Sikhism·Raag Bhairao·Shabad 28
Verse 3 of 6

Prahlaad Answers His Mother

ਮਾਤਾ ਉਪਦੇਸੈ ਪ੍ਰਹਿਲਾਦ ਪਿਆਰੇ ॥
maataa updaysai par-hilaad pi-aaray.
Prahlaad's mother gave her beloved son some advice:
ਪੁਤ੍ਰ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਛੋਡਹੁ ਜੀਉ ਲੇਹੁ ਉਬਾਰੇ ॥
putar raam naam chhodahu jee-o layho ubaaray.
"My son, you must abandon the Lord's Name, and save your life!"
ਪ੍ਰਹਿਲਾਦੁ ਕਹੈ ਸੁਨਹੁ ਮੇਰੀ ਮਾਇ ॥
par-hilaad kahai sunhu mayree maa-ay.
Prahlaad said: "Listen, O my mother;
ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਨ ਛੋਡਾ ਗੁਰਿ ਦੀਆ ਬੁਝਾਇ ॥੨॥
raam naam na chhodaa gur dee-aa bujhaa-ay. ||2||
I shall never give up the Lord's Name. My Guru has taught me this."||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Prahlaad's mother gave advice to her dear son: "My son, let go of the Naam of the One, and save your life!"

Prahlaad said, "Listen, my mother. I will never let go of the Naam of the One. My Guru has helped me understand."

You can love someone and still gently hold on to what is truest for you.
The deeper layer

Prahlaad's mother, afraid for him, begs him to give up the Naam, and he keeps it, because his Guru helped him understand.

Maataa updaysai: his mother gives him advice. She is frightened for his life. Raam naam na chhodaa: I will not give up the Naam. Gur dee-aa bujhaa-ay: the Guru helped me understand. Prahlaad begins with sunhu mayree maa-ay, listen, my mother, words that stay loving while he holds his ground.

A Question to Sit With

How would you kindly disagree with someone you love?

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

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