A prayer heard, a servant kept, and harsh words that simply come to nothing.
The Arc
The first verse has the Great Giver hear the prayer and keep the servant safe. The Rahau reassures a friend: no one can threaten you now, for the Supreme has kept you with its own hand. The close narrows to a single trust — one Giver behind all beings, and the whole prayer reduced to: You are my only strength.
Key Vocabulary
ardaas sunee daataar: the Giver heard the prayer
raakh lee-aa apnaa sayvko: the servant kept safe
day apnay haath: kept with the One's own hand
mai tayraa jor: You are my only strength
Themes and Cross-Connections
This is the first of a pair of slander-shabads (with the next). Guru Arjan's answer to being wronged is never revenge but shelter: the harm loses its footing when you are held. That trust is distilled in mai tayraa jor.
For Raag Bilaaval
The raag keeps the tone reassuring rather than triumphant — comfort offered to someone who has been spoken against.
Translation Notes
The literal line mukh nindak chhaar pictures ashes in the mouth of the slanderer. Following the project's wellbeing rules, the humiliation image is not staged for children; the teaching is kept as the harsh words simply coming to nothing while the one who was wronged is held safe.
A prayer heard, a servant kept, and harsh words that simply come to nothing.
The Arc
The first verse has the Great Giver hear the prayer and keep the servant safe. The Rahau reassures a friend: no one can threaten you now, for the Supreme has kept you with its own hand. The close narrows to a single trust — one Giver behind all beings, and the whole prayer reduced to: You are my only strength.
Key Vocabulary
Themes and Cross-Connections
This is the first of a pair of slander-shabads (with the next). Guru Arjan's answer to being wronged is never revenge but shelter: the harm loses its footing when you are held. That trust is distilled in mai tayraa jor.
For Raag Bilaaval
The raag keeps the tone reassuring rather than triumphant — comfort offered to someone who has been spoken against.
Translation Notes
The literal line mukh nindak chhaar pictures ashes in the mouth of the slanderer. Following the project's wellbeing rules, the humiliation image is not staged for children; the teaching is kept as the harsh words simply coming to nothing while the one who was wronged is held safe.
Last updated: 2026-07-08