Sikhism·Raag Sorath·Shabad 128
Verse 1 of 3

Good Intentions Left in the Mind

ਸੋਰਠਿ ਮਹਲਾ ੯ ॥
sorath mehlaa 9.
Sorat'h, Ninth Mehl:
ਮਨ ਕੀ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਮਾਹਿ ਰਹੀ ॥
man kee man hee maahi rahee.
The mind remains in the mind.
ਨਾ ਹਰਿ ਭਜੇ ਨ ਤੀਰਥ ਸੇਵੇ ਚੋਟੀ ਕਾਲਿ ਗਹੀ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
naa har bhajay na tirath sayvay chotee kaal gahee. ||1|| rahaa-o.
He does not meditate on the Lord, nor does he perform service at sacred shrines, and so death seizes him by the hair. ||1||Pause||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Sometimes our best intentions just stay stuck inside our heads and never quite become real.

We mean to turn toward the One, but the days slip by — so it's worth beginning now, while we can.

Good intentions only help once you actually begin.
The deeper layer

man kee man hee maahi rahee — the mind's plans remain only in the mind, unfulfilled. The image of death seizing by the hair is softened to days slipping by — a calm urgency, not fear. This is the Rahau.

A Question to Sit With

What is a good intention you've been meaning to turn into action?

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

About this shabad →
Use ← → to navigate