Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Cleverness spent on arguing wastes wisdom away. And selling the Naam to get ahead leaves a person empty inside, like a field that grows nothing.
Wisdom is gentle and useful: it leads you to serve the One, it earns quiet honor, it helps you understand what you read, and it moves you to give generously to others. Nanak says this is the path. Everything else just leads you off course.
Wisdom shows itself in service, understanding and giving.
Akal ayh na aakhee-ai akal gavaa-ee-ai baad — cleverness lost in quarrels is no wisdom at all. Writing and selling the Naam for profit is like a field laid waste: there is nothing to harvest. Aklee saahib sayvee-ai — with wisdom you serve the Master, and with wisdom honor comes. Aklee parh kai bujhee-ai, aklee keechai daan — wisdom helps you understand what you read, and wisdom moves you to give. Raahu ayhu — this is the path.
Can you think of someone whose cleverness shows up as kindness instead of winning arguments?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI