Without the Name of the Lord, the beautiful are just like the noseless ones.
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Those whom the One touches with kindness begin to long for the company of the good.
Nanak says: even those who went astray become pure in that company; following the true teacher, they are set free.
This one says: nobody is ever written off.
After the harsh pictures, the shabad turns to mercy. That is its real point. The same people who seemed "cursed" are touched by grace. Right away, they long for good company, and they are made pure.
naanak patit pavit mil sa(n)gat — Nanak says, those who went astray become pure by joining the sangat, the company of good people. The lack described before was never a final judgment. It was more like a cold, something that care and good company can heal.
Think of a classmate who had a rough year. One kind friend, one good group, and they start to shine again. The Guru refuses to give up on anyone. Everyone is one touch of kindness away from being set free.
This shabad closes Guru Ram Das's first set of six shabads in this raag.
If no one is ever permanently 'bad,' how should we treat someone who has messed up?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI