Sikhism·Raag Basant·Shabad 35
Verse 4 of 5

Washed in the Sweet Ocean

ਜਨ ਜਪਿਓ ਨਾਮੁ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ ਨਰਹਰਿ ਉਪਦੇਸਿ ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰੀਧੇ ॥
jan japi-o naam niranjan narhar updays guroo har pareeDhay.
The Lord's humble servant chants the Immaculate Naam, the Name of the Lord; through the Guru's Teachings, the Lord reveals Himself.
ਜਨਮ ਜਨਮ ਕੀ ਹਉਮੈ ਮਲੁ ਨਿਕਸੀ ਹਰਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਹਰਿ ਜਲਿ ਨੀਧੇ ॥੩॥
janam janam kee ha-umai mal niksee har amrit har jal neeDhay. ||3||
The filth of egotism which stained me for countless lifetimes has been washed away, by the Ambrosial Water of the Ocean of the Lord. ||3||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

The One's servant repeats the spotless Naam, and through the Guru's teaching the One is revealed.

The dirt of ego that stuck to me life after life has washed away in the sweet, life-giving water of the One's ocean.

The heavy feeling of 'only me' can be washed away in something sweet.
The deeper layer

The Guru's teaching helps us find the One. Then the old dirt of pride washes away.

The loving servant repeats the niranjan Naam — the pure, spotless Naam. Through the Guru's updays, teaching, the One is revealed.

Then janam janam kee ha-umai mal niksee — the dirt of ha-umai, the "me first" feeling built up over many lifetimes, comes off. It washes away in har amrit har jal, the sweet, life-giving water of the One. Think of jumping into a clean lake after a muddy soccer game. You come up fresh. The ego was the mud. You were never the mud.

A Question to Sit With

What helps you stop thinking only about yourself and feel part of something bigger?

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

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