Sukhmani Sahib (Ashtpadi 2, Pauri 7)
Seventh Pauri of the Second Ashtapadi
Introduction
As this Ashtapadi draws to its penultimate stanza, Guru Arjan Dev Ji continues to glorify the divine status and inner fulfilment of the devotee. In the Seventh Pauri, the focus shifts from the benefits of Naam to the radiant presence and spiritual stature of the bhagat (devotee). The Guru assures us that those devoted to Har, Har (the Almighty Akaal Purakh) do not live in obscurity — they shine, uplift others, and remain ever absorbed in the nectar of Naam, protected and treasured by the Lord Himself.
Pauri
ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਜਨ ਕੈ ਮਾਲੁ ਖਜੀਨਾ ॥
<i>Har har jan kæ maal kʰajeenaa</i>
Translation: The Name of the Lord, Har, Har (the Almighty Akaal Purakh), is the sacred treasure of His servants.
Hindi Transliteration: हरि हरि जन कै मालु खजीना।ਹਰਿ ਧਨੁ ਜਨ ਕਉ ਆਪਿ ਪ੍ਰਭਿ ਦੀਨਾ ॥
<i>Har ḋʰan jan ka▫o aap parabʰ ḋeenaa</i>
Translation: The wealth of the Lord is bestowed upon His servant by God Himself.
Hindi Transliteration: हरि धनु जन कउ आपि प्रभि दीना।ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਜਨ ਕੈ ਓਟ ਸਤਾਣੀ ॥
<i>Har har jan kæ ot saṫaaṇee</i>
Translation: The Lord, Har, Har (the Almighty Akaal Purakh), is the mighty shelter of His servants.
Hindi Transliteration: हरि हरि जन कै ओट सताणी।ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਤਾਪਿ ਜਨ ਅਵਰ ਨ ਜਾਣੀ ॥
<i>Har parṫaap jan avar na jaaṇee</i>
Translation: The devotee knows no one other than the glorious Lord.
Hindi Transliteration: हरि प्रतापि जन अवर न जाणी।ਓਤਿ ਪੋਤਿ ਜਨ ਹਰਿ ਰਸਿ ਰਾਤੇ ॥
<i>Oṫ poṫ jan har ras raaṫé</i>
Translation: Through and through, the devotee is saturated with the ambrosial nectar of the Lord.
Hindi Transliteration: ओति पोति जन हरि रसि राते।ਸੁੰਨ ਸਮਾਧਿ ਨਾਮ ਰਸ ਮਾਤੇ ॥
<i>Sunn samaaḋʰ naam ras maaṫé</i>
Translation: In deep meditative absorption, they are spiritually intoxicated with the essence of Naam.
Hindi Transliteration: सुंन समाधि नाम रस माते।ਆਠ ਪਹਰ ਜਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਜਪੈ ॥
<i>Aatʰ pahar jan har har japæ</i>
Translation: Twenty-four hours a day, the devotee chants or recites Har, Har (the Alighty Akaal Purakh).
Hindi Transliteration: आठ पहर जनु हरि हरि जपै।ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਭਗਤੁ ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਨਹੀ ਛਪੈ ॥
<i>Har kaa bʰagaṫ pargat nahee chʰapæ</i>
Translation: The Lord’s devotee shines forth and is never hidden or obscure.
Hindi Transliteration: हरि का भगतु प्रगट नही छपै।ਹਰਿ ਕੀ ਭਗਤਿ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਬਹੁ ਕਰੇ ॥
<i>Har kee bʰagaṫ mukaṫ baho karé</i>
Translation: Through devotion to the Lord, countless beings have been liberated.
Hindi Transliteration: हरि की भगति मुकति बहु करे।ਨਾਨਕ ਜਨ ਸੰਗਿ ਕੇਤੇ ਤਰੇ ॥੭॥
<i>Naanak jan sang kéṫé ṫaré. ||7||</i>
Translation: O Nanak! Along with the devotee, many others are carried across. ||7||
Hindi Transliteration: नानक जन संगि केते तरे ॥७॥
Essence
This Pauri unfolds a sublime truth: the Lord’s devotee is not merely a recipient of grace, but a radiant source of it. The Guru declares that Naam is the wealth, sustenance, and shelter of the devotee — gifted not through effort, but by the Lord’s own hand. The jan (servant) neither wavers nor wanders, for their mind is fixed on Har’s glory, and their being is soaked in divine love.
The imagery here is rich: the devotee is described as one who is imbued completely — inside and out — with the rasa of Naam. They remain in a state of sunn samaadhi, the profound inner stillness beyond sound and thought, intoxicated with the Lord’s essence. This is not a fleeting mood but a way of being: day and night, hour upon hour, they vibrate with remembrance.
Most strikingly, the Guru reminds us that such a devotee cannot be hidden in obscurity. Divine love cannot be suppressed — it glows from within and draws others into liberation. Their very presence uplifts, their companionship redeems. Thus, Nanak concludes, many are saved simply by being in their company.
NOTE: I am not a trained scholar in Sikh Studies or religious studies, in general. I have no claims of mastery or authority. What I offer is a seeker’s voice — a servant’s humble attempt to understand the depths of the divine wisdom encapsulated in these sacred lines. Should I have made any mistake, misinterpretation, or omission, I beg for unqualified forgiveness in advance from the Guru and the readers.
ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਮੇਸ਼ਰ ਜੀ ਨੇ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਪਰਮੇਸ਼ਰ ਦੇ ਦਰ ਘਰ ਦਾ ਭੇਦ , ਗੁਣਾਂ ਦਾ ਵਰਨਣ ਅਤੇ ਮਿਲਾਪ ਦਾ ਮਾਰਗ ਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ।
ਬਲਿਹਾਰੀ ਗੁਰ ਆਪਣੇ ਦਿਉਹਾੜੀ ਸਦ ਵਾਰ।। ਜਿਨਿ ਮਾਣਸ ਤੇ ਦੇਵਤੇ ਕੀਏ ਕਰਤ ਨਾ ਲਾਗੀ ਵਾਰ।।
ਜੇ ਸਉ ਚੰਦਾ ਉਗਵਹਿ ਸੂਰਜ ਚੜਹਿ ਹਜਾਰ।।ਏਤੇ ਚਾਨਣ ਹੋਦਿਆਂ ਗੁਰ ਬਿਨੁ ਘੋਰ ਅੰਧਾਰ।।