Sikhism·Raag Gauree·Shabad 239
Verse 2 of 3

Keep the Name Close and Old Mistakes Lift

ਬੇਦ ਪੁਰਾਨ ਜਾਸ ਗੁਨ ਗਾਵਤ ਤਾ ਕੋ ਨਾਮੁ ਹੀਐ ਮੋ ਧਰੁ ਰੇ ॥
bayd puraan jaas gun gaavat taa ko naam hee-ai mo Dhar ray.
The Vedas and the Puraanas sing His Praises; enshrine His Name within your heart.
ਪਾਵਨ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਗਤਿ ਮੈ ਹਰਿ ਕੋ ਸਿਮਰਿ ਸਿਮਰਿ ਕਸਮਲ ਸਭ ਹਰੁ ਰੇ ॥੧॥
paavan naam jagat mai har ko simar simar kasmal sabh har ray. ||1||
Pure and sublime is the Name of the Lord in the world. Remembering it in meditation, all sinful mistakes shall be washed away. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

The great scriptures themselves sing these wonders — so keep the Name close, right in the middle of your heart, as your steady support.

Pure and clear is the Name in this world; hold it, remember it, and the weight of old mistakes quietly lifts away.

Keep the Name close as the support of your heart, and the weight of old mistakes quietly lifts.
The deeper layer

Bed puraan jaas gun gaavat — the Vedas and Puranas themselves sing this Presence; the reference is respectful and inclusive, naming those scriptures rather than surveying every tradition. Naam heeai mo Dhar — plant the Name as the support beam of the heart. The washing-away of kasmal (mistakes/stains) is offered as release, not as escape from punishment — remembrance lifts the weight of the past. The framing of remembrance is warmly positive, never rote.

A Question to Sit With

What helps you set down a mistake you feel bad about, so you can start fresh?

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

About this shabad →
Use ← → to navigate