Taste the Real and Every Other Flavor Seems Bland

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

This is the "pause" line, the rahaa-o — the center of the shabad. It gives the whole answer at once.

Neekee jee-a kee har kathaa ootam — the talk of the One is the best, finest thing for the soul. Kathaa means a sacred talk or story about the One. Next to it, aan sagal ras feekee — all other tastes are bland.

Once you have tasted the real flavor, everything else seems plain. Think of tasting a fresh, ripe mango after a week of dry crackers. Other hymns in this raag call it Har Ras, the sweet taste of the One. The talk of the One is the one taste that truly satisfies.