Sikhism·Raag Bhairao·Shabad 97
Verse 7 of 9

Highest Yet Closest To All

ਜਿਸੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਰਿਦੈ ਸੋ ਸਭ ਮਹਿ ਜਾਤਾ ॥
jis naam ridai so sabh meh jaataa.
One who keeps the Naam in his heart is famous everywhere.
ਜਿਸੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਰਿਦੈ ਸੋ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਬਿਧਾਤਾ ॥
jis naam ridai so purakh biDhaataa.
One who keeps the Naam in his heart is the Embodiment of the Creator Lord.
ਜਿਸੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਰਿਦੈ ਸੋ ਸਭ ਤੇ ਊਚਾ ॥
jis naam ridai so sabh tay oochaa.
One who keeps the Naam in his heart is the highest of all.
ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨਾ ਭ੍ਰਮਿ ਜੋਨੀ ਮੂਚਾ ॥੬॥
naam binaa bharam jonee moochaa. ||6||
Without the Naam, the mortal wanders in reincarnation. ||6||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

The one who keeps the Naam in their heart is known everywhere.

In the one who keeps the Naam in their heart, the Creator can be seen.

The one who keeps the Naam in their heart is the highest of all.

Without the Naam, a person wanders in doubt from one life-form to the next.

The best kind of greatness lifts you up without setting you apart.
The deeper layer

The one who holds the Naam is lifted high, and yet stays close to everyone.

Jis naam ridai so sabh meh jaataa — the one with the Naam in the heart is known everywhere. So purakh bidhaataa — something of the Creator shows through them. So sabh tay oochaa — they are the highest of all.

This kind of "high" is the opposite of showing off. It comes from seeing the same One in everyone. Think of climbing a hill and looking down at your town. From up there, every house looks connected. The highest place is also the most connected place.

Naam binaa bharam jonee moochaa — without the Naam, a person wanders from life to life, lost in doubt.

A Question to Sit With

How can feeling connected to something great make you kinder to everyone around you?

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

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