Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism, was a spiritual luminary whose teachings transcend time and geography. His poetic hymns, embedded in the Guru Granth Sahib; carry profound wisdom about faith, humanity, and inner purity. This post brings together some of the most inspiring quotes by Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Punjabi (Gurmukhi) with their English translations.
These quotes not only enrich your spiritual journey, but also help you connect deeply with his message of Ik Onkar, devotion and righteous living.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji Quotes – ਜ਼ਿੰਦਗੀ ਦੇ ਅਹਿਮ ਮੁੱਦੇ Punjabi + English
1. ਅਸੀਂ ਜੋ ਬੀਜ (seed) ਵਸਾਉਂਦੇ ਹਾਂ, ਉਸੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਬੂਟਾ ਉੱਗਦਾ ਹੈ
English: “That one plant should be sown and another be produced cannot happen; whatever seed is sown, a plant of that kind even comes forth.”
— Guru Nanak Dev Ji
2. ਵਿਸ਼ਵ ਭਰ ਦਾ ਰਾਜੈਤਾ ਅੰਟੀ ਦੇ ਸਾਮ੍ਹਣੇ ਕੁਝ ਵੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ ਜਿਹੜਾ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਨਾਲ ਭਰਿਆ ਹੋਵੇ
English: “Even kings and emperors with heaps of wealth and vast dominion cannot compare with an ant filled with the love of God.”
— Guru Nanak Dev Ji
3. ਗੁਰੂ ਦੇ ਬਾਣੀ ਨੂੰ ਗਾਉਣ ਨਾਲ ਕੀਰਤ (kirtan) ਦੁਆਰਾ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਦੀ ਮਹਿਮਾ ਫੈਲਦੀ ਹੈ
English: “By singing the Guru’s hymns, I, the minstrel, spread the Lord’s glory. Nanak, by praising the True Name, I have obtained the perfect Lord.”
— Guru Nanak Dev Ji
4. ਸੱਚਾ ਨਾਮ ਇਕ ਜਹਾਜ਼ ਵਾਂਗ ਬਚਾਕੇ ਪਾਰ ਲੈ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ
Punjabi (transliteration): “Nanak naam jahaaj hai. Charhe so uttare paar.”
English: “O Nanak, the Name of Waheguru is like a ship which will take you to your salvation.”
— Guru Nanak Dev Ji
5. ਔਟਵੇਂ ਪਿਆਰ ਨੂੰ ਸਾੜੋ, ਰਾਖ ਬਣake ਸਿਆਹੀ ਬਣਾਓ, ਦਿਲ ਨੂੰ ਕਲਮ ਬਣਾ, ਬੁੱਧੀ ਨੂੰ ਲੇਖਕ
English (paraphrased): “Burn worldly love, rub the ashes and make ink of it; make the heart the pen, the intellect the writer; write that which has no end or limit.”
— Guru Nanak Dev Ji
6. ਸੱਚਾਈ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਦੇ ਨਾਮ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ, ਮਨੁੱਖ ਅੰਦਰ ਜਿੱਤਦਾ ਹੈ
English: “Nanak, the whole world is in distress. He, who believes in the Name, becomes victorious.”
— Guru Nanak Dev Ji
7. ਸੰਤਿਮੰਡਲੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੀ ਮੋਢਗਿਆਨ ਮਿਲਦਾ ਹੈ
English: “In the Society of the Saints, the Guru is found. He is the Treasure of Liberation, the Source of all good fortune.”
— Guru Granth Sahib (referring to Guru’s teachings)
8. ਮੂਲ ਮੰਤਰ (Mūl Mantar)
ੴ ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਅਜੂਨੀ ਸੈਭੰ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ॥
“There is one God, named Truth, the Creator, without fear, without hate, timeless in form, beyond birth, self-existent, (known by) the grace of the Guru.”
— Mūl Mantar Wikipedia
Conclusion
Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s timeless wisdom transcends conflicts of identity, wealth and ego. His poignant verses in Punjabi and their English renderings bring us face-to-face with spiritual truths: the importance of Naam Simran, selfless service and the inner quest for unity with the Divine.
Let these quotes inspire you to cultivate integrity, compassion and unwavering faith in your daily life.
