Sikhism·Dakhnee Onkaar·Shabad 111
Verse 54 of 55

The Learning That Finds the Root

ਪਾਧਾ ਪੜਿਆ ਆਖੀਐ ਬਿਦਿਆ ਬਿਚਰੈ ਸਹਜਿ ਸੁਭਾਇ ॥
paaDhaa parhi-aa aakhee-ai bidi-aa bichrai sahj subhaa-ay.
That Pandit, that religious scholar, is said to be well-educated, if he contemplates knowledge with intuitive ease.
ਬਿਦਿਆ ਸੋਧੈ ਤਤੁ ਲਹੈ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਇ ॥
bidi-aa soDhai tat lahai raam naam liv laa-ay.
Considering his knowledge, he finds the essence of reality, and lovingly focuses his attention on the Name of the Lord.
ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਬਿਦਿਆ ਬਿਕ੍ਰਦਾ ਬਿਖੁ ਖਟੇ ਬਿਖੁ ਖਾਇ ॥
manmukh bidi-aa bikardaa bikh khatay bikh khaa-ay.
The self-willed manmukh sells his knowledge; he earns poison, and eats poison.
ਮੂਰਖੁ ਸਬਦੁ ਨ ਚੀਨਈ ਸੂਝ ਬੂਝ ਨਹ ਕਾਇ ॥੫੩॥
moorakh sabad na cheen-ee soojh boojh nah kaa-ay. ||53||
The fool does not think of the Word of the Shabad. He has no understanding, no comprehension. ||53||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

A teacher is called learned when they think on their learning with easy, natural grace.

Searching their learning, they find the heart of things, and rest their attention lovingly on the Naam.

Whoever follows only their own mind sells their learning; they earn poison, and they eat poison.

The foolish one doesn't think on the Word, and has no understanding at all.

Learning is only finished when it finds the root and comes to rest.
The deeper layer

Learning (bidi-aa) reaches the tat, the essence, when joined to the Name. Bidi-aa bikardaa bikh khatay — knowledge sold merely for gain turns to poison. The Pandit is addressed again, respectfully; the warning is about hollow scholarship in any tradition, not about learning itself.

A Question to Sit With

What's something you know facts about but would like to understand deeply?

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

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