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Sikhism·Raag Aasaa·Shabad 303
Verse 2 of 4

A Whole, Undivided Heart Stops Being Afraid

ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਇਕ ਮਨਿ ਧਿਆਇਆ ਤਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਤੇ ਵਿਰਲੇ ਸੰਸਾਰਿ ਜੀਉ ॥
jinH ik man Dhi-aa-i-aa tinH sukh paa-i-aa tay virlay sansaar jee-o.
Those who meditate on Him single-mindedly obtain peace; how rare are they in this world.
ਤਿਨ ਜਮੁ ਨੇੜਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੁ ਕਮਾਵੈ ਕਬਹੁ ਨ ਆਵਹਿ ਹਾਰਿ ਜੀਉ ॥
tin jam nayrh na aavai gur sabad kamaavai kabahu na aavahi haar jee-o.
The Messenger of Death does not draw near those who live the Guru's Teachings; they never return defeated.
ਤੇ ਕਬਹੁ ਨ ਹਾਰਹਿ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਸਾਰਹਿ ਤਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਜਮੁ ਨੇੜਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ॥
tay kabahu na haareh har har gun saareh tinH jam nayrh na aavai.
Those who appreciate the Glorious Praises of the Lord, Har, Har, never suffer defeat; the Messenger of Death does not even approach them.
ਜੰਮਣੁ ਮਰਣੁ ਤਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ਕਾ ਚੂਕਾ ਜੋ ਹਰਿ ਲਾਗੇ ਪਾਵੈ ॥
jaman maran tinHaa kaa chookaa jo har laagay paavai.
Birth and death are ended for those who are attached to the feet of the Lord.
ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਹਰਿ ਰਸੁ ਹਰਿ ਫਲੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਉਰ ਧਾਰਿ ਜੀਉ ॥
gurmat har ras har fal paa-i-aa har har naam ur Dhaar jee-o.
Through the Guru's Teachings, they obtain the sublime essence of the Lord, and the fruit of the Lord; they enshrine the Name of the Lord, Har, Har, in their hearts.
ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਇਕ ਮਨਿ ਧਿਆਇਆ ਤਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਤੇ ਵਿਰਲੇ ਸੰਸਾਰਿ ਜੀਉ ॥੨॥
jinH ik man Dhi-aa-i-aa tinH sukh paa-i-aa tay virlay sansaar jee-o. ||2||
Those who meditate on Him single-mindedly obtain peace; how rare are they in this world. ||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

The ones who hold the One in mind with a whole, undivided heart find real peace — and how rare and lovely they are.

Fear of death never comes near them; they never go home defeated. They live free of the endless coming and going.

A whole, undivided heart stops being afraid — it has found what can't be taken away.
The deeper layer

The refrain form of the Chhant repeats its heart-line, and this verse praises the single-minded — those who love with an undivided heart (ik man), how rare they are in the world. Their reward is fearlessness: Death's messenger doesn't approach them, they never return defeated. This isn't about escaping physical death; it's the end of the deep dread that shadows a forgetful life. A heart wholly turned toward the One stops being afraid — because it has found the one thing that can't be taken.

A Question to Sit With

What does it feel like to give your whole, undivided attention to something you love?

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

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