Sikhism·Raag Bhairao·Shabad 81
Verse 2 of 5

The Long Grime Washes Off

ਗੁਰੁ ਗੋਵਿੰਦੁ ਮੇਰੇ ਮਨ ਧਿਆਇ ॥
gur govind mayray man Dhi-aa-ay.
O my mind, meditate on the Guru, the Lord of the Universe.
ਜਨਮ ਜਨਮ ਕੀ ਮੈਲੁ ਉਤਾਰੈ ਬੰਧਨ ਕਾਟਿ ਹਰਿ ਸੰਗਿ ਮਿਲਾਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
janam janam kee mail utaarai banDhan kaat har sang milaa-ay. ||1|| rahaa-o.
The filth of countless incarnations shall be washed away. Breaking your bonds, you shall be united with the Lord. ||1||Pause||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

O my mind, meditate on the Guru, the Lord of the Universe.

The dirt of countless lifetimes will be washed away. Your knots will be cut, and you will be joined with the One.

Even build-up that clung for years can wash off.
The deeper layer

Keep the Guru, the Lord of the Universe, in mind, and the old grime washes off as the knots are cut.

This is the rahaa-o, the "pause" line, the centre of the shabad. Gur govind mayray man dhi-aa-ay: O my mind, meditate on the Guru, the Lord of the Universe. Janam janam kee mail: the dirt of lifetime after lifetime, like grime built up for ages. Bandhan kaat: the knots are cut. Har sang milaa-ay: you are joined with the One.

A Question to Sit With

What is something that has built up in you that you would like to let wash away?

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

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