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Sikhism·Raag Basant·Shabad 40
Verse 1 of 5

Whose Heart Turns to Spring

ਬਸੰਤੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥
basant mehlaa 5.
Basant, Fifth Mehl:
ਤਿਸੁ ਬਸੰਤੁ ਜਿਸੁ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾਲੁ ॥
tis basant jis parabh kirpaal.
He alone experiences this springtime of the soul, unto whom God grants His Grace.
ਤਿਸੁ ਬਸੰਤੁ ਜਿਸੁ ਗੁਰੁ ਦਇਆਲੁ ॥
tis basant jis gur da-i-aal.
He alone experiences this springtime of the soul, unto whom the Guru is merciful.
ਮੰਗਲੁ ਤਿਸ ਕੈ ਜਿਸੁ ਏਕੁ ਕਾਮੁ ॥
mangal tis kai jis ayk kaam.
He alone is joyful, who works for the One Lord.
ਤਿਸੁ ਸਦ ਬਸੰਤੁ ਜਿਸੁ ਰਿਦੈ ਨਾਮੁ ॥੧॥
tis sad basant jis ridai naam. ||1||
He alone experiences this eternal springtime of the soul, within whose heart the Naam, the Name of the Lord, abides. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Spring belongs to the person the One is kind to.

Spring belongs to the person the Guru is gentle with.

Joy belongs to the person who works for the One alone.

And spring that lasts forever belongs to the person who carries the Naam in their heart.

The truest spring is a grace that settles in the heart, not a date on the calendar.
The deeper layer

Spring can bloom inside a person, whatever the season outside.

Basant means spring — the season when everything turns green again. Tis basant comes again and again: spring belongs to this one. Spring comes to the one the One is kind to. It comes to the one the Guru is gentle with. Joy comes to the one who works for the One alone.

And the last line goes furthest. Tis sad basant jis ridai naam — whoever holds the Naam in their heart has spring forever. Think of a plant on a sunny windowsill that stays green all winter. The weather outside changes, and the heart with the Naam keeps blooming.

A Question to Sit With

What would 'eternal spring' feel like inside a person?

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

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