Japji Sahib · Stanza 20
Pauri 20
Water washes the body and soap cleans clothes — but only love of God's Name cleans the mind.
Listen and read along
Your child does not need to read Gurmukhi to start this pauri. They can follow the words as they hear them.
- Press Listen and follow along — each word lights up exactly as it is recited.
- Tap ▶ beside any line to hear just that line, as many times as you like.
- Turn the transliteration or the meaning on and off, and make the Gurmukhi bigger or smaller.
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