Sikhism·Raag Raamkalee·Shabad 114
Verse 28 of 66

True Kings Are Those Whose Dealings Are True

ਸਲੋਕ ਮਃ ੫ ॥
salok mehlaa 5.
Shalok, Fifth Mehl:
ਦੂਜਾ ਤਿਸੁ ਨ ਬੁਝਾਇਹੁ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਦੇਹੁ ਆਧਾਰੁ ॥
doojaa tis na bujhaa-iho paarbarahm naam dayh aaDhaar.
Those whom You bless with the Support of Your Name, O Supreme Lord God, do not know any other.
ਅਗਮੁ ਅਗੋਚਰੁ ਸਾਹਿਬੋ ਸਮਰਥੁ ਸਚੁ ਦਾਤਾਰੁ ॥
agam agochar saahibo samrath sach daataar.
Inaccessible, Unfathomable Lord and Master, All-powerful True Great Giver:
ਤੂ ਨਿਹਚਲੁ ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ ਸਚੁ ਸਚਾ ਤੁਧੁ ਦਰਬਾਰੁ ॥
too nihchal nirvair sach sachaa tuDh darbaar.
You are eternal and unchanging, without vengeance and True; True is the Darbaar of Your Court.
ਕੀਮਤਿ ਕਹਣੁ ਨ ਜਾਈਐ ਅੰਤੁ ਨ ਪਾਰਾਵਾਰੁ ॥
keemat kahan na jaa-ee-ai ant na paaraavaar.
Your worth cannot be described; You have no end or limitation.
ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਛੋਡਿ ਹੋਰੁ ਜਿ ਮੰਗਣਾ ਸਭੁ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਰਸ ਛਾਰੁ ॥
parabh chhod hor je mangnaa sabh bikhi-aa ras chhaar.
To forsake God, and ask for something else, is all corruption and ashes.
ਸੇ ਸੁਖੀਏ ਸਚੁ ਸਾਹ ਸੇ ਜਿਨ ਸਚਾ ਬਿਉਹਾਰੁ ॥
say sukhee-ay sach saah say jin sachaa bi-uhaar.
They alone find peace, and they are the true kings, whose dealings are true.
ਜਿਨਾ ਲਗੀ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਨਾਮ ਸਹਜ ਸੁਖ ਸਾਰੁ ॥
jinaa lagee pareet parabh naam sahj sukh saar.
Those who are in love with God's Name, intuitively enjoy the essence of peace.
ਨਾਨਕ ਇਕੁ ਆਰਾਧੇ ਸੰਤਨ ਰੇਣਾਰੁ ॥੧॥
naanak ik aaraaDhay santan raynaar. ||1||
Nanak worships and adores the One Lord; he seeks the dust of the Saints. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Those You give the support of Your Naam, Supreme Lord, know no other.

Beyond reach, beyond sight, all-powerful Master, true Giver:

You are steady and unchanging, without hate, and true; true is Your court.

Your worth cannot be told; You have no end and no limit.

To leave the One and ask for something else is all poison and ashes.

They are at peace, and they are the true kings, whose dealings are true.

Those who love the Naam of the One enjoy the deep peace that comes on its own.

Nanak says: I worship the One alone, and long for the dust of the saints' feet.

Honest dealings make a person a true king.
The deeper layer

The One is eternal, without vengeance (nirvair), and true. Grasping after lesser things is likened to holding ashes. Royalty moves from power to integrity: the true kings are those whose dealings are true — dignity measured by honesty, not rank. Peace here is sahaj, the intuitive ease of the aligned heart.

A Question to Sit With

Who do you know whose word you can always trust?

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

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