Sikhism·Raag Dhanaasaree·Shabad 62
Verse 3 of 3

Wealth to the Poor, Milk to the Child

ਨਿਰਧਨ ਕਉ ਧਨੁ ਅੰਧੁਲੇ ਕਉ ਟਿਕ ਮਾਤ ਦੂਧੁ ਜੈਸੇ ਬਾਲੇ ॥
nirDhan ka-o Dhan anDhulay ka-o tik maat dooDh jaisay baalay.
It is like wealth to the poor, a cane for the blind, and mother's milk for the infant.
ਸਾਗਰ ਮਹਿ ਬੋਹਿਥੁ ਪਾਇਓ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਕਰੀ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਕਿਰਪਾਲੇ ॥੨॥੧॥੩੨॥
saagar meh bohith paa-i-o har naanak karee kirpaa kirpaalay. ||2||1||32||
In the ocean of the world, I have found the boat of the Lord; the Merciful Lord has bestowed His Mercy upon Nanak. ||2||1||32||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

It is like riches to someone who has nothing, a guiding cane for someone who cannot see, and mother's milk for a tiny baby.

In the wide ocean of life, I have found a sturdy boat — the Merciful One has been so kind to me.

The One meets you right where your need is, like exactly the right help at the right moment.
The deeper layer

The One gives each of us exactly what we need.

Three warm pictures show this. NirDhan ka-o Dhan — wealth for someone who has nothing. AnDhulay ka-o tik — a cane for someone who cannot see. Maat dooDh jaisay baalay — like a mother's milk for a baby. Each one is the exact thing that is needed, right when it is needed.

At the end the One is called a bohith, a strong ship, in the saagar, the wide ocean of life. And that ship comes karee kirpaa, purely from mercy.

A Question to Sit With

When has help arrived at just the moment you needed it most?

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

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