Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Without the Name, how could anyone be freed? Who even understands this?
One who becomes Gurmukh is freed; the self-willed lose even their honor.
There is one root to real freedom, and most people never even ask about it.
This is the Rahao, the "pause" line at the center of the shabad. Bin naavai ki-o chhootee-ai — without the Name, how can anyone be set free? Jay jaanai ko-ee — who even knows this?
Most people ask, "How do I win? How do I get ahead?" Few ask, "How do I become truly free?" The verse sounds almost surprised at how few think of it.
The answer comes back to the root. Gurmukh ho-ay taa chhootee-ai — the gurmukh, the one who turns toward the Guru, is set free through the Name. The manmukh, who follows only their own will, pat kho-ee, loses their honor. The ego tried to hold on to that honor the whole time, and that is exactly how it lost it.
What question do you think matters most in a life — and are you asking it?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI