Sikhism·Raag Bilaaval·Shabad 77
Verse 1 of 5

Held Before You Were Born

ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥
bilaaval mehlaa 5.
Bilaaval, Fifth Mehl:
ਜਿਨਿ ਤੂ ਬੰਧਿ ਕਰਿ ਛੋਡਿਆ ਫੁਨਿ ਸੁਖ ਮਹਿ ਪਾਇਆ ॥
jin too banDh kar chhodi-aa fun sukh meh paa-i-aa.
The One who bound you in the womb and then released you, placed you in the world of joy.
ਸਦਾ ਸਿਮਰਿ ਚਰਣਾਰਬਿੰਦ ਸੀਤਲ ਹੋਤਾਇਆ ॥੧॥
sadaa simar charnaarbind seetal hotaa-i-aa. ||1||
Contemplate His Lotus Feet forever, and you shall be cooled and soothed. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

The One who formed you before you were born, and then set you gently into a world full of good things — keep that One in mind, always.

Do that, and something in you cools and settles, calm as still water.

You were cared for before you could even ask — and you are still held.
The deeper layer

You were cared for before you could even ask.

Jin too bandh kar chhodi-aa: the One shaped you in the womb, then set you free into the world. Fun sukh meh paa-i-aa: and placed you in a world of joy. Think of a baby's room, all ready and waiting before the baby comes home.

The second line tells us what to do. Sadaa simar charnaarbind: always remember the One's lotus feet. The lotus feet are a loving picture of the One's closeness. Seetal hotaa-i-aa: then you will feel cool and calm.

A Question to Sit With

How does it feel to know you were cared for before you could do anything at all?

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

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