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Sikhism·Raag Tukhaari·Shabad 1
Verse 7 of 17

Jeth — Prayer in the Burning Heat

ਮਾਹੁ ਜੇਠੁ ਭਲਾ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮੁ ਕਿਉ ਬਿਸਰੈ ॥
maahu jayth bhalaa pareetam ki-o bisrai.
The month of Jayt'h is so sublime. How could I forget my Beloved?
ਥਲ ਤਾਪਹਿ ਸਰ ਭਾਰ ਸਾ ਧਨ ਬਿਨਉ ਕਰੈ ॥
thal taapeh sar bhaar saa Dhan bin-o karai.
The earth burns like a furnace, and the soul-bride offers her prayer.
ਧਨ ਬਿਨਉ ਕਰੇਦੀ ਗੁਣ ਸਾਰੇਦੀ ਗੁਣ ਸਾਰੀ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਭਾਵਾ ॥
Dhan bin-o karaydee gun saaraydee gun saaree parabh bhaavaa.
The bride offers her prayer, and sings His Glorious Praises; singing His Praises, she becomes pleasing to God.
ਸਾਚੈ ਮਹਲਿ ਰਹੈ ਬੈਰਾਗੀ ਆਵਣ ਦੇਹਿ ਤ ਆਵਾ ॥
saachai mahal rahai bairaagee aavan deh ta aavaa.
The Unattached Lord dwells in His true mansion. If He allows me, then I will come to Him.
ਨਿਮਾਣੀ ਨਿਤਾਣੀ ਹਰਿ ਬਿਨੁ ਕਿਉ ਪਾਵੈ ਸੁਖ ਮਹਲੀ ॥
nimaanee nitaanee har bin ki-o paavai sukh mahlee.
The bride is dishonored and powerless; how will she find peace without her Lord?
ਨਾਨਕ ਜੇਠਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਜੈਸੀ ਕਰਮਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਗੁਣ ਗਹਿਲੀ ॥੭॥
naanak jayth jaanai tis jaisee karam milai gun gahilee. ||7||
O Nanak, in Jayt'h, she who knows her Lord becomes just like Him; grasping virtue, she meets with the Merciful Lord. ||7||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

The month of Jeth is wonderful. How could I ever forget the One I love?

The ground blazes like an oven, and in the heat my heart offers a prayer.

I keep praying and singing about all that is good in the Beloved, and singing this way, I grow dear to the One.

The One I love is free and unattached, at home in a place that is always true. If You let me, I will come to You.

I have no honor and no strength. How can I find peace without You?

Nanak says: in Jeth, whoever knows the Beloved becomes like the Beloved. Holding on to goodness, that heart meets the One full of mercy.

We become like whatever we hold onto — so hold onto goodness.
The deeper layer

Jeth (May-June) brings furnace heat (thal taapeh sar bhaar, the earth scorched). The One is bairaagee — free and unattached, at home in the saachaa mahal (the true, lasting place). Nimaanee nitaanee ("honorless and powerless") is humility: standing before the One with nothing to offer. The verse's luminous turn is jaanai tis jaisee — whoever comes to know the Beloved becomes like the Beloved; we take on the shape of whatever we hold. The meeting comes through grace (karam).

A Question to Sit With

Who do you know that you have slowly grown more like, just by being near them?

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

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