Sikhism·Raag Gauree·Shabad 91
Verse 3 of 5

Knowing the One Is Recognizing an Old Friend

ਸੋਈ ਪਛਾਤਾ ਜਿਨਹਿ ਉਪਾਇਆ ॥
so-ee pachhaataa jineh upaa-i-aa.
I have recognized the One who created me.
ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਪ੍ਰਭਿ ਆਪਿ ਮਿਲਾਇਆ ॥
kar kirpaa parabh aap milaa-i-aa.
Showing His Mercy, God has blended me with Himself.
ਬਾਹ ਪਕਰਿ ਲੀਨੋ ਕਰਿ ਅਪਨਾ ॥
baah pakar leeno kar apnaa.
Taking me by the arm, He has made me His Own.
ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਕਥਾ ਸਦਾ ਜਪੁ ਜਪਨਾ ॥੨॥
har har kathaa sadaa jap japnaa. ||2||
I continually chant and meditate on the Sermon of the Lord, Har, Har. ||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

I have come to recognize the very One who made me. With kindness, the One drew me close and blended me in.

Taking me by the arm, the One made me family. And so I keep the story of the One always in my heart, told and re-told.

To know the One is less like meeting a stranger and more like recognizing someone who has always known you.
The deeper layer

Knowing the One is like recognizing an old friend.

So-ee pachhaataa jineh upaa-i-aa — I recognized the One who made me. It is recognition, not a first meeting. It is like spotting a grandparent's face in a crowd at the airport. You knew them all along.

Baah pakar leeno kar apnaa — the One took me by the arm and made me their own. That is a very human, gentle picture. It is being led, not ordered about. Har har kathaa is the telling of the story of the One. Sadaa jap japnaa is remembering it again and again. It is like a favorite story you never get tired of hearing.

A Question to Sit With

Has anyone ever taken you by the hand and led you somewhere you were afraid to go alone?

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

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