Raag Aasaa
Commentary

Raag Aasaa, Mehl 5 (Guru Arjan)

How beautiful are the Master's Feet! — the Saints obtain them by eradicating self-conceit and serving, drenched in love, thirsting for His sight with nothing else pleasing; and all of it is His mercy.

The Arc

The Pause (Pauri 0): the Master's Feet are so beautiful; the Saints obtain them. Pauri 1: they eradicate self-conceit, serve, and sing drenched in love. Pauri 2: they hope in Him and thirst for His sight; nothing else pleases. Pauri 3: this is Your mercy — what can poor creatures do? Nanak is a sacrifice.

Key Vocabulary

  • "so beautiful!": love's spontaneous cry beholding the Beloved
  • eradicate self-conceit, then serve: the shape of the holy life (Haumai, seva)
  • thirst with nothing else pleasing: the single-minded longing (Viraha; cf. B00C868)
  • all by mercy: even the Saints' love is grace's gift (Gurprasad)

Themes and Cross-Connections

The Saints' way — Haumai eradicated, seva flowing, Rang (drenched in love) — is the portrait of B00C813. "Nothing else is pleasing" is the single-minded Viraha of B00C868 and B00C872. Crediting it all to mercy is Gurprasad.

For Raag Aasaa

Aasaa's hope is the beauty of the Beloved's Feet and a longing so single that nothing else pleases — all of it grace. The mood is delighted and devoted.


Last updated: 2026-06-28

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