Sikhism·Raag Gond·Shabad 20
Verse 3 of 5

The Perfect Forgiver

ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਰਮਤ ਭਏ ਆਨੰਦ ॥
har gun ramat bha-ay aanand.
Chanting the Glorious Praises of the Lord, I am in bliss.
ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਪੂਰਨ ਬਖਸੰਦ ॥
paarbarahm pooran bakhsand.
The Supreme Lord God is the Perfect Forgiver.
ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਜਨ ਸੇਵਾ ਲਾਏ ॥
kar kirpaa jan sayvaa laa-ay.
Granting His Mercy, He has linked His humble servants to His service.
ਜਨਮ ਮਰਣ ਦੁਖ ਮੇਟਿ ਮਿਲਾਏ ॥੨॥
janam maran dukh mayt milaa-ay. ||2||
He has rid me of the pains of birth and death, and merged me with Himself. ||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Singing of the One's goodness, a deep gladness fills me.

The One is whole and complete, and forgives so fully.

In kindness, the One draws people into loving service,

wiping away the ache of coming and going, and holding them close.

The One forgives fully, and turns even our wish to serve into a gift.
The deeper layer

Har gun ramat bhay aanand — joy is the natural byproduct of praise, not a reward bargained for. Pooran bakhsand, the Perfect Forgiver, is a tender note: the One's completeness includes an unlimited capacity to release us from our failures. Being 'linked to service' (sayvaa laa-ay) is itself grace — even the wanting to serve is given. The pain of janam maran is rendered as the tiring cycle of coming and going, then dissolved in being 'merged,' held close.

A Question to Sit With

Is there something you can forgive — in yourself or someone else — to feel lighter?

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

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