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Sikhism·Raag Wadahans·Shabad 30
Verse 3 of 4

Set Down Self-Importance and the Heart Fills With Good

ਮਨ ਮੇਰਿਆ ਜਨਮੁ ਪਦਾਰਥੁ ਪਾਇ ਕੈ ਇਕਿ ਸਚਿ ਲਗੇ ਵਾਪਾਰਾ ॥
man mayri-aa janam padaarath paa-ay kai ik sach lagay vaapaaraa.
O my mind, obtaining the blessing of this human birth, some are engaged in the trade of Truth.
ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਸੇਵਨਿ ਆਪਣਾ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਸਬਦੁ ਅਪਾਰਾ ॥
satgur sayvan aapnaa antar sabad apaaraa.
They serve their True Guru, and the Infinite Word of the Shabad resounds within them.
ਅੰਤਰਿ ਸਬਦੁ ਅਪਾਰਾ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਨਾਮੇ ਨਉ ਨਿਧਿ ਪਾਈ ॥
antar sabad apaaraa har naam pi-aaraa naamay na-o niDh paa-ee.
Within them is the Infinite Shabad, and the Beloved Naam, the Name of the Lord; through the Naam, the nine treasures are obtained.
ਮਨਮੁਖ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹ ਵਿਆਪੇ ਦੂਖਿ ਸੰਤਾਪੇ ਦੂਜੈ ਪਤਿ ਗਵਾਈ ॥
manmukh maa-i-aa moh vi-aapay dookh santaapay doojai pat gavaa-ee.
The self-willed manmukhs are engrossed in emotional attachment to Maya; they suffer in pain, and through duality, they lose their honor.
ਹਉਮੈ ਮਾਰਿ ਸਚਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਸਮਾਣੇ ਸਚਿ ਰਤੇ ਅਧਿਕਾਈ ॥
ha-umai maar sach sabad samaanay sach ratay aDhikaa-ee.
But those who conquer their ego, and merge in the True Shabad, are totally imbued with Truth.
ਨਾਨਕ ਮਾਣਸ ਜਨਮੁ ਦੁਲੰਭੁ ਹੈ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਬੂਝ ਬੁਝਾਈ ॥੩॥
naanak maanas janam dulambh hai satgur boojh bujhaa-ee. ||3||
O Nanak, it is so difficult to obtain this human life; the True Guru imparts this understanding. ||3||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Being alive and human is a precious gift — some spend it dealing in goodness.

Inside them a boundless music plays, and every good thing is found.

A heart that sets down its self-importance soaks all the way through with truth.

Being alive is a precious gift — and a heart that sets down its self-importance fills right up with good.
The deeper layer

"Obtaining the blessing of this human birth, some engage in the trade of Truth." Life is a precious chance, and within those who use it well, "the Infinite Shabad resounds" and "the nine treasures are obtained" — all riches, inward. "Those who conquer their ego merge in the True Shabad." The qMonk voice softens the manmukh lines to the ache of a life spent clinging to fleeting things. For a child: being alive is a precious gift, and a heart that sets down its self-importance fills right up with good.

A Question to Sit With

How might you make the most of the precious gift of being alive today?

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

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