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Sikhism·Raag Saarang·Shabad 168
Verse 48 of 110

Plant Truth, and Truth Grows

ਮਃ ੧ ॥
mehlaa 1.
First Mehl:
ਬੇਦੁ ਪੁਕਾਰੇ ਪੁੰਨੁ ਪਾਪੁ ਸੁਰਗ ਨਰਕ ਕਾ ਬੀਉ ॥
bayd pukaaray punn paap surag narak kaa bee-o.
The Vedas proclaim that vice and virtue are the seeds of heaven and hell.
ਜੋ ਬੀਜੈ ਸੋ ਉਗਵੈ ਖਾਂਦਾ ਜਾਣੈ ਜੀਉ ॥
jo beejai so ugvai khaaNdaa jaanai jee-o.
Whatever is planted, shall grow. The soul eats the fruits of its actions, and understands.
ਗਿਆਨੁ ਸਲਾਹੇ ਵਡਾ ਕਰਿ ਸਚੋ ਸਚਾ ਨਾਉ ॥
gi-aan salaahay vadaa kar sacho sachaa naa-o.
Whoever praises spiritual wisdom as great, becomes truthful in the True Name.
ਸਚੁ ਬੀਜੈ ਸਚੁ ਉਗਵੈ ਦਰਗਹ ਪਾਈਐ ਥਾਉ ॥
sach beejai sach ugvai dargeh paa-ee-ai thaa-o.
When Truth is planted, Truth grows. In the Court of the Lord, you shall find your place of honor.
ਬੇਦੁ ਵਪਾਰੀ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਰਾਸਿ ਕਰਮੀ ਪਲੈ ਹੋਇ ॥
bayd vapaaree gi-aan raas karmee palai ho-ay.
The Vedas are only merchants; spiritual wisdom is the capital; by His Grace, it is received.
ਨਾਨਕ ਰਾਸੀ ਬਾਹਰਾ ਲਦਿ ਨ ਚਲਿਆ ਕੋਇ ॥੨॥
naanak raasee baahraa lad na chali-aa ko-ay. ||2||
O Nanak, without capital, no one has ever departed with profit. ||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Think of your actions as seeds. Whatever you plant is what will grow, and one day you will taste the fruit of it — so it is worth planting with care.

When you plant Truth — living honest and true — Truth is what grows, and you find your own place of honor with the One. Wisdom is the true wealth, and it comes as a gift when you open up to it. Nanak says no one has ever set out on the journey without that wealth and made a profit. It is the one thing you can never leave behind.

Your actions are seeds — plant what is true, and true things grow.
The deeper layer

Plant Truth, and Truth grows.

Jo beejai so ugvai — whatever is planted grows. Sach beejai sach ugvai — plant Truth, and Truth comes up, and you find your place in the One's court. Bayd vapaaree gi-aan raas — books of learning are like merchants, and wisdom is the real goods they carry. Karmee palai ho-ay — that wisdom comes into your hands by grace. Study is a road, and wisdom is where it leads.

A Question to Sit With

What is a "seed" you could plant today by how you act?

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

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