Sikhism·Raag Bilaaval·Shabad 118
Verse 1 of 3

Steadied by Watching Your Play

ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥
bilaaval mehlaa 5.
Bilaaval, Fifth Mehl:
ਧੀਰਉ ਦੇਖਿ ਤੁਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਾਰੇ ਰੰਗਾ ॥
Dheera-o daykh tumHaaray rangaa.
I am reassured, gazing upon Your wondrous play.
ਤੁਹੀ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਅੰਤਰਜਾਮੀ ਤੂਹੀ ਵਸਹਿ ਸਾਧ ਕੈ ਸੰਗਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
tuhee su-aamee antarjaamee toohee vaseh saaDh kai sangaa. ||1|| rahaa-o.
You are my Lord and Master, the Inner-knower, the Searcher of hearts; You dwell with the Holy Saints. ||1||Pause||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Watching Your wonderful play, I grow calm and sure.

You are my Master, the One who knows every heart. You live in the Sangat.

Watching how life unfolds can make you calm instead of anxious.
The deeper layer

Watching the One's wonderful play makes the heart calm and sure.

This is the Rahao, the "pause" line. It is the center of the shabad.

Dheera-o daykh tumaaray rangaa — I grow calm, watching Your play. Rang means color and play, all the wonder the One does. Think of watching the stars, or waves rolling in. The bigness of it can make you feel calm, not small.

Antarjaamee means the One who knows what is inside every heart. Toohee vaseh saaDh kai sangaa — You live in the Sangat — people gathered together to remember the One. The One is close by, right there among them.

A Question to Sit With

What is something in the world that makes you feel calm just by watching it?

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI

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