Sukhmani Sahib (Ashtpadi 6, Pauri 6)
Sixth Ashtapadi – Pauri 6
Introduction to Pauri 6
Guru Arjan Dev Ji, in this beautiful pauri, continues the theme of grateful remembrance. He enumerates the many faculties and blessings granted by the Divine—speech, sight, hearing, touch, fulfillment, and inner peace—and challenges the mind with a piercing question: Why forget the very Giver of all these gifts? The Pauri ends with an invocation to awaken one’s consciousness through the Guru’s Grace.
Pauri 6 – Line-by-Line
ਜਿਹ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ਸੁਨਹਿ ਕਰਨ ਨਾਦ ॥
जिह प्रसादि सुनहि करन नाद ॥
Jih parsāḋ sunėh karan nāḋ.
Translation: By His Grace, you listen to the sound current of the Naad.ਜਿਹ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ਪੇਖਹਿ ਬਿਸਮਾਦ ॥
जिह प्रसादि पेखहि बिसमाद ॥
Jih parsāḋ pékʰėh bismāḋ.
Translation: By His Grace, you behold amazing wonders.ਜਿਹ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ਬੋਲਹਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਰਸਨਾ ॥
जिह प्रसादि बोलहि अमृत रसना ॥
Jih parsāḋ bolėh amriṯ rasnā.
Translation: By His Grace, you speak ambrosial words with your tongue.ਜਿਹ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ਸੁਖਿ ਸਹਜੇ ਬਸਨਾ ॥
जिह प्रसादि सुखि सहजे बसना ॥
Jih parsāḋ sukh sahjé basnā.
Translation: By His Grace, you abide in peace and ease.ਜਿਹ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ਹਸਤ ਕਰ ਚਲਹਿ ॥
जिह प्रसादि हसत कर चलहि ॥
Jih parsāḋ hasaṯ kar chalėh.
Translation: By His Grace, your hands move and work.ਜਿਹ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ਸੰਪੂਰਨ ਫਲਹਿ ॥
जिह प्रसादि संपूर्ण फलहि ॥
Jih parsāḋ sampooran phalėh.
Translation: By His Grace, you grow to your full potential.ਜਿਹ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ਪਰਮ ਗਤਿ ਪਾਵਹਿ ॥
जिह प्रसादि परम गति पावहि ॥
Jih parsāḋ param gaṯ pāvahi.
Translation: By His Grace, you obtain the supreme-status/ most honorable death.ਜਿਹ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ਸੁਖਿ ਸਹਜਿ ਸਮਾਵਹਿ ॥
जिह प्रसादि सुखि सहजि समावहि ॥
Jih parsāḋ sukh sahj samāvėh.
Translation: By His Grace, you are absorbed into celestial peace.ਐਸਾ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਤਿਆਗਿ ਅਵਰ ਕਤ ਲਾਗਹੁ ॥
ऐसा प्रभु तिआगि अवर कत लागहु ॥
Aisā prabh ṯiāg avar kaṯ lāgahu?
Translation: Why forsake such a God and attach yourself to another?ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਮਨਿ ਜਾਗਹੁ ॥੬॥
गुर प्रसादि नानक मनि जागहु ॥६॥
Gur parsāḋ Nānak man jāgahu. ||6||
Translation: By Guru’s Grace, O Nanak! Awaken your mind! ||6||
Essence of Pauri 6
Guru Arjan Dev Ji lovingly compels the seeker to reflect on the countless blessings we enjoy—our senses, bodily functions, fulfillment of desires, and inner tranquility—all granted solely by the Lord's generosity. Forgetting Him and turning elsewhere is not only ungrateful but spiritually self-destructive. The pauri culminates in a spiritual call to awaken the sleeping mind and soul through the Guru’s Wisdom and Grace. This pauri is both a hymn of praise and a moral reckoning.
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.