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Sikhism·Raag Wadahans·Shabad 36
Verse 1 of 4

Wisdom Is Gentle Medicine for the Eyes

ਵਡਹੰਸੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੪ ॥
vad-hans mehlaa 4.
Wadahans, Fourth Mehl:
ਹਰਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਹਰਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਮੇਲਿ ਹਰਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਚਰਣ ਹਮ ਭਾਇਆ ਰਾਮ ॥
har satgur har satgur mayl har satgur charan ham bhaa-i-aa raam.
The Lord, the True Guru, the Lord, the True Guru - if only I could meet the Lord, the True Guru; His Lotus Feet are so pleasing to me.
ਤਿਮਰ ਅਗਿਆਨੁ ਗਵਾਇਆ ਗੁਰ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਅੰਜਨੁ ਗੁਰਿ ਪਾਇਆ ਰਾਮ ॥
timar agi-aan gavaa-i-aa gur gi-aan anjan gur paa-i-aa raam.
The darkness of my ignorance was dispelled, when the Guru applied the healing ointment of spiritual wisdom to my eyes.
ਗੁਰ ਗਿਆਨ ਅੰਜਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਪਾਇਆ ਅਗਿਆਨ ਅੰਧੇਰ ਬਿਨਾਸੇ ॥
gur gi-aan anjan satguroo paa-i-aa agi-aan anDhayr binaasay.
The True Guru has applied the healing ointment of spiritual wisdom to my eyes, and the darkness of ignorance has been dispelled.
ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸੇਵਿ ਪਰਮ ਪਦੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਹਰਿ ਜਪਿਆ ਸਾਸ ਗਿਰਾਸੇ ॥
satgur sayv param pad paa-i-aa har japi-aa saas giraasay.
Serving the Guru, I have obtained the supreme status; I meditate on the Lord with every breath, and every morsel of food.
ਜਿਨ ਕੰਉ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਭਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਧਾਰੀ ਤੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸੇਵਾ ਲਾਇਆ ॥
jin kaN-u har parabh kirpaa Dhaaree tay satgur sayvaa laa-i-aa.
Those, upon whom the Lord God has bestowed His Grace, are committed to the service of the True Guru.
ਹਰਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਹਰਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਮੇਲਿ ਹਰਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਚਰਣ ਹਮ ਭਾਇਆ ॥੧॥
har satgur har satgur mayl har satgur charan ham bhaa-i-aa. ||1||
The Lord, the True Guru, the Lord, the True Guru - if only I could meet the Lord, the True Guru; His Lotus Feet are so pleasing to me. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

I long to meet real wisdom — it's so dear to me.

It's like a gentle healing ointment on my eyes that clears away the dark and helps me see.

With every breath and every bite, I keep the good in mind.

Wisdom is like gentle medicine for your eyes — it clears away the fog so you can see what's real.
The deeper layer

Guru Ram Das gives a beautiful image: the Guru "applied the healing ointment of spiritual wisdom to my eyes, and the darkness of ignorance was dispelled." Wisdom as anjan — a soothing eye-salve that clears clouded sight so you can finally see clearly. "I meditate with every breath and every morsel of food" — remembrance woven through the whole ordinary day. For a child: wisdom is like gentle medicine for your eyes — it clears away the fog so you can see what's real.

A Question to Sit With

What has helped you suddenly 'see clearly' something you were confused about?

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

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