Sikhism·Raag Dhanaasaree·Shabad 10
Verse 2 of 4

One Taste Of The Sweetness Brings Bliss

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹਰਿ ਰਸੁ ਚਾਖੈ ਕੋਇ ॥
gurmukh har ras chaakhai ko-ay.
How rare is that Gurmukh who tastes the sublime essence of the Lord.
ਤਿਸੁ ਸਦਾ ਅਨੰਦੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਦਿਨੁ ਰਾਤੀ ਪੂਰੈ ਭਾਗਿ ਪਰਾਪਤਿ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
tis sadaa anand hovai din raatee poorai bhaag paraapat ho-ay. rahaa-o.
He is always in bliss, day and night; through perfect good destiny, he obtains the Name. ||Pause||
ਸਬਦੁ ਦੀਪਕੁ ਵਰਤੈ ਤਿਹੁ ਲੋਇ ॥
sabad deepak vartai tihu lo-ay.
The Word of the Shabad is a lamp, illuminating the three worlds.
ਜੋ ਚਾਖੈ ਸੋ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਹੋਇ ॥
jo chaakhai so nirmal ho-ay.
One who tastes it, becomes immaculate.
ਨਿਰਮਲ ਨਾਮਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਮਲੁ ਧੋਇ ॥
nirmal naam ha-umai mal Dho-ay.
The immaculate Naam, the Name of the Lord, washes off the filth of ego.
ਸਾਚੀ ਭਗਤਿ ਸਦਾ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਇ ॥੨॥
saachee bhagat sadaa sukh ho-ay. ||2||
True devotional worship brings lasting peace. ||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Rare is the one, turned toward the Guru, who tastes the One's sweetness. That one lives in bliss day and night, through deep good fortune.

The Word is a lamp lighting up the whole world. Whoever tastes it becomes clear and clean; the pure Name washes off the grime of ego, and true, loving devotion brings lasting peace.

One taste of the sweetness lights up everything and washes the heart clean.
The deeper layer

Once you taste the sweetness of the Name, you live in joy.

This is the Rahao, the "pause" line at the center of the shabad. Gurmukh har ras chaakhai ko-ay — rare is the gurmukh, the one who faces the Guru, who tastes the One's ras. Ras means sweet juice, the very essence of something. That person lives in anand, bliss, day and night. It comes through deep good fortune.

The verse goes on. Sabad deepak — the Word is a lamp that lights the three worlds, all that exists. Whoever tastes it becomes nirmal, clean and clear. Nirmal naam ha-umai mal Dho-ay — the pure Name washes off the grime of ha-umai, ego, the feeling that "I" am the center of everything. It is like warm water washing mud off your hands. And saachee bhagat, true devotion, brings lasting peace.

A Question to Sit With

What is something you tasted or tried just once that you never forgot?

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

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