Raag Jaitsree, Shabad 1, Mehl 5 (Guru Arjan), Third House
"Does anyone know, who is our friend in this world?"
The Arc
Opens Guru Arjan's Jaitsree. The question — who is our true friend? (rahau); ruling out family (v.1); ruling out wealth, which brings anxiety not contentment (v.2); ruling out power, which departs empty-handed (v.3); the answer — the Saints and the One, the friend who crosses every threshold (v.4).
Key Vocabulary
meet / friend — the one who actually lasts; found by elimination.
ant na hoat sahaaee / "not your companion in the end" — the threshold no human bond crosses.
Maya — wealth as the glitter that brings anxiety, not contentment.
naagaa / naked departure — the great equalizer; power left behind.
Translation Notes
The family verse (v.1) is framed explicitly as NOT a devaluing of family love (the Gurus honor Grihast) but a caution against placing ultimate security in bonds that cannot bear that weight — per the project's Grihast reading and wellbeing care.
Themes and Cross-Connections
The "nothing goes with you" catalogue links to Aasaa B00C836 ("no one is finally your companion") and Devgandhaari B00C3067 ("none crosses the last threshold"). Wealth-brings-anxiety links to the Merchant-of-the-Name teaching. Power-departs-naked links to Gauree's beggar-king and Kabir's Raavan.
For Raag Jaitsree
Guru Arjan's grand opening: a systematic ruling-out of every false friend (family, wealth, power) to reveal the one that lasts — the Name and the Sangat. Sets the Mehl 5 register: clear-eyed about the world, warm about the one true refuge.
"Does anyone know, who is our friend in this world?"
The Arc
Opens Guru Arjan's Jaitsree. The question — who is our true friend? (rahau); ruling out family (v.1); ruling out wealth, which brings anxiety not contentment (v.2); ruling out power, which departs empty-handed (v.3); the answer — the Saints and the One, the friend who crosses every threshold (v.4).
Key Vocabulary
Translation Notes
The family verse (v.1) is framed explicitly as NOT a devaluing of family love (the Gurus honor Grihast) but a caution against placing ultimate security in bonds that cannot bear that weight — per the project's Grihast reading and wellbeing care.
Themes and Cross-Connections
The "nothing goes with you" catalogue links to Aasaa B00C836 ("no one is finally your companion") and Devgandhaari B00C3067 ("none crosses the last threshold"). Wealth-brings-anxiety links to the Merchant-of-the-Name teaching. Power-departs-naked links to Gauree's beggar-king and Kabir's Raavan.
For Raag Jaitsree
Guru Arjan's grand opening: a systematic ruling-out of every false friend (family, wealth, power) to reveal the one that lasts — the Name and the Sangat. Sets the Mehl 5 register: clear-eyed about the world, warm about the one true refuge.