Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Sing this glad tune when the Naam is on your lips.
The melody, the music, the words -- they all become beautiful the moment your attention settles into stillness.
Let the music carry you all the way to the One, and you will be welcomed with honor.
Nanak says: turn toward the Guru, think on the One, and the puffed-up pride quietly leaves your mind.
A Guru Amar Das shalok. The line raag naad chhod har sayvee-ai literally reads "leave the melody and serve the Lord," but it is not a rejection of music -- it is a caution against stopping at the pretty sound and mistaking it for the goal. The music is sohnay (beautiful); let it deliver you to sahj dhi-aan (natural, effortless focus). The reward named is maan (honor) in the Court -- and the byproduct is that abhimaan (self-pride) dissolves on its own.
Can you think of a song that means something because of what it points to, not just how it sounds?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI