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Sikhism·Raag Kaanraa·Shabad 70
Verse 16 of 45

The Faraway One Who Came Near On Their Own

ਸਲੋਕ ਮਃ ੪ ॥
salok mehlaa 4.
Shalok, Fourth Mehl:
ਹਮਰੇ ਹਰਿ ਜਗਜੀਵਨਾ ਹਰਿ ਜਪਿਓ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਰ ਮੰਤ ॥
hamray har jagjeevanaa har japi-o har gur mant.
I meditate on my Lord, the Life of the World, the Lord, chanting the Guru's Mantra.
ਹਰਿ ਅਗਮੁ ਅਗੋਚਰੁ ਅਗਮੁ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਆਇ ਅਚਿੰਤ ॥
har agam agochar agam har har mili-aa aa-ay achint.
The Lord is Unapproachable, Inaccessible and Unfathomable; the Lord, Har, Har, has spontaneously come to meet me.
ਹਰਿ ਆਪੇ ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਵਰਤਦਾ ਹਰਿ ਆਪੇ ਆਪਿ ਬਿਅੰਤ ॥
har aapay ghat ghat varatdaa har aapay aap bi-ant.
The Lord Himself is pervading each and every heart; the Lord Himself is Endless.
ਹਰਿ ਆਪੇ ਸਭ ਰਸ ਭੋਗਦਾ ਹਰਿ ਆਪੇ ਕਵਲਾ ਕੰਤ ॥
har aapay sabh ras bhogdaa har aapay kavlaa kant.
The Lord Himself enjoys all pleasures; the Lord Himself is the Husband of Maya.
ਹਰਿ ਆਪੇ ਭਿਖਿਆ ਪਾਇਦਾ ਸਭ ਸਿਸਟਿ ਉਪਾਈ ਜੀਅ ਜੰਤ ॥
har aapay bhikhi-aa paa-idaa sabh sisat upaa-ee jee-a jant.
The Lord Himself gives in charity to the whole world, and all the beings and creatures which He created.
ਹਰਿ ਦੇਵਹੁ ਦਾਨੁ ਦਇਆਲ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਹਰਿ ਮਾਂਗਹਿ ਹਰਿ ਜਨ ਸੰਤ ॥
har dayvhu daan da-i-aal parabh har maaNgeh har jan sant.
O Merciful Lord God, please bless me with Your Bountiful Gifts; the humble Saints of the Lord beg for them.
ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੇ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਆਇ ਮਿਲੁ ਹਮ ਗਾਵਹ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਛੰਤ ॥੧॥
jan naanak kay parabh aa-ay mil ham gaavah har gun chhant. ||1||
O God of servant Nanak, please come and meet me; I sing the Songs of the Glorious Praises of the Lord. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

I remember my One, the Life of the World, saying the Guru's mantra, the Guru's sacred words.

The One is out of reach, past all seeing, out of reach, and yet the One came to meet me, all on Its own, when I least expected it.

The One is in each and every heart; the One has no end.

The One enjoys every sweet taste; the One is the Master of Maya, the world's wealth and shine.

The One gives to the whole world, to every being and creature the One has made.

O kind One, give us Your gifts; the saints, the people of the One, are asking.

Nanak says: O my One, come and meet me, and I will sing songs of Your goodness.

The One you reach for is already crossing the distance to meet you.
The deeper layer

The One who is far out of reach comes close all on Its own, when you least expect it.

Agam agochar: out of reach, past seeing. Mili-aa aa-ay achint: came and met me without my expecting it. Think of a friend from far away who turns up at your door as a surprise. That closing of the distance is the heart of Kaanraa.

Kavlaa kant means the Master of Maya, the wealth and shine of the world. Chhant is a joyful song, and singing one is what the meeting brings.

A Question to Sit With

When has something you longed for come to you before you even asked?

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

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