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Sikhism·Raag Gauree·Shabad 284
Verse 4 of 4

The Truest Business Is Holding the Real Close

ਤੇਰਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਚਾ ਜੀਉ ਸਬਦੁ ਸਚਾ ਵੀਚਾਰੋ ॥
tayraa naam sachaa jee-o sabad sachaa veechaaro.
True is Your Name, O Dear Lord; True is contemplation of Your Shabad.
ਤੇਰਾ ਮਹਲੁ ਸਚਾ ਜੀਉ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਚਾ ਵਾਪਾਰੋ ॥
tayraa mahal sachaa jee-o naam sachaa vaapaaro.
True is the Mansion of Your Presence, O Dear Lord, and True is trade in Your Name.
ਨਾਮ ਕਾ ਵਾਪਾਰੁ ਮੀਠਾ ਭਗਤਿ ਲਾਹਾ ਅਨਦਿਨੋ ॥
naam kaa vaapaar meethaa bhagat laahaa andino.
Trade in Your Name is very sweet; the devotees earn this profit night and day.
ਤਿਸੁ ਬਾਝੁ ਵਖਰੁ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਸੂਝੈ ਨਾਮੁ ਲੇਵਹੁ ਖਿਨੁ ਖਿਨੋ ॥
tis baajh vakhar ko-ay na soojhai naam layvhu khin khino.
Other than this, I can think of no other merchandise. So chant the Naam each and every moment.
ਪਰਖਿ ਲੇਖਾ ਨਦਰਿ ਸਾਚੀ ਕਰਮਿ ਪੂਰੈ ਪਾਇਆ ॥
parakh laykhaa nadar saachee karam poorai paa-i-aa.
The account is read; by the Grace of the True Lord and good karma, the Perfect Lord is obtained.
ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਮਹਾ ਰਸੁ ਮੀਠਾ ਗੁਰਿ ਪੂਰੈ ਸਚੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥੪॥੨॥
naanak naam mahaa ras meethaa gur poorai sach paa-i-aa. ||4||2||
O Nanak, the Nectar of the Name is so sweet. Through the Perfect True Guru, it is obtained. ||4||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Your Name is real; reflecting on Your Word is real. The home where You live is real, and trading in Your Name is the truest business there is. That trade is sweet, and those who love bring in its profit day and night. There's nothing else worth dealing in — so hold the Name close, moment after moment. When the accounts are read with a kind and truthful eye, through grace the Complete One is found. The nectar of the Name is the sweetest thing there is, and through true guidance it's found.

The truest 'business' you can do is holding what's real close, moment by moment.
The deeper layer

The closing stanza (||4||2||). A hymn to sach (the real): the Name, the Word, the Beloved's home, and trade in the Name are all sachaa — real, enduring. Naam kaa vaapaar meethaa — trading in the Name is sweet business. Nadar saachee karam poorai — through a true glance of grace and good karma, the Complete One is found. The longing hymn resolves into the sweetness of the real.

A Question to Sit With

What is something so real and good you'd want to 'invest' your whole heart in it?

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

About this shabad →
← Verse 3 of 4 No Ritual Cleans the Heart; Only Holding the Real
Shabad 285 · Verse 1 →Follow Good Guidance and the Fever of Wanting Cools
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