Sikhism·Raag Aasaa·Shabad 318
Verse 1 of 4

A Loving Heart Makes You Wise, Clumsy Words and All

ਆਸਾ ਮਹਲਾ ੪ ॥
aasaa mehlaa 4.
Aasaa, Fourth Mehl:
ਜਿਨ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਜਨ ਸੁਘੜ ਸਿਆਣੇ ਰਾਮ ਰਾਜੇ ॥
jin antar har har pareet hai tay jan sugharh si-aanay raam raajay.
Those whose hearts are filled with the love of the Lord, Har, Har, are the wisest and most clever people, O Lord King.
ਜੇ ਬਾਹਰਹੁ ਭੁਲਿ ਚੁਕਿ ਬੋਲਦੇ ਭੀ ਖਰੇ ਹਰਿ ਭਾਣੇ ॥
jay baahrahu bhul chuk bolday bhee kharay har bhaanay.
Even if they misspeak outwardly, they are still very pleasing to the Lord.
ਹਰਿ ਸੰਤਾ ਨੋ ਹੋਰੁ ਥਾਉ ਨਾਹੀ ਹਰਿ ਮਾਣੁ ਨਿਮਾਣੇ ॥
har santaa no hor thaa-o naahee har maan nimaanay.
The Lord's Saints have no other place. The Lord is the honor of the dishonored.
ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਦੀਬਾਣੁ ਹੈ ਹਰਿ ਤਾਣੁ ਸਤਾਣੇ ॥੧॥
jan naanak naam deebaan hai har taan sataanay. ||1||
The Naam, the Name of the Lord, is the Royal Court for servant Nanak; the Lord's power is his only power. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

People whose hearts are full of love are the truly wise ones — even if their words come out clumsy sometimes.

The One gives honor to those the world overlooks; the humble and the dishonored find their worth in the One.

A loving heart makes you truly wise — even when your words come out clumsy, and even when the world overlooks you.
The deeper layer

A wonderfully reassuring verse for any child who has ever felt tongue-tied or overlooked. Those whose hearts are filled with love are the wisest — even if they misspeak outwardly, they are pleasing to the One. What counts isn't polish or clever speech; it's a loving heart. And the tender line: the Lord is the honor of the dishonored — the One lifts up exactly those whom the world looks down on or leaves out. If you've ever felt like you said the wrong thing or didn't matter enough, this verse is for you: love makes you wise, and the One gives worth to the overlooked.

A Question to Sit With

Have you ever felt tongue-tied or left out? What might it mean that love matters more than perfect words?

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

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