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Sikhism·Raag Wadahans·Shabad 52
Verse 11 of 64

You Don't Need Robes; Work Honestly and Give

ਸਲੋਕੁ ਮਃ ੩ ॥
salok mehlaa 3.
Shalok, Third Mehl:
ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਮਿਲਿਐ ਭੁਖ ਗਈ ਭੇਖੀ ਭੁਖ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥
satgur mili-ai bhukh ga-ee bhaykhee bhukh na jaa-ay.
Meeting with the True Guru, hunger departs; by wearing the robes of a beggar, hunger does not depart.
ਦੁਖਿ ਲਗੈ ਘਰਿ ਘਰਿ ਫਿਰੈ ਅਗੈ ਦੂਣੀ ਮਿਲੈ ਸਜਾਇ ॥
dukh lagai ghar ghar firai agai doonee milai sajaa-ay.
Afflicted with pain, he wanders from house to house, and in the world hereafter, he receives double punishment.
ਅੰਦਰਿ ਸਹਜੁ ਨ ਆਇਓ ਸਹਜੇ ਹੀ ਲੈ ਖਾਇ ॥
andar sahj na aa-i-o sehjay hee lai khaa-ay.
Peace does not come to his heart - he is not content to eat what comes his way.
ਮਨਹਠਿ ਜਿਸ ਤੇ ਮੰਗਣਾ ਲੈਣਾ ਦੁਖੁ ਮਨਾਇ ॥
manhath jis tay mangnaa lainaa dukh manaa-ay.
With his stubborn mind, he begs, and grabs, and annoys those who give.
ਇਸੁ ਭੇਖੈ ਥਾਵਹੁ ਗਿਰਹੋ ਭਲਾ ਜਿਥਹੁ ਕੋ ਵਰਸਾਇ ॥
is bhaykhai thaavhu girho bhalaa jithahu ko varsaa-ay.
Instead of wearing these beggar's robes, it is better to be a householder, and give to others.
ਸਬਦਿ ਰਤੇ ਤਿਨਾ ਸੋਝੀ ਪਈ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲਾਇ ॥
sabad ratay tinaa sojhee pa-ee doojai bharam bhulaa-ay.
Those who are attuned to the Word of the Shabad, acquire understanding; the others wander, deluded by doubt.
ਪਇਐ ਕਿਰਤਿ ਕਮਾਵਣਾ ਕਹਣਾ ਕਛੂ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥
pa-i-ai kirat kamaavanaa kahnaa kachhoo na jaa-ay.
They act according to their past actions; it is useless to talk to them.
ਨਾਨਕ ਜੋ ਤਿਸੁ ਭਾਵਹਿ ਸੇ ਭਲੇ ਜਿਨ ਕੀ ਪਤਿ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਥਾਇ ॥੧॥
naanak jo tis bhaaveh say bhalay jin kee pat paavahi thaa-ay. ||1||
O Nanak, those who are pleasing unto the Lord are good; He upholds their honor. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Wearing special 'holy' robes and begging door to door doesn't fill the hunger inside.

It's far better to be an ordinary person who works honestly and gives to others.

Real peace comes from a content, generous heart — not from looking the part.

You don't have to wear special robes or leave ordinary life to be good — it's better to work honestly and give to others.
The deeper layer

A landmark Shalok, and a cornerstone of Sikh life: "instead of wearing these beggar's robes, it is better to be a householder, and give to others." The Gurus rejected the idea that you must renounce ordinary life — quit your home, wear holy robes, beg — to be spiritual. The truly holy path is the householder's: work honestly, live in the world, and give to others. Outer robes and begging don't cure the inner hunger; a content, generous heart does. For a child: you don't have to wear special robes or leave ordinary life to be good — it's better to work honestly and give to others.

A Question to Sit With

How is being generous in ordinary life better than just looking holy on the outside?

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

About this shabad →
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