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Sikhism·Aasaa Kee Vaar·Aasaa Kee Vaar, Pauri 1
Verse 13 of 85

Real Wisdom Can't Be Bought; It's a Gift

ਮਃ ੧ ॥
mehlaa 1.
First Mehl:
ਨਾਨਕ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰੁ ਹੋਰਿ ਕੇਤੇ ਰਾਮ ਰਵਾਲ ॥
naanak nirbha-o nirankaar hor kaytay raam ravaal.
O Nanak, the Lord is fearless and formless; myriads of others, like Rama, are mere dust before Him.
ਕੇਤੀਆ ਕੰਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਕਹਾਣੀਆ ਕੇਤੇ ਬੇਦ ਬੀਚਾਰ ॥
kaytee-aa kanH kahaanee-aa kaytay bayd beechaar.
There are so many stories of Krishna, so many who reflect over the Vedas.
ਕੇਤੇ ਨਚਹਿ ਮੰਗਤੇ ਗਿੜਿ ਮੁੜਿ ਪੂਰਹਿ ਤਾਲ ॥
kaytay nacheh mangtay girh murh pooreh taal.
So many beggars dance, spinning around to the beat.
ਬਾਜਾਰੀ ਬਾਜਾਰ ਮਹਿ ਆਇ ਕਢਹਿ ਬਾਜਾਰ ॥
baajaaree baajaar meh aa-ay kadheh baajaar.
The magicians perform their magic in the market place, creating a false illusion.
ਗਾਵਹਿ ਰਾਜੇ ਰਾਣੀਆ ਬੋਲਹਿ ਆਲ ਪਤਾਲ ॥
gaavahi raajay raanee-aa boleh aal pataal.
They sing as kings and queens, and speak of this and that.
ਲਖ ਟਕਿਆ ਕੇ ਮੁੰਦੜੇ ਲਖ ਟਕਿਆ ਕੇ ਹਾਰ ॥
lakh taki-aa kay mund-rhay lakh taki-aa kay haar.
They wear earrings, and necklaces worth thousands of dollars.
ਜਿਤੁ ਤਨਿ ਪਾਈਅਹਿ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਸੇ ਤਨ ਹੋਵਹਿ ਛਾਰ ॥
jit tan paa-ee-ah naankaa say tan hoveh chhaar.
Those bodies on which they are worn, O Nanak, those bodies turn to ashes.
ਗਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਗਲੀਈ ਢੂਢੀਐ ਕਥਨਾ ਕਰੜਾ ਸਾਰੁ ॥
gi-aan na galee-ee dhoodhee-ai kathnaa karrhaa saar.
Wisdom cannot be found through mere words. To explain it is as hard as iron.
ਕਰਮਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਤਾ ਪਾਈਐ ਹੋਰ ਹਿਕਮਤਿ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਖੁਆਰੁ ॥੨॥
karam milai taa paa-ee-ai hor hikmat hukam khu-aar. ||2||
When the Lord bestows His Grace, then alone it is received; other tricks and orders are useless. ||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Next to the One, even the mightiest heroes of the old stories are like dust; all the legends and shows and jewels fade.

Real wisdom can't be bought with fancy words or clever tricks — it comes only when the One's kindness opens it to you.

Real wisdom can't be bought with clever words or impressive things — it comes as a gift when the heart is opened.
The deeper layer

This shalok gently deflates everything people tend to be dazzled by: the Fearless Formless One is so far beyond that even Ramas (great legendary heroes) are dust before Him; the endless Krishna stories, the magicians' illusions in the marketplace, the jewels worth thousands — all of it turns to ashes. It's a clearing-away of the glittering distractions, whether religious pageantry or worldly show. And the point it clears space for: wisdom cannot be found through mere words — it is as hard to explain as iron — it comes only by grace, when the One opens it. Not by cleverness, not by performance, not by piling up impressive things. Just by the heart being opened, as a gift.

A Question to Sit With

Why can't the most important kinds of understanding just be bought or shown off?

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI

About this shabad →
← Verse 12 of 85 The Universe Moves in Reverence; the One Is Fearless
Verse 14 of 85 →The Teacher's Best Gift Is Helping You Set Down Pride
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