Sikhism·Raag Malaar·Shabad 71
Verse 17 of 86

The Cloud Is Only The Messenger

ਮਃ ੩ ॥
mehlaa 3.
Third Mehl:
ਕਿਆ ਉਠਿ ਉਠਿ ਦੇਖਹੁ ਬਪੁੜੇਂ ਇਸੁ ਮੇਘੈ ਹਥਿ ਕਿਛੁ ਨਾਹਿ ॥
ki-aa uth uth daykhhu bapurhayN is mayghai hath kichh naahi.
Why are you standing up, standing up to look? You poor wretch, this cloud has nothing in its hands.
ਜਿਨਿ ਏਹੁ ਮੇਘੁ ਪਠਾਇਆ ਤਿਸੁ ਰਾਖਹੁ ਮਨ ਮਾਂਹਿ ॥
jin ayhu maygh pathaa-i-aa tis raakho man maaNhi.
The One who sent this cloud - cherish Him in your mind.
ਤਿਸ ਨੋ ਮੰਨਿ ਵਸਾਇਸੀ ਜਾ ਕਉ ਨਦਰਿ ਕਰੇਇ ॥
tis no man vasaa-isee jaa ka-o nadar karay-i.
He alone enshrines the Lord in his mind, upon whom the Lord bestows His Glance of Grace.
ਨਾਨਕ ਨਦਰੀ ਬਾਹਰੀ ਸਭ ਕਰਣ ਪਲਾਹ ਕਰੇਇ ॥੨॥
naanak nadree baahree sabh karan palaah karay-i. ||2||
O Nanak, all those who lack this Grace, cry and weep and wail. ||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Why do you keep getting up to look at the sky, poor thing? This cloud has nothing in its hands.

Keep in your mind the One who sent this cloud.

The One comes to live in the heart of whoever the One looks on with kindness.

Nanak says: all who are without that kind look cry and weep.

Thank the sender, not just the messenger who brought the gift.
The deeper layer

The cloud only carries the rain; keep your heart on the One who sends it.

Is maeghai hath kichh naahi: this cloud has nothing in its own hands. It is only the carrier. Jin ayhu maygh pathaa-i-aa: the One who sent this cloud is the One to hold in your mind. Nadar is the One's kind glance, a gift that is always present; a heart opens to it.

Think of a mail carrier bringing a birthday card. You smile at the carrier, and you think of the friend who wrote it.

A Question to Sit With

When you get something good, do you remember where it came from?

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

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