Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Without real, good actions, true freedom never arrives. The wealth that is actual freedom comes as I hold the Name of the One in my heart and let it fill my mind.
This is the center of the shabad: real freedom comes from how you live and from keeping the One in mind.
This line is the Rahao, the "pause" line, the center the whole shabad turns around. It answers the picture before it. Bin kartootee mukat na paa-ee-ai — without good deeds, mukat, freedom, does not come. Freedom does not come from a show. It comes from how you actually live.
The second line adds the inside half. Mukat padaarath naam Dhi-aa-ee-ai — the wealth of freedom comes from keeping the Name alive in your heart and mind.
Think of a tree. It needs deep roots, and it needs to bear fruit. Good action outside and remembering inside are the two true things. A costume is neither.
What is one good action, not just a good appearance, that you could do today?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI