Raag Dhanaasaree
Commentary

Raag Dhanaasaree, Chau-Pada, Mehl 4 (Guru Ram Das)

My King, You alone know the pain within me; You pervade all, everyone begs at Your door, and You are the hope of all who breathe.

The Arc

This beloved shabad — recited daily in Rehras Sahib — addresses the One tenderly as saahaa, King. The Rahao holds its aching heart: in Your sight I am at peace, and You alone know my inner pain — the One sees the hurt no one else can. Because there is no other at all, there is no one to blame or call false. The verses unfold pure oneness: You flow through all and all beg of the one Giver; nothing lives outside You; all beings are Yours and You belong to all. The close is easy surrender — keep me as You please, true King (||4||7||13||).

Key Vocabulary

  • saahaa: King — the tender royal address
  • hamree baydan too jaantaa: You alone know my inner pain
  • sabhnaa vich too varatdaa: You pervade all
  • tujh tay baahar ko-ee naahi: nothing at all is outside You
  • sabhnaa kee too aas: the hope of all

Themes and Cross-Connections

This is one of the raag's — and the whole Guru Granth's — most intimate statements of Ik Onkaar: the One pervades all, all belong to it, and it belongs to all (philosophy.md, Ik Onkar). ‘You alone know my inner pain’ is the emotional peak: to be fully known by the One is the deepest comfort. The closing surrender (ji-o bhaavai ti-o rakh) is the poise of sahaj and trust in hukam.

For Raag Dhanaasaree

The raag of longing arrives at rest: the King who holds everything is also the One who sees the ache no one else can see — so the seeker can finally stop explaining and simply be known.

Translation Notes

None required; the shabad's imagery is gentle. The royal address saahaa is kept as ‘King’ throughout for consistency with the source's affectionate tone.

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