Sikhism·Raag Bilaaval·Shabad 153
Verse 6 of 9

The Beat of the Celestial Drum

ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਵੈ ਸਦਾ ਦਿਨੁ ਰਾਤੀ ਮੈ ਹਰਿ ਜਸੁ ਕਹਤੇ ਅੰਤੁ ਨ ਲਹੀਆ ॥
har gun gaavai sadaa din raatee mai har jas kahtay ant na lahee-aa.
I continuously sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord, day and night; singing the Lord's Praises, I cannot find His limits.
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮਨੂਆ ਇਕਤੁ ਘਰਿ ਆਵੈ ਮਿਲਉ ਗੋੁਪਾਲ ਨੀਸਾਨੁ ਬਜਈਆ ॥੫॥
gurmukh manoo-aa ikat ghar aavai mila-o gopaal neesaan baja-ee-aa. ||5||
The mind of the Gurmukh returns to its own home; it meets the Lord of the Universe, to the beat of the celestial drum. ||5||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

I sing of the One all day and all night. The more I sing, the more I see there is no edge to this greatness. It just keeps opening.

And the wandering mind finally comes home. It meets the One with a joy so big, it is like drums booming in celebration inside you.

When the wandering mind comes home, it feels like a celebration.
The deeper layer

Singing of the One never runs out.

Har gun gaavai sadaa din raatee: day and night, I sing of the One. Ant na lahee-aa: and I never find the end. The One has no limit. Think of a page that keeps loading more and more as you scroll, forever.

Then manoo-aa ikat ghar aavai: the wandering mind comes back to its true home. Mila-o gopaal neesaan baja-ee-aa: it meets the One, and a big drum, a neesaan, booms in welcome. It is a joyful homecoming.

A Question to Sit With

What is a homecoming -- a place or feeling -- that fills you with joy?

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

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