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Sikhism·Raag Wadahans·Shabad 52
Verse 12 of 64

The Most Sacred Spring Is Inside Your Own Heart

ਮਃ ੩ ॥
mehlaa 3.
Third Mehl:
ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਸੇਵਿਐ ਸਦਾ ਸੁਖੁ ਜਨਮ ਮਰਣ ਦੁਖੁ ਜਾਇ ॥
satgur sayvi-ai sadaa sukh janam maran dukh jaa-ay.
Serving the True Guru, one finds a lasting peace; the pains of birth and death are removed.
ਚਿੰਤਾ ਮੂਲਿ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਅਚਿੰਤੁ ਵਸੈ ਮਨਿ ਆਇ ॥
chintaa mool na hova-ee achint vasai man aa-ay.
He is not troubled by anxiety, and the carefree Lord comes to dwell in the mind.
ਅੰਤਰਿ ਤੀਰਥੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਹੈ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਦੀਆ ਬੁਝਾਇ ॥
antar tirath gi-aan hai satgur dee-aa bujhaa-ay.
Deep within himself, is the sacred shrine of spiritual wisdom, revealed by the True Guru.
ਮੈਲੁ ਗਈ ਮਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਹੋਆ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਸਰਿ ਤੀਰਥਿ ਨਾਇ ॥
mail ga-ee man nirmal ho-aa amrit sar tirath naa-ay.
His filth is removed, and his soul becomes immaculately pure, bathing in the sacred shrine, the pool of Ambrosial Nectar.
ਸਜਣ ਮਿਲੇ ਸਜਣਾ ਸਚੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਸੁਭਾਇ ॥
sajan milay sajnaa sachai sabad subhaa-ay.
The friend meets with the True Friend, the Lord, through the love of the Shabad.
ਘਰ ਹੀ ਪਰਚਾ ਪਾਇਆ ਜੋਤੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਮਿਲਾਇ ॥
ghar hee parchaa paa-i-aa jotee jot milaa-ay.
Within the home of his own being, he finds the Divine Self, and his light blends with the Light.
ਪਾਖੰਡਿ ਜਮਕਾਲੁ ਨ ਛੋਡਈ ਲੈ ਜਾਸੀ ਪਤਿ ਗਵਾਇ ॥
pakhand jamkaal na chhod-ee lai jaasee pat gavaa-ay.
The Messenger of Death does not leave the hypocrite; he is led away in dishonor.
ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮਿ ਰਤੇ ਸੇ ਉਬਰੇ ਸਚੇ ਸਿਉ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਇ ॥੨॥
naanak naam ratay say ubray sachay si-o liv laa-ay. ||2||
O Nanak, those who are imbued with the Naam are saved; they are in love with the True Lord. ||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

A heart that turns toward the good finds a lasting peace and lets go of anxiety.

Deep inside there's a sacred spring of wisdom — bathe there and your heart comes clean.

There the little light of your heart blends into the great Light, at home.

The most sacred spring of all is inside your own heart — bathe there in wisdom and you come clean.
The deeper layer

A beautiful Shalok: "deep within is the sacred shrine of spiritual wisdom... bathing in the sacred shrine, the pool of Nectar, his soul becomes pure... his light blends with the Light." The real pilgrimage-place (teerath) is inside — a sacred spring of wisdom within, where you bathe and come clean, and your little light merges into the great Light (jot into jot). For a child: the most sacred spring of all is inside your own heart — bathe there in wisdom and you come clean.

A Question to Sit With

What does it feel like to find a calm, clean place inside your own heart?

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

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