ਬੇਦ ਸਾਸਤ੍ਰ ਜਨ ਧਿਆਵਹਿ ਤਰਣ ਕਉ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥
bayd saastar jan Dhi-aavahi taran ka-o sansaar.
They meditate on the Vedas and the Shaastras, to swim across the world-ocean.
ਕਰਮ ਧਰਮ ਅਨੇਕ ਕਿਰਿਆ ਸਭ ਊਪਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਅਚਾਰੁ ॥੨॥
karam Dharam anayk kiri-aa sabh oopar naam achaar. ||2||
The many religious rituals, good deeds of karma and Dharmic worship - above all of these is the Naam, the Name of the Lord. ||2||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
People meditate on the Vedas and Shaastras to cross the world-ocean.
But above all the rituals, good deeds, and worship stands the Name of the One.
Above all the scriptures, rituals, and good deeds stands one thing: the Name.
All the outer machinery of religion — scripture-study, "religious rituals, good deeds of karma and Dharmic worship" — is honored but surpassed: "above all of these is the Naam." The Name is not one practice among many but the one that crowns them all (cf. Shabad 211).
A Question to Sit With
What single thing, done with the whole heart, is worth more than many done for show?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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