Sikhism·Raag Aasaa·Shabad 298
Verse 31 of 36

A Mindful Heart Remembers in the Middle of the Work

ਰਾਰੈ ਰਵਿ ਰਹਿਆ ਸਭ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਜੇਤੇ ਕੀਏ ਜੰਤਾ ॥
raarai rav rahi-aa sabh antar jaytay kee-ay jantaa.
Rarra: The Lord is contained among all; He created all beings.
ਜੰਤ ਉਪਾਇ ਧੰਧੈ ਸਭ ਲਾਏ ਕਰਮੁ ਹੋਆ ਤਿਨ ਨਾਮੁ ਲਇਆ ॥੩੦॥
jant upaa-ay DhanDhai sabh laa-ay karam ho-aa tin naam la-i-aa. ||30||
Having created His beings, He has put them all to work; they alone remember the Naam, upon whom He bestows His Grace. ||30||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

The One is woven through everything, and made every living creature there is.

The Maker gave everyone their work — and remembering flows most in the hearts grace touches.

Everyone's given work to do — and a mindful heart can keep remembering right in the middle of it.
The deeper layer

The letter Rarra returns to the great theme: the One contained among all, having created all beings. And a realistic note about daily life: kaaray laa-i-aa — He put them all to work. Life has tasks; that's by design. But the deeper gift — naam japay... nadar karay — remembering the Name flows most freely in those touched by Grace. Work and remembrance aren't rivals: you do your tasks and keep the thread of remembering running underneath. The busy hands and the mindful heart belong together.

A Question to Sit With

How could you keep something meaningful in mind even while you're busy with everyday tasks?

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

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