Sikhism·Raag Goojaree·Shabad 14
Verse 3 of 5

You Are Fed First by the Good Words You Speak

ਧੀਰਜੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਹਰਿ ਪਾਇਆ ਨਿਤ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੈ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਉ ਚਿਤੁ ਲਾਵੈ ॥
Dheeraj Dharam gurmat har paa-i-aa nit har naamai har si-o chit laavai.
Through the Guru's Teachings, I have obtained courage, faith and the Lord. He keeps my mind focused continually on the Lord, and the Name of the Lord.
ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਬਚਨ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਜੋ ਬੋਲੈ ਸੋ ਮੁਖਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਪਾਵੈ ॥੨॥
amrit bachan satgur kee banee jo bolai so mukh amrit paavai. ||2||
The Words of the True Guru's Teachings are Ambrosial Nectar; this Amrit trickles into the mouth of the one who chants them. ||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Through the teaching I found courage, and faith, and the One; it keeps my mind fixed on the One and the Name.

The words of the true teaching are pure nectar — and that nectar drips into the mouth of the one who says them.

You are fed by what you speak — good words fall first on the one who says them.
The deeper layer

The verse lists a trio of gifts — "courage, faith, and the Lord" — a reminder that devotion is not only tender feeling but nerve, the steadiness to keep facing the good. And it offers a lovely closed loop: the words of the teaching are nectar, and the nectar "trickles into the mouth of the one who chants them." You are fed by what you speak — the blessing of good words falls first on the one who says them. Praise nourishes the praiser.

A Question to Sit With

What changes in you on days you actually speak encouragement and gratitude out loud?

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

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