A Song Is True When Sung From the True Home

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

Ayhu saachaa sohilaa saachai ghar gaavhu — "sing this true sohila in the true home." The sohila returns from verse 16, now with an address attached: the SACHAI GHAR, the true home. The phrase resonates on every level Gurbani uses 'ghar': the innermost self (the home the wandering mind forgot — Aasaa's 'stay in your own home'); the presence of the One (verse 3's house that lacks nothing); and the state of sehaj where the True is meditated on forever (jithai sadaa sach Dhi-aavhay). The instruction is thus about congruence: true song, sung from the true place. Ripe words have been told from green (24), song from babble (16); here is the final criterion — LOCATION. Where in yourself are you singing from?

The grace-grammar makes its last full appearance: sacho Dhi-aavahi jaa tuDh bhaaveh — they meditate on You when it pleases You; gurmukh jinaa bujhaavhay — those whom You cause to understand; jis bakhsay so jan paavhay — whoever is forgiven/blessed, receives. Three clauses, three gifts. And the widest claim in the bani's theology of truth: ih sach sabhnaa kaa khasam hai — this Truth is the Master of ALL — not of the singers only. The Truth owns everyone; only some have moved back into the house.

As the penultimate verse, it gathers the bani for its finale: verse 1 announced bliss; verses 2-39 located it (in the mind, the Name, the Word, the body's hidden door); verse 39 says: NOW sing — from there. The concert hall was inside you all along; the last verse will describe the concert.