Sikhism·Raag Gauree·Shabad 281
Verse 6 of 9

The One You Lean On Is Named for Ending Fear

ਭਉ ਖੰਡਨੁ ਦੁਖ ਭੰਜਨੋ ਭਗਤਿ ਵਛਲ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਇਓ ॥੫॥
bha-o khandan dukh bhanjno bhagat vachhal har naa-i-o. ||5||
The Destroyer of fear, the Dispeller of pain, the Lover of His Saints - these are the Names of the Lord. ||5||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Here are the names of the One I lean on.

Ender of fear. Easer of pain. Lover of the good-hearted, with a tender, protective love.

The One you can lean on is named for what it does: ends fear, eases pain, loves you close.
The deeper layer

This one says that the One you lean on is known by what the One does.

Bha-o khandan dukh bhanjno — the Destroyer of fear, the Breaker of pain. Bhagat vachhal — loving toward devotees. Vachhal is the tender love a mother cow has for her calf. Picture her gently licking her newborn clean.

Naming the One by what the One does — ending fear, easing pain, loving the devoted — makes the One feel close. It is not a far-off power. It is a comfort you can feel.

A Question to Sit With

If you named someone by their kindest quality, what would you call the people you love?

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

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