Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji · Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji · Ang 1 · Jap
Japji, first stanza: how does one become true?
Japji is the composition of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji that opens Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and many Sikhs recite it each morning. Its first stanza sets aside ritual washing, silence, fasting and cleverness, then asks how a person can become truthful.
The stanza's last line gives the answer that the rest of Japji develops: live in step with the divine order.
- 1ਸੋਚੈ ਸੋਚਿ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਜੇ ਸੋਚੀ ਲਖ ਵਾਰ ॥sochai soch na hoviee je sochee lakh vaar
You cannot wash or think your way to purity, even if you try a hundred thousand times.
Note. 'Soch' can mean ritual purification or thought, and readers take it both ways.
- 2ਚੁਪੈ ਚੁਪ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਜੇ ਲਾਇ ਰਹਾ ਲਿਵ ਤਾਰ ॥chupai chup na hoviee je lai rahaa liv taar
Sitting in silence will not quiet you, however long you hold your focus.
- 3ਭੁਖਿਆ ਭੁਖ ਨ ਉਤਰੀ ਜੇ ਬੰਨਾ ਪੁਰੀਆ ਭਾਰ ॥bhukhiaa bhukh na utaree je bannaa pureeaa bhaar
Fasting will not end your hunger, and neither would being loaded with all the riches of the world.
- 4ਸਹਸ ਸਿਆਣਪਾ ਲਖ ਹੋਹਿ ਤ ਇਕ ਨ ਚਲੈ ਨਾਲਿ ॥sahas siaanapaa lakh hoh ta ik na chalai naal
You may have thousands of clever ideas, but not one of them will go with you.
- 5ਕਿਵ ਸਚਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਈਐ ਕਿਵ ਕੂੜੈ ਤੁਟੈ ਪਾਲਿ ॥kiv sachiaaraa hoieeaai kiv kooRai tuTai paal
So how do we become truthful, and break through the wall of lies?
- 6ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ॥੧॥hukam rajaiee chalanaa naanak likhiaa naal
Nanak's answer: live in step with the divine will, which is already written into you.
Note. 'Hukam' is Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji's term for the order that runs through all things.
Our line is a reading of the intent. For the Gurmukhi source text and reference translations seeSikhiToTheMax and SikhRI's Guru Granth Sahib Project.[DB][EoS]