While reading Gurbani, a pause is placed at the right spot between the verses, which serves as an indicator of clarity in meaning. If this pause is placed at the wrong spot, both the recitation and the meaning become incorrect. Therefore, it is very important to pay attention while placing the pause.
Some examples of correct pauses:
The correct interpretation is that Guru Arjan Dev Ji came as an incarnation of a devotee at the house of Guru Ramdas Ji.
If the pause is placed after ਘਰਿ, the meaning would be distorted, suggesting that Guru Arjan Sahib’s house is where Guru Ramdas Ji, as a devotee incarnation, arrived, which would be meaningless and incorrect.
The pause should be placed after ਪਦ
If an unaware reader places the pause after ਗੰਧ ਬਿਨੁ, the meaning will become incorrect and meaningless.
In the first verse, the pause comes after ਆਨ, meaning leaving others behind, I have taken refuge in You.
In the second verse, the correct pause is after ਤਜਿ, meaning O Waheguru, we do not go anywhere else, leaving You.
If the pauses in these two verses are swapped, the meaning will become distorted.
The correct pause is after ਭਿਸਤੁ. The meaning is: O Rahim, Lord, keep me close to You, this is my heaven.
If the pause is placed after ਨਜੀਕਿ, the meaning would change to: O Rahim, Lord, keep me near heaven, which is not accurate according to the complete context and Gurmat principles.
The correct pause is after ਮਨੋ, not after ਲੋਭਿਤ
ਲੋਭਿਤ ਮਨੋ means my mind is enticed.
The correct pause is after ਤਾ, not after ਹੋਵੈ
ਸੁਚਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਤਾ means only then is purity attained (if one realizes the eternal Lord).
The correct pause is after ਕੀਟੁ, not after ਕਰਿ
ਕੀਟਾ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਕੀਟੁ means among worms, he is the lowest (who does not Jap Naam).
ਕਰਿ ਦੋਸੀ, ਦੋਸੁ ਧਰੈ means the Lord declares him guilty and places the blame on him for not Chanting Naam.
The correct pause is after ਗੁਰਾ, not after ਇਕ
ਗੁਰਾ here means O Guru Ji.
The correct pause is after ਬਰਮਾ, not after ਗੁਰੁ
The meaning is: For us, Guru alone is Shiva, Guru alone is Gorakh and Brahma, and Guru alone is Parvati, Lakshmi, and Saraswati.
This implies that Sikhs do not worship these deities separately; Guru Sahib is everything.
The correct pauses are after ਭੂਮੀ and ਮੇਰ ਕੇਤੇ
ਕੇਤੇ ਕੇਤੇ should not be read together.
ਮੇਰ ਕੇਤੇ means many great Meru mountains exist.
The correct pause is after ਜਗਿ, not after ਫਿਰੈ