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Sikhism·Raag Raamkalee·Shabad 113
Verse 46 of 74

Pulling a Friend Out of the Hole

ਸਲੋਕ ਮਃ ੩ ॥
salok mehlaa 3.
Shalok, Third Mehl:
ਮੂਰਖੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਸੋ ਸੁਣੈ ਮੂਰਖ ਕਾ ਕਹਣਾ ॥
moorakh hovai so sunai moorakh kaa kahnaa.
Only a fool listens to the words of the fool.
ਮੂਰਖ ਕੇ ਕਿਆ ਲਖਣ ਹੈ ਕਿਆ ਮੂਰਖ ਕਾ ਕਰਣਾ ॥
moorakh kay ki-aa lakhan hai ki-aa moorakh kaa karnaa.
What are the signs of the fool? What does the fool do?
ਮੂਰਖੁ ਓਹੁ ਜਿ ਮੁਗਧੁ ਹੈ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੇ ਮਰਣਾ ॥
moorakh oh je mugaDh hai ahaNkaaray marnaa.
A fool is stupid; he dies of egotism.
ਏਤੁ ਕਮਾਣੈ ਸਦਾ ਦੁਖੁ ਦੁਖ ਹੀ ਮਹਿ ਰਹਣਾ ॥
ayt kamaanai sadaa dukh dukh hee meh rahnaa.
His actions always bring him pain; he lives in pain.
ਅਤਿ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਪਵੈ ਖੂਹਿ ਕਿਹੁ ਸੰਜਮੁ ਕਰਣਾ ॥
at pi-aaraa pavai khoohi kihu sanjam karnaa.
If someone's beloved friend falls into the pit, what can be used to pull him out?
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹੋਇ ਸੁ ਕਰੇ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ਓਸੁ ਅਲਿਪਤੋ ਰਹਣਾ ॥
gurmukh ho-ay so karay veechaar os alipato rahnaa.
One who becomes Gurmukh contemplates the Lord, and remains detached.
ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪੈ ਆਪਿ ਉਧਰੈ ਓਸੁ ਪਿਛੈ ਡੁਬਦੇ ਭੀ ਤਰਣਾ ॥
har naam japai aap uDhrai os pichhai dubday bhee tarnaa.
Chanting the Lord's Name, he saves himself, and he carries across those who are drowning as well.
ਨਾਨਕ ਜੋ ਤਿਸੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਸੋ ਕਰੇ ਜੋ ਦੇਇ ਸੁ ਸਹਣਾ ॥੧॥
naanak jo tis bhaavai so karay jo day-ay so sahnaa. ||1||
O Nanak, he acts in accordance with the Will of God; he endures whatever he is given. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Only a foolish person listens to the words of a fool.

What are the signs of a fool? What does a fool do?

A fool does not stop to think, and is worn down by a puffed-up sense of self.

Whatever they do brings them pain, and they live in pain.

If your dear friend falls into a pit, how can you pull them out?

Someone who turns toward the Guru thinks on the One and stays free of the pull.

Repeating the Naam, they save themselves, and they carry across those who are drowning too.

Nanak says: they do what pleases the One, and they bear whatever they are given.

Holding the Name close does not only steady you, it lets you throw a rope to someone sinking.
The deeper layer

Foolishness here is a life run by haumai, the feeling of being a separate self, and it brings pain wherever it goes. A beloved friend fallen into a pit becomes a rescue picture: the person turned toward the Guru, holding the Naam, comes out and carries the drowning across too. It ends in acceptance, bearing whatever is given.

A Question to Sit With

Who has thrown you a rope when you were stuck?

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

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