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Sikhism·Raag Aasaa·Shabad 326
Verse 2 of 5

Don't Be Lazy About What Matters Most

ਛੰਤੁ ॥
chhant.
Chhant:
ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਤ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਨਹ ਅਲਸਾਈਐ ॥
naam japat gobind nah alsaa-ee-ai.
Chant the Naam, the Name of the Lord of the Universe; don't be lazy.
ਭੇਟਤ ਸਾਧੂ ਸੰਗ ਜਮ ਪੁਰਿ ਨਹ ਜਾਈਐ ॥
bhaytat saaDhoo sang jam pur nah jaa-ee-ai.
Meeting with the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, you shall not have to go to the City of Death.
ਦੂਖ ਦਰਦ ਨ ਭਉ ਬਿਆਪੈ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਿਮਰਤ ਸਦ ਸੁਖੀ ॥
dookh darad na bha-o bi-aapai naam simrat sad sukhee.
Pain, trouble and fear will not afflict you; meditating on the Naam, a lasting peace is found.
ਸਾਸਿ ਸਾਸਿ ਅਰਾਧਿ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਧਿਆਇ ਸੋ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਮਨਿ ਮੁਖੀ ॥
saas saas araaDh har har Dhi-aa-ay so parabh man mukhee.
With each and every breath, worship the Lord in adoration; meditate on the Lord God in your mind and with your mouth.
ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾਲ ਦਇਆਲ ਰਸਾਲ ਗੁਣ ਨਿਧਿ ਕਰਿ ਦਇਆ ਸੇਵਾ ਲਾਈਐ ॥
kirpaal da-i-aal rasaal gun niDh kar da-i-aa sayvaa laa-ee-ai.
O kind and compassionate Lord, O treasure of sublime essence, treasure of excellence, please link me to Your service.
ਨਾਨਕੁ ਪਇਅੰਪੈ ਚਰਣ ਜੰਪੈ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਤ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਨਹ ਅਲਸਾਈਐ ॥੧॥
naanak pa-i-ampai charan jampai naam japat gobind nah alsaa-ee-ai. ||1||
Prays Nanak: may I meditate on the Lord's lotus feet, and not be lazy in chanting the Naam, the Name of the Lord of the Universe. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Don't be lazy about the things that matter most — keep your heart turned toward the One.

With every breath, treasure it — and pain and fear won't get their grip on you.

Don't be lazy about what matters most — keep at it, and you ask for help to keep going.
The deeper layer

The verse makes its one gentle demand: don't be lazy (aalas na kar) about what matters. It's a striking, down-to-earth word to find in a mystical hymn — the same thing a parent says about homework, applied to the life of the heart. Keep at it, with each and every breath. And the reward is protection: pain, trouble and fear will not afflict you. The verse pairs effort with tenderness — it ends praying to be linked to service, so even the effort is asked for as a gift. You try; and you ask for help to keep trying. That's the whole rhythm.

A Question to Sit With

What good thing is worth not being lazy about, even when it's hard to keep up?

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

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