<!-- Seva Meaning in Punjabi | Jugti Kosh -->
Source: https://jugti.com/kosh/words/seva/

ਸ

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Word

# ਸੇਵਾ

seva

Say it**SAY-vaa**Type**Noun**Shahmukhiسیوا

In short

Seva is selfless service, work done for others without expecting reward, from sweeping the gurdwara floor to cooking in the langar kitchen. It is one of Sikhism's core practices.

## How it's used

1. 1ਉਹ ਹਰ ਐਤਵਾਰ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ।He does voluntary service at the gurdwara every Sunday.
2. 2ਸੇਵਾ ਭਾਵਨਾ ਨਾਲ ਕੀਤਾ ਕੰਮ ਫਲ ਦਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ।Work done in the spirit of selfless service bears fruit.
3. 3ਲੰਗਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਬਹੁਤ ਸਨ।There were many volunteers serving in the langar.
Show 1 more example
1. 4ਨਿਸ਼ਕਾਮ ਸੇਵਾ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਉੱਤਮ ਹੈ।Selfless service without expectation is the highest. _Nishkam = without desire for reward_

ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਰਥ

ਸੇਵਾ ਦਾ ਅਰਥ ਹੈ ਨਿਸ਼ਕਾਮ ਭਾਵਨਾ ਨਾਲ ਦੂਜਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਨਾ, ਬਿਨਾਂ ਕਿਸੇ ਲਾਲਚ ਜਾਂ ਫਲ ਦੀ ਆਸ ਦੇ। ਸਿੱਖ ਧਰਮ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੇਵਾ ਭਗਤੀ ਦਾ ਹੀ ਇੱਕ ਰੂਪ ਮੰਨੀ ਗਈ ਹੈ।

ਸੇਵਾ ਤਿੰਨ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਰ ਦੀ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ, ਤਨ ਦੀ ਸੇਵਾ (ਸਰੀਰਕ ਮਿਹਨਤ, ਜਿਵੇਂ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰੇ ਦੀ ਸਫ਼ਾਈ), ਮਨ ਦੀ ਸੇਵਾ (ਸਿਮਰਨ ਅਤੇ ਸ਼ਰਧਾ) ਅਤੇ ਧਨ ਦੀ ਸੇਵਾ (ਦਾਨ-ਪੁੰਨ)। ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਿਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਲੰਗਰ, ਜੋੜਾ ਘਰ ਅਤੇ ਸਫ਼ਾਈ ਦੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਰੋਜ਼ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ।

ਸੱਚੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਉਹ ਹੈ ਜਿਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੰਕਾਰ ਨਾ ਹੋਵੇ। ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਿਹਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਦਾ ਮਨ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।

## Meaning

Seva is selfless service, work done for others without expectation of reward, recognition or return. Sweeping the gurdwara floor, chopping vegetables for the langar, carrying an elder's shoes, washing dishes after hundreds have eaten: all of it is seva when done in the right spirit.

Tradition speaks of three forms: tan, service of the body through physical labour; man, service of the mind through devotion and remembrance; and dhan, service of wealth through charity. The highest form is nishkam seva, service without desire, done so quietly that no one knows who did it.

## Origin and etymology

The word comes from Sanskrit seva, meaning service or attendance. It passed into Punjabi through centuries of devotional literature and is shared with Hindi and other North Indian languages. In Sikh usage it took on a distinctive depth: seva is not just helping out, but a form of worship in itself.

## Cultural context

Seva is one of the pillars of Sikh practice, alongside remembrance of the Name and honest work. Every gurdwara runs on volunteer labour, the langar that feeds thousands daily, the shoe room, the cleaning, the preparation of karah prasad. No one is paid; the work is the prayer.

The spirit extends far beyond the gurdwara. Sikh volunteers are known worldwide for showing up at floods, earthquakes and refugee camps with food and shelter. The teaching is simple and demanding: that serving others with a humble mind wears down the ego, and that the hands that serve are engaged in the highest worship.

## What does seva mean in Punjabi?

Seva is selfless service, work done for others without expectation of reward, recognition or return. Sweeping the gurdwara floor, chopping vegetables for the langar, carrying an elder's shoes, washing dishes after hundreds have eaten: all of it is seva when done in the right spirit.

## How is seva used in a sentence?

In Punjabi: "ਉਹ ਹਰ ਐਤਵਾਰ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ।", meaning "He does voluntary service at the gurdwara every Sunday.".

## Where does seva come from?

The word comes from Sanskrit seva, meaning service or attendance. It passed into Punjabi through centuries of devotional literature and is shared with Hindi and other North Indian languages. In Sikh usage it took on a distinctive depth: seva is not just helping out, but a form of worship in itself.

## What is the cultural significance of seva?

Seva is one of the pillars of Sikh practice, alongside remembrance of the Name and honest work. Every gurdwara runs on volunteer labour, the langar that feeds thousands daily, the shoe room, the cleaning, the preparation of karah prasad. No one is paid; the work is the prayer.

## ਸੇਵਾ ਦਾ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੀ ਅਰਥ ਹੈ?

ਸੇਵਾ ਦਾ ਅਰਥ ਹੈ ਨਿਸ਼ਕਾਮ ਭਾਵਨਾ ਨਾਲ ਦੂਜਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਨਾ, ਬਿਨਾਂ ਕਿਸੇ ਲਾਲਚ ਜਾਂ ਫਲ ਦੀ ਆਸ ਦੇ। ਸਿੱਖ ਧਰਮ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੇਵਾ ਭਗਤੀ ਦਾ ਹੀ ਇੱਕ ਰੂਪ ਮੰਨੀ ਗਈ ਹੈ।

## ਸੇਵਾ ਨੂੰ ਵਾਕ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ?

ਉਦਾਹਰਨ: "ਉਹ ਹਰ ਐਤਵਾਰ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ।" (He does voluntary service at the gurdwara every Sunday.)

## ਸੇਵਾ ਦਾ ਸੱਭਿਆਚਾਰਕ ਮਹੱਤਵ ਕੀ ਹੈ?

ਸੱਚੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਉਹ ਹੈ ਜਿਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੰਕਾਰ ਨਾ ਹੋਵੇ। ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਿਹਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਦਾ ਮਨ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।

## Related words

[ਲੰਗਰlangarFree community kitchen meal](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/langar/)[ਸਿਮਰਨsimranRemembrance of God](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/simran/)[ਕੜਾਹ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦkarah parshadSacred sweet offered in gurdwaras](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/karah-parshad/)

Sources (3)
1. Mahan Kosh, Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha
2. Sri Guru Granth Sahib
3. Punjabi University Punjabi–English Dictionary
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On this page[In short](#in-short)[How it's used](#how-used)[ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਰਥ](#pa-meaning)[Meaning](#s-sev00b)[Origin and etymology](#s-sev03b)[Cultural context](#s-sev05b)[What does seva mean in Punjabi?](#s-faq0)[How is seva used in a sentence?](#s-faq1)[Where does seva come from?](#s-faq2)[What is the cultural significance of seva?](#s-faq3)[ਸੇਵਾ ਦਾ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੀ ਅਰਥ ਹੈ?](#s-faq4)[ਸੇਵਾ ਨੂੰ ਵਾਕ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ?](#s-faq5)[ਸੇਵਾ ਦਾ ਸੱਭਿਆਚਾਰਕ ਮਹੱਤਵ ਕੀ ਹੈ?](#s-faq6)

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