ਸਲੋਕੁ ਮਃ ੧ ॥

salok mahalaa 1 |

Salok, First Mehl:

ਸਿੰਮਲ ਰੁਖੁ ਸਰਾਇਰਾ ਅਤਿ ਦੀਰਘ ਅਤਿ ਮੁਚੁ ॥

sinmal rukh saraaeiraa at deeragh at much |

The simmal tree is straight as an arrow; it is very tall, and very thick.

ਓਇ ਜਿ ਆਵਹਿ ਆਸ ਕਰਿ ਜਾਹਿ ਨਿਰਾਸੇ ਕਿਤੁ ॥

oe ji aaveh aas kar jaeh niraase kit |

But those birds which visit it hopefully, depart disappointed.

ਫਲ ਫਿਕੇ ਫੁਲ ਬਕਬਕੇ ਕੰਮਿ ਨ ਆਵਹਿ ਪਤ ॥

fal fike ful bakabake kam na aaveh pat |

Its fruits are tasteless, its flowers are nauseating, and its leaves are useless.

ਮਿਠਤੁ ਨੀਵੀ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਗੁਣ ਚੰਗਿਆਈਆ ਤਤੁ ॥

mitthat neevee naanakaa gun changiaaeea tat |

Sweetness and humility, O Nanak, are the essence of virtue and goodness.

ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਨਿਵੈ ਆਪ ਕਉ ਪਰ ਕਉ ਨਿਵੈ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥

sabh ko nivai aap kau par kau nivai na koe |

Everyone bows down to himself; no one bows down to another.

ਧਰਿ ਤਾਰਾਜੂ ਤੋਲੀਐ ਨਿਵੈ ਸੁ ਗਉਰਾ ਹੋਇ ॥

dhar taaraajoo toleeai nivai su gauraa hoe |

When something is placed on the balancing scale and weighed, the side which descends is heavier.

ਅਪਰਾਧੀ ਦੂਣਾ ਨਿਵੈ ਜੋ ਹੰਤਾ ਮਿਰਗਾਹਿ ॥

aparaadhee doonaa nivai jo hantaa miragaeh |

The sinner, like the deer hunter, bows down twice as much.

ਸੀਸਿ ਨਿਵਾਇਐ ਕਿਆ ਥੀਐ ਜਾ ਰਿਦੈ ਕੁਸੁਧੇ ਜਾਹਿ ॥੧॥

sees nivaaeiai kiaa theeai jaa ridai kusudhe jaeh |1|

But what can be achieved by bowing the head, when the heart is impure? ||1||