A perfect Maker made a perfect world; in every age one thing is the real treasure, and in this one it is the loving praise of the Name — so let no one carry pride.
The Arc
Guru Amar Das sees a perfect creation from a perfect Maker, and warns against pride in it. The one who lives the Guru's word holds the Name within. The verses distill the ages: the Name is the human race's greatest treasure now; each age has its own path home; and loving the True One dissolves pride, bringing peace to all who speak, listen, and align with it.
Key Vocabulary
pooraa thaat: the perfect arrangement, the whole setup
parpanch: the play of the world
gumaanaa / abhimaanaa: pride, self-conceit
chahu jugaa: the four ages
keerat har naamaa: the loving praise of the Name
Dharam: the essence, the right way of a time
Themes and Cross-Connections
Kal meh keerat har naamaa — in this age, the praise of the Name is the heart of dharma — is one of Amar Das's signature teachings: not that older practices were wrong, but that each age has its own doorway, and this one's is loving remembrance shared aloud. The steady drumbeat against gumaan (pride) ties every verse together.
For Raag Bilaaval
Bilaaval's well-being here is the joy of keerat — praise sung together — named as the very heart of living well in this age.
Translation Notes
The verse listing older-age practices (jat sanjam tirath — celibacy, self-discipline, pilgrimage) and the reference to studying the Ved and Puraan are rendered respectfully and evenhandedly: each age's path is honored as right for its time, not mocked, in keeping with the interfaith rule. The point is that this age's doorway is shared, loving praise.
A perfect Maker made a perfect world; in every age one thing is the real treasure, and in this one it is the loving praise of the Name — so let no one carry pride.
The Arc
Guru Amar Das sees a perfect creation from a perfect Maker, and warns against pride in it. The one who lives the Guru's word holds the Name within. The verses distill the ages: the Name is the human race's greatest treasure now; each age has its own path home; and loving the True One dissolves pride, bringing peace to all who speak, listen, and align with it.
Key Vocabulary
Themes and Cross-Connections
Kal meh keerat har naamaa — in this age, the praise of the Name is the heart of dharma — is one of Amar Das's signature teachings: not that older practices were wrong, but that each age has its own doorway, and this one's is loving remembrance shared aloud. The steady drumbeat against gumaan (pride) ties every verse together.
For Raag Bilaaval
Bilaaval's well-being here is the joy of keerat — praise sung together — named as the very heart of living well in this age.
Translation Notes
The verse listing older-age practices (jat sanjam tirath — celibacy, self-discipline, pilgrimage) and the reference to studying the Ved and Puraan are rendered respectfully and evenhandedly: each age's path is honored as right for its time, not mocked, in keeping with the interfaith rule. The point is that this age's doorway is shared, loving praise.
Last updated: 2026-07-08