Sikhism·Raag Gauree·Shabad 80
Verse 4 of 5

You Cannot Invite Yourself In; You Need a Guide

ਮਹਲੁ ਸਾਹ ਕਾ ਕਿਨ ਬਿਧਿ ਪਾਵੈ ॥
mahal saah kaa kin biDh paavai.
How can I attain the Mansion of the Lord's Presence?
ਕਵਨ ਸੁ ਬਿਧਿ ਜਿਤੁ ਭੀਤਰਿ ਬੁਲਾਵੈ ॥
kavan so biDh jit bheetar bulaavai.
How can I get Him to call me inside?
ਤੂੰ ਵਡ ਸਾਹੁ ਜਾ ਕੇ ਕੋਟਿ ਵਣਜਾਰੇ ॥
tooN vad saahu jaa kay kot vanjaaray.
You are the Great Merchant; You have millions of traders.
ਕਵਨੁ ਸੁ ਦਾਤਾ ਲੇ ਸੰਚਾਰੇ ॥੩॥
kavan so daataa lay sanchaaray. ||3||
Who is the benefactor? Who can take me to Him? ||3||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

How do I reach the home where the Great One lives? What is the way that gets me invited inside?

You are the great merchant with countless traders coming and going. So who is the generous one who could take me along and bring me to You?

You can't invite yourself in — you need a generous guide to bring you.
The deeper layer

More seeking questions: mahal saah kaa kin bidh paavai — how to reach the Great One's mansion? jit bheetar bulaavai — how to be called inside? toon vad saahu jaa kay kot vanjaaray — You are the great merchant with millions of traders. Kavan so daataa lay sanchaaray — who is the giver who takes me there? The soul cannot invite itself in; it needs a daataa (giver) to bring it. This sets up the answer: the going-inside is itself a gift.

A Question to Sit With

When have you needed someone to bring you somewhere you couldn't reach on your own?

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

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