Picture the Soul at Its Best; You Can Become It

ਆਸਾ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥

aasaa mehlaa 5.

Aasaa, Fifth Mehl:

ਨਿਜ ਭਗਤੀ ਸੀਲਵੰਤੀ ਨਾਰਿ ॥

nij bhagtee seelvantee naar.

The bride shows such special devotion, and has such an agreeable disposition.

ਰੂਪਿ ਅਨੂਪ ਪੂਰੀ ਆਚਾਰਿ ॥

roop anoop pooree aachaar.

Her beauty is incomparable, and her character is perfect.

ਜਿਤੁ ਗ੍ਰਿਹਿ ਵਸੈ ਸੋ ਗ੍ਰਿਹੁ ਸੋਭਾਵੰਤਾ ॥

jit garihi vasai so garihu sobhaavantaa.

The house in which she dwells is such a praiseworthy house.

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਪਾਈ ਕਿਨੈ ਵਿਰਲੈ ਜੰਤਾ ॥੧॥

gurmukh paa-ee kinai virlai jantaa. ||1||

But rare are those who, as Gurmukh, attain that state||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

This bride is so devoted, so gentle and good; her beauty beyond compare, her character complete.

Blessed is the house where she lives.

But rare are those who, turned toward the Guru, reach that state.

Picture the soul at its best — devoted, gentle, whole — and know that this is what you can become.

The deeper layer

This one paints a picture of the soul at its very best.

Guru Arjan describes an ideal bride. In Gurbani, the bride often stands for the soul, and the Husband for the One. This bride is devoted, gentle, beautiful, and good in every way. Any home she lives in is blessed.

Think of a poster of the athlete you hope to become. It is not bragging. It shows what is possible.

Then comes the honest part. Rare are those who reach this, as gurmukh, a person turned toward the Guru. The picture is an invitation. This is what the soul can become, even though few do.

A Question to Sit With

What does a person at their very best look like to you?

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

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