Japji Sahib · Stanza 20
Pauri 20
Water washes the body and soap cleans clothes — but only love of God's Name cleans the mind.
ਭਰੀਐ ਹਥੁ ਪੈਰੁ ਤਨੁ ਦੇਹ ॥
Bharee-ai hath pair tan deh.
When our hands, feet and body get dirty,
ਪਾਣੀ ਧੋਤੈ ਉਤਰਸੁ ਖੇਹ ॥
Paanee Dhotai utras kheh.
washing with water takes the dust away.
ਮੂਤ ਪਲੀਤੀ ਕਪੜੁ ਹੋਇ ॥
Moot paleetee kaparh ho-e.
When a piece of clothing becomes soiled and stained,
ਦੇ ਸਾਬੂਣੁ ਲਈਐ ਓਹੁ ਧੋਇ ॥
De saaboon la-ee-ai oh Dho-e.
we use soap and wash it clean again.
ਭਰੀਐ ਮਤਿ ਪਾਪਾ ਕੈ ਸੰਗਿ ॥
Bharee-ai mat paapaa kai sang.
But when the mind is dirtied by wrongdoing,
ਓਹੁ ਧੋਪੈ ਨਾਵੈ ਕੈ ਰੰਗਿ ॥
Oh Dhopai naavai kai rang.
it is cleaned only by the love of God's Name.
ਪੁੰਨੀ ਪਾਪੀ ਆਖਣੁ ਨਾਹਿ ॥
Punnee paapee aakhan naah.
We do not become good or bad just by calling ourselves so.
ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਣਾ ਲਿਖਿ ਲੈ ਜਾਹੁ ॥
Kar kar karnaa likh lai jaahu.
The deeds we do again and again are written down and carried with us.
ਆਪੇ ਬੀਜਿ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਖਾਹੁ ॥
Aape beej aape hee khaahu.
Whatever we ourselves plant, we ourselves will eat.
ਨਾਨਕ ਹੁਕਮੀ ਆਵਹੁ ਜਾਹੁ ॥੨੦॥
Naanak hukmee aavhu jaahu. ॥20॥
Says Nanak: by God's command we come and we go. ॥20॥
✦ The Gurmukhi shown is the original Gurbani. The transliteration and English meaning are a simple, kid-friendly rendering for learning — under review, not a replacement for the original bani.
Words to know
5 words from this stanza
ਮਤਿ
Mat
The mind; one's thinking
ਪਾਪ
Paap
Wrongdoing; sin
ਨਾਵੈ
Naavai
Of the Name (of God)
ਬੀਜਿ
Beej
To sow; to plant a seed
ਹੁਕਮੀ
Hukmee
By God's command or order
Play & remember
Activities for this stanza
Guess what each Gurmukhi word means, then flip the card to check.
What does this word mean?
Take a guess, then flip the card.
A calm sheet with the Gurmukhi on a floral border — print it and color while you learn this stanza.
Print coloring sheet