Raag Gauree
Commentary

Raag Gauree, Du-Pada, Mehl 5 (Guru Arjan)

Stuck and unable to climb out alone, one honestly asks for help — and the One who shelters the helpless, friend and parent at once, reaches down and carries you across.

The Arc

A short, intimate cry. Pauri 0 (Rahao) is the reach: O strong, brave Ocean of Peace, I have fallen and cannot climb out — take my hand. Pauri 1 is the honest self-account: ears that don't hear, eyes that aren't sharp, unable to manage alone, standing at the door in need. Pauri 2 is the answer: the One is shelter of the shelterless, compassion itself, friend and companion and parent — and holding that presence in the heart, one is carried safely across.

Key Vocabulary

  • bhuj bal beer / sukh saagar: strong-armed and brave / ocean of peace — the One addressed
  • garat... geh layho anguree-aa: the pit... take hold of my fingers — asking for help when stuck
  • deenaa naath anaath: protector of the helpless
  • saajan meet pitaa mahatree-aa: friend, companion, father, mother — every close bond at once
  • bhai saagar paar: crossing the fearful ocean — rendered as being carried safely across

Themes and Cross-Connections

This shabad models philosophy.md's healthy relationship to need: asking for help is strength, not shame. The "pit" and the self-description as pinguree-aa (lame) are handled per the wellbeing rule — rendered as honest empty-handedness ("I can't manage alone"), never self-condemnation. The friend-and-parent pile-up echoes B00C427's baap jaisay maa-ee: the One as every intimate relation. The world-ocean crossing is comfort-forward — safe passage, not terror dwelt upon.

Translation Notes

Sant Singh Khalsa renders pinguree-aa as "cripple" and stages the "pit" and "terrifying world-ocean" literally. Per the project's wellbeing rules we render these as honest need ("weak, unable to manage alone") and safe passage, keeping the plea and the rescue while dropping the frightening and self-condemning edges.

For Raag Gauree

Gauree's reflective depth holds this tender plea without melodrama — the tone is honest and quiet, resolving into being safely held.


Last updated: 2026

Read this shabad →
← Back to Raag Gauree