KHAYP/ਖੇਪ

ABSTRACT

In Sikh thought, Khayp/ਖੇਪ (Truth) is the earned profitable merchandise of God’s Name with development of virtues, subjugation of vices, and service of the humanity.  According to Sabd Guru, it is capable of accompanying an individual upon his death and is the true function of the human birth in this life -- having a human experience.  This was the advice given by Guru Arjan in Sri Raag:

ਮਨ ਪਿਆਰਿਆ ਜੀਉ ਮਿਤ੍ਰਾ ਹਰਿ ਲਦੇ ਖੇਪ ਸਵਲੀ ॥

ਮਨ ਪਿਆਰਿਆ ਜੀਉ ਮਿਤ੍ਰਾ ਹਰਿ ਦਰੁ ਨਿਹਚਲੁ ਮਲੀ ॥

ਨਾਨਕੁ ਸਿਖ ਦੇਇ ਮਨ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮ ਹਰਿ ਲਦੇ ਖੇਪ ਸਵਲੀ ॥
Man pi­āri­ā jī­o miṯrā har laḏė kẖėp savlī. Man pi­āri­ā jī­o miṯrā har ḏar nihcẖal malī.Nānak sikẖ ḏė­ė man parīṯam har laḏė kẖėp savlī.

O dear beloved mind, my friend, load the profitable cargo of the God's Devotion. O dear beloved mind, my friend, enter through the eternal Door of the God. Nanak gives this advice: O beloved mind, load the profitable cargo of the God's Devotion.-----Guru Arjan, Sri Raag, AGGS, Page, 79-15, 18         
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There are many references in AGGS on the subject and here are few for ready reference:               

ਜਾ ਕਉ ਆਏ ਸੋਈ ਬਿਹਾਝਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਮਨਹਿ ਬਸੇਰਾ ॥

ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਮਹਲੁ ਪਾਵਹੁ ਸੁਖ ਸਹਜੇ ਬਹੁਰਿ ਨ ਹੋਇਗੋ ਫੇਰਾ ॥੩॥
Jā ka­o ā­ė so­ī bihājẖahu har gur ṯė maneh basėrā. Nij gẖar mahal pāvhu sukẖ sėhje bahur na ho▫igo ferā. ||3||

Purchase only that for which you have come into the world.  Through the Guru, God shall dwell within your mind. Within the home of your own inner being, you shall obtain the Mansion of the God's Presence with intuitive ease. You shall not be consigned again to the wheel of reincarnation. ||3||-----Guru Arjan, Raag Gauri Poorbi, AGGS, Page, 13-17

ਸਚੁ ਵਾਪਾਰੁ ਕਰਹੁ ਵਾਪਾਰੀ ॥

ਦਰਗਹ ਨਿਬਹੈ ਖੇਪ ਤੁਮਾਰੀ ॥

ਏਕਾ ਟੇਕ ਰਖਹੁ ਮਨ ਮਾਹਿ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਬਹੁਰਿ ਨ ਆਵਹਿ ਜਾਹਿ ॥
Sacẖ vāpār karahu vāpārī, Ḏargeh nibhai kẖėp ṯumārī, Ėkā tėk rakẖahu man māhi, Nānak bahur na āvahi jāhi.

Deal in the true trade, and your merchandise shall be safe in the Court of the God. Keep the Support of the One in your mind. O Nanak, you shall not have to come and go again.-----Guru Arjan, Raag Gauri Sukhmani, AGGS, Page, 293-6                                                                              
            

ਜਿਸੁ ਵਖਰ ਕਉ ਲੈਨਿ ਤੂ ਆਇਆ ॥

ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਸੰਤਨ ਘਰਿ ਪਾਇਆ ॥

ਤਜਿ ਅਭਿਮਾਨੁ ਲੇਹੁ ਮਨ ਮੋਲਿ ॥

ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਹਿਰਦੇ ਮਹਿ ਤੋਲਿ ॥

ਲਾਦਿ ਖੇਪ ਸੰਤਹ ਸੰਗਿ ਚਾਲੁ ॥

ਅਵਰ ਤਿਆਗਿ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਜੰਜਾਲ ॥

ਧੰਨਿ ਧੰਨਿ ਕਹੈ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਇ ॥

ਮੁਖ ਊਜਲ ਹਰਿ ਦਰਗਹ ਸੋਇ ॥

ਇਹੁ ਵਾਪਾਰੁ ਵਿਰਲਾ ਵਾਪਾਰੈ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਤਾ ਕੈ ਸਦ ਬਲਿਹਾਰੈ ॥
Jis vakẖar ka­o lain ṯū ā­i­ā. Rām nām sanṯan gẖar pā­i­ā.Ŧaj abẖimān lėho man mol, Rām nām hirḏė meh ṯol. Lāḏ kẖėp sanṯeh sang cẖāl. Avar ṯi­āg bikẖi­ā janjāl. Ḏẖan ḏẖan kahai sabẖ ko­ė. Mukẖ ūjal har ḏargeh so­ė. Ih vāpār virlā vāpārai. Nānak ṯā kai saḏ balihārai.

The merchandise, which you have come to obtain, God's Name, is obtained in the home of the Saints. Renounce your egotistical pride, and with your mind, purchase God's Name.  Measure it out within your heart. Load up this merchandise, and set out with the Saints. Give up other corrupt entanglements. “Blessed, blessed”, everyone will call you, and your face shall be radiant in the Court of the Eternal God. In this trade, only a few can enter. Nanak is forever a sacrifice to them.-----Guru Arjan, Raag Gauri, AGGS, Page, 283

ਨਿਬਹੀ ਨਾਮ ਕੀ ਸਚੁ ਖੇਪ ॥

ਲਾਭੁ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਇ ਨਿਧਿ ਧਨੁ ਬਿਖੈ ਮਾਹਿ ਅਲੇਪ ॥ 
Nibhī nām kī sacẖ kẖėp. Lābẖ har guṇ gā­ė niḏẖ ḏẖan bikẖai māhi alėp.

Only the true merchandise of the Naam stays with you. Sing the Glorious Praises of the Eternal god, the treasure of wealth, and earn your profit.  In the midst of corruption, it remains untouched.-----Guru Arjan, Raag Sarag, AGGS, Page, 1226-13

ਵਖਰੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਲਦਿ ਖੇਪ ਚਲਾਵਹੁ ॥

ਲੈ ਲਾਹਾ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਘਰਿ ਆਵਹੁ ॥

ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਸਾਹੁ ਸਿਖ ਵਣਜਾਰੇ ॥

ਪੂੰਜੀ ਨਾਮੁ ਲੇਖਾ ਸਾਚੁ ਸਮ੍ਹਾਰੇ ॥
vakẖar nām laḏ kẖėp cẖalāvahu. Lai lāhā gurmukẖ gẖar āvhu. Saṯgur sāhu sikẖ vaṇjārė. Pūnjī nām lėkẖā sācẖ samĥārė.

So load the merchandise of the Naam, and set sail with your cargo. Earn your profit, as Gurmukh, and you shall return to your own home. The True Guru is the Banker, and his Sikhs are the traders. Their merchandise is the Naam, and meditation on It is their account.-----Guru Arjan, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 430-17

ਪਰਦੇਸੁ ਝਾਗਿ ਸਉਦੇ ਕਉ ਆਇਆ ॥

ਵਸਤੁ ਅਨੂਪ ਸੁਣੀ ਲਾਭਾਇਆ ॥

ਗੁਣ ਰਾਸਿ ਬੰਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਿ ਪਲੈ ਆਨੀ ॥

ਦੇਖਿ ਰਤਨੁ ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਲਪਟਾਨੀ ॥

ਸਾਹ ਵਾਪਾਰੀ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਆਏ ॥

ਵਖਰੁ ਕਾਢਹੁ ਸਉਦਾ ਕਰਾਏ ॥

ਸਾਹਿ ਪਠਾਇਆ ਸਾਹੈ ਪਾਸਿ ॥

ਅਮੋਲ ਰਤਨ ਅਮੋਲਾ ਰਾਸਿ ॥

ਵਿਸਟੁ ਸੁਭਾਈ ਪਾਇਆ ਮੀਤ ॥

ਸਉਦਾ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਨਿਹਚਲ ਚੀਤ ॥

ਭਉ ਨਹੀ ਤਸਕਰ ਪਉਣ ਨ ਪਾਨੀ ॥

ਸਹਜਿ ਵਿਹਾਝੀ ਸਹਜਿ ਲੈ ਜਾਨੀ ॥

ਸਤ ਕੈ ਖਟਿਐ ਦੁਖੁ ਨਹੀ ਪਾਇਆ ॥

ਸਹੀ ਸਲਾਮਤਿ ਘਰਿ ਲੈ ਆਇਆ ॥

ਮਿਲਿਆ ਲਾਹਾ ਭਏ ਅਨੰਦ ॥

ਧੰਨੁ ਸਾਹ ਪੂਰੇ ਬਖਸਿੰਦ ॥

ਇਹੁ ਸਉਦਾ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਕਿਨੈ ਵਿਰਲੈ ਪਾਇਆ ॥

ਸਹਲੀ ਖੇਪ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਲੈ ਆਇਆ ॥
Parḏės jẖāg sa­uḏė ka­o ā­i­ā. vasaṯ anūp suṇī lābẖā­i­ā. Guṇ rās baneh palai ānī. Ḏėkẖ raṯan ih man laptānī. Sāh vāpārī ḏu­ārai ā­ė. vakẖar kādẖahu sa­uḏā karā­ė. Sāhi paṯẖā­i­ā sāhai pās. Amol raṯan amolā rās. visat subẖā­ī pā­i­ā mīṯ. Sa­uḏā mili­ā nihcẖal cẖīṯ. Bẖa­o nahī ṯaskar pa­uṇ na pānī. Sahj vihājī sahj lai jānī. Saṯ kai kẖati­ai ḏukẖ nahī pā­i­ā. Sahī salāmaṯ gẖar lai ā­i­ā. Mili­ā lāhā bẖa­ė anand. Ḏẖan sāh pūrė bakẖsinḏ. Ih sa­uḏā gurmukẖ kinai virlai pā­i­ā. Sahlī kẖėp Nānak lai ā­i­ā.

Having wandered through foreign lands, I have come here to do business. I heard of the incomparable and profitable merchandise. I have gathered in my pockets my capital of virtue, and I have brought it here with me. Beholding the jewel, this mind is fascinated. I have come to the door of the Trader. Please display the merchandise, so that the business may be transacted. The Trader has sent me to the Banker. The jewel is priceless, and the capital is priceless. O my gentle brother, mediator and friend, I have obtained the merchandise. And my consciousness is now steady and stable. I have no fear of thieves, of wind or water. I have easily made my purchase, and I easily take it away. I have earned Truth, and I shall have no pain. I have brought this merchandise home, safe and sound. I have earned the profit, and I am happy. Blessed is the Banker, the Perfect Bestower. How rare is the Guru oriented who obtains this merchandise. Nanak has brought this profitable merchandise home.-----Guru Arjan, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 372

ਖੇਪ ਨਿਬਾਹੀ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਲਾਭ ਘਰਿ ਆਏ ਪਤਿਵੰਤ ॥

ਖਰਾ ਦਿਲਾਸਾ ਗੁਰਿ ਦੀਆ ਆਇ ਮਿਲੇ ਭਗਵੰਤ ॥
Kẖėp nibāhī bahuṯ lābẖ gẖar ā­ė paṯivanṯ. Kẖarā ḏilāsā gur ḏī­ā ā­ė milė bẖagvanṯ..

My merchandise has arrived safely, and I have made a great profit; I have returned home with honor. The Guru has given me great consolation, and God has come to meet me.-----Guru Arjan, Raag Gauri, AGGS, Page, 261-9

ਕਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦੁ ਦਇਆ ਪ੍ਰਭਿ ਧਾਰੀ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਨਿਬਹੀ ਖੇਪ ਹਮਾਰੀ ॥
Kar parsāḏ ḏa­i­ā parabẖ ḏẖārī. Nānak nibhī kẖėp hamārī.

God  has bestowed Mercy by Its grace. O Nanak, my merchandise has arrived safe and sound. -----Guru Arjan, Raag Gauri, AGGS, Page, 295-15

ਕਿਨਹੀ ਬਨਜਿਆ ਕਾਂਸੀ ਤਾਂਬਾ ਕਿਨਹੀ ਲਉਗ ਸੁਪਾਰੀ ॥

ਸੰਤਹੁ ਬਨਜਿਆ ਨਾਮੁ ਗੋਬਿਦ ਕਾ ਐਸੀ ਖੇਪ ਹਮਾਰੀ ॥

ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਨਾਮ ਕੇ ਬਿਆਪਾਰੀ ॥

ਹੀਰਾ ਹਾਥਿ ਚੜਿਆ ਨਿਰਮੋਲਕੁ ਛੂਟਿ ਗਈ ਸੰਸਾਰੀ ॥

ਸਾਚੇ ਲਾਏ ਤਉ ਸਚ ਲਾਗੇ ਸਾਚੇ ਕੇ ਬਿਉਹਾਰੀ ॥

ਸਾਚੀ ਬਸਤੁ ਕੇ ਭਾਰ ਚਲਾਏ ਪਹੁਚੇ ਜਾਇ ਭੰਡਾਰੀ ॥

ਆਪਹਿ ਰਤਨ ਜਵਾਹਰ ਮਾਨਿਕ ਆਪੈ ਹੈ ਪਾਸਾਰੀ ॥

ਆਪੈ ਦਹ ਦਿਸ ਆਪ ਚਲਾਵੈ ਨਿਹਚਲੁ ਹੈ ਬਿਆਪਾਰੀ ॥

ਮਨੁ ਕਰਿ ਬੈਲੁ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਪੈਡਾ ਗਿਆਨ ਗੋਨਿ ਭਰਿ ਡਾਰੀ ॥

ਕਹਤੁ ਕਬੀਰੁ ਸੁਨਹੁ ਰੇ ਸੰਤਹੁ ਨਿਬਹੀ ਖੇਪ ਹਮਾਰੀ ॥
Kinhī banji­ā kāʼnsī ṯāʼnbā kinhī la­ug supārī. Sanṯahu banji­ā nām gobiḏ kā aisī kẖėp hamārī. Har kė nām kė bi­āpārī. Hīrā hāth cẖaṛi­ā nirmolak cẖẖūt ga­ī sansārī. Sācẖė lā­ė ṯa­o sacẖ lāgė sācẖė kė bi­uhārī. Sācẖī basaṯ kė bẖār cẖalā­ė pahucẖė jā­ė bẖandārī. Āpeh raṯan javāhar mānik āpai hai pāsārī. Āpai ḏah ḏis āp cẖalāvai nihcẖal hai bi­āpārī. Man kar bail suraṯ kar paidā gi­ān gon bẖar dārī. Kahaṯ Kabīr sunhu rė sanṯahu nibhī kẖėp hamārī.

Some deal in bronze and copper, some in cloves and betel nuts. The Saints deal in the Naam, the Name of the Creator of the Universe. Such is my merchandise as well. I am a trader in the Name of the God. The priceless diamond has come into my hands. I have left the world behind. When the True Master attached me, then I was attached to Truth. I am a trader of Its Name. I have loaded the commodity of Truth.  It has reached the Immortal God, the Treasurer, Who is the pearl, the jewel, the ruby, and the jeweler, and It self spreads out in the ten directions. The Merchant is Eternal and Unchanging. My mind is the bull, and meditation is the road.  I have filled my packs with spiritual wisdom, and loaded them on the bull. Says Kabir, listen, O Saints, my merchandise has reached its destination!-----Kabir, Raag Kedara, AGGS, Page, 1123

Conclusion:

Recitation of the True Naam can be done by anyone irrespective of the race, caste, color, gender or any other criterion, by developing right thoughts as a first step towards spirituality. Thought is created in the mind and is itself energy. When this energy is harnessed to reflect on and deliberate on the teachings in Sabd Guru, it leads to enlightenment, divine knowledge and spirituality. Thus an individual taps an unsuspected inner resource.  He may presently identify this with his own conception of a Power greater than himself. Most of us regard this awareness of a Power greater than ourselves as the essence of spiritual experience or “Good Orderly Direction” or "God-consciousness." This can lead to a complete removal of spiritual ignorance -- earning the profitable merchandise, capable of going along with a person after his death.

ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਖੇਪ ਨਿਬਾਹੀ ਸੰਤਹੁ ॥

ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਲਾਹਾ ਦਾਸ ਕਉ ਦੀਆ ਸਗਲੀ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨ ਉਲਾਹੀ ਸੰਤਹੁ ॥
Saṯgur kẖėp nibāhī sanṯahu. Har nām lāhā ḏās ka­o ḏī­ā saglī ṯarisan ulāhī sanṯahu.

The True Guru has approved my cargo, O Saints. He has blessed his slave with the profit of the God's Name; all my thirst is quenched, O Saints.-----Guru Arjan, Raag Ramkali, AGGS, Page, 916