Sikhism·Raag Gauree·Shabad 256
Verse 3 of 9

The One Is Giver and Receiver, Close as Breath

ਜਹ ਦੇਖਉ ਤਹ ਰਵਿ ਰਹੇ ਰਖੁ ਰਾਖਨਹਾਰਾ ॥
jah daykh-a-u tah rav rahay rakh raakhanhaaraa.
Wherever I look, there You are. Save me, O Savior Lord!
ਤੂੰ ਦਾਤਾ ਭੁਗਤਾ ਤੂੰਹੈ ਤੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਾਣ ਅਧਾਰਾ ॥੨॥
tooN daataa bhugtaa tooNhai tooN paraan aDhaaraa. ||2||
You are the Giver, and You are the Enjoyer; You are the Support of the breath of life. ||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Wherever I look, there You are, present everywhere — please keep me safe, my Protector. You are the Giver and also the One who enjoys the gift; You are the very support of the breath in my body.

The One is everywhere you look — giver and receiver both — and as close as your own breath.
The deeper layer

Jah daykh-a-u tah rav rahay — "wherever I look, You are pervading": the Gauree vision of the One shining out of everything. Then a striking line: too daataa bhugtaa toonhai — You are both the Giver and the Enjoyer. Where there is only the One, there is no second: the One gives, receives, and delights, all at once. And praan adhaaraa — the support of the very breath — makes the point intimate: the One is not far off but as close as your next inhale.

A Question to Sit With

If the One is as near as your own breathing, what does that make you feel about ever being alone?

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

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