Verse 4 of 5
The Sweetness Is Here for Whoever Turns
ਪਤਿਤ ਪਾਵਨੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਨਰਹਰਿ ਮੰਦਭਾਗੀਆਂ ਨਹੀ ਭਾਇਓ ॥
patit paavan naam narhar mand-bhaagee-aaN nahee bhaa-i-o.
The Naam, the Name of the Lord, is the Purifier of sinners; the unfortunate wretches do not like this.
ਤੇ ਗਰਭ ਜੋਨੀ ਗਾਲੀਅਹਿ ਜਿਉ ਲੋਨੁ ਜਲਹਿ ਗਲਾਇਓ ॥੩॥
tay garabh jonee gaalee-ah ji-o lon jaleh galaa-i-o. ||3||
They rot away in the womb of reincarnation; they fall apart like salt in water. ||3||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The Name makes clean whatever felt stained — such a gift.
Some turn away and miss the sweetness for now, drifting and coming apart like salt stirred into water. But the sweetness waits, ready, for whenever a heart turns back.
The sweetness of the One is always waiting for a heart that turns toward it.
The literal warns that those who dislike the Name "rot in the womb" and "dissolve like salt in water." For children the frightening rebirth/dissolution imagery is set aside; the kernel — missing out on the sweetness — is kept, and bent toward hope: the door stays open. Salt-in-water becomes gentle drifting, not punishment.
A Question to Sit With
What is something good that is always waiting for you whenever you're ready?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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