Raag Devgandhaari
Commentary

Raag Devgandhaari, Shabad 30, Mehl 5 (Guru Arjan)

"With every breath and morsel of food, he chants the Lord's Name."

The Arc

Swimming across by remembrance and grace, given to the humble (rahau); the jewel of human life kept safe, whole generations saved (v.1); remembrance on breath and food, the grateful self-giving (v.2).

Key Vocabulary

  • tarai / swims across — the ocean crossed by grace, not strength.
  • maanak / jewel of human life — the rare, precious birth (cf. Aasaa "human body won").
  • kul / generations saved — goodness rippling through a family line.
  • saas giraas / breath and food — utterly continuous remembrance (see Naam).

Themes and Cross-Connections

"Jewel of human life" links to Aasaa B00C754/790 (the body as one's chance). Saving-generations links to Gauree B00C290 (21 generations saved). Breath-and-food remembrance links to Naam-as-breath (B00C3034, 3047, 3052).

For Raag Devgandhaari

Gathers the raag's continuous-remembrance thread to its fullest measure (breath and food) and widens the fruit of one turned life to a whole lineage. A fitting close to this run of Guru Arjan's shabads.

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