Sikhism·Raag Gauree·Shabad 134
Verse 4 of 5

Life Is Fulfilled Knowing the One Is Close

ਸਫਲ ਜਨਮੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਪਰਵਾਣੁ ॥
safal janam hovai parvaan.
My life is prosperous, fruitful and approved;
ਗੁਰੁ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਨਿਕਟਿ ਕਰਿ ਜਾਣੁ ॥੩॥
gur paarbarahm nikat kar jaan. ||3||
I know that the Guru, the Supreme Lord God, is near me. ||3||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

My life becomes fruitful and truly worthwhile. I know deep down that the One is not far away at all. The One is right here, close beside me.

Life becomes fulfilled when you know the One is not far off but close beside you.
The deeper layer

This one says a life feels full when you know the One is near.

Safal janam hovai parvaan — my life becomes fruitful and accepted. Safal means full of fruit, like a tree heavy with mangoes. Gur paarbarahm nikat kar jaan — knowing the Guru, the Supreme One, is nikat, near.

Nikat is the whole turn. The One is not far away across a huge gap, to be reached someday. The One is close at hand. Think of a child in a dark room who hears a parent's voice right beside them. Nothing else has changed, but everything feels different. Knowing that nearness is what makes a life full.

A Question to Sit With

What changes for you when you imagine the best things are near, not far away?

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

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