Raag Gauree
Commentary

Raag Gauree Bairaagan, Mehl 4 (Guru Ram Das)

There are two kinds of labor -- slaving for greed, or being put to work in the One's home; and feeding a craving only grows it, while the Name finally satisfies.

The Arc

Pauri 0 contrasts those gripped by greed and doubt, slaving with loads on their heads, with the one set to work in the Lord's Home. The Rahao (Pauri 1) prays for the bonds of Maya to break. Pauri 2: worldly kings imprison, fine, or die, but the Guru's service brings peace. Pauri 3: business swings the heart between profit and loss, but the Guru's partner finds lasting peace. Pauri 4: hunger for pleasures only grows; the Name satisfies forever.

Key Vocabulary

  • two servitudes: slaving for greed versus being put to work in the One's home
  • unreliable masters: worldly kings who punish or perish
  • partner with the Guru: peace beyond the heart's swing between profit and loss
  • growing hunger: appetite that grows by feeding, ended only by the Name

Themes and Cross-Connections

The shabad reframes freedom as better service -- released from greed (philosophy.md, Panch Vikaar) into the One's own work. It diagnoses craving's self-defeating nature (feeding grows it) and offers Har Ras satisfaction as the cure, with the Guru's partnership giving a peace beyond gain and loss (philosophy.md, Sahaj).

For Raag Gauree

Gauree Bairaagan's detachment suits a shabad about whom we labor for. It moves from the heavy loads of greed to the steady peace of the Guru's partner -- and the deep relief of a hunger that, at last, is filled.


Last updated: 2026-06-28

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