Say the Name Like a Steady Drumbeat

ਜੈਤਸਰੀ ਮਃ ੪ ॥

jaitsaree mehlaa 4.

Jaitsree, Fourth Mehl:

ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਾਹਾ ॥

har har har har naam japaahaa.

Chant the Name of the Lord, Har, Har, Har, Har.

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਦਾ ਲੈ ਲਾਹਾ ॥

gurmukh naam sadaa lai laahaa.

As Gurmukh, ever earn the profit of the Naam.

ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਭਗਤਿ ਦ੍ਰਿੜਾਵਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਓ‍ੁਮਾਹਾ ਰਾਮ ॥੧॥

har har har har bhagat darirhaavahu har har naam omaahaa raam. ||1||

Implant within yourself devotion to the Lord, Har, Har, Har, Har; sincerely dedicate yourself to the Name of the Lord, Har, Har. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Say the Name of the One, again and again.

As one who faces the teacher, keep earning the profit of the Name.

Plant devotion to the One deep in yourself; give yourself sincerely to the Name.

Say the Name like a steady drumbeat under your day, and 'invest' your life in it sincerely — because it's the one treasure that never loses its value.

The deeper layer

The repeated "Har, Har, Har, Har" of the literal is the sound of the Name said over and over — the rhythm of simran, remembrance as a steady drumbeat under the day. And the merchant-image appears: "earn the profit of the Naam". Life is a trading journey; the one profit worth gathering is the Name. Guru Ram Das's instruction is active and warm — plant devotion, dedicate yourself sincerely. The word "sincerely" matters: this is not going through motions but a real, wholehearted giving of oneself. The Name repaid with sincerity is the one investment that never depreciates.

A Question to Sit With

If life is like a trading journey, what are you investing your days in? Is it something that lasts?

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

About this shabad →

← Shabad 7 · Verse 4 A Mind Dyed in Love, Resting: That's the Gift

Verse 2 of 4 →A Genuine Heart Singing Beats the Fanciest Show

Use ← → to navigate