ਜਪੁ ਤਪੁ ਸੰਜਮੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਨ ਕਮਾਇਆ ॥
jap tap sanjam Dharam na kamaa-i-aa.
I have not practiced meditation, penance, self-restraint or righteous living;
ਸੇਵਾ ਸਾਧ ਨ ਜਾਨਿਆ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਇਆ ॥
sayvaa saaDh na jaani-aa har raa-i-aa.
I have not served the Holy Saints, and I do not know the Lord, my King.
ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਹਮ ਨੀਚ ਕਰੰਮਾ ॥
kaho naanak ham neech karammaa.
Says Nanak, my actions are vile and despicable;
ਸਰਣਿ ਪਰੇ ਕੀ ਰਾਖਹੁ ਸਰਮਾ ॥੨॥੨੯॥
saran paray kee raakho sarmaa. ||2||29||
O Lord, I seek Your Sanctuary - please, preserve my honor. ||2||29||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
I have not meditated, done penance, practiced self-restraint, or lived righteously;
I have not served the holy, and I do not know my King. Says Nanak: my deeds are lowly — I seek Your shelter; please keep my honor.
When you have nothing impressive to show, honest refuge is enough.
Nanak models honest confession: a frank list of what he has not done — no meditation, penance, restraint, service, no knowledge of the King. Stripped of every credential, he simply "seeks Your Sanctuary" and asks the One to "preserve my honor." When you have nothing to show, refuge is the only plea — and it is enough (cf. Shabad 43, Shabad 117).
A Question to Sit With
Is it freeing, or frightening, to admit you have nothing to prove?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
Use ← → to navigate