Raag Aasaa
Commentary

Raag Aasaa, Mehl 5 (Guru Arjan)

The passions lead to ruin and Maya's wine lulls the world to sleep, while the devotees stay awake and steady, knowing the One is right at hand — and the One's shelter brings peace now and freedom hereafter.

The Arc

Pauri 0: lust, anger, ego ruin; the servants are saved by meditation. The Pause (Pauri 1): the world asleep on Maya's wine, the devotees awake. Pauri 2: attachment and doubt drive wandering; the devotees stay steady. Pauri 3: bound to possessions, lost in the pit; the Saints free, the One near at hand. Pauri 4: the One's shelter brings peace here and freedom hereafter.

Key Vocabulary

  • the passions ruin: lust, anger, ego as the road to ruin (Panch Vikaar)
  • Maya as wine: illusion that lulls the world to sleep (cf. B00C664)
  • bound by possessiveness: clinging, not home itself, that binds (Grihast)
  • the One near at hand: the Saints' freedom in knowing the nearness (nerai)

Themes and Cross-Connections

The asleep/awake contrast (Maya's wine vs remembrance) joins B00C664 and B00C764. "Bound to household and possessions" is moha — possessiveness, not the household itself (the Grihast distinction); the Saints are free precisely by "knowing the Lord near" (nearer than near). Shelter paying in both worlds is saran.

For Raag Aasaa

Aasaa's hope is wakefulness and steadiness amid a world drowsing on illusion's wine. The mood is bracing and reassuring — the One near at hand, peace now and freedom to come.


Last updated: 2026-06-28

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