Sikhism·Raag Goojaree·Shabad 31
Verse 2 of 3

Empty Hands Aren't Despair but an Open Posture

ਠਾਕੁਰ ਤੁਝ ਬਿਨੁ ਆਹਿ ਨ ਮੋਰਾ ॥
thaakur tujh bin aahi na moraa.
O Lord Master, other than You, no one is mine.
ਮੋਹਿ ਅਨਾਥ ਨਿਰਗੁਨ ਗੁਣੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਮੈ ਆਹਿਓ ਤੁਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਰਾ ਧੋਰਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
mohi anaath nirgun gun naahee mai aahi-o tumHraa Dhoraa. ||1|| rahaa-o.
I am a worthless orphan, devoid of merit; I long for Your Support. ||1||Pause||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Master, apart from You there is no one who is truly mine.

I am a worthless orphan with nothing to show; I ache for Your support.

Standing with empty hands, no merit to show, isn't despair — it's the open posture of the one about to be taken in.
The deeper layer

The Pause line is the block's most naked cry of dependence: "other than You, no one is mine" and "I am a worthless orphan, devoid of merit." This must be read through the project's voice rules — not as self-hatred but as the honest emptying of a person who has stopped propping themselves on merit and status, and stands with open, empty hands. The "orphan" is not despairing; they are precisely the one about to be adopted (P0's cleared securities make room for the one true belonging). Emptiness here is the doorway, not the destination.

A Question to Sit With

Is there freedom, not just fear, in admitting you can't hold yourself up by your own achievements?

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

About this shabad →
Use ← → to navigate