Sikhism·Raag Bhairao·Shabad 88
Verse 2 of 3

Honored Even By the Great Powers

ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਲੋਕ ਸਦਾ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਵਹਿ ਤਿਨ ਕਉ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਪੂਰਨ ਧਾਮ ॥
har kay lok sadaa gun gaavahi tin ka-o mili-aa pooran Dhaam.
The people of the Lord always sing His Glorious Praises; they attain His Perfect Mansion.
ਜਨ ਕਾ ਦਰਸੁ ਬਾਂਛੈ ਦਿਨ ਰਾਤੀ ਹੋਇ ਪੁਨੀਤ ਧਰਮ ਰਾਇ ਜਾਮ ॥੧॥
jan kaa daras baaNchhai din raatee ho-ay puneet Dharam raa-ay jaam. ||1||
Even the Righteous Judge of Dharma and the Messenger of Death yearn, day and night, to be sanctified by the Blessed Vision of the Lord's humble servant. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

The One's people always sing the One's goodness, and they reach the perfect home.

Day and night, even Dharam Raa-ay, the Judge of what is right, and the messenger of death long for a glimpse of the One's humble servant, to be made pure.

The gentle and humble can be honored even above the mightiest forces.
The deeper layer

Humble people who sing of the One are honored even by the mightiest powers.

Har kay lok sadaa gun gaavahi: the One's people always sing the One's goodness. They reach the pooran dhaam, the perfect, complete home.

Then comes a surprising picture. Dharam raa-ay is the judge of what's fair. Jaam is the messenger of death, the power behind endings. In the old stories they are among the mightiest of all.

Yet they long, day and night, for the daras, a glimpse, of the One's humble people. That glimpse would make them puneet, pure.

Think of a famous athlete who asks a kind old coach for advice. Humble love has its own quiet greatness. It is honored even by the greatest powers.

A Question to Sit With

Why might quiet, kind people end up more respected than powerful ones?

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

About this shabad →
Use ← → to navigate