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Sikhism·Raag Aasaa·Shabad 309
Verse 4 of 4

Want to Sit Near the Good More Than to Be Great

ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਹਰਿ ਮੀਠ ਲਗਾਨਾ ਤੇ ਜਨ ਪਰਧਾਨਾ ਤੇ ਊਤਮ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਲੋਗ ਜੀਉ ॥
jinH har meeth lagaanaa tay jan parDhaanaa tay ootam har har log jee-o.
Celebrated are those people, unto whom the Lord seems sweet; how exalted are those people of the Lord, Har, Har.
ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਵਡਾਈ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਖਾਈ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੀ ਹਰਿ ਰਸ ਭੋਗ ਜੀਉ ॥
har naam vadaa-ee har naam sakhaa-ee gur sabdee har ras bhog jee-o.
The Lord's Name is their glorious greatness; the Lord's Name is their companion and helper. Through the Word of the Guru's Shabad, they enjoy the sublime essence of the Lord.
ਹਰਿ ਰਸ ਭੋਗ ਮਹਾ ਨਿਰਜੋਗ ਵਡਭਾਗੀ ਹਰਿ ਰਸੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥
har ras bhog mahaa nirjog vadbhaagee har ras paa-i-aa.
They enjoy the sublime essence of the Lord, and remain totally detached. By great good fortune, they obtain the sublime essence of the Lord.
ਸੇ ਧੰਨੁ ਵਡੇ ਸਤ ਪੁਰਖਾ ਪੂਰੇ ਜਿਨ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਇਆ ॥
say Dhan vaday sat purkhaa pooray jin gurmat naam Dhi-aa-i-aa.
So very blessed and truly perfect are those, who through Guru's Instruction meditate on the Naam, the Name of the Lord.
ਜਨੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਰੇਣੁ ਮੰਗੈ ਪਗ ਸਾਧੂ ਮਨਿ ਚੂਕਾ ਸੋਗੁ ਵਿਜੋਗੁ ਜੀਉ ॥
jan naanak rayn mangai pag saaDhoo man chookaa sog vijog jee-o.
Servant Nanak begs for the dust of the feet of the Holy; his mind is rid of sorrow and separation.
ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਹਰਿ ਮੀਠ ਲਗਾਨਾ ਤੇ ਜਨ ਪਰਧਾਨਾ ਤੇ ਊਤਮ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਲੋਗ ਜੀਉ ॥੪॥੩॥੧੦॥
jinH har meeth lagaanaa tay jan parDhaanaa tay ootam har har log jee-o. ||4||3||10||
Celebrated are those people, unto whom the Lord seems sweet; how exalted are those people of the Lord, Har, Har. ||4||3||10||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Lucky are the people to whom the One tastes sweet — how bright and blessed their lives become.

I would gladly bow at their feet — even the dust of their footsteps would be a treasure to me.

It's a beautiful thing to want, more than to be great, simply to sit near the good-hearted.
The deeper layer

The Chhant closes in admiration of the lovers of the One — how exalted are those to whom the Beloved seems sweet. And it ends with one of Gurbani's humblest, most beautiful gestures: Nanak begs for the dust of the feet of the Holy — asking not to be great but simply to be near the good-hearted, to have even the dust of their footsteps. It's the opposite of wanting to be the important one; it's wanting to sit at the feet of kindness and let a little of it rub off. To honor goodness that much is already to have some of it.

A Question to Sit With

Who is someone so kind you'd feel lucky just to be near them?

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

About this shabad →
← Verse 3 of 4 When the Heart Loves, the Wandering Settles
Shabad 310 · Verse 1 →The Purest Times Remember We Are All Connected
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