ ਏਕੀ ਕਾਰਣਿ ਪਾਪੀ ਭਇਆ॥
ਰਾਜਾ ਜਨਮੇਜਾ ਰੋਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਜਦੋਂ ਉਹ (ਸਹੀ ਜੀਵਨ ਰਾਹ ) ਤੋਂ ਖੁੰਝ ਗਿਆ। ਇਕ (ਗਲਤੀ ) ਕਾਰਨ ਪਾਪੀ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ।
rovai jan-mejaa khui ga-iaa. ekee kaaraṇ paapee bha-iaa.
King Janmeja wept when he had lost his way. On account of one mistake, he became a sinner. -Guru Nanak Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, 954
Message: The verse above refers to the legend of King Janmeja who became very proud of his charitable works. Rebelling against the advice of his guru, Vyas, he made a mistake that led to suffering and a great shame.
According to the legend, King Janmeja did not follow the advice of his spiritual mentor, Vyas, and married a beautiful damsel he was forbidden to. When his queen appeared at a public feast that he organised wearing transparent clothes, the Brahmins he invited laughed. This enraged him and he killed them. As a result of this killing, the legend says, he became a leper and regretted his disobedience and killing the priests. For this one mistake, he was called a sinner.
Do we also at times tend to ignore the Guru’s instruction?
That may be one of the causes of distress in our life. Let us pay heed to the Guru’s advice and live in accordance with the teachings enshrined in Guru Granth Sahib.
ਜਨਮੇਜੈ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੁ ਨ ਜਾਨਿਆ॥
ਕਿਉ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਵੈ ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲਾਨਿਆ॥ ਇਕੁ ਤਿਲੁ ਭੂਲੇ ਬਹੁਰਿ ਪਛੁਤਾਨਿਆ॥
King Janmeja did not understand (and accept) the word of his mentor. How could he find peace deluded by doubt? Later he repented of making this small mistake. -Guru Nanak Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, 224
