Verse 6 of 74

The Lotus and the Duck

ਜੈਸੇ ਜਲ ਮਹਿ ਕਮਲੁ ਨਿਰਾਲਮੁ ਮੁਰਗਾਈ ਨੈ ਸਾਣੇ ॥

jaisay jal meh kamal niraalam murgaa-ee nai saanay.

The lotus flower floats untouched upon the surface of the water, and the duck swims through the stream;

ਸੁਰਤਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਭਵ ਸਾਗਰੁ ਤਰੀਐ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਵਖਾਣੇ ॥

surat sabad bhav saagar taree-ai naanak naam vakhaanay.

with one's consciousness focused on the Word of the Shabad, one crosses over the terrifying world-ocean. O Nanak, chant the Naam, the Name of the Lord.

ਰਹਹਿ ਇਕਾਂਤਿ ਏਕੋ ਮਨਿ ਵਸਿਆ ਆਸਾ ਮਾਹਿ ਨਿਰਾਸੋ ॥

raheh ikaa^Nt ayko man vasi-aa aasaa maahi niraaso.

One who lives alone, as a hermit, enshrining the One Lord in his mind, remaining unaffected by hope in the midst of hope,

ਅਗਮੁ ਅਗੋਚਰੁ ਦੇਖਿ ਦਿਖਾਏ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਤਾ ਕਾ ਦਾਸੋ ॥੫॥

agam agochar daykh dikhaa-ay naanak taa kaa daaso. ||5||

sees and inspires others to see the inaccessible, unfathomable Lord. Nanak is his slave. ||5||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

A lotus floats on the water and stays untouched; a duck swims through the stream and stays dry.

Like them, with your attention resting on the Word, you cross the wild ocean of the world. Nanak says: chant the Naam.

Whoever lives apart, keeping the One alone in mind, untouched by hopes even in the middle of hopes,

sees the One who is beyond reach and beyond knowing, and helps others see too. Nanak is that person's servant.

You do not have to leave the world to stay clear inside it; be the lotus on the pond.

The deeper layer

The lotus (kamal niraalam) grows in the pond yet is untouched; the duck (murgaa-ee) swims yet stays dry. You do not have to leave the world to be free of it. Aasaa maahi niraaso, desireless in the very midst of desire, is the householder ideal: fully engaged, inwardly unstained.

A Question to Sit With

How can you be fully in something without letting it stain you?

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

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