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Sikhism·Raag Wadahans·Shabad 46
Verse 1 of 4

Don't Look Far for the Good; It Lives in Each Heart

ਵਡਹੰਸੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ॥
vad-hans mehlaa 1.
Wadahans, First Mehl:
ਜਿਨਿ ਜਗੁ ਸਿਰਜਿ ਸਮਾਇਆ ਸੋ ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਜਾਣੋਵਾ ॥
jin jag siraj samaa-i-aa so saahib kudrat jaanovaa.
The One who creates and dissolves the world - that Lord and Master alone knows His creative power.
ਸਚੜਾ ਦੂਰਿ ਨ ਭਾਲੀਐ ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਸਬਦੁ ਪਛਾਣੋਵਾ ॥
sachrhaa door na bhaalee-ai ghat ghat sabad pachhaanovaa.
Do not search for the True Lord far away; recognize the Word of the Shabad in each and every heart.
ਸਚੁ ਸਬਦੁ ਪਛਾਣਹੁ ਦੂਰਿ ਨ ਜਾਣਹੁ ਜਿਨਿ ਏਹ ਰਚਨਾ ਰਾਚੀ ॥
sach sabad pachhaanhu door na jaanhu jin ayh rachnaa raachee.
Recognize the Shabad, and do not think that the Lord is far away; He created this creation.
ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਏ ਤਾ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਏ ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਪਿੜ ਕਾਚੀ ॥
naam Dhi-aa-ay taa sukh paa-ay bin naavai pirh kaachee.
Meditating on the Naam, the Name of the Lord, one obtains peace; without the Naam, he plays a losing game.
ਜਿਨਿ ਥਾਪੀ ਬਿਧਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਸੋਈ ਕਿਆ ਕੋ ਕਹੈ ਵਖਾਣੋ ॥
jin thaapee biDh jaanai so-ee ki-aa ko kahai vakhaano.
The One who established the Universe, He alone knows the Way; what can anyone say?
ਜਿਨਿ ਜਗੁ ਥਾਪਿ ਵਤਾਇਆ ਜਾਲੋੁ ਸੋ ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਪਰਵਾਣੋ ॥੧॥
jin jag thaap vataa-i-aa jaalo so saahib parvaano. ||1||
The One who established the world cast the net of Maya over it; accept Him as your Lord and Master. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

The One who makes and gathers back the whole world understands it in a way we can't fully see.

So don't go searching far away for the good — it lives in each and every heart.

Keep the good close and you find peace; it's nearer than you think, never far.

Don't look far away for the good — it lives in each and every heart, nearer than you think.
The deeper layer

This mourning-song turns quickly to a great comfort: dhoor na jaanhu... ghat mahi—"do not search for the True Lord far away; recognize the Word in each and every heart." Even in sorrow, the One we might feel is distant is actually right here, in every heart, including our own and the hearts of those we love. "Meditating on the Name, one obtains peace." For a child: don't look far away for the good — it lives in each and every heart, nearer than you think.

A Question to Sit With

Where might the good be hiding close by, in your own heart or others'?

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

About this shabad →
← Shabad 45 · Verse 8 It's Okay to Be Sad; Don't Stay Stuck There
Verse 2 of 4 →This World Is a Resting-Place on a Journey
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