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Sikhism·Raag Saarang·Shabad 168
Verse 8 of 110

The Traders and Their Precious Cargo

ਸਲੋਕ ਮਹਲਾ ੨ ॥
salok mehlaa 2.
Shalok, Second Mehl:
ਸਾਹ ਚਲੇ ਵਣਜਾਰਿਆ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਦੇਵੈ ਨਾਲਿ ॥
saah chalay vanjaari-aa likhi-aa dayvai naal.
The merchants come from the Banker; He sends the account of their destiny with them.
ਲਿਖੇ ਉਪਰਿ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਹੋਇ ਲਈਐ ਵਸਤੁ ਸਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਾਲਿ ॥
likhay upar hukam ho-ay la-ee-ai vasat samHaal.
On the basis of their accounts, He issues the Hukam of His Command, and they are left to take care of their merchandise.
ਵਸਤੁ ਲਈ ਵਣਜਾਰਈ ਵਖਰੁ ਬਧਾ ਪਾਇ ॥
vasat la-ee vanjaara-ee vakhar baDhaa paa-ay.
The merchants have purchased their merchandise and packed up their cargo.
ਕੇਈ ਲਾਹਾ ਲੈ ਚਲੇ ਇਕਿ ਚਲੇ ਮੂਲੁ ਗਵਾਇ ॥
kay-ee laahaa lai chalay ik chalay mool gavaa-ay.
Some depart after having earned a good profit, while others leave, having lost their investment altogether.
ਥੋੜਾ ਕਿਨੈ ਨ ਮੰਗਿਓ ਕਿਸੁ ਕਹੀਐ ਸਾਬਾਸਿ ॥
thorhaa kinai na mangi-o kis kahee-ai saabaas.
No one asks to have less; who should be celebrated?
ਨਦਰਿ ਤਿਨਾ ਕਉ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਜਿ ਸਾਬਤੁ ਲਾਏ ਰਾਸਿ ॥੧॥
nadar tinaa ka-o naankaa je saabat laa-ay raas. ||1||
The Lord casts His Glance of Grace, O Nanak, upon those who have preserved their capital investment. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Picture each of us as a trader setting out on a journey, sent by the great Banker who hands us our supplies to carry. With those supplies we are meant to gather something precious and take good care of it.

Some traders reach the end of the journey having earned a rich profit. Others arrive having lost even what they started with. No one ever asks to be given less — so who deserves the cheer? Nanak says: the One's kind glance falls on the traders who kept their treasure safe, the ones who used their life to gather something that lasts.

Your days are a loan — the question is what precious thing you gather with them.
The deeper layer

Shalok, Second Mehl. Life as a trading voyage: the trader (vanjaaraa) receives a loan of days and breath from the Banker (Saah), gathers merchandise (vakhar, the Name), and either earns a profit (laahaa) or loses the capital (mool gavaa-ay). Grace (nadar) falls on those who keep their capital whole (saabat raas) — a gentle merchant's parable.

A Question to Sit With

If your life were a trip to gather one valuable thing, what would you want to bring home?

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

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