Sikhism·Raag Bilaaval·Shabad 13
Verse 3 of 5

Like Iron Floating Across on a Raft of Wood

ਹਮਰੇ ਪਿਤਾ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਹਰਿ ਦੇਹੁ ਮਤੀ ਜਸੁ ਕਰਾ ॥
hamray pitaa thaakur parabh su-aamee har dayh matee jas karaa.
O my Father, my Lord and Master, Lord God, please bless me with such understanding, that I may sing Your Praises.
ਤੁਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਰੈ ਸੰਗਿ ਲਗੇ ਸੇ ਉਧਰੇ ਜਿਉ ਸੰਗਿ ਕਾਸਟ ਲੋਹ ਤਰਾ ॥੨॥
tumHrai sang lagay say uDhray ji-o sang kaasat loh taraa. ||2||
Those who are attached to You are saved, like iron which is carried across with wood. ||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

My Father, my One, please give me the kind of understanding that lets me sing Your praises.

Those who tie themselves to You are lifted up. Heavy iron would sink alone. Lashed to a raft of wood, it rides safely across the water.

Iron sinks alone but floats when tied to wood — a heavy heart, tied to the One, is carried.
The deeper layer

A heavy piece of iron will sink on its own, but tied to a wooden raft, it floats across.

Sang kaasat loh taraa — iron carried across with wood. This is the main picture of the whole shabad. Being heavy is not the problem. Being alone is. When the heart is tied to the One, like iron lashed to wood, even the heaviest heart floats.

The Guru also calls the One pitaa, Father. That keeps the prayer gentle and close, like a child asking a parent for help with something hard.

A Question to Sit With

When has holding onto someone steadier than you kept you from sinking?

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

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