Sikhism·Raag Bhairao·Shabad 86
Verse 3 of 5

Strung On a Single Thread

ਆਪੇ ਵਣੁ ਤ੍ਰਿਣੁ ਤ੍ਰਿਭਵਣ ਸਾਰੁ ॥
aapay van tarin taribhavan saar.
He Himself is the Essence of the forests and fields, and all the three worlds.
ਜਾ ਕੈ ਸੂਤਿ ਪਰੋਇਆ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥
jaa kai soot paro-i-aa sansaar.
The universe is strung on His Thread.
ਆਪੇ ਸਿਵ ਸਕਤੀ ਸੰਜੋਗੀ ॥
aapay siv saktee sanjogee.
He is the Uniter of Shiva and Shakti - mind and matter.
ਆਪਿ ਨਿਰਬਾਣੀ ਆਪੇ ਭੋਗੀ ॥੨॥
aap nirbaanee aapay bhogee. ||2||
He Himself is in the detachment of Nirvaanaa, and He Himself is the Enjoyer. ||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

The One is the life inside the forests and the grass, and inside all three worlds.

The whole world is strung on the One's thread. The One joins Shiv and Shakti, mind and matter, together. The One is at rest, beyond all wanting, and the One is also the one who enjoys it all.

Everything that looks separate may be beads on one single thread.
The deeper layer

One thread runs through everything, and the One is both deep rest and the joy of living.

Aapay van trin tribhavan saar: the One is the life inside forests, grass and all three worlds.

Jaa kai soot paro-i-aa sansaar: the whole world is strung on the One's thread. Think of a bead necklace. The beads are all different, but one thread runs through every one and holds them together.

Aapay siv saktee sanjogee: the One joins Shiv and Shakti. These are old names for stillness and energy, or mind and matter.

Aap nirbaanee aapay bhogee: the One is perfectly at rest, and also enjoys everything that happens. Nirbaan means a deep, quiet peace beyond all wanting.

A Question to Sit With

What are some things that seem separate but are deeply connected?

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

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