Sikhism·Raag Gauree·Shabad 24
Verse 5 of 5

Worship Is Measured by the Ego It Clears

ਭਗਤਿ ਵਛਲੁ ਭਗਤਿ ਕਰਾਏ ਸੋਇ ॥
bhagat vachhal bhagat karaa-ay so-ay.
The Lord is the Lover of His devotees; He inspires them to perform devotional worship.
ਸਚੀ ਭਗਤਿ ਵਿਚਹੁ ਆਪੁ ਖੋਇ ॥
sachee bhagat vichahu aap kho-ay.
True devotional worship consists of eliminating selfishness and conceit from within.
ਮੇਰਾ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਸਾਚਾ ਸਭ ਬਿਧਿ ਜਾਣੈ ॥
mayraa parabh saachaa sabh biDh jaanai.
My True God knows all ways and means.
ਨਾਨਕ ਬਖਸੇ ਨਾਮੁ ਪਛਾਣੈ ॥੪॥੪॥੨੪॥
naanak bakhsay naam pachhaanai. ||4||4||24||
O Nanak, He forgives those who recognize the Naam. ||4||4||24||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

The One loves those who love it, and stirs the devotion in them. True worship clears the selfishness and pride out of you. The One knows every way there is, and forgives those who come to know the Name.

True worship is measured by the ego it clears out, not the show it puts on.
The deeper layer

Devotion is given -- the One inspires it. Its true content is the elimination of haumai (selfishness and conceit) -- devotion is measured by what it removes, not what it displays. The closing returns to Amar Das's tender Forgiver.

A Question to Sit With

Does the way you practice anything make you less self-centered, or more?

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

About this shabad →
Use ← → to navigate