Sikhism·Raag Aasaa·Shabad 192
Verse 1 of 4

A Child Is a Gift Given by Grace

ਆਸਾ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥
aasaa mehlaa 5.
Aasaa, Fifth Mehl:
ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸਾਚੈ ਦੀਆ ਭੇਜਿ ॥
satgur saachai dee-aa bhayj.
The True Guru has truly given a child.
ਚਿਰੁ ਜੀਵਨੁ ਉਪਜਿਆ ਸੰਜੋਗਿ ॥
chir jeevan upji-aa sanjog.
The long-lived one has been born to this destiny.
ਉਦਰੈ ਮਾਹਿ ਆਇ ਕੀਆ ਨਿਵਾਸੁ ॥
udrai maahi aa-ay kee-aa nivaas.
He came to acquire a home in the womb,
ਮਾਤਾ ਕੈ ਮਨਿ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਬਿਗਾਸੁ ॥੧॥
maataa kai man bahut bigaas. ||1||
and his mother's heart is so very glad. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

The true Guru has truly given a child.

The long-lived one has been born to this destiny.

He came to make his home in the womb, and his mother's heart is overjoyed.

A child is a gift, given by grace, that fills a mother's heart with joy.
The deeper layer

This is a happy song about a baby being born.

Satgur saachai dee-aa bhayj — the true Guru has truly sent a child. The baby is "long-lived," blessed with a long life. He made his home in the womb, and his mother's heart is full of joy.

On the surface this is about a real baby, a gift in a real family. Underneath, it also sings about the birth of a devotee, someone whose heart turns toward the One. Both are gifts from the Guru, like two presents wrapped in one box.

A Question to Sit With

What is a gift that filled your whole heart with gladness when it arrived?

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI

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