Raag Basant
Commentary

Raag Basant, Ik-Tukay, Mehl 5 (Guru Arjan)

Hold the One in mind, and the long-separated heart comes home — all its true longings quietly fulfilled.

The Arc

A short, tender shabad of reunion. Remembering the One fulfills the heart's real longings and closes a long separation, like meeting a dear friend after years apart. The One is truly worth keeping in mind, and doing so brings a calm, natural happiness. One glance of grace, and you are looked after — cared for by the One itself, never for anything earned. Love makes even a plain room beautiful as the Giver of peace draws near. And the closing note: the One keeps no ledger of your merits and faults, so all you want is to stay close.

Key Vocabulary

  • sagal ichhaa jap punneea — all true longings fulfilled through remembrance.
  • chiree vichhunniaa — the long-separated one, reunited.
  • ravan jog — worthy of being kept in mind.
  • sukh sahj bhog — the enjoyment of peace and sahaj, natural ease.
  • gun avgan na beechaariaa — the One keeps no tally of merit and fault.

Themes and Cross-Connections

Reunion after separation, and grace that keeps no score — the warm heart of Guru Arjan's Basant.

For Raag Basant

Basant as homecoming: the beautiful season of the heart reuniting with its Source.

Translation Notes

'The mortal is re-united after separation' rendered as coming home to a dear friend, warm rather than mournful. 'Merits and demerits' rendered as keeping no score, foregrounding grace received, not earned.

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