Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Let the pearl of the mind be strung on the thread of the breath, like a jewel.
Let the soul-bride dress herself in compassion. Then her Beloved will delight in her.
Guru Nanak takes each piece of jewelry a bride wears and turns it into a good quality of the heart.
In Gurbani, the soul is often called a bride, and the One is the Beloved she longs for. In this shabad, every ornament she puts on becomes a virtue.
The first one is a pearl necklace. Man motee jay gahnaa hovai — let the mind be the pearl. Pa-un hovai soot Dhaaree — and let the breath be the thread it hangs on. That means the mind held steady on each breath. This is the rhythm of naam simran, remembering the Name again and again.
The next ornament is khimaa, compassion and forgiveness. Picture getting ready for someone you love, and choosing your best necklace. Here the best thing to wear is attention and kindness. A soul dressed like that is one the Beloved delights in.
What inner quality makes a person beautiful in a way looks never could?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI