KARNI NAMAH, address on the importance of good conduct, is an apocryphal composition in verse attributed to Guru Nanak. In this work Guru Nanak is said to have predicted to one Qaxi Rukan Dm the advent of the rule of the Khalsa which will usher in the millennium.
References :
1. ull
Guru Nanak’s Karni Namah on Good Conduct
Karni Namah is an apocryphal composition in verse attributed to Guru Nanak. Though not part of the canonical Guru Granth Sahib, it has held a significant place in early Sikh literature due to its timeless message on ethical living and conduct.
Overview and Themes
At its core, Karni Namah is an address on the importance of good conduct. Guru Nanak, renowned for his emphasis on inner purity, self-discipline, and truth, uses the poetic form of the work to articulate essential virtues that should guide daily life. The composition underscores that righteousness and ethical actions are not merely personal choices but are integral to the maintenance of order and the awakening of spiritual consciousness.
In Karni Namah, Guru Nanak is said to have predicted the advent of the Khalsa rule—foretelling a time when a community bound by strict moral principles, self-discipline, and collective commitment would emerge. This foretold era, implicit in the composition, was envisioned as one marked by ethical revival and the victory of good conduct over abuse and corruption. In doing so, the text links personal ethics with communal destiny, suggesting that individual adherence to virtue is the foundation of a greater, divinely ordained order.
Literary Style and Significance
Composed in verse, Karni Namah employs simple yet powerful language, using vivid imagery and metaphors drawn from everyday life. This stylistic approach makes the ethical exhortations accessible and memorable, resonating deeply with audiences across generations. The composition’s plea for good conduct reflects not only a moral ideal but a practical roadmap. By emphasizing the importance of truthfulness, humility, and self-restraint, it calls on the believer to cultivate an inner discipline that ultimately leads to spiritual liberation.
Although the work is considered apocryphal and did not attain the central scriptural status of the Guru Granth Sahib, its influence is evident in the way it has been used by later Sikh scholars and devotees. It has been referenced to reinforce the idea that the ethical qualities of a true disciple are paramount—qualities that helped shape the early ethos of Sikhism and, later, the formation of the Khalsa.
