Sikhism·Raag Bilaaval·Shabad 172
Verse 1 of 4

Seek Together in the Sangat

ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥
bilaaval mehlaa 5.
Bilaaval, Fifth Mehl:
ਹਰਿ ਖੋਜਹੁ ਵਡਭਾਗੀਹੋ ਮਿਲਿ ਸਾਧੂ ਸੰਗੇ ਰਾਮ ॥
har khojahu vadbhaageeho mil saaDhoo sangay raam.
Seek the Lord, O fortunate ones, and join the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy.
ਗੁਨ ਗੋਵਿਦ ਸਦ ਗਾਈਅਹਿ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਕੈ ਰੰਗੇ ਰਾਮ ॥
gun govid sad gaa-ee-ah paarbarahm kai rangay raam.
Sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord of the Universe forever, imbued with the Love of the Supreme Lord God.
ਸੋ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਸਦ ਹੀ ਸੇਵੀਐ ਪਾਈਅਹਿ ਫਲ ਮੰਗੇ ਰਾਮ ॥
so parabh sad hee sayvee-ai paa-ee-ah fal mangay raam.
Serving God forever, you shall obtain the fruitful rewards you desire.
ਨਾਨਕ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਸਰਣਾਗਤੀ ਜਪਿ ਅਨਤ ਤਰੰਗੇ ਰਾਮ ॥੧॥
naanak parabh sarnaagatee jap anat tarangay raam. ||1||
O Nanak, seek the Sanctuary of God; meditate on the Lord, and ride the many waves of the mind. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Seek the One, lucky hearts, and join the Sangat to seek alongside.

Sing the goodness of the One again and again, colored through with love. Serve the One always, and the good you hope for will come.

Nanak says: I take shelter with the One, and as I hold it in mind, I can ride the waves of my restless thoughts instead of being tossed by them.

Seeking is easier — and sweeter — in the Sangat.
The deeper layer

Har khojahu vadbhaageeho — seek, O fortunate hearts. SaaDhoo sangay: in the Sangat. Paarbarahm kai rangay: colored in the One's love — rang, the lasting dye. Fal mangay: the fruit you ask for. And anat tarangay, the many waves — you learn to ride the waves of the mind rather than drown in them.

The Sangat — people gathered together to remember the One — is where the seeking starts. Searching alone, it is easy to give up; searching side by side, each voice keeps the others singing.

A Question to Sit With

Who would you want beside you while looking for something that matters?

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

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