Sikhism·Raag Gauree·Shabad 254
Verse 6 of 10

The Name Feeds the Soul; a Clear Heart Sees the One

ਭੋਜਨੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਨਿਰੰਜਨ ਸਾਰੁ ॥
bhojan naam niranjan saar.
The Naam, the Name of the Immaculate Lord, is the most excellent and sublime food.
ਪਰਮ ਹੰਸੁ ਸਚੁ ਜੋਤਿ ਅਪਾਰ ॥
param hans sach jot apaar.
The pure swan-souls see the True Light of the Infinite Lord.
ਜਹ ਦੇਖਉ ਤਹ ਏਕੰਕਾਰੁ ॥੫॥
jah daykh-a-u tah aykankaar. ||5||
Wherever I look, I see the One and Only Lord. ||5||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

The Name of the spotless One is the finest food a soul could feast on. Pure and clear-hearted people see the true Light of the Boundless One shining everywhere. Wherever I turn my eyes, I see only the One.

The Name feeds the soul; and a clear heart sees the one Oneness shining out of everything.
The deeper layer

The Name is food for the soul, and a clear heart sees the One everywhere.

Bhojan naam niranjan saar — the Name of the Niranjan, the spotless One, is the finest food. It is what truly feeds the soul. Think of how a good breakfast gives your body strength for the whole day.

Param hans means "highest swans." It is a picture of pure souls. They are clear enough to see sach jot apaar, the true Light of the Boundless One.

Then comes a line Raag Gauree loves: jah daykh-a-u tah aykankaar — wherever I look, there is the One. This is Ik Onkar lived out as a way of seeing. It is not one god among many. It is the single Oneness shining out of everything.

A Question to Sit With

If you looked around right now believing everything is connected, what might you notice that you usually miss?

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

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