In Gurbani, the following rule is applied:
1. If the last letter of a word has a Sihari or Onkar (ਿ, ੁ) attached to it, and the following letter is a Mukta ‘ਨ’, then the two cannot be read together as a single unit.
2. If the last letter of a word is ‘ਨ’, and it has a Sihari or Onkar (e.g., ਨਿ, ਨੁ) attached to it, then that ‘ਨ’ cannot be pronounced separately. Instead, it must be pronounced as part of the same word. To clarify this rule, have a look at these examples:

1. ਤਹ ਚੰਦੁ ਨ ਸੂਰਜੁ ਪਉਣੁ ਨ ਪਾਣੀ॥ (Ang: 974)
2. ਕੁਤੇ ਚੰਦਨੁ ਲਾਈਐ ਭੀ ਸੋ ਕੁਤੀ ਧਾਤੁ ॥ (Ang: 143)

   In verse 1, the last letter of “ਚੰਦੁ” has an Onkar (ੁ) attached to it. After this, there is a Mukta ‘ਨ’, which, according to the rule, cannot be joined with the previous word. The correct pronunciation is “ਚੰਦੁ ਨ”, while “ਚੰਦਨ” is incorrect.

   In verse 2, the last letter of “ਚੰਦਨੁ” has an Onkar (ੁ) attached to it, which cannot be pronounced separately. The correct pronunciation is “ਚੰਦਨ”, while “ਚੰਦ ਨ” is incorrect.

3. ਲਾਖ ਕਰੋਰੀ ਬੰਧੁ ਨ ਪਰੈ॥ (Ang: 264)
4. ਜੀਅ ਕਾ ਬੰਧਨੁ ਕਰਮੁ ਬਿਆਪੈ॥ (Ang: 1351)

   In verse 3, the last letter of “ਬੰਧੁ” has an Onkar (ੁ) attached to it. After this, there is a Mukta ‘ਨ’, which cannot be joined with the previous word. The correct pronunciation is “ਬੰਧੁ ਨ”, while “ਬੰਧਨ” is incorrect.

   In verse 4, the last letter of “ਬੰਧਨੁ” has an Onkar (ੁ) attached to it, which cannot be pronounced separately. The correct pronunciation is “ਬੰਧਨ” and not “ਬੰਧ ਨ”.

5. ਮੰਨੈ ਮਗੁ ਨ ਚਲੈ ਪੰਥੁ॥ (Ang: 3)
6. ਮਾਇਆ ਮਗਨੁ ਨਰਕਿ ਲੈ ਜਾਈ॥ (Ang: 196)

   In verse 5, the last letter of “ਮਗੁ” has an Onkar (ੁ) attached to it, and after this, there is a Mukta ‘ਨ’. According to the rule, they cannot be joined together. The correct pronunciation is “ਮਗੁ ਨ”, while “ਮਗਨ” is incorrect.

   In verse 6, the last letter of “ਮਗਨੁ” has an Onkar (ੁ) attached to it, which cannot be pronounced separately. The correct pronunciation is “ਮਗਨ”, not “ਮਗ ਨ”.

According to the above rule:

Similarly:

Note:

1. The above rule cannot be applied to words in which the last letter is written with a ‘ਨ’ in one place and a ‘ਣ’ in another, such as ਨਰਾਇਨ and ਨਰਾਇਣ, ਰਸਾਇਨ and ਰਸਾਇਣ, ਪਲਾਇਨ and ਪਲਾਇਣ, ਗਾਇਨ and ਗਾਇਣ, ਕਉਨ and ਕਉਣ, etc.
2. This rule cannot be applied to words where specific proper nouns are written, such as ਜਮੁਨ (Yamuna river), ਗੁਰ ਅਰਜੁਨ (Guru Arjan Dev Ji), and ਕਾਲ ਜਮੁਨ (a king’s name).