The Body Is a Jeweller's Shop; the Name Is the Treasure

ਇਹੁ ਤਨੁ ਹਾਟੁ ਸਰਾਫ ਕੋ ਭਾਈ ਵਖਰੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਅਪਾਰੁ ॥

ih tan haat saraaf ko bhaa-ee vakhar naam apaar.

This body is the jeweller's shop, O Siblings of Destiny; the incomparable Naam is the merchandise.

ਇਹੁ ਵਖਰੁ ਵਾਪਾਰੀ ਸੋ ਦ੍ਰਿੜੈ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦਿ ਕਰੇ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥

ih vakhar vaapaaree so darirhai bhaa-ee gur sabad karay veechaar.

The merchant secures this merchandise, O Siblings of Destiny, by contemplating the Word of the Guru's Shabad.

ਧਨੁ ਵਾਪਾਰੀ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਭਾਈ ਮੇਲਿ ਕਰੇ ਵਾਪਾਰੁ ॥੮॥੨॥

Dhan vaapaaree naankaa bhaa-ee mayl karay vaapaar. ||8||2||

Blessed is the merchant, O Nanak, who meets the Guru, and engages in this trade. ||8||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Think of your own body as a little jeweller's shop, and the treasure on its shelves is the priceless Name.

A wise trader gathers that treasure by taking the Word to heart, again and again.

Lucky, lucky is the one who finds the guide and spends their life trading in something that never loses its worth.

Your life is a shop; make sure you are trading in treasure that lasts.

The deeper layer

ih tan haat saraaf ko — the body as a jeweller's shop; vakhar naam apaar — the Name as incomparable merchandise. The merchant-metaphor for the spiritual life: real wealth is the Name, gathered through gur sabad veechaar. This closes the ashtapadee. A warm, practical Sorath image: value that does not wash off (sach versus jhooth).

A Question to Sit With

What is something truly valuable you would like to stock up on in your life?

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

About this shabad →

← Verse 7 of 8 The Name Outshines Every Ritual Bath and Gift

Shabad 141 · Verse 1 →Those Who Serve the Teacher Carry Others Across

Use ← → to navigate