Sikhism·Raag Jaitsree·Shabad 31
Verse 19 of 60

Love Loosens the Grip You Can't Force Open

ਸਲੋਕ ॥
salok.
Shalok:
ਚਰਨ ਕਮਲ ਬਿਰਹੰ ਖੋਜੰਤ ਬੈਰਾਗੀ ਦਹ ਦਿਸਹ ॥
charan kamal birahaN khojant bairaagee dah disah.
One who loves the Lord's lotus feet searches for Him in the ten directions.
ਤਿਆਗੰਤ ਕਪਟ ਰੂਪ ਮਾਇਆ ਨਾਨਕ ਆਨੰਦ ਰੂਪ ਸਾਧ ਸੰਗਮਹ ॥੧॥
ti-aagant kapat roop maa-i-aa naanak aanand roop saaDh sangmah. ||1||
He renounces the deceptive illusion of Maya, and joins the blissful form of the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

One who loves the One's feet searches for it in every direction.

He lets go of the deceiving illusion and joins the blissful company of the good.

When you genuinely love the One, letting go of illusion becomes possible — not by gritting your teeth first, but because love loosens the grip. And the search leads not to a lonely peak but to the joyful company of others who love it too.
The deeper layer

The movement turns from the forgetful to the lover. One who genuinely loves the One "searches in the ten directions" — the whole energy of the life pointed toward the Beloved. And the practical fruit: he "renounces the deceptive illusion" and "joins the blissful Saadh Sangat." Note the sequence — loving the One is what makes letting go of Maya possible; you don't grit your way out of illusion first and then love, you love and the illusion loosens (as throughout these raags). And the destination of the search is not a solitary summit but the joyful company of others who love the same One.

A Question to Sit With

Does loving something good make it easier to let go of lesser things? Where does that love tend to lead you?

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

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