Note: The next Slok is on ਸੂਤਕੁ (sootak) meaning impure. Sootak is a superstition in the Hindu system whereby the whole place and family becomes impure when there is birth or death in the family. Guru Nanak rubbishes this superstition in these Sloks.

 ਸਲੋਕੁ ਮ: ੧ ॥ ਜੇ ਕਰਿ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਮੰਨੀਐ ਸਭ ਤੈ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਗੋਹੇ ਅਤੈ ਲਕੜੀ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਕੀੜਾ ਹੋਇ ॥

Salok mėhlā 1. Je kar sūṯak mannī▫ai sabẖ ṯai sūṯak ho▫e.  Gohe aṯai lakṛī anḏar kīṛā ho▫e.

 (Slok M: 1) prologue by the first Guru. (J-e kar-i) if we (manneeai) believe (sootak-u) in impurity - being caused by death, then there is impurity (sabh tai) everywhere.

The (keerra) worms/insects keep developing (andar-i) in (goh-e) cow dung and (lakrri) wood – they die when they are used as fuel.

ਜੇਤੇ ਦਾਣੇ ਅੰਨ ਕੇ ਜੀਆ ਬਾਝੁ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਪਹਿਲਾ ਪਾਣੀ ਜੀਉ ਹੈ ਜਿਤੁ ਹਰਿਆ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਇ ॥

Jeṯe ḏāṇe ann ke jī▫ā bājẖ na ko▫e. Pahilā pāṇī jī▫o hai jiṯ hari▫ā sabẖ ko▫e.

Of (j-et-e = as many) all (daan-e) the grains of (ann) food grains – like rice and wheat, there is (na ko-e) none (baajh-u) without (jeeaa) life – because they grow like any living-being and sustain life as food..

(Pahla) in the first place it is (paani) water (jeeo) with life (jit-u) because of which (sabh-u ko-e) everything (hariaa = green) blossoms.

ਸੂਤਕੁ ਕਿਉ ਕਰਿ ਰਖੀਐ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਪਵੈ ਰਸੋਇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਏਵ ਨ ਉਤਰੈ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਉਤਾਰੇ ਧੋਇ ॥੧॥

Sūṯak ki▫o kar rakẖī▫ai sūṯak pavai raso▫e. Nānak sūṯak ev na uṯrai gi▫ān uṯāre ḏẖo▫e. ||1||

(Kio kar-i) how can we (rakhiai) observe (sootak-u) impurity like this? There is impurity (pavai) happening (raso-e) in the kitchen all the time with worms/insects burning in the fire and grains/water being cooked/boiled.

The Brahmin says bath is necessary to remove (sootak-u) the impurity; but it is not (utrai) removed (ev) like this; (giaan-u) understanding (utara-e dho-e) washes it off the mind, - as described below - says Nanak. 1. 

ਮ: ੧ ॥ ਮਨ ਕਾ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਹੈ ਜਿਹਵਾ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਕੂੜੁ ॥ ਅਖੀ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਵੇਖਣਾ ਪਰ ਤ੍ਰਿਅ ਪਰ ਧਨ ਰੂਪੁ ॥ ਕੰਨੀ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਕੰਨਿ ਪੈ 

ਲਾਇਤਬਾਰੀ ਖਾਹਿ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਹੰਸਾ ਆਦਮੀ ਬਧੇ ਜਮ ਪੁਰਿ ਜਾਹਿ ॥੨॥

Mėhlā 1.  Man kā sūṯak lobẖ hai jihvā sūṯak kūṛ.  Akẖī sūṯak vekẖ▫ṇā par ṯari▫a par ḏẖan rūp.

Kannī sūṯak kann pai lā▫iṯbārī kẖāhi.  Nānak hansā āḏmī baḏẖe jam pur jāhi. ||2||

(M: 1) prologue by the first Guru. The human being is being made impure all the time: (Sootak-u) impurity of the mind is caused by (lobh-u) greed, that of (jihva) the tongue by (koorr-u) speaking untruth.

Impurity of (akhi) the eyes is caused by looking viciously at (par) others’ (tri-a) women’s (roop) physical beauty and (dhan = money) wealth.

(Kanni) the ears become impure by (kann pai = putting in ears) listening to (laaitbaari khaah-i) someone doing backbiting.

 (Aadmi) the human being is (hansa = swan, superior bird) the sublime life form, but by the above impurities is (badh-e) bound and (jaah-i = go) taken (jam pur-i) to the town of the messengers of death, i.e. is taken by them for the transgressions committed and punished. 2.

ਮ: ੧ ॥ ਸਭੋ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਭਰਮੁ ਹੈ ਦੂਜੈ ਲਗੈ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਜੰਮਣੁ ਮਰਣਾ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਹੈ ਭਾਣੈ ਆਵੈ ਜਾਇ ॥

Mėhlā 1. Sabẖo sūṯak bẖaram hai ḏūjai lagai jā▫e. Jamaṇ marṇā hukam hai bẖāṇai āvai jā▫e.

(M: 1) prologue by the first Guru. (Sabho) all thoughts of (sootak) impurities due to births and deaths, are caused by (bharam-u) delusion.

(Jamman-u) birth and (marna) death is by (hukam-u) Divine command, and the soul (aavai) comes and (jaa-e) goes (bhaanai) by the will of the Creator.

ਖਾਣਾ ਪੀਣਾ ਪਵਿਤ੍ਰੁ ਹੈ ਦਿਤੋਨੁ ਰਿਜਕੁ ਸੰਬਾਹਿ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੀ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਬੁਝਿਆ ਤਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਨਾਹਿ ॥੩॥

Kẖāṇā pīṇā paviṯar hai ḏiṯon rijak sambāhi. Nānak jinĥī gurmukẖ bujẖi▫ā ṯinĥā sūṯak nāhi. ||3||

(Khaana) food and (peena = drinking) water are (pavitr-u) pure, (diton-u) given by the Creator (sambaah-i) as provision for (rijak-u) sustenance.

(Jinhi) those who (bujhia) understand this (gurmukh-i) with the guru’s guidance; (tinha) for them there is (naah-i) no (sootak-u) impurity caused by births and deaths, says Nanak. 3.