Addressing Bharthari the yogi, Nanak relocates every austerity inward — truthfulness the fast, service the ashes, the Word the flute, contemplation the pilgrimage — for we become like the One we soak in, the lotus in the water, the spotless Name our only support.
The Arc
This Ashtapadee (eight-stanza composition) systematically internalizes yoga. Pauri 0: the inner dive and the churned nectar. The Pause (Pauri 1): the One fills every place. Pauri 2: truthfulness as fast, the Tenth Gate. Pauri 3: we become like the One we are imbued with. Pauri 4: service the ashes, peace the order, the Word the flute. Pauri 5: wisdom the nectar, contemplation the pilgrimage, light blended into Light. Pauri 6: merged, obeying the Will, the One ungraspable. Pauri 7: the lotus in water; who is near or far? Pauri 8: to Bharthari — the spotless Name is my only support.
Key Vocabulary
The Inward Turn: yoga's fast, ashes, flute, pilgrimage all relocated to the heart
"we become like the One we are imbued with": the merger of Shabad 174 ("same color")
the Tenth Gate: the hidden inner doorway
jot in jot: the soul's light blended into the Divine Light
the lotus in water: in the world, unstained (Grihast)
Themes and Cross-Connections
This is one of Aasaa's fullest Inward Turn shabads, addressed (like Shabads 61–62) to Bharthari. "We become like the One we soak in" is the merger of Shabad 174; the lotus in water is Grihast (Shabad 40, Shabad 145); "who is near or far?" is nearer than near; the light "blended with the Divine Light" is jot in jot (Shabad 33).
For Raag Aasaa
Aasaa's hope is the whole of yoga turned inward: no gear, no shrine, only truthfulness, service, the Word, and the Name — and a soul become like the One. The mood is luminous and instructive.
Addressing Bharthari the yogi, Nanak relocates every austerity inward — truthfulness the fast, service the ashes, the Word the flute, contemplation the pilgrimage — for we become like the One we soak in, the lotus in the water, the spotless Name our only support.
The Arc
This Ashtapadee (eight-stanza composition) systematically internalizes yoga. Pauri 0: the inner dive and the churned nectar. The Pause (Pauri 1): the One fills every place. Pauri 2: truthfulness as fast, the Tenth Gate. Pauri 3: we become like the One we are imbued with. Pauri 4: service the ashes, peace the order, the Word the flute. Pauri 5: wisdom the nectar, contemplation the pilgrimage, light blended into Light. Pauri 6: merged, obeying the Will, the One ungraspable. Pauri 7: the lotus in water; who is near or far? Pauri 8: to Bharthari — the spotless Name is my only support.
Key Vocabulary
Themes and Cross-Connections
This is one of Aasaa's fullest Inward Turn shabads, addressed (like Shabads 61–62) to Bharthari. "We become like the One we soak in" is the merger of Shabad 174; the lotus in water is Grihast (Shabad 40, Shabad 145); "who is near or far?" is nearer than near; the light "blended with the Divine Light" is jot in jot (Shabad 33).
For Raag Aasaa
Aasaa's hope is the whole of yoga turned inward: no gear, no shrine, only truthfulness, service, the Word, and the Name — and a soul become like the One. The mood is luminous and instructive.