Sikhism·Raag Bilaaval·Shabad 162
Verse 5 of 11

Wednesday — Wisdom That Washes the Heart Clean

ਬੁਧਵਾਰਿ ਆਪੇ ਬੁਧਿ ਸਾਰੁ ॥
buDhvaar aapay buDh saar.
Wednesday: He Himself bestows sublime understanding.
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਕਰਣੀ ਸਬਦੁ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥
gurmukh karnee sabad veechaar.
The Gurmukh does good deeds, and contemplates the Word of the Shabad.
ਨਾਮਿ ਰਤੇ ਮਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਹੋਇ ॥
naam ratay man nirmal ho-ay.
Imbued with the Naam, the Name of the Lord, the mind become pure and immaculate.
ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਵੈ ਹਉਮੈ ਮਲੁ ਖੋਇ ॥
har gun gaavai ha-umai mal kho-ay.
He sings the Glorious Glorious Praises of the Lord, and washes off the filth of egotism.
ਦਰਿ ਸਚੈ ਸਦ ਸੋਭਾ ਪਾਏ ॥
dar sachai sad sobhaa paa-ay.
In the Court of the True Lord, he obtains lasting glory.
ਨਾਮਿ ਰਤੇ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦਿ ਸੁਹਾਏ ॥੪॥
naam ratay gur sabad suhaa-ay. ||4||
Imbued with the Naam, he is embellished with the Word of the Guru's Shabad. ||4||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Wednesday. Understanding is a gift the One gives -- and when you get it, you put it to work in good actions and quiet reflection.

Carrying the One in your heart makes your mind clear and clean. Singing its praises washes off the grime of pride, and you are left with a quiet, lasting kind of dignity that does not fade.

True understanding shows up in what you do, and it quietly washes pride away.
The deeper layer

budhvaar, Wednesday -- the day whose very name carries budh (understanding). budh saar -- sublime understanding, bestowed by the One, then lived out in gurmukh karnee (good deeds and reflection). haumai mal khoy -- washing off the "filth" of ego, pictured as grime that can be washed away. The reward is sobhaa -- a lasting inner dignity, not a fading outer honor.

A Question to Sit With

What is a good action that made you feel clean and clear afterward?

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

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