Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The Seed Teaching - the one at the root of all the others - is wisdom open to absolutely everyone.
Anyone, from anywhere, of any rank, may say the Name. Whoever says it is set free - though rare is the one who receives it, in the Sangat.
By grace it takes root inside. Then even the beast-like, the haunted, the stone-hearted are carried.
The Name is the medicine for every illness. Singing the Glory is bliss and freedom in one body. No ritual can buy it. Nanak says: it comes when the writing of your life ripens.
The most powerful medicine has no lock on it. The Name is open to everyone.
After four verses that give titles new meanings, this one throws out the entry rules. A beej mantar is a seed-sound. In some traditions it was a secret passed only to a chosen few. Here it is made public. Beej mantar sarab ko gi-aan — the seed mantra is wisdom for everyone. Chahu varnaa meh japai ko-oo naam — anyone from any group may repeat the Name. Jo jo japai tis kee gat ho-ay — whoever repeats it is freed. Whoever.
This was a bold line for its time. The strongest mantra is the most open one. Caste, class, special ceremonies, purity checks: none of them apply at this door. Think of a library that anyone can walk into, no card needed.
Then the verse reaches even past humans. Beasts, ghosts, and stone hearts are carried across. If even they are not turned away, no one is.
Two balances keep the verse honest. First, rare: it is open to all, yet few truly receive it. The door is unlocked, but you still have to walk through. The Sangat is where that happens. Second, grace: kaahoo jugat kitai na paa-ee-ai Dharam — no ritual can buy what only mercy plants.
Sarab rog kaa a-ukhad naam — the Name is the medicine for every sickness. It became one of the best-loved lines of the Sikh tradition.
If the best thing in the world were free and available to everyone, why would so few take it?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI