Shaikh Farid · Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji · Ang 1378 · Salok
Sheikh Farid: six saloks
Sheikh Farid was a Sufi of the Chishti order and the first recorded poet in Punjabi. The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism dates him to 1173 to 1265 in one entry and 1173 to 1264 in another. He settled at Ajodhan, now Pak Pattan, and his verses are in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji at angs 1377 to 1384. The same work counts them as 120 saloks in one entry and 112 in another. The Gurus added saloks of their own among them.
The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism suggests Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji may have brought these verses to light on a visit to Pak Pattan. Their authorship has been discussed. Macauliffe and some others doubted that the Sheikh wrote them, mainly because the language seemed too modern for his time. The Encyclopaedia rejects that argument, on the ground that it is the idiom of Multani Punjabi as still spoken.
These are saloks 17, 19, 78, 81, 129 and 130, as numbered in the scripture. Each salok has its own BaniDB number. They cover the themes for which he is most often quoted: humility, God within the heart, returning good for evil, and the refusal to wound anyone.
- 1ਫਰੀਦਾ ਖਾਕੁ ਨ ਨਿੰਦੀਐ ਖਾਕੂ ਜੇਡੁ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥fareedhaa khaak na nindheeaai khaakoo jedd na koi
Farid, speak no ill of the dust. There is nothing to match it.
- 2ਜੀਵਦਿਆ ਪੈਰਾ ਤਲੈ ਮੁਇਆ ਉਪਰਿ ਹੋਇ ॥੧੭॥jeevadhiaa pairaa talai muiaa upar hoi
It lies beneath our feet while we live, and covers us once we are gone.
- 3ਫਰੀਦਾ ਜੰਗਲੁ ਜੰਗਲੁ ਕਿਆ ਭਵਹਿ ਵਣਿ ਕੰਡਾ ਮੋੜੇਹਿ ॥fareedhaa jangal jangal kiaa bhaveh van kanddaa moReh
Farid, why tramp from forest to forest, pushing the thorns aside?
- 4ਵਸੀ ਰਬੁ ਹਿਆਲੀਐ ਜੰਗਲੁ ਕਿਆ ਢੂਢੇਹਿ ॥੧੯॥vasee rab hiaaleeaai jangal kiaa ddooddeh
God lives in the heart. Why go searching through the wild?
- 5ਫਰੀਦਾ ਬੁਰੇ ਦਾ ਭਲਾ ਕਰਿ ਗੁਸਾ ਮਨਿ ਨ ਹਢਾਇ ॥fareedhaa bure dhaa bhalaa kar gusaa man na haddai
Farid, do good to the one who does you wrong, and let no anger stay in your mind.
- 6ਦੇਹੀ ਰੋਗੁ ਨ ਲਗਈ ਪਲੈ ਸਭੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਪਾਇ ॥੭੮॥dhehee rog na lagiee palai sabh kichh pai
Your body will catch no sickness, and everything good will be yours.
Note. Prof. Sahib Singh takes 'everything' as every good quality, kept safe.
- 7ਫਰੀਦਾ ਮੈ ਜਾਨਿਆ ਦੁਖੁ ਮੁਝ ਕੂ ਦੁਖੁ ਸਬਾਇਐ ਜਗਿ ॥fareedhaa mai jaaniaa dhukh mujh koo dhukh sabaiaai jag
Farid, I thought the suffering was mine alone, but it is spread through the whole world.
- 8ਊਚੇ ਚੜਿ ਕੈ ਦੇਖਿਆ ਤਾਂ ਘਰਿ ਘਰਿ ਏਹਾ ਅਗਿ ॥੮੧॥uooche chaR kai dhekhiaa taan ghar ghar ehaa ag
Climbing high to look, I saw the same fire in home after home.
Note. Prof. Sahib Singh reads the climbing as rising above one's own pain. The English translations take a hill.
- 9ਇਕੁ ਫਿਕਾ ਨ ਗਾਲਾਇ ਸਭਨਾ ਮੈ ਸਚਾ ਧਣੀ ॥eik fikaa na gaalai sabhanaa mai sachaa dhanee
Say no harsh word to anyone. The true Master lives within all.
- 10ਹਿਆਉ ਨ ਕੈਹੀ ਠਾਹਿ ਮਾਣਕ ਸਭ ਅਮੋਲਵੇ ॥੧੨੯॥hiaau na kaihee Thaeh maanak sabh amolave
Break no one's heart. Every one is a jewel beyond price.
- 11ਸਭਨਾ ਮਨ ਮਾਣਿਕ ਠਾਹਣੁ ਮੂਲਿ ਮਚਾਂਗਵਾ ॥sabhanaa man maanik Thaahan mool machaangavaa
Every mind is a jewel, and to hurt one is never good.
- 12ਜੇ ਤਉ ਪਿਰੀਆ ਦੀ ਸਿਕ ਹਿਆਉ ਨ ਠਾਹੇ ਕਹੀ ਦਾ ॥੧੩੦॥je tau pireeaa dhee sik hiaau na Thaahe kahee dhaa
If the Beloved is what you long for, leave every heart unbroken.
Our line is a reading of the intent. For the Gurmukhi source text and reference translations seeSikhiToTheMax (part 1), SikhiToTheMax (part 2), SikhiToTheMax (part 3), SikhiToTheMax (part 4), SikhiToTheMax (part 5), SikhiToTheMax (part 6) and SikhRI's Guru Granth Sahib Project.[DB][EoS][EoS]