Sikhism·Raag Aasaa·Shabad 291
Verse 9 of 10

The Devotee's Affairs Are Under New Management

ਭਗਤਾ ਕੀ ਜਤਿ ਪਤਿ ਏਕੋੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਹੈ ਆਪੇ ਲਏ ਸਵਾਰਿ ॥
bhagtaa kee jat pat ayko naam hai aapay la-ay savaar.
The One Name is the social status and honor of the devotees; the Lord Himself adorns them.
ਸਦਾ ਸਰਣਾਈ ਤਿਸ ਕੀ ਜਿਉ ਭਾਵੈ ਤਿਉ ਕਾਰਜੁ ਸਾਰਿ ॥੮॥
sadaa sarnaa-ee tis kee ji-o bhaavai ti-o kaaraj saar. ||8||
They remain forever in the Protection of His Sanctuary. As it pleases His Will, He arranges their affairs. ||8||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

The devotees' caste and their honor is the One Name alone — He Himself adorns them.

They rest forever in His Sanctuary; as His Will flows, He arranges all their affairs.

The devotee's affairs are under new management — wiser than the owner, and permanently on duty.
The deeper layer

Guru Amar Das is saying: the devotee's family line and honor are the Name alone, and the One takes care of their life.

Bhagtaa kee jat pat ayko naam hai — for the devotees, the One Name is their caste and their honor. Caste means the social group a person is born into. Other hymns in this raag teach that birth-rank means nothing to the One. Here that teaching is simply how the devotee lives. The Name is their only family line, and every other ranking has been set aside.

Aapay la-ay savaar — the One adorns them with His own hand, the way a bride is lovingly made ready. Then comes a line to lean a whole life on. Ji-o bhaavai ti-o kaaraj saar — as it pleases the One, He looks after their affairs. It does not say He gives them control. It says He looks after them. Think of a child asleep in the back seat while a loving parent drives. Their life is in wiser hands than their own, and this raag calls that rest.

A Question to Sit With

What burden are you managing alone that could be handed to a wiser management?

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

About this shabad →
Use ← → to navigate