Raag Aasaa
Commentary

Raag Aasaa, Mehl 5 (Guru Arjan)

The foolish merchant runs up losses and ignores the priceless merchandise, feeding on slander and coveting until he is enraged by truth itself — but the Name purifies sinners, so he throws himself on mercy.

The Arc

Pauri 0: the fool slow to profit, quick to lose, ignoring the priceless buy. The Pause (Pauri 1): the Name, purifier of sinners, the only hope. Pauri 2: caught in slander, hesitant to chant. Pauri 3: coveting and slander drive him mad; truth enrages him. Pauri 4: come to Sanctuary, merciful to the meek — make me Your own.

Key Vocabulary

  • the foolish merchant: quick at loss, ignoring the priceless Name (cf. B00C839)
  • the diet of slander: a mind fed on gossip growing corrupt (cf. B00C735, B00C766)
  • the three poisons: others' wealth, spouses, slander (cf. B00C762)
  • enraged by truth: the telltale sign of a corrupt mind

Themes and Cross-Connections

The foolish merchant is the shadow of the merchant of the Name (B00C839, B00C840). The diet of slander ties to B00C735 and B00C766; the three poisons to B00C762. "The Name purifies sinners" and the closing sanctuary are Gurprasad — no debt too deep.

For Raag Aasaa

Aasaa's hope reaches even the bad trader deep in debt: the Name purifies sinners, and mercy takes in the one who finally asks. The mood is candid and merciful.


Last updated: 2026-06-28

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