The Wise Take the Naam as Their Wealth

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

Sahj siaanay naam dhan, sahjai naam nidh-aan — those who are wise (siaanay) take the Naam as their wealth (naam dhan); in sahj, the Naam is the Treasure (naam nidh-aan). The composition closes with the merchant metaphor — the same metaphor that opened the Mehl 1 shabads at Shabad 2. But where the early shabads presented the merchant who came to the market and left without trading correctly, here is the wise merchant who has found the right wealth: the Naam. And their trading is sahj — done in intuitive ease, without ego's anxiety, without Maya's entanglement.

Raat din laahaa har naam hai, sachaa nidh-aan apaaraa — night and day (raat din), the profit (laahaa) is the Lord's Name — an inexhaustible (apaaraa — limitless, without other shore) and true (sachaa) Treasure. Laahaa (profit, gain in trade) — this is not metaphorical. The wise merchant's every day is profitable because the Naam-profit cannot be lost, cannot be taxed, cannot decay. Every moment of Naam-awareness is another moment's profit credited.

Naanak var-di-aa-saa daataa, sarab kala-aa parbh pooraa — O Nanak, the Great Giver (var-di-aa-saa daataa — the Giver of blessings, the one who bestows) bestows all; God is complete in all powers (sarab kala-aa porbh pooraa — full with all potencies). When the Great Giver gives, nothing at all is lacking. The wise merchant who has chosen the Naam as wealth will never find the treasury empty. This is the final statement of the whole ashtapadee: sahj opens the reception of a Treasure that has no bottom, offered by a Giver who has no limit.