Mundaavanee (The Seal), Verse 1 — three gifts on the platter
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
On this plate, three things have been placed: truth, contentment, and thinking deeply.
The nectar of the Naam of the Great One has been placed on it too. It holds everyone up.
Whoever eats it, whoever enjoys it, is carried safely across.
This is something you can never give up. Keep it in your heart, always, every day.
The dark ocean of the world is crossed by holding on to the feet of the One. Nanak says: all of it is the One, spread out.
On one plate lie truth, contentment and deep thinking, and over them the nectar of the Naam: a meal that carries you across.
The Mundaavanee is the seal Guru Arjan placed at the close of the Guru Granth Sahib. The word means a seal, the stamp that closes and secures a book. The picture is a thaal, the wide platter used to serve a meal, and on it three things: sat (truth), santokh (contentment), and veechaaro (thinking deeply). Added to them is the amrit naam, the nectar of the Naam, called sabhas adhaaro, the support of all. To eat and enjoy this food is to take it fully into your life.
The last line, sabh naanak barahm pasaaro, says it plainly: all of this, the whole world and the whole ocean you are crossing, is the One spread out.
Of the three gifts on the plate — truth, contentment, thinking deeply — which one is hardest for you to keep, and what would help you hold on to it?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI