Sikhism·Raag Malaar·Shabad 17
Verse 4 of 5

Breath Through A Clay Body

ਆਪੇ ਸਬਦੁ ਸਚੁ ਸਾਖੀ ਆਪੇ ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਜੋਤੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਮਿਲਾਈ ॥
aapay sabad sach saakhee aapay jinH jotee jot milaa-ee.
He Himself is the Shabad, and He Himself is the True Teachings; He merges our light into the Light.
ਦੇਹੀ ਕਾਚੀ ਪਉਣੁ ਵਜਾਏ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਪਾਈ ॥੩॥
dayhee kaachee pa-un vajaa-ay gurmukh amrit paa-ee. ||3||
The breath vibrates through this frail body; the Gurmukh obtains the ambrosial nectar. ||3||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

The One is the Word, and the One is the true teaching. The One merges our small light into the great Light.

Breath plays through this fragile body of soft clay. The one turned toward the Guru receives amrit, the sweet nectar.

Your body is clay and your breath is a gift; the Naam is the nectar that refreshes it.
The deeper layer

The One is the Word, and the One joins our small light to the great Light.

Aapay sabad sach saakhee: the One is the Word and the true teaching. Jotee jot milaa-ee: the One joins our light, jot, with the great Light. Think of a wave that remembers it was always part of the ocean.

Then comes a gentle picture. Dayhee kaachee pa-un vajaa-ay: breath plays through this body of soft, unbaked clay. The body is like a flute, and the breath is the music. The gurmukh, the one turned toward the Guru, tastes amrit, the sweet nectar of the Naam.

A Question to Sit With

When have you felt refreshed after being tired or discouraged?

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

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