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1Shalok, First Mehla:

2O Nanak, the soul of the body has one chariot and one charioteer.

3In age after age they change; the spiritually wise understand this.

4In the Golden Age of Sat Yuga, contentment was the chariot and righteousness the charioteer.

5In the Silver Age of Traytaa Yuga, celibacy was the chariot and power the charioteer.

6In the Brass Age of Dwaapar Yuga, penance was the chariot and truth the charioteer.

7In the Iron Age of Kali Yuga, fire is the chariot and falsehood the charioteer. ||1||

8First Mehla:

9The Sama Veda says that the Lord Master is robed in white; in the Age of Truth, everyone desired Truth, abided in Truth, and was merged in the Truth.

10The Rig Veda says that God is permeating and pervading everywhere;

11among the deities, the Lord's Name is the most exalted.

12Chanting the Name, sins depart;

13O Nanak, then, one obtains salvation.

14In the Jujar Veda, Kaan Krishna of the Yaadva tribe seduced Chandraavali by force.

15He brought the Elysian Tree for his milk-maid, and revelled in Brindaaban.

16In the Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Atharva Veda became prominent; Allah became the Name of God.

17Men began to wear blue robes and garments; Turks and Pat'haans assumed power.

18The four Vedas each claim to be true.

19Reading and studying them, four doctrines are found.

20With loving devotional worship, abiding in humility, O Nanak, salvation is attained. ||2||

21Pauree:

22I am a sacrifice to the True Guru; meeting Him, I have come to cherish the Lord Master.

23He has taught me and given me the healing ointment of spiritual wisdom, and with these eyes, I behold the world.

24Those dealers who abandon their Lord and Master and attach themselves to another, are drowned.

25The True Guru is the boat, but few are those who realize this.

26Granting His Grace, He carries them across. ||13||

27Shalok, First Mehla:

28The simmal tree is straight as an arrow; it is very tall, and very thick.

29But those birds which visit it hopefully, depart disappointed.

30Its fruits are tasteless, its flowers are nauseating, and its leaves are useless.

31Sweetness and humility, O Nanak, are the essence of virtue and goodness.

32Everyone bows down to himself; no one bows down to another.

33When something is placed on the balancing scale and weighed, the side which descends is heavier.

34The sinner, like the deer hunter, bows down twice as much.

35But what can be achieved by bowing the head, when the heart is impure? ||1||

36First Mehla:

37You read your books and say your prayers, and then engage in debate;

38you worship stones and sit like a stork, pretending to be in Samaadhi.

39With your mouth you utter falsehood, and you adorn yourself with precious decorations;

40you recite the three lines of the Gayatri three times a day.

41Around your neck is a rosary, and on your forehead is a sacred mark;

42upon your head is a turban, and you wear two loin cloths.

43If you knew the nature of God,

44you would know that all of these beliefs and rituals are in vain.

45Says Nanak, meditate with deep faith;

46without the True Guru, no one finds the Way. ||2||

47Pauree:

48Abandoning the world of beauty, and beautiful clothes, one must depart.

49He obtains the rewards of his good and bad deeds.

50He may issue whatever commands he wishes, but he shall have to take to the narrow path hereafter.