Verse 4 of 10

I Read Every Book

ਪੜੇ ਰੇ ਸਗਲ ਬੇਦ ਨਹ ਚੂਕੈ ਮਨ ਭੇਦ ਇਕੁ ਖਿਨੁ ਨ ਧੀਰਹਿ ਮੇਰੇ ਘਰ ਕੇ ਪੰਚਾ ॥

parhay ray sagal bayd nah chookai man bhayd ik khin na Dheereh mayray ghar kay panchaa.

I have read all the Vedas, and yet the sense of separation in my mind still has not been removed; the five thieves of my house are not quieted, even for an instant.

ਕੋਈ ਐਸੋ ਰੇ ਭਗਤੁ ਜੁ ਮਾਇਆ ਤੇ ਰਹਤੁ ਇਕੁ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਨਾਮੁ ਮੇਰੈ ਰਿਦੈ ਸਿੰਚਾ ॥੩॥

ko-ee aiso ray bhagat jo maa-i-aa tay rahat ik amrit naam mayrai ridai sinchaa. ||3||

Is there any devotee, who is unattached to Maya, who may irrigate my mind with the Ambrosial Naam, the Name of the One Lord? ||3||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

I have read through the holy books cover to cover, and still the feeling of being separate has not lifted.

The restless pulls inside me — the grabbing, the anger, the wanting — will not settle even for a moment.

Is there a devotee, free from all that grasping, who could water my heart with the sweet Name of the One?

Reading about water does not quench you; drinking does.

The deeper layer

Reading every holy book is a good start, but the heart still needs to be watered with the Name.

Parhay ray sagal bayd — I have read all the Vedas, the ancient holy books of India. Yet man bhayd, the feeling of being separate, is still there. The panchaa, the five restless pulls, are not quiet either. Those five are craving, anger, greed, clinging, and pride.

It is like reading every book about swimming and still standing dry at the edge of the pool.

So the longing is for amrit naam, the sweet, life-giving Name, poured into the heart like water on a thirsty garden.

A Question to Sit With

What is the difference between knowing about something and feeling it?

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

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