Sukhmani Sahib (Ashtpadi 5, Salok and Pauri 1)

🌸 Fifth Ashtapadi: Salok and First Pauri

Introduction

The Fifth Ashtapadi of Sukhmani Sahib continues the rich stream of spiritual wisdom flowing through the preceding compositions. It opens with a Salok that critiques misplaced devotion and the folly of forsaking the Giver for transient distractions. The Pauri that follows builds on this, highlighting how the one who lovingly abides by the Divine Will receives abundance and contentment. It presents a philosophical reflection on human dissatisfaction and contrasts it with the inner richness of those anchored in the Naam.

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🔸 Salok 🔸

ਦੇਨਹਾਰੁ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਛੋਡਿ ਕੈ ਲਾਗਹਿ ਆਨ ਸੁਆਇ ॥
देन्हारु प्रभ छोडि कै लागहि आन सुआइ ॥
Ḋénhaar parabʰ chʰod kæ laagėh aan su▫aa▫é.
One who renounces God the Giver and attaches himself to other pursuits—

ਨਾਨਕ ਕਹੂ ਨ ਸੀਝਈ ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਪਤਿ ਜਾਇ ॥੧॥
नानक कहू न सीझई बिनु नावै पति जाइ ॥१॥
Naanak kahoo na seejʰ▫ee bin naavæ paṫ jaa▫é. ||1||
O Nanak! He shall never succeed; without the Naam, he loses all honour. ||1||

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🔸 First Pauri 🔸

ਦਸ ਬਸਤੂ ਲੇ ਪਾਛੈ ਪਾਵੈ ॥
दस बसतू ले पाछै पावै ॥
Ḋas basṫoo lé paachʰæ paavæ.
He receives ten things, yet values them not.

ਏਕ ਬਸਤੁ ਕਾਰਨਿ ਬਿਖੋਟਿ ਗਵਾਵੈ ॥
एक बसतु कारनि बिखोटि गवावै ॥
Ék basaṫ kaaran bikʰot gavaavæ.
For one withheld thing, he turns resentful and loses peace.

ਏਕ ਭੀ ਨ ਦੇਇ ਦਸ ਭੀ ਹਿਰਿ ਲੇਇ ॥
एक भी न देइ दस भी हिरि लेइ ॥
Ék bʰee na ḋé▫é ḋas bʰee hir lé▫é.
What if even the one is not given, and the ten are taken away?

ਤਉ ਮੂੜਾ ਕਹੁ ਕਹਾ ਕਰੇਇ ॥
तउ मूड़ा कहु कहा करेइ ॥
Ṫa▫o mooṛaa kaho kahaa karé▫i.
Then what would the fool do or say?

ਜਿਸੁ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਸਿਉ ਨਾਹੀ ਚਾਰਾ ॥
जिसु ठाकुर सिउ नाही चारा ॥
Jis tʰaakur si▫o naahee chaaraa.
The Lord cannot be controlled by schemes or force.

ਤਾ ਕਉ ਕੀਜੈ ਸਦ ਨਮਸਕਾਰਾ ॥
ता कउ कीजै सद नमसकारा ॥
Ṫaa ka▫o keejæ saḋ namaskaaraa.
To Him, offer constant, humble prostration.

ਜਾ ਕੈ ਮਨਿ ਲਾਗਾ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਮੀਠਾ ॥
जा कै मनि लागा प्रभु मीठा ॥
Jaa kæ man laagaa parabʰ meetʰaa.
One whose heart finds God sweet and dear—

ਸਰਬ ਸੂਖ ਤਾਹੂ ਮਨਿ ਵੂਠਾ ॥
सरब सूख ताहू मनि वूठा ॥
Sarab sookʰ ṫaahoo man vootʰaa.
—Within that heart, all comfort dwells.

ਜਿਸੁ ਜਨ ਅਪਨਾ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਮਨਾਇਆ ॥
जिसु जन अपना हुकमु मनाइआ ॥
Jis jan apnaa hukam manaa▫i▫aa.
The one who lives in harmony with His Will—

ਸਰਬ ਥੋਕ ਨਾਨਕ ਤਿਨਿ ਪਾਇਆ ॥੧॥
सरब थोक नानक तिनि पाइआ ॥१॥
Sarab ṫʰok Naanak ṫin paa▫i▫aa. ||1||
O Nanak! He receives everything. ||1||

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🌼 Essence

This Pauri serves as a mirror to human nature. Guru Arjan Dev ji, the Fifth Nanak, reveals how people often receive countless blessings but remain dissatisfied, lamenting over what is withheld. The metaphor of receiving ten and being upset over losing one, only to lose everything in the end, is a striking critique of ingratitude.

Guru ji teaches that the foolish seek to outwit the Lord or become resentful when desires aren't fulfilled. But God, the Sovereign Giver, cannot be swayed by manipulation. Instead, Guru Sahib instructs us to cultivate humility and to bow in acceptance of His Divine Will.

The Pauri culminates in the supreme realisation: the one who lovingly submits to the Lord’s Hukam finds all treasures—peace, contentment, and abundance—within. True riches lie not in worldly accumulations but in finding sweetness in the Naam.

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.