Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Come out and fly, little soul-bird! Let remembering the One be your wings. Meet a true, good soul and take shelter there, and keep the perfect jewel of the One tucked safe against your heart.
The soul is like a bird, and remembering the One gives it wings to fly free.
This shabad is by Guru Arjan, the fifth Guru. This is its Rahao, the "pause" line and the center of the shabad. Nikas ray pankhee — come out, O bird. The soul is pictured as a bird invited to fly. Simar har paankh — let remembering the One be your wings. Remembering is what lifts you.
Mil saaDhoo saran gahu — meet a good, holy person and take shelter. Pooran raam ratan — the perfect jewel of the One. Keep it hee-aray sang, right against your heart. Think of a bird carrying something precious close to its chest as it flies. It is a bright, freeing picture to open the shabad.
If remembering something good could give you wings, what would you want to keep close to your heart?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI