Endless Talk Never Fed Anyone; the Song Does

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

Ayhu sohilaa sabad suhaavaa — this sohilaa is the beautiful Word. A sohilaa is a song of praise and joy. The bedtime prayer Kirtan Sohila shares the name. Sohilaa can also mean a wedding song, a song of two coming together. Here the song of joy is the Sabad, the Guru's Word, itself.

Where does it come from? Satguroo sunaa-i-aa — the True Guru sang it to us. We do not make the song up. We hear it and receive it, like a baby hearing a parent sing before the baby knows any words.

It settles in, man vasi-aa, in the hearts of those jin Dharahu likhi-aa aa-i-aa — those it was written for from the Source. Even being ready to hear is a gift.

Then comes a warning about a look-alike: talk. Ik fireh ghanayray karahi galaa — many wander around, talking and talking. Galee kinai na paa-i-aa — no one ever found the One by talk alone. Galaa means chatter, words that never change the heart. Gurbani warns about this in many places. Other verses of this same song, Anand Sahib, the Song of Bliss, say "do not talk too much" and warn about false songs.

This is not against words. After all, the warning itself comes in a song! It is about the difference between words that carry truth and words that only circle around it. Words about honey are not sweet. One kind of word is a cup that holds water. The other is just foam.

The last line seals it. The song was sung by the True Guru. Its power comes from where it comes from, not from being clever. Today the world is full of more words than ever, about everything, even truth. The true song is still as rare and precious as it ever was.