Raag Bhairao
Commentary

Raag Bhairao, Shabad, Mehl 5 (Guru Arjan Dev)

"Asleep for ages, he now awakens; the Name carries you across."

The Arc

Grace, always on offer, settles the Name into the heart and the weight of old mistakes falls away. The Name is the soul's support across the world-ocean; even the one who belonged nowhere finds a home; and the sleeper of ages wakes at last. It closes on the mutual belonging of devotee and One.

Key Vocabulary

  • Da-i-aa karay so paa-ay — the one shown kindness receives it; grace.
  • Saagar sansaar — the world-ocean.
  • Nithaavay thaa-o — a home for the homeless.
  • So-i-aa jaagai — the sleeper awakens.

Themes and Cross-Connections

"Waking at last" is a dawn image echoing B00C2400's "in an instant." The mutual belonging ("Yours, and You are theirs") anticipates B00C2405's intimacy.

Translation Notes

Kilvikh (sins of many lifetimes) is rendered as the weight of old mistakes falling away — hope without dwelling on guilt.

For Raag Bhairao

The waking-from-sleep motif is the very spirit of a bright morning raag: however long the night, dawn always comes.

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