Rooted in the source of bliss, I live in gladness and fear no judgment; the restless circle round like the ox at the mill, but those who serve are set free — for the One is master and servant both.
The Arc
Guru Ram Das roots himself in the source of bliss — day and night in gladness, with no fear of judgment. Sing the Name of the One who holds the whole world. The verses picture the restless circling round like the ox at the mill, celebrate that those who serve are set free, and dissolve every role into oneness: the One is master and servant both, and we remain as the One keeps us.
Key Vocabulary
anad mool: the source of bliss
Dharam raa-ay: the reckoner of deeds
gobinday: the One who holds and sustains the world
saakat: one turned only outward
taylee balad: the oilman's ox at the press
aapay Thaakur aapay sayvak: the One is both master and servant
Themes and Cross-Connections
Anad mool Dhi-aa-i-o — meditating on the very source of bliss — sets the shabad's key: joy that comes from the root, not from circumstances. The ox-at-the-mill (taylee balad bhavanday) is the sharp counter-image: endless motion that gets nowhere, the loop of a life driven only by wanting.
For Raag Bilaaval
Bilaaval's well-being here is fearless gladness — a joy rooted in the source itself, unshaken by any dread of judgment or death.
Translation Notes
Two voice-care handlings: (1) Dharam raa-ay kee kaan chukaa-ee... jam kay chhanday (SSK: "the Judge of Dharma has no power over me... cast off subservience to the Messenger of Death") is rendered as losing all fear of judgment and death, not as a terror to conquer. (2) Verse 2's saakat moorh... taylee balad (the faithless, circling like the mill-ox) is rendered per the standing rule as influence-wisdom — the restless, circling heart pictured with compassion, not contempt.
Rooted in the source of bliss, I live in gladness and fear no judgment; the restless circle round like the ox at the mill, but those who serve are set free — for the One is master and servant both.
The Arc
Guru Ram Das roots himself in the source of bliss — day and night in gladness, with no fear of judgment. Sing the Name of the One who holds the whole world. The verses picture the restless circling round like the ox at the mill, celebrate that those who serve are set free, and dissolve every role into oneness: the One is master and servant both, and we remain as the One keeps us.
Key Vocabulary
Themes and Cross-Connections
Anad mool Dhi-aa-i-o — meditating on the very source of bliss — sets the shabad's key: joy that comes from the root, not from circumstances. The ox-at-the-mill (taylee balad bhavanday) is the sharp counter-image: endless motion that gets nowhere, the loop of a life driven only by wanting.
For Raag Bilaaval
Bilaaval's well-being here is fearless gladness — a joy rooted in the source itself, unshaken by any dread of judgment or death.
Translation Notes
Two voice-care handlings: (1) Dharam raa-ay kee kaan chukaa-ee... jam kay chhanday (SSK: "the Judge of Dharma has no power over me... cast off subservience to the Messenger of Death") is rendered as losing all fear of judgment and death, not as a terror to conquer. (2) Verse 2's saakat moorh... taylee balad (the faithless, circling like the mill-ox) is rendered per the standing rule as influence-wisdom — the restless, circling heart pictured with compassion, not contempt.
Last updated: 2026-07-08