Sukhmani Sahib-The Sikh Prayers

sloku ]

salok.

Shalok:

 bhu swsqR bhu isimRqI pyKy srb FFoil ]

baho saastar baho simritee paykhay sarab dhadhol.

The many Shaastras and the many Simritees – I have seen and searched through them all.

 pUjis nwhI hir hry nwnk nwm Amol ]1]

poojas naahee har haray naanak naam amol. ||1||

They are not equal to Har, Haray – O Nanak, the Lord’s Invaluable Name. ||1||

 AstpdI ]

asatpadee.

Ashtapadee:

 jwp qwp igAwn siB iDAwn ]

jaap taap gi-aan sabh Dhi-aan.

Chanting, intense meditation, spiritual wisdom and all meditations;

 Kt swsqR isimRiq viKAwn ]

khat saastar simrit vakhi-aan.

the six schools of philosophy and sermons on the scriptures;

 jog AiBAws krm DRm ikirAw ]

jog abhi-aas karam Dharam kiri-aa.

the practice of Yoga and righteous conduct;

 sgl iqAwig bn mDy iPirAw ]

sagal ti-aag ban maDhay firi-aa.

the renunciation of everything and wandering around in the wilderness;

 Aink pRkwr kIey bhu jqnw ]

anik parkaar kee-ay baho jatnaa.

the performance of all sorts of works;

 puMn dwn homy bhu rqnw ]

punn daan homay baho ratnaa.

donations to charities and offerings of jewels to fire;

 srIru ktwie homY kir rwqI ]

sareer kataa-ay homai kar raatee.

cutting the body apart and making the pieces into ceremonial fire offerings;

 vrq nym krY bhu BwqI ]

varat naym karai baho bhaatee.

keeping fasts and making vows of all sorts

 nhI quil rwm nwm bIcwr ]

nahee tul raam naam beechaar.

– none of these are equal to the contemplation of the Name of the Lord,

 nwnk gurmuiK nwmu jpIAY iek bwr ]1]

naanak gurmukh naam japee-ai ik baar. ||1||

O Nanak, if, as Gurmukh, one chants the Naam, even once. ||1||

 nau KMf ipRQmI iPrY icru jIvY ]

na-o khand parithmee firai chir jeevai.

You may roam over the nine continents of the world and live a very long life;

 mhw audwsu qpIsru QIvY ]

mahaa udaas tapeesar theevai.

you may become a great ascetic and a master of disciplined meditation

 Agin mwih homq prwn ]

agan maahi homat paraan.

and burn yourself in fire;

 kink AsÍ hYvr BUim dwn ]

kanik asav haivar bhoom daan.

you may give away gold, horses, elephants and land;

 inaulI krm krY bhu Awsn ]

ni-ulee karam karai baho aasan.

you may practice techniques of inner cleansing and all sorts of Yogic postures;

 jYn mwrg sMjm Aiq swDn ]

jain maarag sanjam at saaDhan.

you may adopt the self-mortifying ways of the Jains and great spiritual disciplines;

 inmK inmK kir srIru ktwvY ]

nimakh nimakh kar sareer kataavai.

piece by piece, you may cut your body apart;

 qau BI haumY mYlu n jwvY ]

ta-o bhee ha-umai mail na jaavai.

but even so, the filth of your ego shall not depart.

 hir ky nwm smsir kCu nwih ]

har kay naam samsar kachh naahi.

There is nothing equal to the Name of the Lord.

 nwnk gurmuiK nwmu jpq giq pwih ]2]

naanak gurmukh naam japat gat paahi. ||2||

O Nanak, as Gurmukh, chant the Naam, and obtain salvation. ||2||