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Sikhism·Closing Sections·The Closing Saloks
Verse 48 of 71

Salok Sehskritee, Salok 48 — Hard Turns Easy

ਦੁਰਗਮ ਸਥਾਨ ਸੁਗਮੰ ਮਹਾ ਦੂਖ ਸਰਬ ਸੂਖਣਹ ॥
durgam sathaan sugamaN mahaa dookh sarab sookh-nah.
The most difficult place becomes easy, and the worst pain turns into pleasure.
ਦੁਰਬਚਨ ਭੇਦ ਭਰਮੰ ਸਾਕਤ ਪਿਸਨੰ ਤ ਸੁਰਜਨਹ ॥
durbachan bhayd bharamaN saakat pisanaN ta surajneh.
Evil words, differences and doubts are obliterated, and even faithless cynics and malicious gossips become good people.
ਅਸਥਿਤੰ ਸੋਗ ਹਰਖੰ ਭੈ ਖੀਣੰ ਤ ਨਿਰਭਵਹ ॥
asthitaN sog harkhaN bhai kheenaN ta nirabhveh.
They become steady and stable, whether happy or sad; their fears are taken away, and they are fearless.
ਭੈ ਅਟਵੀਅੰ ਮਹਾ ਨਗਰ ਬਾਸੰ ਧਰਮ ਲਖ੍ਯ੍ਯਣ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਮਇਆ ॥
bhai atvee-aN mahaa nagar baasaN Dharam lakh-yan parabh ma-i-aa.
The dreadful woods become a well-populated city; such are the merits of the righteous life of Dharma, given by God's Grace.
ਸਾਧ ਸੰਗਮ ਰਾਮ ਰਾਮ ਰਮਣੰ ਸਰਣਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਦਯਾਲ ਚਰਣੰ ॥੪੪॥
saaDh sangam raam raam ramnaN saran naanak har har da-yaal charnaN. ||44||
Chanting the Lord's Name in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, O Nanak, the Lotus Feet of the Merciful Lord are found. ||44||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

The hardest place becomes easy, and the worst pain turns into joy.

Harsh words, divisions and doubts disappear, and even people without faith and those who gossip cruelly become good.

They grow steady in joy and sorrow alike. Their fears fade away, and they become fearless.

The frightening forest becomes a busy city to live in. This is what right living brings, by the One's kindness.

Nanak says: singing "Raam, Raam" in the Sangat, I find shelter at the feet of the kind One.

In the Sangat, by the One's kindness, the hard place becomes easy.
The deeper layer

By the One's kindness, the hardest things turn easy and the scariest places fill with life.

The changes come one after another. The hard place becomes easy. Pain turns to joy. Harsh words and doubts melt away. Even cynics and cruel gossips become good people. Joy and sorrow no longer throw a person around, and fear fades.

The strongest picture is bhai atvee-a, the frightening forest, becoming mahaa nagar, a great, busy city. Empty, scary places fill with life. All of this comes as a gift, through singing the One's Name in the Sangat.

A Question to Sit With

Is there something that feels impossible to you right now? Who could walk alongside you so it feels less so?

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

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