Sikhism·Raag Wadahans·Shabad 29
Verse 2 of 4

Your Life Is a Field; Plant Good Seeds

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਖੇਤੀ ਹਰਿ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਬੀਜੀਐ ਹਰਿ ਲੀਜੈ ਸਰੀਰਿ ਜਮਾਏ ਰਾਮ ॥
gurmukh khaytee har antar beejee-ai har leejai sareer jamaa-ay raam.
As Gurmukh, plant the crop of the Lord within the field of your body, and let it grow.
ਆਪਣੇ ਘਰ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਰਸੁ ਭੁੰਚੁ ਤੂ ਲਾਹਾ ਲੈ ਪਰਥਾਏ ਰਾਮ ॥
aapnay ghar andar ras bhunch too laahaa lai parthaa-ay raam.
Within the home of your own being, enjoy the Lord's subtle essence, and earn profits in the world hereafter.
ਲਾਹਾ ਪਰਥਾਏ ਹਰਿ ਮੰਨਿ ਵਸਾਏ ਧਨੁ ਖੇਤੀ ਵਾਪਾਰਾ ॥
laahaa parthaa-ay har man vasaa-ay Dhan khaytee vaapaaraa.
This profit is earned by enshrining the Lord within your mind; blessed is this farming and trade.
ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਏ ਮੰਨਿ ਵਸਾਏ ਬੂਝੈ ਗੁਰ ਬੀਚਾਰਾ ॥
har naam Dhi-aa-ay man vasaa-ay boojhai gur beechaaraa.
Meditating on the Lord's Name, and enshrining Him within your mind, you shall come to understand the Guru's Teachings.
ਮਨਮੁਖ ਖੇਤੀ ਵਣਜੁ ਕਰਿ ਥਾਕੇ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਭੁਖ ਨ ਜਾਏ ॥
manmukh khaytee vanaj kar thaakay tarisnaa bhukh na jaa-ay.
The self-willed manmukhs have grown weary of this farming and trade; their hunger and thirst will not go away.
ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਬੀਜਿ ਮਨ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਸਚੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਸੁਭਾਏ ॥੨॥
naanak naam beej man andar sachai sabad subhaa-ay. ||2||
O Nanak, plant the seed of the Name within your mind, and adorn yourself with the True Word of the Shabad. ||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Plant the good like a crop in the field of your own life, and let it grow.

Tend it in your heart, and you'll gather a harvest that lasts.

Just wanting more and more, without planting anything good, leaves a person hungry.

Your life is a field — plant good seeds, tend them patiently, and you'll grow a harvest that lasts.
The deeper layer

The landmark image: "plant the crop of the Lord within the field of your body, and let it grow." Your life is a field; the Name is the seed; goodness is the harvest — cultivated patiently within "the home of your own being." Those who never plant (the manmukh) "grow weary" and their "hunger and thirst will not go away" — restless wanting without any inner crop never satisfies. For a child: your life is a field, so plant good seeds and tend them, and you'll grow a harvest that lasts.

A Question to Sit With

What good 'seed' could you plant in the field of your life this week?

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

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