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Sikhism·Closing Sections·The Closing Saloks
Verse 59 of 152

Salok Vaaraan Te Vadheek (Mehl 3), Salok 59 — the wealthy ones

ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਸੇਵਨਿ ਆਪਣਾ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੀ ਵੀਚਾਰਿ ॥
satgur sayvan aapnaa gur sabdee veechaar.
Those who serve their True Guru, who contemplate the Word of the Guru's Shabad,
ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਭਾਣਾ ਮੰਨਿ ਲੈਨਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਰਖਹਿ ਉਰ ਧਾਰਿ ॥
satgur kaa bhaanaa man lain har naam rakheh ur Dhaar.
who honor and obey the Will of the True Guru, who keep the Lord's Name enshrined within their hearts,
ਐਥੈ ਓਥੈ ਮੰਨੀਅਨਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮਿ ਲਗੇ ਵਾਪਾਰਿ ॥
aithai othai mannee-an har naam lagay vaapaar.
are honored, here and hereafter; they are dedicated to the business of the Lord's Name.
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਸਿਞਾਪਦੇ ਤਿਤੁ ਸਾਚੈ ਦਰਬਾਰਿ ॥
gurmukh sabad sinjaapadai tit saachai darbaar.
Through the Word of the Shabad, the Gurmukhs gain recognition in that Court of the True Lord.
ਸਚਾ ਸਉਦਾ ਖਰਚੁ ਸਚੁ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਪਿਰਮੁ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥
sachaa sa-udaa kharach sach antar piram pi-aar.
The True Name is their merchandise, the True Name is their expenditure; the Love of their Beloved fills their inner beings.
ਜਮਕਾਲੁ ਨੇੜਿ ਨ ਆਵਈ ਆਪਿ ਬਖਸੇ ਕਰਤਾਰਿ ॥
jamkaal nayrh na aavee aap bakhsay kartaar.
The Messenger of Death does not even approach them; the Creator Lord Himself forgives them.
ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮ ਰਤੇ ਸੇ ਧਨਵੰਤ ਹੈਨਿ ਨਿਰਧਨੁ ਹੋਰੁ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥੨੬॥
naanak naam ratay say Dhanvant hain nirDhan hor sansaar. ||26||
O Nanak, they alone are wealthy, who are imbued with the Naam; the rest of the world is poor. ||26||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Those who serve their True Guru and think deeply on the Guru's Word,

who accept the True Guru's Will and keep the Naam of the One held in their hearts,

are honored here and in the world beyond; they are busy in the trade of the Naam.

Through the Word, the Gurmukhs — those who turn to the Guru — are known in that True Court.

The True Naam is what they buy, and Truth is what they spend; love for the Beloved fills them inside.

Death does not come near them; the Creator Himself forgives them.

Nanak says: only those dyed in the Naam are rich; the rest of the world is poor.

The only riches you own are the ones you cannot lose.
The deeper layer

Those dyed in the Naam are rich; everything else the world calls wealth leaves a person poor.

The salok plays on the language of the marketplace. Har naam lagay vaapaar: their trade is the Naam. Sachaa sa-udaa kharach sach: Truth is what they buy and Truth is what they spend. Inside is piram pi-aar, love for the Beloved.

Jamkaal nayrh na aavee: death does not even come near them, a picture of fearlessness, because the Creator Himself forgives them. Naam is the wealth that stays when everything else is left behind.

A Question to Sit With

What do you have that no one could ever take away from you?

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

← Verse 58 of 152 Salok Vaaraan Te Vadheek (Mehl 3), Salok 58 — when the restless chasing stops
Verse 60 of 152 →Salok Vaaraan Te Vadheek (Mehl 3), Salok 60 — the Naam as your resting place
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