Raag Bilaaval
Commentary

- Raag Bilaaval, Dupda, Mehl 5 (Guru Arjan)

Kindness turns toward us, tangles come undone, and the harm aimed at us loses its power.

The Arc

The Rahau lifts trouble through the mercy of the Supreme One and the joy of good company. The first verse pictures being claimed and held close -- fastened to the hem, lifted up -- while ill-will simply blows away like dust. The close brings the singer home safe and whole, the wish to harm undone of its own accord, all of it credited to grace.

Key Vocabulary

  • bhai kirpaal: the Supreme One turned merciful
  • kaaraj sagal savaaray: all affairs set right
  • angeekaar: being claimed as one's own
  • kanth laa-ay, laa-ay apnai paal: held to the chest, fastened to the hem
  • sahee salaamat mil ghar aa-ay: coming home safe and sound
  • gur parsaad: by grace, received not earned

Themes and Cross-Connections

Protection and belonging: to be claimed by the One is to have the harm aimed at you lose its grip. The Vaars' theme of ill-will undoing itself sounds here in a bright, homecoming key.

For Raag Bilaaval

The raag's warm resolution -- shelter, safe return, and gladness that comes as a gift.

Translation Notes

The literal's dokhee saglay bha-ay ravaal (enemies reduced to dust) and nindak kay mukh ho-ay kaal (the slanderer's face blackened) are carried as ill-will losing its power and fading -- the harm undoes itself; no person is shamed, per the wellbeing rules.

Last updated: 2026-07-08

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