Sikhism·Raag Dhanaasaree·Shabad 25
Verse 1 of 2

Sing, Learn, and Serve — the Light Awaits

ਧਨਾਸਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੪ ॥
Dhanaasree mehlaa 4.
Dhanaasaree, Fourth Mehl:
ਗੁਨ ਕਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਲਹੁ ਕਰਿ ਸੇਵਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਇਵ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਈ ॥
gun kaho har lahu kar sayvaa satgur iv har har naam Dhi-aa-ee.
Chant His Praises, learn of the Lord, and serve the True Guru; in this way, meditate on the Name of the Lord, Har, Har.
ਹਰਿ ਦਰਗਹ ਭਾਵਹਿ ਫਿਰਿ ਜਨਮਿ ਨ ਆਵਹਿ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਮਾਈ ॥੧॥
har dargeh bhaaveh fir janam na aavahi har har har jot samaa-ee. ||1||
In the Court of the Lord, He shall be pleased with you, and you shall not have to enter the cycle of reincarnation again; you shall merge in the Divine Light of the Lord, Har, Har, Har. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Sing the praises of the One, learn about it, serve with a willing heart, and keep the Name in mind.

Then you will feel welcome and at home, no longer tossed around, and you will blend into the light of the One.

Singing, learning, and serving are three doors into the same light.
The deeper layer

Sing, learn, and serve, and you come home to the light.

Gun kaho har lahu kar sayvaa satgur — sing the One's praises, learn about the One, and serve the Satguru, the True Guru. These are three simple actions, joined like three strands of one rope.

The promise is warm. Har dargeh bhaaveh — you become pleasing in the One's court. Dargeh means court, the place of the One's presence. Then comes jot samaa-ee, merging into the light.

The line about not coming back into birth again means being set free. You are no longer tossed from one restless thing to the next. You belong.

A Question to Sit With

Which comes most easily to you — singing, learning, or helping? Which is hardest?

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

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