Sikhism·Raag Bihaagraa·Shabad 14
Verse 1 of 4

You Belong Even on the Days You Mess Up

ਬਿਹਾਗੜਾ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ਛੰਤ ॥
bihaagarhaa mehlaa 5 chhant.
Bihaagraa, Fifth Mehl, Chhant:
ਸੁਨਹੁ ਬੇਨੰਤੀਆ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਮੇਰੇ ਰਾਮ ॥
sunhu banantee-aa su-aamee mayray raam.
Listen to my prayer, O my Lord and Master.
ਕੋਟਿ ਅਪ੍ਰਾਧ ਭਰੇ ਭੀ ਤੇਰੇ ਚੇਰੇ ਰਾਮ ॥
kot apraaDh bharay bhee tayray chayray raam.
I am filled with millions of sins, but still, I am Your slave.
ਦੁਖ ਹਰਨ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰਨ ਮੋਹਨ ਕਲਿ ਕਲੇਸਹ ਭੰਜਨਾ ॥
dukh haran kirpaa karan mohan kal kalayseh bhanjnaa.
O Destroyer of pain, Bestower of Mercy, Fascinating Lord, Destroyer of sorrow and strife,
ਸਰਨਿ ਤੇਰੀ ਰਖਿ ਲੇਹੁ ਮੇਰੀ ਸਰਬ ਮੈ ਨਿਰੰਜਨਾ ॥
saran tayree rakh layho mayree sarab mai niranjanaa.
I have come to Your Sanctuary; please preserve my honor. You are all-pervading, O Immaculate Lord.
ਸੁਨਤ ਪੇਖਤ ਸੰਗਿ ਸਭ ਕੈ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਨੇਰਹੂ ਤੇ ਨੇਰੇ ॥
sunat paykhat sang sabh kai parabh nayrhoo tay nayray.
He hears and beholds all; God is with us, the nearest of the near.
ਅਰਦਾਸਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਸੁਨਿ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਰਖਿ ਲੇਹੁ ਘਰ ਕੇ ਚੇਰੇ ॥੧॥
ardaas naanak sun su-aamee rakh layho ghar kay chayray. ||1||
O Lord and Master, hear Nanak's prayer; please save the servants of Your household. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

"Please listen to my little prayer," my heart says to the One.

Even when I've made lots of mistakes, I'm still Yours — I still belong to You.

You take away pain and give kindness, and you charm the worry right out of a heart.

I've come to You for shelter — please keep me safe; You're everywhere, and always good.

The One hears and sees everything, and is nearer to us than the nearest thing.

"Hear my prayer, and look after Your own."

The One is nearer than the nearest thing — closer than your own breath — and you belong even on the days you mess up.
The deeper layer

This Chhant is a prayer of belonging — its refrain-feeling is "I am Yours even when I fall short." The most beautiful phrase is sang sahaaee nikat hee neraa — "God is with us, the nearest of the near." Nearer than the nearest thing you can name: closer than your own breath. This answers the raag's ache of longing at the root — the One we feel far from is actually closest of all. The plea "preserve my honor" (paij raakho) is the trust of one who has thrown themselves on another's kindness. And notice the confidence inside the humility: "I am filled with millions of mistakes, but still I am Your slave" — belonging is not cancelled by failing. For a child: the One you love is nearer than near — closer than close — and you belong to that love even on the days you mess up.

A Question to Sit With

Who loves you so much that you belong to them even when you make mistakes?

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

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