Sikhism·Raag Dhanaasaree·Shabad 83
Verse 2 of 2

Ocean of Every Virtue

ਪਤਿਤ ਉਧਾਰਣਾ ਜੀਅ ਜੰਤ ਤਾਰਣਾ ਬੇਦ ਉਚਾਰ ਨਹੀ ਅੰਤੁ ਪਾਇਓ ॥
patit uDhaaranaa jee-a jant taarnaa bayd uchaar nahee ant paa-i-o.
Redeemer of sinners, Saving Grace of all beings and creatures, even those who recite the Vedas have not found Your limit.
ਗੁਣਹ ਸੁਖ ਸਾਗਰਾ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਰਤਨਾਗਰਾ ਭਗਤਿ ਵਛਲੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਗਾਇਓ ॥੨॥੧॥੫੩॥
gunah sukh saagraa barahm ratnaagaraa bhagat vachhal naanak gaa-i-o. ||2||1||53||
God is the ocean of virtue and peace, the source of jewels; Nanak sings the Praises of the Lover of His devotees. ||2||1||53||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

You lift up those who have fallen and carry every living being across. Even those who recite the oldest scriptures never reach the end of You.

Ocean of goodness and peace, treasure-mine of jewels, the One who loves everyone who loves — this is the song I sing.

The One who lifts the fallen is deeper than any words can reach.
The deeper layer

The One lifts up everyone who falls, and loves everyone who loves back.

Patit uDhaaranaa means the One who lifts up the fallen. It goes together with bhagat vachhal, the One who loves the devotee, the way a parent loves a child who runs to them.

Bayd uchaar nahee ant paa-i-o — even those who recite the Vedas, India's oldest holy hymns, never reached the end of You. The verse honors those reciters. It simply says the One is bigger than any words can reach.

Ratnaagaraa is a mine of jewels, the place where jewels come from. The One is that source.

A Question to Sit With

What does it feel like to be lifted up by someone exactly when you'd fallen?

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

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