Sikhism·Raag Malaar·Shabad 34
Verse 3 of 5

Tidying The Room Inside

ਮਨੂਆ ਲਾਇ ਸਵਾਰੇ ਥਾਨਾਂ ਪੂਛਉ ਸੰਤਾ ਜਾਏ ॥
manoo-aa laa-ay savaaray thaanaaN poochha-o santaa jaa-ay.
I focus my mind, and embellish and adorn the place within; then I go out to speak with the Saints.
ਖੋਜਤ ਖੋਜਤ ਮੈ ਪਾਹੁਨ ਮਿਲਿਓ ਭਗਤਿ ਕਰਉ ਨਿਵਿ ਪਾਏ ॥੨॥
khojat khojat mai paahun mili-o bhagat kara-o niv paa-ay. ||2||
Seeking and searching, I have found my Husband Lord; I bow at His Feet and worship Him with devotion. ||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

I focus my mind and make the place inside me beautiful. Then I go out and talk with the saints.

Searching and searching, I have found my Husband Lord, my Beloved. I bow at the One's feet and worship with love.

Prepare the space inside you, and the saints help you find what you seek.
The deeper layer

Make the room inside you lovely, talk with the saints, and the search ends in finding the Beloved.

Manoo-aa laa-ay savaaray means I gather my mind and make the place inside lovely. It is the way you tidy your room before a best friend visits. Poochha-o santaa jaa-ay: then I go out and ask the saints, the people who love the One. Inner work and time with the saints go together, like two hands clapping.

Khojat khojat mai paahun mili-o: searching and searching, I found my Beloved. The finding comes after the getting ready. Bhagat kara-o niv paa-ay: I bow at the One's feet with devotion. Bhagat means loving devotion. This bow is full of love, not fear.

A Question to Sit With

How do you get ready inside for something that matters to you?

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

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