Sikhism·Raag Bilaaval·Shabad 162
Verse 2 of 11

The Remembrance I Keep in My Heart

ਹਿਰਦੈ ਜਪਨੀ ਜਪਉ ਗੁਣਤਾਸਾ ॥
hirdai japnee japa-o guntaasaa.
Within my heart, I chant the Chant of the Lord, the treasure of virtue.
ਹਰਿ ਅਗਮ ਅਗੋਚਰੁ ਅਪਰੰਪਰ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਜਨ ਪਗਿ ਲਗਿ ਧਿਆਵਉ ਹੋਇ ਦਾਸਨਿ ਦਾਸਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
har agam agochar aprampar su-aamee jan pag lag Dhi-aava-o ho-ay daasan daasaa. ||1|| rahaa-o.
The Lord, my Lord and Master, is inaccessible, unfathomable and unlimited. Grasping the feet of the Lord's humble servants, I meditate on Him, and become the slave of His slaves. ||1||Pause||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

In my heart I keep chanting the name of the One, the treasure of all that is good.

My Master is beyond reach, beyond seeing, beyond every limit. I hold on to the feet of the Guru's people, I remember the One, and I become the servant of their servants.

You keep what matters most in a quiet place inside, and stay close to people who help you remember it.
The deeper layer

The rahau -- the refrain the whole Vaar Sat turns on. hirdai japnee -- the "rosary of the heart," an inner remembrance rather than a counted, outward one. daasan daasaa -- "servant of servants," the humility image, rendered as gladly taking the lowest seat: humility with open hands, never self-abasement. It anchors the weekdays that follow: whatever the day, keep this going within.

A Question to Sit With

Who are the people who help you remember what matters most?

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

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