Sikhism·Raag Gauree·Shabad 226
Verse 4 of 5

Craving Grows When Fed; Only the One Satisfies

ਅਨਿਕ ਬਿਲਾਸ ਕਰਤ ਮਨ ਮੋਹਨ ਪੂਰਨ ਹੋਤ ਨ ਕਾਮਾ ॥
anik bilaas karat man mohan pooran hot na kaamaa.
People engage in all sorts of mind-enticing pastimes, but their passions are not fulfilled.
ਜਲਤੋ ਜਲਤੋ ਕਬਹੂ ਨ ਬੂਝਤ ਸਗਲ ਬ੍ਰਿਥੇ ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਮਾ ॥੩॥
jalto jalto kabhoo na boojhat sagal barithay bin naamaa. ||3||
They burn and burn, and are never satisfied; without the Lord's Name, it is all useless. ||3||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

People throw themselves into all sorts of exciting pastimes, and still the craving is never full. They burn and burn with wanting and never feel satisfied — without the Name, it all comes to nothing.

Craving is a fire that grows when you feed it; only the One truly satisfies.
The deeper layer

This one says craving grows the more you feed it. Only the One truly satisfies.

anik bilaas karat man mohan — people try all kinds of exciting pastimes. Still pooran hot na kaamaa — the wanting is never full. Kaamaa here means desire.

Then comes a strong picture: jalto jalto kabhoo na boojhat — burning and burning, never put out. Craving is like a fire. The more wood you add, the bigger it gets.

Think of watching one more video, then one more. It never feels like enough.

sagal barithay bin naamaa — without the Name, all of it is useless. This is not a scolding. It is a diagnosis. The ache is real. And the cure is not more. The cure is the One.

A Question to Sit With

Have you noticed that some fun things leave you wanting more, while others leave you truly content?

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

About this shabad →
Use ← → to navigate