Sikhism·Raag Bhairao·Shabad 51
Verse 1 of 5

Seen In Woods And Fields

ਭੈਰਉ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥
bhairo mehlaa 5.
Bhairao, Fifth Mehl:
ਬਨ ਮਹਿ ਪੇਖਿਓ ਤ੍ਰਿਣ ਮਹਿ ਪੇਖਿਓ ਗ੍ਰਿਹਿ ਪੇਖਿਓ ਉਦਾਸਾਏ ॥
ban meh paykhi-o tarin meh paykhi-o garihi paykhi-o udaasaa-ay.
I have seen Him in the woods, and I have seen Him in the fields. I have seen Him in the household, and in renunciation.
ਦੰਡਧਾਰ ਜਟਧਾਰੈ ਪੇਖਿਓ ਵਰਤ ਨੇਮ ਤੀਰਥਾਏ ॥੧॥
dandDhaar jatDhaarai paykhi-o varat naym teerthaa-ay. ||1||
I have seen Him as a Yogi carrying His staff, as a Yogi with matted hair, fasting, making vows, and visiting sacred shrines of pilgrimage. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

I have seen the One in the woods, and I have seen the One in the fields. I have seen the One in busy family homes, and in the lives of those who have left home behind.

I have seen the One in the yogi who carries a staff and in the yogi with long matted hair, in those who fast, those who keep vows, and those who travel to holy places.

The same One shows up in the busy home and the quiet forest alike.
The deeper layer

The One is seen in every place and every way of life: the woods and the fields, the family home and the life of giving everything up.

Ban meh paykhi-o, trin meh paykhi-o: seen in the woods, seen in the grass of the fields. Garihi is the family home; udaasaa-ay is the life of someone who has left home behind. Both are honoured equally. The yogi with a staff, the yogi with matted hair, the fasts, the vows and the pilgrimages are each named with respect, and in each the same One is seen.

A Question to Sit With

Where is a place you did not expect to find something beautiful, but did?

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

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