Sikhism·Raag Malaar·Shabad 21
Verse 4 of 5

Poise That Comes Naturally

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮਿ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਈ ॥
gurmukh raam naam liv laa-ee.
The Gurmukh is lovingly attuned to the Name of the Lord.
ਕੂੜੈ ਲਾਲਚਿ ਨਾ ਲਪਟਾਈ ॥
koorhai laalach naa laptaa-ee.
He does not cling to false greed.
ਜੋ ਕਿਛੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਸਹਜਿ ਸੁਭਾਇ ॥
jo kichh hovai sahj subhaa-ay.
Whatever he does, he does with intuitive poise.
ਹਰਿ ਰਸੁ ਪੀਵੈ ਰਸਨ ਰਸਾਇ ॥੩॥
har ras peevai rasan rasaa-ay. ||3||
He drinks in the sublime essence of the Lord; his tongue delights in its flavor. ||3||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

The one turned toward the Guru is lovingly tuned to the One's Naam.

They stay free of false greed.

Whatever they do, they do with easy, natural poise.

They drink in the sweetness of the One, and their tongue delights in the taste.

When your heart is settled, good action flows with an easy, natural balance.
The deeper layer

When the heart is tuned to the Naam, doing good becomes easy and natural.

Gurmukh raam naam liv laa-ee — the gurmukh, the one who faces the Guru, stays lovingly tuned to the Naam. Koorhai laalach naa laptaa-ee — they stop grabbing at false greed.

Jo kichh hovai sahj subhaa-ay — whatever they do, they do with sahj, an easy, natural balance. This is the sign of a heart in tune. Think of someone who has learned to ride a bike. They do not think about each pedal. It just flows.

Har ras peevai rasan rasaa-ay — they drink in the sweetness of the One, and even the tongue enjoys the taste.

A Question to Sit With

When does doing the right thing feel easy and natural rather than forced?

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

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