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Sikhism·Raag Wadahans·Shabad 34
Verse 4 of 4

The Greatest Gift-Giver Is Wisdom Itself

ਗੁਰ ਜੇਵਡੁ ਗੁਰ ਜੇਵਡੁ ਦਾਤਾ ਮੈ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਕੋਈ ਰਾਮ ॥
gur jayvad gur jayvad daataa mai avar na ko-ee raam.
A Giver as great as the Guru, as great as the Guru - I cannot see any other.
ਹਰਿ ਦਾਨੋ ਹਰਿ ਦਾਨੁ ਦੇਵੈ ਹਰਿ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ ਸੋਈ ਰਾਮ ॥
har daano har daan dayvai har purakh niranjan so-ee raam.
He blesses me with the gift of the Lord's Name, the gift of the Lord's Name; He is the Immaculate Lord God.
ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਿਨੀ ਆਰਾਧਿਆ ਤਿਨ ਕਾ ਦੁਖੁ ਭਰਮੁ ਭਉ ਭਾਗਾ ॥
har har naam jinee aaraaDhi-aa tin kaa dukh bharam bha-o bhaagaa.
Those who worship in adoration the Name of the Lord, Har, Har - their pain, doubts and fears are dispelled.
ਸੇਵਕ ਭਾਇ ਮਿਲੇ ਵਡਭਾਗੀ ਜਿਨ ਗੁਰ ਚਰਨੀ ਮਨੁ ਲਾਗਾ ॥
sayvak bhaa-ay milay vadbhaagee jin gur charnee man laagaa.
Through their loving service, those very fortunate ones, whose minds are attached to the Guru's Feet, meet Him.
ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਆਪਿ ਮਿਲਾਏ ਮਿਲਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪੁਰਖ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਈ ॥
kaho naanak har aap milaa-ay mil satgur purakh sukh ho-ee.
Says Nanak, the Lord Himself causes us to meet the Guru; meeting the Almighty True Guru, peace is obtained.
ਗੁਰ ਜੇਵਡੁ ਗੁਰ ਜੇਵਡੁ ਦਾਤਾ ਮੈ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਕੋਈ ॥੪॥੧॥
gur jayvad gur jayvad daataa mai avar na ko-ee. ||4||1||
A Giver as great as the Guru, as great as the Guru - I cannot see any other. ||4||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

I can't think of a greater giver than real wisdom — it hands me the best gift there is.

Hearts turned toward the good find their pain and fear melting away.

It's a kindness that brings us together with wisdom in the first place — and there we find peace.

The greatest gift-giver is wisdom itself — and near it, worries and fears melt away.
The deeper layer

The Chhant closes: "a Giver as great as the Guru — I cannot see any other," for it gives "the gift of the Lord's Name." Those who worship find "pain, doubts and fears dispelled," and it is grace that "causes us to meet the Guru." The colophon (||4||1||) closes the Chhant. For a child: the greatest gift-giver is wisdom itself, and near it, worries and fears melt away.

A Question to Sit With

What's the best 'gift' someone wise has ever given you — not a thing, but something to understand?

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

About this shabad →
← Verse 3 of 4 It's a Gift to Have Someone Lead You Toward Wisdom
Shabad 35 · Verse 1 →The Good You Search For Lives in Your Own Heart
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