I was on fire; now I have found the Water of the Name, and it has cooled me — and it never runs dry.
The Arc
This opening shabad of the Gauree Bhagats' Bani is introduced in the Guru Granth Sahib under the abbreviated invocation (Mangalacharan), planting the Oneness at the threshold. Its single sustained image is thirst answered by Water. The Rahao (Pauri 0) states the turn — burning cooled by raam jal. Pauri 1 relocates the Water: not in the forest of withdrawal but in the presence available within daily life. Pauri 2 universalizes the fire (even sur nar, gods and mortals, feel it) and the rescue. Pauri 3 discloses the miracle of abundance — an ocean of peace inside the world-ocean, never exhausted. Pauri 4 closes on the rainbird's single-hearted longing as the shape of remembrance.
Key Vocabulary
jalat / raam jal: the inner burning of craving vs. the "Water of the Name," the felt presence of the One
man maaran: stilling the mind — here linked to forest-withdrawal, which Kabir gently relativizes
bhav saagar / sukh saagar: the world-ocean vs. the ocean of peace hidden inside it
sarang (saringpaanee): the rainbird longing for the raindrop — the model of whole-hearted simran
Themes and Cross-Connections
The thirst-and-water motif recurs across Kabir's Gauree set (see Shabad 298, which deepens it into paradox). The inexhaustible Water embodies the teaching on grace — always present, received not earned. The leveling touch in Pauri 2 (gods and mortals share one fire) foreshadows Kabir's caste-leveling shabads later in this section.
For Raag Gauree
Gauree's sober, reflective mood suits a shabad about a burning quieted into steadiness. The opening is not ecstatic but relieved — the calm of someone who has finally drunk.
Translation Notes
Bhav saagar ("terrifying world-ocean") softened to "wide, stormy world" for young readers, keeping the sense of vastness without dread (wellbeing rule).
The householder framing of Pauri 1 was foregrounded — Kabir honors the forest-seekers rather than mocking them, per the interfaith/evenhandedness rules (the point is where the Water is, not that seekers are foolish).
I was on fire; now I have found the Water of the Name, and it has cooled me — and it never runs dry.
The Arc
This opening shabad of the Gauree Bhagats' Bani is introduced in the Guru Granth Sahib under the abbreviated invocation (Mangalacharan), planting the Oneness at the threshold. Its single sustained image is thirst answered by Water. The Rahao (Pauri 0) states the turn — burning cooled by raam jal. Pauri 1 relocates the Water: not in the forest of withdrawal but in the presence available within daily life. Pauri 2 universalizes the fire (even sur nar, gods and mortals, feel it) and the rescue. Pauri 3 discloses the miracle of abundance — an ocean of peace inside the world-ocean, never exhausted. Pauri 4 closes on the rainbird's single-hearted longing as the shape of remembrance.
Key Vocabulary
Themes and Cross-Connections
The thirst-and-water motif recurs across Kabir's Gauree set (see Shabad 298, which deepens it into paradox). The inexhaustible Water embodies the teaching on grace — always present, received not earned. The leveling touch in Pauri 2 (gods and mortals share one fire) foreshadows Kabir's caste-leveling shabads later in this section.
For Raag Gauree
Gauree's sober, reflective mood suits a shabad about a burning quieted into steadiness. The opening is not ecstatic but relieved — the calm of someone who has finally drunk.
Translation Notes