Savaiye in praise of Guru Ram Das, Verse 13 — a king who ruled and stayed free
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
He alone is a Janak, the wise king, who knows the One and has set the chariot of his mind in deep, joyful awareness.
He lives by truth and contentment, and fills the empty pool inside.
He speaks the story no words can tell, the story of the city that lasts forever. Only the one the One gives it to receives it.
Guru Ram Das, this kingship like Janak's belongs to you alone.
You can live fully in the world and still be free inside, the way King Janak did.
In the Ramayana, Janak is Sita's father. He ruled a whole kingdom and was still wise and free.
The verse pictures the mind as a chariot. Janak hitched his to unman, a state of deep, happy awareness. He gathered truth and contentment. Abhraa sar bhari-aa means he filled up the empty pool inside.
He speaks the story no words can tell, the story of the lasting city. Only the one the One gives it to can receive it.
This is what the Bani calls raaj jog: ruling and staying free at once. You do not have to leave the world to be free within it. A deep inner life is open to everyone, not only to hermits on mountains. The verse says this kingship, like Janak's, belongs to Guru Ram Das.
Do you think a person has to leave everything behind to be wise — or can they be wise right in the middle of a busy life?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI