Sikhism·Raag Bhairao·Shabad 94
Verse 3 of 10

When The Tester Is Done Testing

ਆਪੇ ਪਰਖੇ ਪਰਖਣਹਾਰੈ ਬਹੁਰਿ ਸੂਲਾਕੁ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥
aapay parkhay parkhanhaarai bahur soolaak na ho-ee.
When the Appraiser Himself appraises the mortal, then he is not tested again.
ਜਿਨ ਕਉ ਨਦਰਿ ਭਈ ਗੁਰਿ ਮੇਲੇ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਭਾਣਾ ਸਚੁ ਸੋਈ ॥੨॥
jin ka-o nadar bha-ee gur maylay parabh bhaanaa sach so-ee. ||2||
Those who are blessed with His Grace meet with the Guru. They alone are true, who are pleasing to God. ||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

When the One who tests, the Appraiser, has tested someone, they are not tested again.

Those on whom the One's kind look of grace falls meet the Guru. Whoever is pleasing to the One is true.

Once grace has seen you whole, you can stop proving yourself.
The deeper layer

Once the One has looked at you and tested you, the testing is over.

Aapay parkhay parkhanhaarai — the Tester, the One who checks what is real, looks at you directly. Bahur soolaak na ho-ee — then there is no more testing again and again. Think of a coach who has watched you play all season. You don't need to try out again every week.

Jin ka-o nadar bha-ee gur maylay — those who receive nadar, the kind look of grace, meet the Guru. Grace here is always present. It is received like sunlight, not won like a prize. Parabh bhaanaa sach so-ee — those who are in tune with what pleases the One are sach, true.

A Question to Sit With

Who is someone who sees you for who you are, without you having to prove anything?

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

About this shabad →
Use ← → to navigate