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Sikhism·Aasaa Kee Vaar·Aasaa Kee Vaar, Pauri 1
Verse 31 of 85

Real Truth Is Lived, Not Won in Argument

ਮਃ ੧ ॥
mehlaa 1.
First Mehl:
ਸਚੁ ਤਾ ਪਰੁ ਜਾਣੀਐ ਜਾ ਰਿਦੈ ਸਚਾ ਹੋਇ ॥
sach taa par jaanee-ai jaa ridai sachaa ho-ay.
One knows the Truth only when the Truth is in his heart.
ਕੂੜ ਕੀ ਮਲੁ ਉਤਰੈ ਤਨੁ ਕਰੇ ਹਛਾ ਧੋਇ ॥
koorh kee mal utrai tan karay hachhaa Dho-ay.
The filth of falsehood departs, and the body is washed clean.
ਸਚੁ ਤਾ ਪਰੁ ਜਾਣੀਐ ਜਾ ਸਚਿ ਧਰੇ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥
sach taa par jaanee-ai jaa sach Dharay pi-aar.
One knows the Truth only when he bears love to the True Lord.
ਨਾਉ ਸੁਣਿ ਮਨੁ ਰਹਸੀਐ ਤਾ ਪਾਏ ਮੋਖ ਦੁਆਰੁ ॥
naa-o sun man rehsee-ai taa paa-ay mokh du-aar.
Hearing the Name, the mind is enraptured; then, he attains the gate of salvation.
ਸਚੁ ਤਾ ਪਰੁ ਜਾਣੀਐ ਜਾ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਜੀਉ ॥
sach taa par jaanee-ai jaa jugat jaanai jee-o.
One knows the Truth only when he knows the true way of life.
ਧਰਤਿ ਕਾਇਆ ਸਾਧਿ ਕੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਦੇਇ ਕਰਤਾ ਬੀਉ ॥
Dharat kaa-i-aa saaDh kai vich day-ay kartaa bee-o.
Preparing the field of the body, he plants the Seed of the Creator.
ਸਚੁ ਤਾ ਪਰੁ ਜਾਣੀਐ ਜਾ ਸਿਖ ਸਚੀ ਲੇਇ ॥
sach taa par jaanee-ai jaa sikh sachee lay-ay.
One knows the Truth only when he receives true instruction.
ਦਇਆ ਜਾਣੈ ਜੀਅ ਕੀ ਕਿਛੁ ਪੁੰਨੁ ਦਾਨੁ ਕਰੇਇ ॥
da-i-aa jaanai jee-a kee kichh punn daan karay-i.
Showing mercy to other beings, he makes donations to charities.
ਸਚੁ ਤਾਂ ਪਰੁ ਜਾਣੀਐ ਜਾ ਆਤਮ ਤੀਰਥਿ ਕਰੇ ਨਿਵਾਸੁ ॥
sach taaN par jaanee-ai jaa aatam tirath karay nivaas.
One knows the Truth only when he dwells in the sacred shrine of pilgrimage of his own soul.
ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਨੋ ਪੁਛਿ ਕੈ ਬਹਿ ਰਹੈ ਕਰੇ ਨਿਵਾਸੁ ॥
satguroo no puchh kai bahi rahai karay nivaas.
He sits and receives instruction from the True Guru, and lives in accordance with His Will.
ਸਚੁ ਸਭਨਾ ਹੋਇ ਦਾਰੂ ਪਾਪ ਕਢੈ ਧੋਇ ॥
sach sabhnaa ho-ay daaroo paap kadhai Dho-ay.
Truth is the medicine for all; it removes and washes away our sins.
ਨਾਨਕੁ ਵਖਾਣੈ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਜਿਨ ਸਚੁ ਪਲੈ ਹੋਇ ॥੨॥
naanak vakhaanai bayntee jin sach palai ho-ay. ||2||
Nanak speaks this prayer to those who have Truth in their laps. ||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

You truly know what's real only when it lives in your heart — and then the fog clears and you feel clean inside.

Real truth shows up as love, as living rightly, as planting good in yourself, as kindness to others — and it heals like medicine.

Real truth isn't a fact you win an argument with — it's something you live, shown in love and kindness, and it heals.
The deeper layer

After the last shalok cleared away everything false (passing), this one shows what real truth actually looks like when it's genuinely yours — and it's beautifully practical. You know the Truth only when it is in your heart (not just your head); when you love the True One; when you live the true way of life; when you plant the Name in the field of the body; when you show mercy to others and give; when you make the pilgrimage to the shrine of your own soul (look inward, not just to far-off holy places). Truth isn't a fact you win an argument with — it's something you become, shown in love and mercy and honest living. And the last line is the gift: Truth is the medicine for all — it heals. Living truly isn't a burden; it's medicine.

A Question to Sit With

What would it look like to 'live' a truth rather than just know it in your head?

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

About this shabad →
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