Sikhism·Raag Malaar·Shabad 6
Verse 4 of 5

Understood, Not Explained

ਕਥਨੀ ਬਦਨੀ ਰਹੈ ਨਿਭਰਾਂਤਿ ॥
kathnee badnee rahai nibhraaNt.
Undoubtedly, words fail me.
ਸੋ ਬੂਝੈ ਹੋਵੈ ਜਿਸੁ ਦਾਤਿ ॥
so boojhai hovai jis daat.
He alone understands, who is blessed.
ਅਹਿਨਿਸਿ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਰਹੈ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਇ ॥
ahinis antar rahai liv laa-ay.
Day and night, deep within, he remains lovingly attuned to the Lord.
ਸੋਈ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਜਿ ਸਚਿ ਸਮਾਇ ॥੩॥
so-ee purakh je sach samaa-ay. ||3||
He is the true person, who is merged in the True Lord. ||3||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Without a doubt, words fail me.

Only the one who is blessed understands.

Day and night, deep inside, that person stays lovingly tuned to the One.

That is the true person, the one who melts into the True One.

Some things are understood by living them, not by explaining them.
The deeper layer

Words run out, and understanding comes as a gift to the heart that stays tuned to the One.

Kathnee badnee rahai nibhraant: without a doubt, speaking and describing fall short. So boojhai hovai jis daat: only the one given the gift understands. Ahinis antar rahai liv laa-ay: day and night, deep inside, that person stays tuned in, like a radio set to one station. Soee purakh je sach samaa-ay: that is the true person, the one who merges into the True One.

A Question to Sit With

What is something you understand best by doing it rather than describing it?

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

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