Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Studying the great sacred books brings good. So do deep spiritual knowledge and the calm of inner mastery.
All of it arrives when the mind surrenders and rests in the One, keeping the Name in awareness.
All the learning in the world bears its fruit when the mind comes to rest in the One.
Simrit saasat bayd bakhaanay — reciting the Simritis, the Shastras and the Vedas. These are the respected holy books of the tradition around Guru Arjan, and he names them with full respect. Jog gi-aan sidh sukh jaanay — jog is yoga, gi-aan is spiritual wisdom, and sidh means special spiritual powers. None of these is waved away.
Guru Arjan's point is that their whole fruit comes through naam japat parabh si-o man maanay — remembering the Name, the mind comes to accept the One. Maanay carries the same idea as Mannai in Japji Sahib: acceptance from the inside, deeper than just agreeing. Think of learning every rule of swimming, and then finally floating in the water. The Name completes what all these paths reach for.
What matters more — knowing a lot of facts, or actually living what you know?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI