Sukhmani Sahib (Ashtpadi 4, Salok and Pauri 1)
Salok and First Pauri of the Fourth Ashtapadi
Introduction
This Ashtapadi opens with a poignant call to humility. Guru Arjan Dev Ji addresses the seeker as a "worthless, ignorant one" — not to condemn, but to awaken. The Divine has shaped and nourished us at every stage: in the womb, infancy, youth, and old age, yet we remain unmindful. Through the Salok and Pauri, the Guru teaches that realisation of God’s grace and the remembrance of His Name (Naam) are the only ways to rise above this ignorance. Even the most "nirgun" (meritless) soul may be saved — but only through His mercy and forgiveness.
Salok
ਨਿਰਗੁਨੀਆਰ ਇਆਨਿਆ ਸੋ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਸਦਾ ਸਮਾਲਿ ॥
<i>Nirgunee▫aar i▫aani▫aa so parabʰ saḋaa samaal</i>
Translation: O worthless, ignorant one — remember that God forever.
Hindi Transliteration: निरगुनीआर इआनिआ सो प्रभु सदा समाल।ਜਿਨਿ ਕੀਆ ਤਿਸੁ ਚੀਤਿ ਰਖੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਿਬਹੀ ਨਾਲਿ ॥੧॥
<i>Jin kee▫aa ṫis cheeṫ rakʰ Naanak nibhee naal. ||1||</i>
Translation: Keep in your heart the One who created you; O Nanak! Only He shall remain with you. ||1||
Hindi Transliteration: जिनि कीआ तिसु चीति रखु नानक निबही नालि ॥१॥
First Pauri
ਰਮਈਆ ਕੇ ਗੁਨ ਚੇਤਿ ਪਰਾਨੀ ॥
<i>Rama▫ee▫aa ké gun chéṫ paraanee</i>
Translation: O mortal, remember the glorious virtues of the All-pervading Lord.
Hindi Transliteration: रमईआ के गुण चेति परानी।ਕਵਨ ਮੂਲ ਤੇ ਕਵਨ ਦ੍ਰਿਸਟਾਨੀ ॥
<i>Kavan mool ṫé kavan ḋaristaanee</i>
Translation: What is your origin? What form have you taken?
Hindi Transliteration: कवन मूल ते कवन द्रिसटानी।ਜਿਨਿ ਤੂੰ ਸਾਜਿ ਸਵਾਰਿ ਸੀਗਾਰਿਆ ॥
<i>Jin ṫooⁿ saaj savaar seegaari▫aa</i>
Translation: He who fashioned and adorned you—
Hindi Transliteration: जिनि तूं साजि सवारि सीगारिआ।ਗਰਭ ਅਗਨਿ ਮਹਿ ਜਿਨਹਿ ਉਬਾਰਿਆ ॥
<i>Garabʰ agan mėh jinėh ubaari▫aa</i>
Translation: who protected you in the burning womb—
Hindi Transliteration: गरभ अगनि महि जिनहि उबारिआ।ਬਾਰ ਬਿਵਸਥਾ ਤੁਝਹਿ ਪਿਆਰੈ ਦੂਧ ॥
<i>Baar bivasṫʰaa ṫujʰėh pi▫aaræ ḋooḋʰ</i>
Translation: In your helpless infancy, He provided you with milk.
Hindi Transliteration: बार बिवसथा तुझहि पिआरै दूध।ਭਰਿ ਜੋਬਨ ਭੋਜਨ ਸੁਖ ਸੂਧ ॥
<i>Bʰar joban bʰojan sukʰ sooḋʰ</i>
Translation: In youth, He gave you food, pleasure and awareness.
Hindi Transliteration: भरि जोबन भोजन सुख सूध।ਬਿਰਧਿ ਭਇਆ ਊਪਰਿ ਸਾਕ ਸੈਨ ॥
<i>Biraḋʰ bʰa▫i▫aa oopar saak sæn</i>
Translation: In old age, He surrounded you with family and companions.
Hindi Transliteration: बिरधि भइआ ऊपरि साक सैन।ਮੁਖਿ ਅਪਿਆਉ ਬੈਠ ਕਉ ਦੈਨ ॥
<i>Mukʰ api▫aa▫o bætʰ ka▫o ḋæn</i>
Translation: Who feed you gently, as you sit helpless.
Hindi Transliteration: मुखि अपिआउ बैठ कउ दैन।ਇਹੁ ਨਿਰਗੁਨੁ ਗੁਨੁ ਕਛੂ ਨ ਬੂਝੈ ॥
<i>Ih nirgun gun kachʰoo na boojʰæ</i>
Translation: Yet this meritless being understands none of God’s grace.
Hindi Transliteration: इहु निरगुनु गुनु कछू न बूझै।ਬਖਸਿ ਲੇਹੁ ਤਉ ਨਾਨਕ ਸੀਝੈ ॥੧॥
<i>Bakʰas lého ṫa▫o Naanak seejʰæ. ||1||</i>
Translation: If You forgive him, O Nanak, only then can he be saved. ||1||
Hindi Transliteration: बखसि लेहु तउ नानक सीझै ॥१॥
Essence
This Salok and Pauri open the Fourth Ashtapadi with a heartfelt recollection of Divine grace through the stages of life. The Guru reminds us of the invisible, tender hand of Waheguru, present in the womb, childhood, youth, and old age. Despite being recipients of such boundless mercy, humans remain steeped in ignorance, lacking gratitude and understanding.
Yet the Guru does not scold—he pleads: remember your Creator, reflect on His kindness. The only path to salvation is not by deserving, but by His forgiveness. The tone is not judgmental, but graciously instructive, inviting every seeker to return to Naam, Simran, and gratitude.
If you feel this humble piece could offer even a small measure of peace to someone you know, please do share it.
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.
ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ 🙏🙏