Ans. A Sikh is both a saint as well as a soldier. A soldier stands daily in line and takes the order for the day from his/her commanding officer.
Similarly, a Sikh joins, everyday, the holy cong’ egation (Sangat) and takes commandment (Hukam) from the true emperor, Guru Granth Sahib. He/she then bows and takes a vow to lead his/her life according to this commandment (that particular day).
It is appropriate to recite a salok (couplet) portraying humility before taking of the cover (rumala) with great respect. Better yet, the following saloks may be recited:
ਖੰਡ ਵਿਕਾਂਦੜੇ ਜੇ ਲਹਾਂ ਜਿੰਨਾ ਸਾਵੀ ਤੋਲਿ॥
ਤੀਨਿ ਜੜਾਈ ਆਪਣੈ ਲਹਾਂ ਸੁ ਸਜਣੁ ਟੋਲਿ॥
ਸਜਣੁ ਸਚਾ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹੁ ਸਿਰਿ ਸਾਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਸਾਹੁ॥
ਜਿਸੁ ਪਾਸਿ ਬਹਿਠਿਆ ਸੋਹੀਐ ਸਭਨਾ ਦਾ ਵੇਸਾਹੁ॥
(SGGS, 1426)
(If there were wings for sale, I would buy them even if I had to pay my flesh in equal weight. Fixing them on my body I would seek the Divine friend. The true friend is the king of kings (Waheguru) whose company exalts one and who is prop to all).
In order to pick the hymn (commandment) the top hymn of the left hand side page be read from the beginning. If it starts from the previous page then the leaf should be turned and the hymn read. If the commandment happens to be a part of a ‘vaar’ then all the saloks proceeding the ‘pauri’ (including the pauri itself) should be read. Whether it is a ‘chhant’ or an ‘ashtpadi’ the conclusion of the hymn is where, at the end of the last stanza, the term “Nanak” comes. That is where one should stop.No commandment is harsh or soothing. Every one of them is a Divine message. Even if you remember by heart, a hymn that is being read by the Granthi, do not recite along with him. Only listen respectfully. It is recommended that the page and the first sentence of the hymn should be announced loudly after it has been recited. This is the practice at the Golden Temple Amritsar.
To pick a number of sheets of Guru Granth Sahib from both sides and then separating them at random, in order to get the commandment hymn, is not proper. This is a practice in Islam and is known as “doing the faal”.