Sikhism·Raag Goojaree·Shabad 54
Verse 7 of 8

All Variety Is Beads Strung on One Hidden Thread

ਏਹੁ ਪਰਪੰਚੁ ਖੇਲੁ ਕੀਆ ਸਭੁ ਕਰਤੈ ਹਰਿ ਕਰਤੈ ਸਭ ਕਲ ਧਾਰੀ ॥
ayhu parpanch khayl kee-aa sabh kartai har kartai sabh kal Dhaaree.
All this worldly drama is set in motion by the Creator Lord; He has infused His almighty strength into all.
ਹਰਿ ਏਕੋ ਸੂਤੁ ਵਰਤੈ ਜੁਗ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਸੂਤੁ ਖਿੰਚੈ ਏਕੰਕਾਰੀ ॥੭॥
har ayko soot vartai jug antar soot khinchai aykankaaree. ||7||
The thread of the One Lord runs through the world; when He pulls out this thread, the One Creator alone remains. ||7||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

This whole worldly play is set going by the Creator, who has poured its power into everything.

One thread runs through the whole world; when the One pulls the thread out, only the Creator remains.

All the world's variety is beads strung on one hidden thread — and if the thread were pulled, only the One would remain.
The deeper layer

Everything in the world is like beads on one hidden thread.

The Creator started this whole play of the world and put power into every part of it. Then comes the big picture. Har ayko soot vartai jug antar — one thread of the One runs through the whole world. Think of a necklace. The beads are all different colors and shapes, but one string holds them all together.

Then comes a breathtaking line. Soot khinchai aykankaaree — when the One pulls out the thread, only the One Creator remains. The many things are real, but they hang on the One. Take away the thread, and nothing is left but the One. The beads are all the variety. The thread is the oneness. And the thread is what is truly real in the end.

A Question to Sit With

What single 'thread' might be quietly holding together all the different pieces of your life?

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

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