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Sikhism·Closing Sections·The Closing Saloks
Verse 84 of 152

Salok Vaaraan Te Vadheek (Mehl 3), Salok 84 — the greatest wealth

ਧਨਾਸਰੀ ਧਨਵੰਤੀ ਜਾਣੀਐ ਭਾਈ ਜਾਂ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਕਾਰ ਕਮਾਇ ॥
Dhanaasree Dhanvantee jaanee-ai bhaa-ee jaaN satgur kee kaar kamaa-ay.
In Dhanaasaree, the soul-bride is known to be wealthy, O Siblings of Destiny, when she works for the True Guru.
ਤਨੁ ਮਨੁ ਸਉਪੇ ਜੀਅ ਸਉ ਭਾਈ ਲਏ ਹੁਕਮਿ ਫਿਰਾਉ ॥
tan man sa-upay jee-a sa-o bhaa-ee la-ay hukam firaa-o.
She surrenders her body, mind and soul, O Siblings of Destiny, and lives according to the Hukam of His Command.
ਜਹ ਬੈਸਾਵਹਿ ਬੈਸਹ ਭਾਈ ਜਹ ਭੇਜਹਿ ਤਹ ਜਾਉ ॥
jah baisaaveh baisah bhaa-ee jah bhayjeh tah jaa-o.
I sit where He wishes me to sit, O Siblings of Destiny; wherever He sends me, I go.
ਏਵਡੁ ਧਨੁ ਹੋਰੁ ਕੋ ਨਹੀ ਭਾਈ ਜੇਵਡੁ ਸਚਾ ਨਾਉ ॥
ayvad Dhan hor ko nahee bhaa-ee jayvad sachaa naa-o.
There is no other wealth as great, O Siblings of Destiny; such is the greatness of the True Name.
ਸਦਾ ਸਚੇ ਕੇ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਵਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਸਦਾ ਸਚੇ ਕੈ ਸੰਗਿ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
sadaa sachay kay gun gaavaaN bhaa-ee sadaa sachay kai sang rahaa-o.
I sing forever the Glorious Praises of the True Lord; I shall remain with the True One forever.
ਪੈਨਣੁ ਗੁਣ ਚੰਗਿਆਈਆ ਭਾਈ ਆਪਣੀ ਪਤਿ ਕੇ ਸਾਦ ਆਪੇ ਖਾਇ ॥
painan gun chang-aa-ee-aa bhaa-ee aapnee pat kay saad aapay khaa-ay.
So wear the clothes of His Glorious Virtues and goodness, O Siblings of Destiny; eat and enjoy the flavor of your own honor.
ਤਿਸ ਕਾ ਕਿਆ ਸਾਲਾਹੀਐ ਭਾਈ ਦਰਸਨ ਕਉ ਬਲਿ ਜਾਇ ॥
tis kaa ki-aa salaahee-ai bhaa-ee darsan ka-o bal jaa-ay.
How can I praise Him, O Siblings of Destiny? I am a sacrifice to the Blessed Vision of His Darshan.
ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਵਿਚਿ ਵਡੀਆ ਵਡਿਆਈਆ ਭਾਈ ਕਰਮਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਤਾਂ ਪਾਇ ॥
satgur vich vadee-aa vadi-aa-ee-aa bhaa-ee karam milai taaN paa-ay.
Great is the Glorious Greatness of the True Guru, O Siblings of Destiny; if one is blessed with good karma, He is found.
ਇਕਿ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਮੰਨਿ ਨ ਜਾਣਨੀ ਭਾਈ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਫਿਰਾਇ ॥
ik hukam man na jaannee bhaa-ee doojai bhaa-ay firaa-ay.
Some do not know how to submit to the Hukam of His Command, O Siblings of Destiny; they wander around lost in the love of duality.
ਸੰਗਤਿ ਢੋਈ ਨਾ ਮਿਲੈ ਭਾਈ ਬੈਸਣਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਨ ਥਾਉ ॥
sangat dho-ee naa milai bhaa-ee baisan milai na thaa-o.
They find no place of rest in the Sangat, O Siblings of Destiny; they find no place to sit.
ਨਾਨਕ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਤਿਨਾ ਮਨਾਇਸੀ ਭਾਈ ਜਿਨਾ ਧੁਰੇ ਕਮਾਇਆ ਨਾਉ ॥
naanak hukam tinaa manaa-isee bhaa-ee jinaa Dhuray kamaa-i-aa naa-o.
Nanak: they alone submit to His Command, O Siblings of Destiny, who are pre-destined to live the Name.
ਤਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਵਿਟਹੁ ਹਉ ਵਾਰਿਆ ਭਾਈ ਤਿਨ ਕਉ ਸਦ ਬਲਿਹਾਰੈ ਜਾਉ ॥੫੧॥
tinH vitahu ha-o vaari-aa bhaa-ee tin ka-o sad balihaarai jaa-o. ||51||
I am a sacrifice to them, O Siblings of Destiny, I am forever a sacrifice to them. ||51||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

In Dhanaasaree, the soul-bride is known as rich, O brothers and sisters, when she does the True Guru's work.

She gives over body, mind and soul, O brothers and sisters, and lives in the flow of the One's command.

I sit wherever the One seats me, O brothers and sisters; wherever the One sends me, there I go.

There is no wealth as great, O brothers and sisters, as the True Naam.

I sing the praises of the True One forever, O brothers and sisters; I stay with the True One forever.

Her clothes are good qualities and kindness, O brothers and sisters; she herself tastes the sweetness of her own honor.

How can I praise that One, O brothers and sisters? I would give myself for one glimpse.

Great are the glories of the True Guru, O brothers and sisters; by good karma, the Guru is met and found.

Some do not know how to accept the One's command, O brothers and sisters; they wander around in love of "the other."

They find no shelter in the Sangat, O brothers and sisters; they find no place to sit.

Nanak says: only those who earned the Naam from the very beginning, O brothers and sisters, are moved to accept the command.

I give myself for them, O brothers and sisters; I am forever devoted to them.

The greatest wealth is the True Naam, lived in the flow of the One's command.
The deeper layer

The greatest wealth is the True Naam, lived in the flow of the One's command.

Dhanaasaree, the name of a raag, plays on dhan, wealth: the soul-bride is Dhanvantee, rich, when she does the Guru's work. The refrain bhaa-ee, "O brothers and sisters," speaks to the listener as family every time it returns.

Jah baisaaveh baisah: sitting where the One seats, going where the One sends, is the peace of moving with the hukam, the flow of existence. Painan gun chang-aa-ee-aa: good qualities are the soul's clothing. Karam milai: the Guru is found by karam, a word that often means grace. Those who will not accept the command find no place to sit in the Sangat.

A Question to Sit With

Where in your life are you swimming upstream, and what would it feel like to turn with the current?

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

← Verse 83 of 152 Salok Vaaraan Te Vadheek (Mehl 3), Salok 83 — the heart-lotus blossoms
Verse 85 of 152 →Salok Vaaraan Te Vadheek (Mehl 3), Salok 85 — faces that shine at the True Door
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