Sikhism·Raag Dhanaasaree·Shabad 105
Verse 3 of 5

Even Those Who Stumbled Crossed Over by the Name

ਅਜਾਮਲ ਗਜ ਗਨਿਕਾ ਪਤਿਤ ਕਰਮ ਕੀਨੇ ॥
ajaamal gaj ganikaa patit karam keenay.
Ajaamal, the elephant, and the prostitute committed many sins,
ਤੇਊ ਉਤਰਿ ਪਾਰਿ ਪਰੇ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਲੀਨੇ ॥੨॥
tay-oo utar paar paray raam naam leenay. ||2||
but still, they crossed over the world-ocean, by chanting the Lord's Name. ||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

There are old stories about people who had made real mistakes, gone badly wrong, hurt themselves and others.

And still — the moment they turned and remembered the One, they were lifted right over their troubles. That is how big this mercy is. No one is ever too far gone to turn toward it.

No one is ever too far gone to turn back toward the light.
The deeper layer

No one is ever too far gone to turn toward the One.

Ajaamal gaj ganikaa patit karam keenay: Ajaamal, the elephant Gajendra, and Ganika are three figures from old stories. Each had gone badly wrong. They are the classic examples people give to show that grace can reach anyone.

Tay-oo utar paar paray raam naam leenay: they too crossed over, by taking the One's Name. Think of a lighthouse. Its beam reaches every boat, even the ones far out in the dark. The point is how far mercy reaches, never judging anyone.

A Question to Sit With

Have you ever seen someone change for the better after a hard mistake?

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

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