ਮਃ ੫ ॥
mehlaa 5.
Fifth Mehl:
ਸਚੀ ਬੈਸਕ ਤਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ਸੰਗਿ ਜਿਨ ਸੰਗਿ ਜਪੀਐ ਨਾਉ ॥
sachee baisak tinHaa sang jin sang japee-ai naa-o.
The true society is the company of those who meditate on the Name of the Lord.
ਤਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਸੰਗਿ ਸੰਗੁ ਨ ਕੀਚਈ ਨਾਨਕ ਜਿਨਾ ਆਪਣਾ ਸੁਆਉ ॥੨॥
tinH sang sang na keech-ee naanak jinaa aapnaa su-aa-o. ||2||
Do not associate with those, O Nanak, who look out only for their own interests. ||2||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The true society is the company of those who remember the One's Name.
Don't tie yourself, Nanak says, to those who look out only for themselves.
Whom you keep close shapes you — so choose company that lifts, not company that only looks out for itself.
A Shalok of practical wisdom about company. "True society" is the company of those who remember the One; and the counsel is to avoid binding yourself to "those who look out only for their own interests" — the purely self-serving. This is not contempt but discernment: whom you keep close shapes you, so choose the company that lifts rather than the company that only takes. Not all fellowship is good fellowship.
A Question to Sit With
Is there company in your life that mostly 'looks out for itself'? Who lifts you instead?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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