Sing the Name that lifts everyone, however far they have wandered; the One has made this life worthwhile — so place your hope in the Name, and the sense of separation vanishes.
The Arc
This Partaal opens with its Rahao: sing the Name that lifts everyone, the One who pervades water and land and dispels all pain. The verses give thanks that the One has made this life fruitful — the teacher, the giver of freedom, has been met — and end with the paradox of hope: place your hope in the Name, become free even of hope, and the sense of a divided self simply vanishes.
Key Vocabulary
partaal: a rhythmic form that shifts its beat
patit paavno: the lifter of all who have wandered
bhagat taarno: who carries the devoted across
safal janam: a fruitful life
mukat daataa: the giver of freedom
aasaa... niraasee: hope... free of hope
Themes and Cross-Connections
Vich aasaa ho-ay niraasee — in the midst of hope, becoming free of hope — is the shabad's koan-like jewel: not despair, but hope so restful it stops grasping. The Partaal form, which shifts its rhythm, suits a shabad that lifts the fallen and turns hope inside out.
For Raag Bilaaval
A bright, rhythmic close to this set of Bilaaval shabads: the raag of well-being carried on a shifting beat, singing of a life made worthwhile and a hope that has learned to rest.
Translation Notes
The Rahao's patit paavno (SSK: "Purifier of sinners") is rendered as "the One who lifts everyone, however far they have wandered," keeping the hope-forward tone and avoiding the language of sin and shame for children, per the wellbeing rules.
Sing the Name that lifts everyone, however far they have wandered; the One has made this life worthwhile — so place your hope in the Name, and the sense of separation vanishes.
The Arc
This Partaal opens with its Rahao: sing the Name that lifts everyone, the One who pervades water and land and dispels all pain. The verses give thanks that the One has made this life fruitful — the teacher, the giver of freedom, has been met — and end with the paradox of hope: place your hope in the Name, become free even of hope, and the sense of a divided self simply vanishes.
Key Vocabulary
Themes and Cross-Connections
Vich aasaa ho-ay niraasee — in the midst of hope, becoming free of hope — is the shabad's koan-like jewel: not despair, but hope so restful it stops grasping. The Partaal form, which shifts its rhythm, suits a shabad that lifts the fallen and turns hope inside out.
For Raag Bilaaval
A bright, rhythmic close to this set of Bilaaval shabads: the raag of well-being carried on a shifting beat, singing of a life made worthwhile and a hope that has learned to rest.
Translation Notes
The Rahao's patit paavno (SSK: "Purifier of sinners") is rendered as "the One who lifts everyone, however far they have wandered," keeping the hope-forward tone and avoiding the language of sin and shame for children, per the wellbeing rules.
Last updated: 2026-07-08