Salok Mehlaa 9, Salok 17 — a heart that has let go

ਜਿਹਿ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਸਗਲੀ ਤਜੀ ਲੀਓ ਭੇਖ ਬੈਰਾਗ ॥

jihi bikhi-aa saglee tajee lee-o bhaykh bairaag.

One who has forsaken all sin and corruption, who wears the robes of neutral detachment

ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਸੁਨੁ ਰੇ ਮਨਾ ਤਿਹ ਨਰ ਮਾਥੈ ਭਾਗੁ ॥੧੭॥

kaho naanak sun ray manaa tih nar maathai bhaag. ||17||

- says Nanak, listen, mind: good destiny is written on his forehead. ||17||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Whoever has given up every poison of wrongdoing and put on the robe of letting go —

Nanak says: listen, O my mind, good fortune is written on that person's forehead.

A heart that lets go of what poisons it carries good fortune.

The deeper layer

Letting go of what poisons the heart is good fortune.

Jihi bikhi-aa saglee tajee: whoever has given up all bikhi-aa, the poison of wrongdoing and grabbing. Lee-o bhaykh bairaag: they have put on the robe of bairaag, letting go. The robe is the inner kind: a heart that does not cling, and is still full of love.

Tih nar maathai bhaag: good fortune is written on that person's forehead. In the old picture, a person's fortune is written on the brow.

A Question to Sit With

What is something you cling to that you might feel lighter without?

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

← Verse 16 of 57 Salok Mehlaa 9, Salok 16 — frighten no one, and fear no one

Verse 18 of 57 →Salok Mehlaa 9, Salok 18 — the One lives in a heart that lets go

Use ← → to navigate