Gaathaa, Salok 5 — the nim, the sandalwood and the proud bamboo
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
A plain nim tree grows next to a sweet-smelling sandalwood tree, and it becomes just like the sandalwood.
Nanak says: but the bamboo, living right beside it, takes in none of its fragrance. It is too tall and too proud.
The people near you can change you, if pride does not keep you closed.
Guru Arjan points to trees growing beside a mailaagar, a sandalwood tree. Sandalwood has a sweet, strong smell. A plain nim tree grows next to it. Slowly, the nim takes on that same sweet smell. It did nothing special. It just stayed close.
But a tall bamboo stands just as close and takes in nothing. The verse says why: the bamboo has a proud mind. It holds itself too high to let anything in.
Think of two kids who sit beside the kindest person in class. One listens and starts acting kind too. The other thinks, "I already know everything," and nothing changes. Being near goodness is a big gift. You also have to stay open enough to let it reach you.
Is there a fragrance from someone good that has started to become yours?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI