More Than Just Saying the Words

ਸਲੋਕ ਮਃ ੩ ॥

salok mehlaa 3.

Shalok, Third Mehl:

ਸਚਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਇ ਤੂ ਸਭੋ ਵਰਤੈ ਸਚੁ ॥

sachaa naam Dhi-aa-ay too sabho vartai sach.

Meditate on the True Name; the True Lord is all-pervading.

ਨਾਨਕ ਹੁਕਮੈ ਜੋ ਬੁਝੈ ਸੋ ਫਲੁ ਪਾਏ ਸਚੁ ॥

naanak hukmai jo bujhai so fal paa-ay sach.

O Nanak, one who realizes the Hukam of the Lord's Command, obtains the fruit of Truth.

ਕਥਨੀ ਬਦਨੀ ਕਰਤਾ ਫਿਰੈ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਨ ਬੂਝੈ ਸਚੁ ॥

kathnee badnee kartaa firai hukam na boojhai sach.

One who merely mouths the words, does not understand the Hukam of the True Lord's Command.

ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਭਾਣਾ ਮੰਨੇ ਸੋ ਭਗਤੁ ਹੋਇ ਵਿਣੁ ਮੰਨੇ ਕਚੁ ਨਿਕਚੁ ॥੧॥

naanak har kaa bhaanaa mannay so bhagat ho-ay vin mannay kach nikach. ||1||

O Nanak, one who accepts the Will of the Lord is His devotee. Without accepting it, he is the falsest of the false. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Keep the True Naam in mind. The True One is everywhere.

Nanak says: whoever understands the flow of existence receives the fruit of Truth.

Someone who goes around just saying the words does not understand the True One's flow.

Nanak says: whoever accepts the One's Will is a devotee. Without accepting it, a person is the falsest of the false.

Saying the words is the surface, living in tune with the flow is the fruit.

The deeper layer

Mannai, inner alignment, stands apart from mere recitation. Understanding Hukam bears the fruit of Truth; only mouthing the words misses it, and without acceptance a person stays false through and through. Devotion here is living in tune with the flow, not simply agreeing that it is so.

A Question to Sit With

What is something you say you believe that you could live a little more?

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

About this shabad →

← Verse 28 of 74 The Still One While Everything Runs

Verse 30 of 74 →Washing the Heart Clean

Use ← → to navigate