He dwells in the heavenly realms, and his virtues radiantly shine forth; meditation and spiritual wisdom are found in virtue.
ਨਾਮੁ ਮਨਿ ਭਾਵੈ ਕਹੈ ਕਹਾਵੈ ਤਤੋ ਤਤੁ ਵਖਾਨੰ ॥
naam man bhaavai kahai kahaavai tato tat vakhaanaN.
The Naam is pleasing to his mind; he speaks it, and causes others to speak it as well. He speaks the essential essence of wisdom.
ਸਬਦੁ ਗੁਰ ਪੀਰਾ ਗਹਿਰ ਗੰਭੀਰਾ ਬਿਨੁ ਸਬਦੈ ਜਗੁ ਬਉਰਾਨੰ ॥
sabad gur peeraa gahir gambheeraa bin sabdai jag ba-uraanaN.
The Word of the Shabad is his Guru and spiritual teacher, profound and unfathomable; without the Shabad, the world is insane.
ਪੂਰਾ ਬੈਰਾਗੀ ਸਹਜਿ ਸੁਭਾਗੀ ਸਚੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨੰ ॥੮॥੧॥
pooraa bairaagee sahj subhaagee sach naanak man maanaN. ||8||1||
He is a perfect renunciate, naturally at ease, O Nanak, whose mind is pleased with the True Lord. ||8||1||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
In plain words
Living in a wide, bright inner sky, good qualities shine out of a person like light, and real wisdom lives right inside those qualities.
When the Name delights the heart, you speak it, you share it, and others catch it too, like a song passing along.
The Word itself becomes the teacher, deep and steadying. Without something like that to steer by, the world spins in circles. But a heart at ease, in love with the Real, that heart has arrived.
When the Word itself becomes your teacher, ease and wisdom grow together.
The deeper layer
gagnantar vaasiaa — dwelling in the inner sky; gun meh giaan Dhiaanan — wisdom and meditation live inside virtue. sabad gur peeraa — the Shabad is Guru and Pir, honoring Hindu and Muslim titles both, the Word as universal teacher. bin sabdai jag bauraanan — without the Word the world is lost (softened). pooraa bairaagee sahj subhaagee — the perfect renunciate, blessed with sahaj. This closes the ashtapadee: bairaag fulfilled as effortless ease.
A Question to Sit With
What is something that helps steady you when life feels like it is spinning?
