ਸਲੋਕੁ ਮਃ ੩ ॥
salok mehlaa 3.
Shalok, Third Mehl:
ਕਾਗਉ ਹੋਇ ਨ ਊਜਲਾ ਲੋਹੇ ਨਾਵ ਨ ਪਾਰੁ ॥
kaaga-o ho-ay na oojlaa lohay naav na paar.
The crow does not become white, and an iron boat does not float across.
ਪਿਰਮ ਪਦਾਰਥੁ ਮੰਨਿ ਲੈ ਧੰਨੁ ਸਵਾਰਣਹਾਰੁ ॥
piram padaarath man lai Dhan savaaranhaar.
One who puts his faith in the treasure of his Beloved Lord is blessed; he exalts and embellishes others as well.
ਹੁਕਮੁ ਪਛਾਣੈ ਊਜਲਾ ਸਿਰਿ ਕਾਸਟ ਲੋਹਾ ਪਾਰਿ ॥
hukam pachhaanai oojlaa sir kaasat lohaa paar.
One who realizes the Hukam of God's Command - his face is radiant and bright; he floats across, like iron upon wood.
ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਛੋਡੈ ਭੈ ਵਸੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਕਰਣੀ ਸਾਰੁ ॥੧॥
tarisnaa chhodai bhai vasai naanak karnee saar. ||1||
Forsake thirst and desire, and abide in the Fear of God; O Nanak, these are the most excellent actions. ||1||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
A crow does not turn white, and heavy iron alone will not float.
But an iron boat set upon wood crosses the water just fine.
So a heart that trusts the Beloved, and rests on the buoyant Word, floats across and lifts others along with it.
Nanak says: let go of craving and live in loving awe; that is the finest way to act.
Heavy things float when joined to what buoys them; trust is that buoyancy.
A shalok of the Third Mehl. Iron sinks alone but floats when joined to wood, an image of the heavy self carried across by trust and by understanding the Hukam. The radiant, uplifted person also lifts others. 'Fear of God' is rendered as loving awe.
A Question to Sit With
Who or what helps carry you across when you feel too heavy to move?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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