Sikhism·Raag Dhanaasaree·Shabad 37
Verse 4 of 4

Held Close Like a Child by Its Mother

ਦੀਨ ਦੈਆਲ ਸਦਾ ਕਿਰਪਾਲਾ ਸਰਬ ਜੀਆ ਪ੍ਰਤਿਪਾਲਾ ॥
deen dai-aal sadaa kirpaalaa sarab jee-aa partipaalaa.
He is merciful to the meek, always kind and compassionate; He cherishes and nurtures all beings.
ਓਤਿ ਪੋਤਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਸੰਗਿ ਰਵਿਆ ਜਿਉ ਮਾਤਾ ਬਾਲ ਗੋੁਪਾਲਾ ॥੪॥੭॥
ot pot naanak sang ravi-aa ji-o maataa baal gopaalaa. ||4||7||
The Lord is mingled with Nanak, through and through; He cherishes him, like the mother her child. ||4||7||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Gentle with the humble, always kind, You care for every living being.

You are woven through my life completely, holding me the way a mother holds her little child.

You are held, completely and closely, the way a mother holds her child.
The deeper layer

The One holds us the way a mother holds her little child.

deen dai-aal sadaa kirpaalaa — kind to the humble, always gentle. The One cares for every living being. Then comes a tender picture. ji-o maataa baal gopaalaa — as a mother with her child.

ot pot means woven through and through, like the threads of a blanket going both ways. The One is not a faraway ruler. The One is a presence woven into every moment. The One holds you the way a parent holds a small child.

A Question to Sit With

When have you felt completely safe and cared for, the way a small child feels held?

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

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