ਜਪੀਐ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪੀਐ ਅੰਨੁ ॥
japee-ai naam japee-ai ann.
Meditate on the Naam, and meditate on this grain.
ਅੰਭੈ ਕੈ ਸੰਗਿ ਨੀਕਾ ਵੰਨੁ ॥
ambhai kai sang neekaa vann.
Mixed with water, its taste becomes sublime.
ਅੰਨੈ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਜੋ ਨਰ ਹੋਵਹਿ ॥
annai baahar jo nar hoveh.
One who abstains from this grain,
ਤੀਨਿ ਭਵਨ ਮਹਿ ਅਪਨੀ ਖੋਵਹਿ ॥੨॥
teen bhavan meh apnee khoveh. ||2||
loses his honor in the three worlds. ||2||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Hold the Name close — and honor your daily food too, this simple gift.
Turning up your nose at it, pretending you're above such ordinary needs, only makes you smaller, not holier.
Scorning simple gifts to seem holy makes you smaller, not greater.
Japee-ai naam, japee-ai ann — Kabir dares to place remembering the Name and honoring the grain in the same breath. Mixed with water, plain food becomes neekaa vann, something fine. To scorn it as beneath you doesn't lift you up; the verse says the show-off loses honor. True holiness is grateful, not disdainful.
A Question to Sit With
Have you ever seen someone act 'too good' for something ordinary — and did it make them seem better or worse?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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