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Sikhism·Sidh Gosht·Shabad 112
Verse 62 of 74

What Does the Breath Feed On?

ਮਨ ਕਾ ਜੀਉ ਪਵਨੁ ਕਥੀਅਲੇ ਪਵਨੁ ਕਹਾ ਰਸੁ ਖਾਈ ॥
man kaa jee-o pavan kathee-alay pavan kahaa ras khaa-ee.
"The air is said to be the soul of the mind. But what does the air feed on?
ਗਿਆਨ ਕੀ ਮੁਦ੍ਰਾ ਕਵਨ ਅਉਧੂ ਸਿਧ ਕੀ ਕਵਨ ਕਮਾਈ ॥
gi-aan kee mudraa kavan a-oDhoo siDh kee kavan kamaa-ee.
What is the way of the spiritual teacher, and the reclusive hermit? What is the occupation of the Siddha?"
ਬਿਨੁ ਸਬਦੈ ਰਸੁ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਅਉਧੂ ਹਉਮੈ ਪਿਆਸ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥
bin sabdai ras na aavai a-oDhoo ha-umai pi-aas na jaa-ee.
Without the Shabad, the essence does not come, O hermit, and the thirst of egotism does not depart.
ਸਬਦਿ ਰਤੇ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਰਸੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਸਾਚੇ ਰਹੇ ਅਘਾਈ ॥
sabad ratay amrit ras paa-i-aa saachay rahay aghaa-ee.
Imbued with the Shabad, one finds the ambrosial essence, and remains fulfilled with the True Name.
ਕਵਨ ਬੁਧਿ ਜਿਤੁ ਅਸਥਿਰੁ ਰਹੀਐ ਕਿਤੁ ਭੋਜਨਿ ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤਾਸੈ ॥
kavan buDh jit asthir rahee-ai kit bhojan tariptaasai.
"What is that wisdom, by which one remains steady and stable? What food brings satisfaction?"
ਨਾਨਕ ਦੁਖੁ ਸੁਖੁ ਸਮ ਕਰਿ ਜਾਪੈ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਕਾਲੁ ਨ ਗ੍ਰਾਸੈ ॥੬੧॥
naanak dukh sukh sam kar jaapai satgur tay kaal na garaasai. ||61||
O Nanak, when one looks upon pain and pleasure alike, through the True Guru, then he is not consumed by Death. ||61||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

"The air is called the life of the mind. But what does the air feed on?

What is the way of the wise teacher, O hermit? What is the work of the Siddha?"

Without the Word, the essence never comes, O hermit, and the thirst of ego never leaves.

Dyed in the Word, you find the nectar and stay full of the True One.

"What is the wisdom that keeps you steady? What food fills you?"

Nanak says: see pain and pleasure alike, through the True Guru, and death does not swallow you.

The deepest hunger is fed by the Word, not by air or food.
The deeper layer

The Word is the food that ends the thirst of ego.

The Siddhas ask what feeds the breath. Amrit ras, the nectar-taste of the Word, is the answer: ha-umai pi-aas, the thirst of ego, ends only there. Holding dukh sukh sam, pain and pleasure alike, returns as the steadiness death cannot swallow.

A Question to Sit With

What are you hungry for underneath the everyday wants?

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

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