I know nothing of cleverness, I have no virtue, no achievements — but I have held Your Name in my heart, and You are my only support.
The Arc
Pauri 0: no cleverness or arguments — just chanting the Name day and night. The Pause (Pauri 1): worthless, without virtue; God is the Cause of all causes. Pauri 2: foolish and ignorant — Your Name my only hope. Pauri 3: no practices to show, but I have worshipped the Name within. Pauri 4: I know nothing — You are my only support.
Key Vocabulary
simplicity over cleverness: chanting the Name rather than arguing
devotional self-emptying: clearing every claim so the weight rests on the One
the Name as only hope: need fully felt, pointing to grace
the heart over the résumé: inner devotion outweighing a list of practices
Themes and Cross-Connections
This shabad is the upside-down vessel as confession: the soul brings emptiness, not achievement, and is made ready (cf. B00C754, B00C751). Simplicity over cleverness recurs from B00C668 and B00C747. "I have worshipped the Name within" over an empty list of practices is Har Ras — the heart, not the performance. It models devotional honesty, not self-hatred — the positive note is "You are my support."
For Raag Aasaa
Aasaa — hope — is grounded here precisely in having nothing to lean on but the One. The mood is humble and relieved: the weight set down, the support sure.
I know nothing of cleverness, I have no virtue, no achievements — but I have held Your Name in my heart, and You are my only support.
The Arc
Pauri 0: no cleverness or arguments — just chanting the Name day and night. The Pause (Pauri 1): worthless, without virtue; God is the Cause of all causes. Pauri 2: foolish and ignorant — Your Name my only hope. Pauri 3: no practices to show, but I have worshipped the Name within. Pauri 4: I know nothing — You are my only support.
Key Vocabulary
Themes and Cross-Connections
This shabad is the upside-down vessel as confession: the soul brings emptiness, not achievement, and is made ready (cf. B00C754, B00C751). Simplicity over cleverness recurs from B00C668 and B00C747. "I have worshipped the Name within" over an empty list of practices is Har Ras — the heart, not the performance. It models devotional honesty, not self-hatred — the positive note is "You are my support."
For Raag Aasaa
Aasaa — hope — is grounded here precisely in having nothing to lean on but the One. The mood is humble and relieved: the weight set down, the support sure.
Last updated: 2026-06-28