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Sikhism·Aasaa Kee Vaar·Aasaa Kee Vaar, Pauri 1
Verse 44 of 85

Notice What's Holding Your Reins

ਸਲੋਕੁ ਮਃ ੧ ॥
salok mehlaa 1.
Shalok, First Mehl:
ਨਾਨਕ ਮੇਰੁ ਸਰੀਰ ਕਾ ਇਕੁ ਰਥੁ ਇਕੁ ਰਥਵਾਹੁ ॥
naanak mayr sareer kaa ik rath ik rathvaahu.
O Nanak, the soul of the body has one chariot and one charioteer.
ਜੁਗੁ ਜੁਗੁ ਫੇਰਿ ਵਟਾਈਅਹਿ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਬੁਝਹਿ ਤਾਹਿ ॥
jug jug fayr vataa-ee-ah gi-aanee bujheh taahi.
In age after age they change; the spiritually wise understand this.
ਸਤਜੁਗਿ ਰਥੁ ਸੰਤੋਖ ਕਾ ਧਰਮੁ ਅਗੈ ਰਥਵਾਹੁ ॥
satjug rath santokh kaa Dharam agai rathvaahu.
In the Golden Age of Sat Yuga, contentment was the chariot and righteousness the charioteer.
ਤ੍ਰੇਤੈ ਰਥੁ ਜਤੈ ਕਾ ਜੋਰੁ ਅਗੈ ਰਥਵਾਹੁ ॥
taraytai rath jatai kaa jor agai rathvaahu.
In the Silver Age of Traytaa Yuga, celibacy was the chariot and power the charioteer.
ਦੁਆਪੁਰਿ ਰਥੁ ਤਪੈ ਕਾ ਸਤੁ ਅਗੈ ਰਥਵਾਹੁ ॥
du-aapur rath tapai kaa sat agai rathvaahu.
In the Brass Age of Dwaapar Yuga, penance was the chariot and truth the charioteer.
ਕਲਜੁਗਿ ਰਥੁ ਅਗਨਿ ਕਾ ਕੂੜੁ ਅਗੈ ਰਥਵਾਹੁ ॥੧॥
kaljug rath agan kaa koorh agai rathvaahu. ||1||
In the Iron Age of Kali Yuga, fire is the chariot and falsehood the charioteer. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Think of the soul riding through life in a chariot, with something steering it.

In better ages, contentment carried people and goodness held the reins; in harder times, restless craving does the driving. What steers you makes all the difference.

Something is always 'steering' you — contentment and goodness, or restless craving. Notice what's holding your reins.
The deeper layer

This shalok uses a lovely image — the soul riding in a chariot, with a charioteer at the reins — to describe how different ages (and different lives) are driven by different things. In the golden age, the chariot was contentment and the driver righteousness; in the hardest age, the chariot is fire (restless craving) and the driver falsehood. The teaching for a child isn't really about cosmic ages — it's personal: what is driving you? Is contentment carrying you along with goodness at the reins, or is restless wanting in the driver's seat? You may not choose the age you're born into, but you can notice — and choose — what steers your own chariot.

A Question to Sit With

What's 'driving' you lately — calm and kindness, or a restless wanting? Who's holding your reins?

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

About this shabad →
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