Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
How do I get free? How do I cross this huge, rough ocean of the world?
Keep me safe, keep me safe, my Beloved. I have come to Your shelter.
An honest cry for help: how can anyone cross this huge ocean? Please keep me safe.
This is the Rahao, the "pause" line. It is the center of the shabad.
Ki-o chhoota-o kaisay tara-o bhavjal nidh bhaaree means "how can I get free? How can I cross this great ocean of the world?" Bhavjal means the world-ocean, the rough churn of daily life with its ups and downs.
Raakh raakh mayray beethulaa means "save me, save me, my Beethulaa." Beethulaa is a tender name for the Beloved One. Jan saran tumHaaree means "Your servant has come to Your shelter."
Think of a small kid in the deep end of a pool who calls, "Help me!" and a lifeguard reaches out right away. Asking is not weakness. Coming for shelter is the heart of this whole shabad.
When something feels too big to handle alone, who or what do you turn to?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI